It's All About Unforgiveness

This is psychology. A victim of abuse puts up walls to prevent further and future abuse. It's understandable. The victim is paranoid and will stop at nothing to make sure no abuse ever happens again. Unfortunately, paranoia prevents a victim from having normal relationships with normal non-abusive people. Walls prevent a person from building bridges and being able to understand others.

Now let's take a look at the case of a victim of land-grabbing where a person's real property has been stolen by a close relative. The victim is bitter and seething with anger. In his mind he wants to take vengeance against the oppressor. At times he may act out his bitterness and anger in physical and verbal ways against his oppressor.

Imagine this. The first party is a paranoid victim of abuse. The second party is a bitter victim of oppression. Each party will never be able to understand the point of view of the other. The former thinks the latter is abusing him every time the latter acts out his bitterness.

The only real solution is forgiveness. Unless the paranoid victim of abuse learns to forgive his abuser, he will not be able to have normal relationships with non-abusive people. Unless the victim of oppression learns to forgive his oppressor, he will never be able to settle with his perceived oppressors.

This is the story of Israel and Palestine — historically the Jews view the Palestinians as the Philistines (who represent all anti-Semitists, see this article and this) — and historically the Palestinians view Israel as the Crusaders (who represent real estate grabbers and oppressors). Add to that religious bigotry — Americans and Jews viewing all Muslims as anti-Christian and anti-Jews and  Arabs viewing all Christians as infidels. We have the recipe for an endless war.

Israel vows lasting Gaza campaign

The scenes of destruction in Gaza City

Israel says it is ready for "long weeks of action" as it continues its fiercest air assault on Gaza for decades to stamp out militant rocket attacks.

Palestinian officials say 10 people died in the latest attacks, taking the death toll to over 360 since Saturday. Four Israelis have died in rocket fire.

Israeli Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit rejected any ceasefire until the threat of rockets was removed completely.

A UN human rights monitor accused Israel of "shocking atrocities".

Richard Falk - the special rapporteur for human rights in the Palestinian territories - said the international community must put more pressure on Israel to end its attacks on Gaza.

"Israel is committing a shocking series of atrocities by using modern weaponry against a defenceless population - attacking a population that has been enduring a severe blockade for many months," Mr Falk said in a BBC interview.

The UN says at least 62 of the Palestinians killed so far have been women and children, and it is calling for an investigation into attacks which causing heavy civilian casualties.

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