God of mercy and compassion
Of grace and reconciliation
Pour your power upon all your children
In the Middle East:
Jews, Muslims, and Christians,
Palestinians and Israelis
Let hatred be turned into love
Fear to trust, despair to hope
Oppression to freedom,
Occupation to liberation
That violent encounters
May be replaced by loving embraces
And peace and justice could be
Experienced by all.

Rev. Dr Said Ailabouni.

__________________________________________________________________

Two people, one land
Three faiths, one root
One earth, one mother
One sky, one beginning, one future
One destiny
One broken heart, One God
We pray to You, Grant us a vision of unity
May we see the many in the one
And the one in the many
May you, Life of All the Worlds
Source of All Amazing Differences
Help us to see clearly
Guide us gently and firmly toward
Each other, toward peace.

Rabbi Sheila Weinberg.

Dear Foxy,

«Two people, one land
Three faiths, one root»

You can never get anywhere until you understand and acknowledge that there are many more than two people in that land, and far more than three faiths.

Oversimplifying the situation can be poetic, but is anything but practical.

Yuyutsu,

It was an attempt by a Jewish Rabbi to get a message
of peace across. They were not my words, but certainly
a valid attempt by a Jewish Rabbi
one of which I'm sure all of us can
approve because the quest for peace is more important
than criticizing the language used.

And there are people on both sides who are seeking
peace.

Plus the reference to "two people"is symbolic -
of the two sides involved in this struggle.
That of Israel and Palestine. You did not have to
take it literally. It is a poem after all.

Shadowminister,

You simpered: "The area surrounding Gaza is recognised internationally as Israel and not as occupied, this is not a defence."

What an idiotic statement.

That would render any Israeli airstrike into Gaza as not a defensive action. Fine by me.

You further whinged: "These animals are not brave as they overwhelmingly attacked women and other civilians and have scuttled back to Gaza with hostages to hide amongst their women and children."

In operation Cast Lead the UNHCR said 65% of the 2125 deaths were civilians, IDF claimed only 36% of them were civilians, another 30% were apparently "Uncatergorised males between 16 and 50.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Gaza_War

The large number of those attending the music festival and dancing through the night were Israelis of military age likely to have been trained how to kill Palestinians.

This in no way excuses shooting these unarmed combatants. That is against International law. But in the past the IDF has thought nothing of bombing the homes of Gazan policemen (who they have lumped in as combatants) killing they and their families.

As to hostages there are thousands upon thousands of Palestinian hostages, many who have not been charged, rotting in Israeli prisons.

Israel has in the past freed 1,000 of them to secure the release of a single Israeli.

It is an understandable tactical move by Hamas.

Now I'm not expecting your stunted brain will be able to cope with this, but there really isn't that much separating the two sides.

If you are Muslim, you will believe the words of the Koran to kill all Jews, hence the chant by Palestinians, "From the Jordan to the sea all Palestine shall be free".
http://www.msn.com/en-au/news/other/reign-of-terror-hamas-terrorists-bent-on-eliminating-israel-and-jewish-people/ar-AA1hUKiT?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=e879807711824ae681633f93a8e37