On the plane from Dubai to Houston, there is news a cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah has been reached.
There are the compulsory platitudes from those who asked me about it, showing a bit of optimism that things are getting better. But I, and perhaps they as well, knew that this was an illusion that things are changing. We breathe a tentative breath and hope that the rockets may not fire as regularly, but the chess board hasn't changed. We're still playing the same game and still have the same pieces.
I am hoping this cease-fire will save innocent lives. People are actively working to stop the bleeding on one part of this dysmorphic body structure. Though, to change things systemically without resorting to violence, there needs to be an elevated change in the societal structures we've built and maintained.
Same is true for Gaza. More so. When the atrocities on the population in Gaza ends, when the hostages are freed, what will have fundamentally changed in the relationships between Israel and the Palestinian people of Gaza? Is there also an illusion that Israel will defeat Hamas? What happens in 5-10 years when another terror group emerges? What happens when the Palestinian people in Gaza are still suffering and without fundamental resources?
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The cease-fire lasted all but one week until rockets were exchanged again:
Headlines:
"Israeli strikes hit southern Lebanon, but tense ceasefire holds" "Israel, Hezbollah trade fire" "U.S. tells Israel it is concerned Lebanon ceasefire could unravel" "Israeli strikes kill 11 in Lebanon after fire exchanges with Hezbollah that test ceasefire’s limits"
I don't know what constitutes a break in a case-fire agreement, but I imagine when rockets are exchanged, it is hard to still say there is a cease-fire in place.
The illusion of change quickly evaporated, but I imagine no one flinched when this became apparent. It's expected.
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As people either fight to eliminate Hamas, to free Palestine, to come together Muslim and Jew, what is the society in this part of the world we are envisioning so the chess board fundamentally changes?
How can we stop praying on our illusions?
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