Middle East Peace

Decades have now passed by without peace in the Middle East. So many factions scrambling for their own piece of the world; it is where they live and have roots for thousands of years; and influence, too! Maybe the latter is the ultimate goal anyway?

Compromises have been made to save lives and to build trust. Over time lives are lost. Trust evaporates. Over and over again. Each change in context of any issue shifts the burdens of discussion and compromise. Kaleidoscopic processes have not yielded the goal of peace.

Trouble is – too many trying to be placated at the same time. Only God could unscramble this mess. And Jerusalem remains the bone of contention for the three religions in the region. And three primary religions of the globe. The three creeds that proclaim love and peace, continue being at odds with each other. Maybe the elders get along with other religious elders, but followers don’t. The result: peace remains ungrasped.

Ungrasped. A good word. Something reached for but left not touched.

Here are some ideas to work on in the Middle East; maybe these can push peace processes to fresh tactics?:

1.      America, get off the oil standard and do not prop up oil prices globally

2.      Renewable energy grasped in a fast-moving technology; do it; watch peace break out in the Middle East; as the world demand for oil declines so will power and influence in the region; then they will be faced with just who they are, and their histories

3.      Do not prop up Israel’s budget or military strength; they are pursuing their own destiny separate from all other regional nations; they do not compromise enough, or soon enough, to make a difference in the desired outcomes

4.      Propose a UN program to share Middle Eastern governance of Gaza, Golan Heights and Israel plus a 100 mile radius boundary around that territory. Peace will have to come from those sharing the governance authority. Cooperation and collaboration will become a must- have to all if any stability is to happen

5.      UN to police the agreement in #4, above; violators will be subject to global sanctions designed to hurt/maim violator’s economy

6.      America to sell as much oil as we have to destroy the global price of oil; all oil producers will have to learn to cooperate if they are to prosper

I wish it were simpler to bring peace to this region. However, the region has been violent from the beginning of recorded history. Violent rule. Usurpation of national identity. Imposition of religions. Plunder of wealth and subjugation of vanquished peoples. Over and over again. Perhaps they are ungovernable? I doubt that. But they are not easily disciplined to seek peace and avoid violence.

As much as I dislike and distrust mr. trump, starting from scratch in the Middle East may be the only means to find peace.

May 16, 2018