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January 6, 2009
Status Quo vs. Solution for Middle East
Posted: 12:42 PM ET
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A relative of a Palestinian victim cries out outside a hospital in Gaza City on Monday.
A relative of a Palestinian victim cries out outside a hospital in Gaza City on Monday.

Eboo Patel
On Faith
Washingtonpost.com

I spent much of the weekend communicating with Muslim and Jewish leaders on the recent crisis in Gaza. Here was my basic question: "Have you reached out to leaders in the other community to find a solution to the conflict?"

Here was the most common answer: "I'd love to talk to people in the other community. Can you give me the phone numbers of folks who agree with our position? If they'll appear with us at a media event, or put their name on our press release, that's even better."

That's a perfectly understandable instinct, but it doesn't lead to a solution. It's just a continuation of the logic that has led us here.

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11 Comments
More about: Israel •  Palestine •  Religion
11 Comments
Cindy   January 6th, 2009 1:09 pm ET

I totally agree with the "rules" expressed here. To get past this fighting between the Muslims and Jews each side has to reach out and try to understand what the other is going through and thinking. Yet at the same time they also need to forget the past and move on into the future. Always living in the past holds back anything good that can come to you in the future because you're holding on to something that prevents you from moving on. Hopefully we can get some sort of dialog going on between the two to keep these wars from going on anymore.

Cindy...Ga.

Alex   January 6th, 2009 1:51 pm ET

Lets face it folks, these two side just enjoy killing one another. They live in the past and will never change until someone finally says ENOUGH ALREADY. Obviously they haven't gotten to that point in time and it'll be a long time before they ever do. The body count seems to be more important to both sides.

Tony A   January 6th, 2009 1:58 pm ET

Where is Obama?
Obama’s credibility is lost! All Hope is lost! The change we believed in is a fairy tale!
Obama’s silence on the Israeli atrocities in Gaza and on the violation of multiple international laws is deafening. All lovers of freedom, humanity, and liberty were cheering Obama on his way to the white house. Today we see Obama completely silent claiming that there is only one president. However, Mr. Obama was quick to speak out against the Mumbai attacks in the strongest of words. What is going on? Were we all duped? I guess we were naïve in our hope. As the majority of the world population is standing steadfast in support of the children of Gaza, the pictures of white phosphorus charred children coming from Gaza are not sufficient to solicit a response from Mr. Obama.

Dina from California   January 6th, 2009 2:27 pm ET

No reaction when Israel bombs a UNRWA school?!? How can anyone get away with this? There is complicity in the process.

Jessica S. Tooma   January 6th, 2009 2:32 pm ET

Religious leaders, for the most part, want peace for all peoples in the world. What needs to happen first is an understanding of all sides of the conflict.
Recent conflicts in the Middle East have begun when one side has felt threatened through violence or occupation of another countries land, air and naval space. Blockades on goods and humanitarian aid and closed boarders creates more problems. Militant groups take up arms, and gain the support of their countrymen in the process, in order to fight against one of the largest armies in the world.

Each side blames the other for ending a truce.

Talking to religious leaders is not enough.

Chad   January 6th, 2009 2:55 pm ET

Do anyone think that this is a just and equal fight? Israeli's tanks and depleted Uranium bombs verses civilian, no mater what they religion and nationalities.

Chad   January 6th, 2009 3:03 pm ET

Do you all really think that this is a just and equal fight? Israeli's tanks and depleted Uranium bombs verses civilian, no mater what they religion and nationalities.

tj340   January 6th, 2009 3:17 pm ET

their can never be peace as long as the death's get higher the more people are going to fight so how can their be peace ??

tj340   January 6th, 2009 3:20 pm ET

how many people are dead cindy ?? alot so how can u say that this will stop ??

tj340   January 6th, 2009 3:25 pm ET

what the jews are doing are wrong and u know it

jim Fallbrook   January 6th, 2009 6:04 pm ET

I can tell you this. There is no chance of ending this through negotiations. Negotiations with terrorists or muslims don't work. History has proven that. Trying to negotiate with them is like talking to a brick wall. The fact is that Hamas started this crisis as did Hezbollah in Lebanon. Therefore Israel had no choice but to attack Hamas in Gaza. I hope they don't give in to a cease fire before they erradicate Hamas.

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