A Break In The Mid-Eastern Clouds?

06/27/2006

Paul Munnis

There are two possible bits of good news showing today. The first is that Hamas and Fatah are in agreement to recognize Israel from a Palestinian government viewpoint.

The second is that Iraq is starting to form a bit of political consensus for the future based upon al-Maliki’s plan for reconciliation.

Never mind that Israel is massing along the Palestinian border and getting ready to roll into Palestine to rescue a Hamas captured soldier. Never mind that the GOP is doing everything it can in the USA to undermine a political solution to the Iraqi War with their latest issues of “No Amnesty for Sunni’s and Insurgents,” and “No Timetable to End the War.”

The GOP doesn’t get it. They are not running Iraq anymore (not that they ever did)—the Iraqi government is.

Admittedly we are like a region too long without life-giving rain. We look at each passing cloud as if it might contain the needed rainfall for sustaining life.

As we start to work at resolving Iraq it is inevitable that political accommodation must be accomplished and it is also clear that not everyone will like the terms. The main thing is to stop the killing. We will all like that. Sometimes the ends justify the means and that includes letting God provide the needed justice.

As Israel and Palestine struggle to live side-by-side, they too must reach political accommodation. We hope they can find a way. For 56 years their struggles have been seen by the whole world. That is a lot of people denied quality of life, peace, education, and tranquility—four generations of social turbulence. It is time to resolve this issue and if the parties can’t do so then the UN may have to do the job for them. The world cannot afford much more of this mid-eastern instability. Peace will have its turn in the sun.