The costs of war – and of peace

It seems that the latest plan for peace – or at least a cessation of overt combat – is being implemented in Canaan. All be it with many setbacks and detours. We know what the costs of war have been, and continue to be. But do we understand the costs of peace? Regardless of how close to real peace, and not just another ceasefire and temporary cessation of (most) hostilities, is going to be achieved?

Many are singing the praises of The Donald for negotiating this deal. Of course, many more are screaming in frustration that the Bad Orange Guy has actually lived up to his boasting. At least for now. Several point out that the “leftists” (Regressives) are in a pickle: they’ve been screaming about Israeli genocide of Palestinians (or Gazans, at least) and demanding that the US (and others) stop it. But at what political cost to the Regressives?

But (as expected), many more people also are continuing to condemn The Donald. Both for a bad job and for demanding or promising things that they disagree with. And there are also many who are just ignoring what he and the other negotiators did, and what is going on now.

Of course, we assume after well over a century of Arab-Jewish conflict, and of Western (Brit, French, American) double-dealing and stupidity, this is really peace. Trump is very optimistic – but then, he always is. Most Israelis and many Arabs are also happy. But will it last?

We continue to see the lies from both sides. And we know this is not going to change. Was Israel committing “genocide” as claimed. Gaza had and has 2.2 million residents. The Hamas “medical authorities clim that the Israelis have killed almost 68 thousand: as far as population counts go, that is a rounding error, despite the tragedy of the individual deaths.

It is without a doubt: much of the killing is revenge for the Israelis killed and kidnapped and tortured two years ago despite what the Israelis claim.

At the same time, we question the actual numbers: Hamas and other Palestinian institutions have as bad or worse a record than the Israelis. It is easy to say a pox on both their houses.

And on those that have both instigated and supported (morally or materially) the two sides in a brutal war. A war more brutal in many ways than anything in the last 50+ years. Indeed, reminding us of the horrors of the Thirty Years War (1600s).

Although the war between Hamas and Israel is now at least on hold, within hours, reports came out that Hamas is attempting to regain control of the 2 million people of Gaza. This includes fighting with local militias and conducting public executions of collaborators and opponents. This is not peace. And once more, we see a “government” trying to do what governments do.

Once more, government (multiple governments) seem to be squandering all opportunity to truly clean up a mess that has lasted far longer than just the nearly 80 years since the founding of the State of Israel. As a result, millions of people continue to live in danger, in tyranny, and in relative poverty compared to what they could have.

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