Answers to the Violence in Israel

Yesterday's news of two young boys killed when Israel targeted two Hamas militants has caused an uproar again in Gaza. Israel has taken it upon themselves to target criminals that attack it's citizens. I fully believe any country has this right!

Is the trouble in the Middle East ever going to cease? Personally, I do not believe it will. I must admit that my views may be a little skewed. I look at their problems as an outsider and from a Christian viewpoint but I do not agree with many Christian's thoughts on Israel.

Many Christians today, especially in the United States, believe that we must support Israel, no matter what they do. If we do, we will be blessed, if we do not, we will be cursed. Well, I don't believe that I should support everything Israel does by any means. I do believe that we (the U.S.) should support Israel as being a nation. I feel just as strongly that the Palestinians in Israel have a right to call Israel their home too. At some point, the hatred and animosity between Arabs and Jews has to stop. The only way this can happen is for each individual Jew and each individual Arab to come to a point that they can forgive what each of them have done to one another. It is hard for my generation in the U.S. to understand such hatred. And I believe the only way that true forgiveness can come is through a relationship with Jesus Christ. Now that we know that is not going to happen to every individual in the Middle East, what is a solution to their problems?

First of all, I believe Israel should take the high road by supporting dialouge with the Palesinians. Then, they should help rebuild Palestinian refugee camps and cities. On the other hand, the Palestinians must stop their rhetoric of hatred. They must stop calling for the annihilation of Israel and the Jews. They must stop their attacks on Israelis immediately. They must also stop blaming Israel and the U.S. for all of their problems in life. They need to take ownership of their people's lives and start working together to build themselves up. If they would spend as much time in this effort as they do at scheming to attack Israel, they would be a model for other peoples of turmoil.

One thing all nations can do is look at what has made America the great country it is. I also believe that America would do well to look back at what has made this country great. America is on a major decline and if something doesn't change, I don't see much of a future for America. What is it that has made America great? It is the freedom that the founding fathers believed every human is born with; freedom of thought, freedom of speech, freedom of religion. Basically, all of these can be boiled down into one thing, respect for each other!

Jay Mc