# 420 – What Chance 2 States

What Chance 2 States?

‘Pres. Biden at the UN General Assembly: Speaks of Normalization and 2 States’.

That’s a very loaded sentence.

Pres Biden – Chances are, he’s not going to be re-elected. He’s already almost a lame duck.

UN – About the ONLY subject on which it is united is its anti-Israel bias. Most of its members cannot spell the word ‘democracy’. (Again, recently, it repeated its denial of any Jewish connection with such sites as the Temple Mount, Hebron etc.) And UNRWA continues to thrive – against all logic. (Note that Ukraine’s Zelensky rightly questions the logic of a country like Russia having veto power).

UN Gen. Assy. – A chance for leaders to practice ‘clever diplomacy’ (lying). (And I include Netanyahu’s upcoming address to the same Assy.).

Normalization – Wow! I believe that a definition of ‘normalization in the Middle East’ is about as futile as my quest for an updated definition of democracy. And, of course, I am not only referring to the Israel/Palestine problem. How about yesterday’s claim by Tunisian President Saied that the Jews are to blame for the devastating flood in Libya. His reasoning? The storm’s chosen name is ‘Daniel’, a Biblical name, a Jewish name.

Or, how about my nephew’s extreme view of Lebanon and Syria when viewed 2 days ago from the Israeli border in the Golan Heights. Basically green on this side, and brown on the other. He’s from Canada, an expert on irrigation. He’s not the type to get involved in politics. But the differences in the colour of the lands screamed out to him.

2 States – Until now, I would often say that Israel speaks primarily with one voice. Were peace to be declared today, the vast majority of Israelis would not only understand the meaning, they would accept it. Their way of life includes a possible peace with the neighbours. And the small minority who would actively oppose any peace? They’d be prosecuted.

But now that situation has changed somewhat. The extreme Right had gained a voice, thanks to Netanyahu and his chosen friends. So, a 2-state solution from the Israeli perspective has become more difficult.

But from the Palestinian side, it always was, and remains, a very tough option. The basic education of ‘the average Palestinian’ (perhaps definable) makes it almost impossible to accept peace with Israel. It needs a total change in basic education.

Again it becomes clear why I persist in writing this Letter. Humans have trouble being ‘decent neighbours’ in almost any part of this World. We know that. But…..

Come and see what has been made out of this tiny corner of the Middle East. Please do not answer that the Middle East is not supposed to look/be like this. Nor say that Jews do not belong here.

Just question why this fantastic country – a miracle in many people’s eyes – should suffer so much criticism.

Yes, I’m going to say it. It’s not fair.

Stephen