Isn't it sad that people can't live peacefully together? In Northern Ireland (Ulster) an attempt is at last being made to forge a new beginning with people who were once sworn enemies trying to get along with each other for a greater good. Attempts by a marginalised few to derail the process have not succeeded and I hope they never will. Even the Rev Ian Paisley seems a changed man. This is the stuff of true statesmanship. Incidentally, I note that a lot of the ground work leading up to the settlement was done by the Quakers, always a quiet, unsung force for non-violence and peace in the world.
In the Middle East the long drawn out conflict between Israel and the Palestinians continues with periodic eruptions of hatred and violence on both sides. My knowledge of the post WW2 settlement in the region is weak but I cannot, for the life of me, understand why, two generations later, they cannot arrive at a peaceful agreement on statehood that is good for everyone. I read on the BBC website that a one state solution, with both Palestinian and Israeli people sharing equal rights in one state, is on the table again. It should be possible to make this work with trust and good will on all sides. It takes an act of great faith to make geo-political solutions work, so I wish them luck and good judgement.
See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-21850739 .
If a liberal (USA version) Democratic president in his second and last tour in the White House cannot/won't persuade Israel to be a bit more restrained in it's expansionist policies, I see absolutely no future peaceful resolutions. The Israeli lobby in the US congress is very powerful. Money talks..caca walks.
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