Israel and Palestine
Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2025 3:44 pm
I've been struggling with this one for a while now and no matter what I read, I still can't get enough of a clear picture to be able to say I understand the current crisis - or more importantly, what it's going to take to end it.
I've read "Dawn of the Promised Land" by Ben Wicks (Brilliant book about the Middle East and how we got here) and have read article after article online but I'm still not completely clear. I've thought about asking cousins and friends who sport Palestine badges etc but don't want to get drawn into something I can't get out of . So I thought I'd ask here as this is a very knowledgeable and experienced place.
A BBC report framed the current impasse as this:
"What will it take for you to take off your Palestine badge ? What does the "end" look like - not victory or loss - just the end so you can say "We'll thank God that's sorted?
Because I really don't know.
I've read "Dawn of the Promised Land" by Ben Wicks (Brilliant book about the Middle East and how we got here) and have read article after article online but I'm still not completely clear. I've thought about asking cousins and friends who sport Palestine badges etc but don't want to get drawn into something I can't get out of . So I thought I'd ask here as this is a very knowledgeable and experienced place.
A BBC report framed the current impasse as this:
- The hard-line militant Palestine side - Hamas etc. - stick to the mantra "River to the Sea" which, If I understand correctly, means the entire Jewish population of Israel either staying put to be subjugated or moving onto somewhere else and the whole region becomes / reverts to Mandatory Palestine. Israel is no more
- The Palestinian Authority do support the two state model - exact borders will still be a problem - but in theory, it allows for 2 nations to coexist in the same place, no mass displacement or subjugation in either place (in theory). This is also the favoured international solution
- The Israeli government do NOT support the 2 state model because they believe as soon as fully recognised Palestinian state is created, then Hamas et al will take over and there will now have an official recognised country on their border from which they can continue their efforts to gain "From the River to the Sea" etc.
"What will it take for you to take off your Palestine badge ? What does the "end" look like - not victory or loss - just the end so you can say "We'll thank God that's sorted?
Because I really don't know.