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Roger Farinha

Founder, New American Spring

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A Proposes Solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: People to People...

It's clear that the ordinary peoples both of Israel and Palestine desire only a peaceful life. Yet their political leaders feel obligated to defend the perceived, respective pride of their constituents. What if an Israeli citizen were to draft up a peoples' proposition to the Palestinians, bypassing their respective leaders?

This proposition would sound, in deep and sincere tones, the aspiration of the Israeli people for peace. It would call the Palestinians to take control of their supposed "leaders" who are launching missiles from populated areas having children and families, knowing that Israel will have to retaliate and using its own people for international political leverage. It would challenge the Palestinian people to call such leaders "enemies within" and urge them to let their peace-loving, moderate majority take their voice.

But here's the hitch. If the Palestinians refuse to take charge of their rogue leaders for the sake of securing peace, the proposal will give notice that the Israeli people will urge their military that since peace is impossible, to go all out and take all the historical lands of Israel. The Palestinians will then be obliged to live under Israeli sovereignty.

For if peace is impossible, why not go all out for integrity as a nation?

Topics: Israel Israli Middle East Palestinians West Bank conflict gaza
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    Adriaan Braam 20+

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    Nov 28 2012: Hi Roger, it seems to me that many people, and thus also leaders, see Jews as "the chosen people." So those people assume those chosen by God must be special and thus be trusted and given room to do as they please.

    One thing I want to make very clear. I have no issues with any Jew in any way. I have wondered why so many Jewish names included the words gold and silver..

    I do not believe the Children of Israel were 'chosen' because they were in any way better than others. In a way I think they were chosen to portray the worse possible scenarios human beings in general can go through on their way to heaven (Canaan).

    Another thing people do not know is that the lands of the Middle East have a spiritual connotation or side to them which is fully treated in this book. Every Hebrew name of a person or place has a real meaning and thus portrays a higher level of relationship.

    www.swedenborgstudy.com/books/C.Th.Odhner_Correspondences_Caanan/Canaan.htm

    What I hope this information will accomplish is that everyone will know we are all the same in the eyes of God, there are no favourites. God governs the heavens as well as the hells and loves the people that have chosen to go to either.

    The Jews may be the ones that will have the most difficulty to except this viewpoint. As far as I know, there has never been a time when people in Israel had a good/normal relationship with those around them. Christians may be the next ones to have that problem.

    Abram Lincoln knew of Emanuel Swedenborg (had some of his books in his library and friends of that faith) which may have influenced his position regarding slavery in the South. Now I hope that America's present and future presidents can influence Israel to grow normal relationships with the countries and people around it.

    I saw the link below by Adel Munkar http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article32739.htm and think it would help of more people saw it. I emailed the speaker Miko Peled and will see what happens next..

  • carolyn mcauley 20+

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    Nov 27 2012: This is outside the politicians box as far as I know it may be the right bait for change...Three Ideas...and do not underate music and art for its power. ONE; a International poetry conference in the middle east...to bring all the wounded hearts together for spoken word and a prize for most effective poem....TWO arab wrestling federation...give a chance to pummelle your opponent on TV ..good for lower income individuals as opposed to the occupation of martyr . And THREE;; DNA test for everyone..see who you are related to...Im sure some of the most vicious advocates of war are not legitimate of the purity they push for. None of these seem political..but they are platforms(safer) for expression,and they tell a human story...have you ever read a poem from those you have issue with,watched your athelete lose or win against the other...seem how messed up your DNA history is....

  • Christopher Fisher

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    Nov 27 2012: Israel and Palestine are a very delicate topic globally because the fate of Palestine determines how the Middle East interacts with the world. Not too long ago Israel was in a war with a majority of Arab and Persian countries ,some countries given were only expressing dislike of a Jewish neighbor, but still this issue is deeply concerning to all neighbors of Israel. Palestine resisting Israel’s advances through less then honorable methods has in the past been the go to action supported by surrounding countries, but if Palestine was to be gobbled up by Israel the global impact would be catastrophic. Middle Eastern countries would see the end of Palestine as a move against all countries and would rally many globally to act legally and in means less than legal. I agree that both Palestine and Israel need to come to an agreement over land, but over the years the existence of Palestine and the struggle of the people have led to amazing advances in diplomatic relations between some Arab countries and Israel. I would maintain that we give more time to this situation because forcing change too quickly will only cause chaos and dishearten relations that can lead to a better solution.
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    Steven Meglitsch

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    Nov 25 2012: We can't get out of this place alive without guide ...
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    Steven Meglitsch

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    Nov 25 2012: Here's a quote I use a lot:

    «Everyone is worried about stopping terrorism. Well, there's really an easy way: stop participating in it»
    - Noam Chomsky

    The root of the Palestinian problem is the redefinition of Palestine in 1948. The middle east was the birthplace of many religions: Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Druze, Zoroastrianism, Yazid, and Bahai to name the "recent" ones. Almost all these religions have sacred sites within the area called Palestine in recent times. Dividing up the area into a homeland for Jews, a homeland for Musims, a homeland for Christians etc. might have seemed like a good idea, but history has shown us that it wasn't.

    What the middle east needs now is a poplular front FOR a multireligious multiethnic secular state to replace Israel the West Bank and Gaza.

