In the O.T. God told Israel the price of disobedience: there would be severe consequences that would escalate as long as Israel failed to listen. FYI, a lot of the reason why Israel went into Babylonian captivity was due to charging of excessive interest, which would lead to economic collapse one way or another. Oppression of the poor. In any case, ultimately, if they continued to disobey, they would be in such a terrible state the nations would look at them in horror. This would seem to have come true in the concentration camps. He also promised He would never stop loving them. Isaiah 43 to 45 talks about restoration.
The early founders and emigrating jews believed literally in the promises of desert being filled with water, a flying wing carrying them back to their own land, etc. And a lot of it does seem to have come true.
How easy it is to ignore conscience and say f*~#k god. It isn't God who wants destruction. Do you honestly think God has nothing better to do than watch people hurt each other? By the way, I have noticed it is almost every time the church that feeds and clothes people.
As I posted before, (but all the missiles went whizzing over my head since then), as a South African example, reconciliation can only come once schools become integrated. Constant media barrage of a unity, not one nation of course as they both think their god wants to destroy the other, but at least unity. Once the children learn and play together, the rest will follow. A new generation will grow up with different ideas to their predecessors.
A "Truth And Reconciliation Committee" like they had in South Africa would go a long way towards opening dialogue, too. It would be an extremely difficult path.
And, oh, once blacks came to power in South Africa, the ANC favoured their own, Xhosa people. Coloureds, (interracial), and Indian people found it just as hard to be employed or promoted as did whites. Zulus were marginalised, hence conflicts in Kwazulu Natal. It is only recently things have improved, particularly with Jacob Zuma, a Zulu, being up for election.
Like on these posted threads, people dig in their heels, then resort to insults. Who said what first is irrelevant to reconciliation. One needs to THINK reconciliation, even from your own country. Eventually, it may be picked up.
As for the actual article posted on top here: it appears that Israel has tried really hard to 1) please its own constituents; 2) warn Hamas; 3) send food and supplies in; 4) do what any nation would do, try to attack the threat.
Only problem, is, violence always leads to violence.
I do believe myself though that Israel should not have built the wall. This brought great hardship to the Palestinians. But then again, I wasn't there at the time. It just seems that they could have tried to increase the prosperity of their neighbours in previous years. How do you do that, though, when so many carry weapons and bombs concealed on their person?
The bible talks of an antichrist who will bring a three year period of peace. Be interesting to see if that happens, whether you believe in the bible or not......