I have watched with horror of what is happening in Palestine and Israel. I perceive the pointlessness of it all, the random killing, the certainty of death and the futility and stupidity of it all. I sometimes wish for silence in a world, which is forever filled with an eternal cacophony of noise. If only the world were a better place and men behaved with humanity. Why is there such a great chasm that divides us from one another and no matter however hard we try why are we beyond helping one another?

I look and think where’s the goodness in this world and if it is there why doesn’t it reveal itself? If it were a slightly better place or its pressures and prejudices didn’t drive people apart perhaps there would be less dreadful suffering. I desperately try to cling to my beliefs in the hope that the world will find surcease from the rage that consistently gnaws at its very core. If I can’t believe then where’s the hope? I ask myself if there’s no hope where will it lead? The cruel and malicious indifference that we confront has a human face and soul. Will we stare into the faces of the dead and recognise that we’ve created the dead face of the world?

The suicide bombers have led to the death of so many innocent Israelis and the Israeli retaliation has lead to the death of so many innocent Palestinians. What has it achieved but further hatred and bitterness, grief and hopelessness where they find themselves locked in by reaction and counter reaction. Both the Israelis and Palestinians are desperate people and desperate people will continue to strike out blindly in their rage.

Do the Israelis and Palestinians have a general aversion to peace, which is leading to avoidance? Fear, ignorance and prejudice are very hard to overcome. Too many unsatisfied needs remain and tensions are at boiling point . Nothing seems to work nor will anything solve the remaining problems whilst the Israelis and Palestinians remain bloody-minded and recalcitrant. To have a chance of succeeding the peace process will require the transformation of ideas that are alien to their respective cultures and will demand a reassessment of objectives and a revaluation of the actual peace process itself. I believe they have ceased to look at the world as independent observers. They have, in a sense, become obsessed with themselves. It has to do with blood and roots, and elemental loyalty.

The Israelis are a people who have been under siege, scorned, rejected and hemmed in with hate for generations. Hatred is like a noose, it can hang your enemy but in the end it will strangle you also. They need reminding of something they’d rather forget – their conscience. If they lose the power of forgiveness they will lose the beat of their hearts. If they cannot find the spirit of forgiveness the soil will not prosper but turn to dust and in the end there is no wall, no table, and no people. Only desolation.

Will they sink into the grey, endless twilight? Will they go down fighting, hurling missiles that they hope will reshape Israel anew; will it give them a new morning to walk into, fearless and happy, a new world before them? Such death causes conflict! Yes they can overcome and shatter the Palestinians bow them down like trees in a wind but they will never be free. Never be able to walk in peace and the hatred that surrounds them will remain and the very fact that the threat remains may be enough to doom them.

I ask myself the question “Would the fate of the peace process be different if Yitzak Rabin had survived?” He was a consistent supporter of the peace process and whatever his illusions he was determined to bring peace and align the Palestinians for the future security of Israel. He died too soon to know what could have been achieved. He died by the hand of one of his own and fell prey to the agenda and power plays of others within Israel - this is where his death has led …