Making Amends

Olmert says he's sorry that Israel killed nineteen people in their homes yesterday - many of them children:

Palestinians marched in anger and mourning on Thursday for 18 civilians killed by Israeli artillery — baring for cameras the battered faces of two dead children. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of Israel offered to ease tensions by meeting the Palestinian president “anytime, anyplace.”

“I am very uncomfortable with this event,” Mr. Olmert said at a business conference in Tel Aviv. “I’m very distressed.”

I am always glad when people apologize for their mistakes or transgressions. When my own children do it, I tell them that sorry is just the first step. They have to change their behavior. If my son hits his brother, says sorry, then hits him again, sorry just isn't enough.

Palestinians shell Israel. Israel bombs Palestinians. We know that diplomacy is the only way to resolve these situations. If all parties agree to abide by all UN resolutions, the violence would dissolve rapidly.

America is paralyzed and will not step in. Brothers and sisters in the Semitic world, if you really want peace, you will have to make it for yourselves. Peace is possible but only through a just solution for the Palestinians (that includes security assurances - realistic ones - for the Israelis).

Comments

[Richard Silverstein]

Sad but true.

I don't believe for a minute that Olmert is sorry. In fact, I don't even know whether to believe that he really wants or intends on meeting with Abbas as he promised today. He's one helluva prevaricator. He's saying now what he feels he has to say given the level of outrage both in Palestine & the outside world.

He figures rather than let Israel be crucified (inapt choice I realize) by the world, he'll eat a little crow & see if that calms things down enough to get back to business as usual.

Sorry for being so cynical. But what else can one be with such outrages?

[Hootsbuddy]

Ellie Weisel said, "A destruction only man can provoke, only man can prevent. Mankind must remember that peace is not God's gift to his creatures, it is our gift to each other."

Your point is well taken.