A bereaved Israeli mother calls for sanity in the Middle East

So many experts, so much violence, so much news, self-justification, blaming
and death. Such tragic times bring out the fear-mongers from all sides
convincing us all that violence is the only way, in the belief that ‘we are
right’.

How many more people need to die before we realize the need for compromise
and a new way of acting? We cannot go on with the same old patterns leading
to more and more violence which fuels up the conflict. We the bereaved
families of this world can tell you that nothing, no need to be right, no
proving of points, no piece of land, is worth the life of our children who
are screaming out from their graves for us to stop the killing and insanity.

Yet once again we have to ask, who will console the families of the dead
and wounded? Who will convince them that their lives were worth losing
because of decisions made by careless and unthinking leaders?

How long will it take until we understand that temporary security measures
lead to long-term hatred and perpetuate the conflict? ‘Let’s impose
blockades, let’s attack, let’s deprive people of freedom of movement,’ we
say to ourselves. Why can’t we understand that freedom of movement is a
basic human right and depriving others of it will surely not lead to
security? We cannot keep putting plasters on the wound. As the recent
tragedy has shown once again, the solutions cannot be those which force us
to take measures which will only end in more loss of blood and destroy all
possibilities for reconciliation.

So let’s blame the Israelis, no, lets blame the peace-makers on the boats,
no, lets blame the leaders. But who put them there? Sorry, but the blame
game just makes us feel better about ourselves so that we do not have to
give up our national pride, or our allegiances, or our dogmatic attachment
to ideas. But where is the contribution we can make to changing the
situation and creating a more peaceful world?

Couldn’t we all for a moment in the midst of this madness just imagine the
future of our children? Once they are grown, will they too have to be
lowered onto the decks of ships in order to prove a point? Or will their
leaders have a more generous and wise spirit and understand that violence
begets violence? Will there be a spirit of compromise, leading to a safer
future for us all?

And so, what can we all do, we are just citizens of the madness? I for one
believe that we must all take a stand and demand that the world leaders
become involved, not in taking sides and blaming one side or the other, but
in finding a way to put an end to the violence and look for a lasting
solution. Such a solution cannot be achieved merely through paper
agreements. It must include a reconciliation process. Otherwise we will have
another cease-fire and not peace.

We at the Parents Circle Families Forum have recognized from the depths of
our pain and loss that there is no revenge for the loss of a loved one and
that we, the Palestinians and Israelis in the group, will work towards an
understanding of the Other’s needs which will in turn lead to a possibility
for reconciliation and – dare we use the word – peace.

Robi Damelin
…in the name of David my beloved son, who lost his life in the conflict.

1st June 2010