    Until all parties honestly admit that they have no choice but to live with each other, they will simply be prolonging the religio-ethnic conflicts five decades of leaders have cooked up, and that will only lead to more death and destruction.
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      Roger Farinha

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      Nov 25 2012: I read your point here a number of times and just can't find a reply. Why? Because a multi-ethnic and multi-religious SECULAR state is inconceivable to me. And maybe I should clarify that by INCONCEIVABLE I don't mean that I disagree, only that I can't imagine what it might look like,or it being possible with human nature being what we have seen it to be thus far.

      So why don't you expand on this idea in a separate TED post? I know I will be sitting at your feet as a student, and I would open-mindedly participate...
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        Steven Meglitsch

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        Nov 25 2012: I am thinking of starting several threads, but not yet.

        My response to your comments is this:

        The populations of every society I know of are both multiethnic and multireligious. Even Saudi and Israel. The question then is can we have a secular state that gives all groups the same rights and opportunities.

        With all of their failings, both the USA and Russia, for example, are at the same time secular, multiethnic and multireligious. Of course there are American and Russian Christians that would prefer a multidenominational Christian society and no doubt American and Russian Muslims that would prefer a Muslim society. Luckily they have not yet succeeded.
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          Roger Farinha

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          Nov 25 2012: Well I know I am wholeheartedly friendly to this vision. In fact, this is the very vision I am espousing as my major life project in my New American Spring organizational movement (www.newamericanspring.org). I feel America is called to, and can lead this kind of world. So anyone who can inform my insight is very appealing to me as an interlocker in reason.

    • george lockwood 30+

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      Nov 25 2012: My concern is that this reminds me of a letter or note in Gandhi's autobiography. Great men have greatg solutions to problems. But life can be like a Boundary Value Problem - We may be in a region where the great solution doesn't work. There is so much hatred and manipulation that I believe it is outside hope. Of course, watching the news I used to believe that the same was allmost true of Northern
      Ireland. There are many possible solutions. If the adults are allowed to work it out things will get better and there will be many jobs and a better region and world. Don't hold your greath.
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        Steven Meglitsch

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        Nov 25 2012: We'll never get out of this place alive without a guide or two ...

  • george lockwood 30+

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    Nov 25 2012: You are all right,but as long as a few fanatics can mess things up - I see little hope. When a nut and fanatic can get a child to serve as a living bomb and blow up others,and the Israelis have to seek revenge How can they find peace? If the nut right builds houses where they feel like then the Palestinians do their thing. Do we really control our own destinies in a World filled with fanatics. Of Course not! Average adults with the leadership of Saints would have solved this long ago and everyone would be friends. Look at some of my heroes Lincoln, Jesus, and Gandhi All murdered by their own. All the best to all sides.
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      Roger Farinha

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      Nov 25 2012: It just seems to me, from a rational point of view, that there cannot be any subtle approach to peace in the Israel case. Israel must either give up statehood and dissolve into the Arab state, or the Palestinians must give up statehood and dissolve into Israel. Otherwise, they will constantly be firing at one another.

      Any one people dissolving into the other wouldn't exempt them from demanding fair and just treatment as a people, though. All I'm saying is that peace as a phenomena, rather than a quietude of pride, is more possible with one state and two people, than two peoples' states.

  • Adel Munkar

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    Nov 25 2012: Here's an interesting report on the Israel-Palestinian issue from the son of a general of Israel's army. It's really informational and thought provoking.

    http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article32739.htm
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      Roger Farinha

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      Nov 25 2012: I saw it. Very interesting. I would say that people who are willing to put their necks out for peace and brotherhood should be generally welcomed by all.

  • greg dahlen 30+

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    Nov 24 2012: Well, a first question might be, how do the leaders of Palestine achieve their position of leadership? Are they voted in? Do they seize power? If they are voted in, one might believe they more or less represent the desires of the Palestinian people.
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      Roger Farinha

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      Nov 24 2012: I find it hard to believe that the Palestinians in their heart of hearts endorse Hamas' shooting rockets from playgrounds and using the blood and guts of their children for political gain...

      • greg dahlen 30+

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        Nov 29 2012: well, "endorse" is a strong word. It is conceivable to me that it's okay with them, otherwise wouldn't you hear about the palestinian people rising up against their leaders? We certainly know that the inhabitants of a country have tolerated far worse from their leaders without protest, Nazi Germany is the first example that comes to mind. Do you know any Arabic people, Roger? In the United States I've met very few Arabic people, although I've met people from many different countries and ethnic groups. I wonder if Arabic people like Arabia and don't leave it to emigrate like people from other countries. If you knew Arabic people you could ask them how the mass of Palestinians feel about violent actions by their leaders. Maybe they feel like they have to do the occasional violent thing or Israel won't respect them. Or you could read a book about the Palestinians and see how they feel about the occasional violent thing they do.
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    Gail . 50+

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    Nov 24 2012: You are very unfamiliar with what has been going on in the area.
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      Roger Farinha

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      Nov 24 2012: I'd appreciate your informing me of what you know...
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    Xavier Belvemont 30+

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    Nov 24 2012: Its clear that Israel has no long term interest in fixing this issue as they inevitably want all of the land in the region.
    Recently, Palestine applied for statehood within the UN. This would have secured its borders and thus Israel would have no ability to take over any additional land.
    Both Israel and America have gone out of their way to block it.
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      Roger Farinha

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      Nov 24 2012: Like I said in another article, I feel the West Bank settlements is an hypocritical attempt of Israel to expand its borders. I would respect it more if they were just to come out and say it, or even just act on it all out. When Obama proposed the earlier borders, they were up in arms because they realized he was calling out the head of the secret snake...
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