Flezzey writes 'And, yes, I HAVE read the end of the book - Israel's postion is sad - all this bloodshed CAN be avoided, but it won't be.' You are right to declare that what is needed is ' LOVE, FORGIVENESS, RECONCILIATION' but you concede 'all this bloodshed can be avoided but it won't. Why? Because both sides have rejected the Messiah but one would have to bury their heads in the sand to see that God has not finished with Israel. They have been cut off for a season from God (Read Romans 11). Throughout history they have sent themselves into captivity by ignoring God and their covenant with Him. One day they will know the Messiah! Everything written in the Scriptures have accurately described what would happen to Israel up to now so I don't see things changing now. God's Word has and will continue to come to pass. GROWING UP has very little to do with it. Maybe you need to reread Romans 11.

The article is indeed a breath of fresh air. Especially for those of us who are sympathetic to the notion of an Israel, but deeply perturbed by human rights violations perpetrated by Israel.

It would do well for many to realise that Palestinian does not always mean Muslim. Christian Palestinians are having an as difficult time. The issue is being Palestinian. Israel simply does not want Palestinians to live within its borders. It purports to be democratic, but also Jewish, so it is important that the majority of its citizens are Jewish otherwise it would simply cease to be a Jewish state.

Fortunately there are more and more voices, Christian-like recently Jimmy Carter, and also Jewish, beginning to speak out and question about what is happening.

The scary thing is that although in the West we like to pride ourselves on 'free speech', that is still not acceptable on some subjects. Especially for Jewish people who want to speak out, or at least question how Israel is responding seems to be fraught with vehement condemnation.

History buffs might like to look up the borders of the different 'Israels' and also look at this wildly snaking concrete wall which does not follow any border that is being built supposedly for protection. Bethelem in Palestinian territory, for instance has been effectively isolated and consequently there are not even many Christian Palestinians left here.

Looks like George Dubya might be fed up trying to gain oil mileage in the Middle East, after saying that he wants America to depend on vegetative fuel like Brazil rather than fossilised fuel.

Reckon we might soon find out really who's the big chief when Cheney takes over. With all the big oil companies behind Cheney, we might soon see who's really running the show, with Iran quickly taken over helped by atomic little spitty-fire Israel.

We would then be overseen by people you would normally not even say gooday to - people who would soon reveal who the real global racketeers are and the only way to stop them, or maybe to bugger-up what's left of a naturally warming up world, is to invite in Russia and China and maybe Germany, France and India and even Pakistan, to an atomic nuclear fiesta

A Palestinian state was created, it exists. But the government of this state is ruled by a party which calls for the dismantling, even destruction of its neighbour. No nation in the world could negotiate with a group like that.

Dispute about borders often exists. India/Pakistan, UK/Spain over Gibraltar. That does not stop them negotiating with each other. Border disputes are a red herring in this argument.

Runner,

you mis-understand me, perhaps because of an Israel-centric view. It will be sad for Israel, and a lot of other people, BECAUSE the bloodshed prophesied in scripture COULD BE STOPPED, except for Israel's stubborness, and that of mankind IN GENRAL - it is our hardness of heart and sin nature that saw Christ crucified, and every other person slaughtered on the altar of war - read human pride, desire for revenge, etc etc.

Biblical prophesy does NOT have to happen - Adam & Eve did not have to sin - at every point, in every generation, and in each person's life, we have CHOICES. those choices determine our future - individually and jointly. Each of us CAN CHOOSE a different path.

Anyway, I was trying not to be religious, for the benefit of those who do not share the Christian Faith.

The PROBLEM is teh human condition - the ONLY WAY forward is Love, Forgiveness and Reconciliation on ALL sides - The Arab, The Muslim, The Jew, the Christian, the Atheist, the Agnostic (if such a one exists.

All of mankind has a Will, and peace requires ONLY THIS - that we align our HUMAN WILL toward Peace and Reconciliation. God's Will if you like.

IT IS WITHIN OUR ABILITY, individually and corporately. Until then further bloodshed is inevitable, and that is what I was referring to - the WHOLE WORLD - Jew and others are all going to pay a horrible cost otherwise, and taht is what scripture refers to - BUT IT DOES NOT HAVE TO HAPPEN THAT WAY, yet inevitably will.

Further, I do not see where ALL Israel will come to Christ - only those who EXERCISE their WILL-POWER to receive Him, like teh first time. I used to believe otherwise, but not now.

This is a good post and contributors need to be as careful with the language and in my view keep it contemporary. Any incoming government as with the Hamas electoral victory needs to accept a previous government's international agreements. Recognition of Israel 'may' have been something Abu Massan (Palestinian Authority president) has conceded. I am not sure of which Israeli borders were agreed to but by logic they should have been pre-1967. Conversely, the Palestinians are an occupied people and a fledgling state so if it is an argument of Hamas they should not be expected to agree to a Faustian choice of 'recognising Israel' without detail as to borders, statehood, joint recognition etc. I believe the new PA cabinet, while rejected by Olmert, (Israeli prime minister) should have a strong case with the European donors for acceptance with signs the US is waivering but could also pull Olmert in line. Problems elsewhere, notably Iraq/Iran could muddy the issue for the US but lets hope some EU fair-mindedness prevails and the Israeli/Palestinian blot on humanity takes one step forward for the sake of all of us who just wish it would stop hanging over us and all prospective OLO bloggers.