The donor conference in Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt was successfully concluded with international donors pledging nearly USD4.5 billion to rebuilt war battered Gaza. But as usual it comes with conditions – the money will not be channeled through Hamas and there must establish a unity government in Palestine. If one were to recall, this is not the first of its kind pledging conference for the cause of Palestine. The last one was held in 2007 in Paris and it has not led to anything to-date. So were the earlier conferences. All the pledging conferences in the past had not led to anything. So will the latest pledging conference if the international community still fail to address the core issue of peace. Despite the 22 days onslaught by Israel on Gaza, the international community could only muscle the economic strength to pledge knowing fully well that it would not lead to anything. It is like some kind of political obligation (cowardice) for others to take note and guilt for having allowed the onslaught to take place. [Picture: Courtesy of Al- Jazeera]
While the conference was going on in Egypt, Israel was herself busy with plans to build settlement in the West Bank. And the world could only offer a muted or silent voice to all these illegal actions. The mainstream media of the West by design will ensure that this story will never be heard. Perhaps the issue would be raised at the UN and another resolution passed to add to all the other resolutions that is gathering dusts in the annals of the UN history. Nobody dares to question Israel's authority! And worst still the Americans taxpayers will continue to finance all these illegal settlements
There will be no peace between the two countries until the "powers that be" dared to take a neutral stand on the issue. The issue can only be resolved through justice and as it is, there is none in sight. Though not wishing to sound pessimistic, I will not be surprised if the world will witness the same cycle of "truce, war (onslaught on Palestine), international outcry, donors conference" once again in the not too distant future. Unless there is a serious concerted effort to impose laws and regulations on all parties – Palestine and Israel, there will be no peace.
OR PERHAPS SINCE THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE WORLD HAVE FAILED TO FIND A LASTING SOLUTION TO THE ISSUE OVER THE PAST 60 YEARS, WHY NOT ALLOW THE PEOPLE AND THE CIVIL SOCIETIES OF THE WORLD TO SIT TOGETHER AND FIND A SOLUTION. THEY HAVE LESS POLITICAL BAGGAGE OR CONSIDERATION BUT JUSTICE, FAIRNESS AND HUMANITY.
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