Road Map to Peace in the Middle East

'The Wall'

Clearly the planning and building of the 'Security Wall' by the Israeli government is to be deplored. As with so many things the Israeli government do, it is counterproductive in the long term. This only antagonises the Palestinians even further and adds fuel to their claims of injustice in Palestine.

My sympathies have always been with the Palestinians and the need for Israel to move towards the creation of a viable Palestinian State as quickly as possible, and this Wall does nothing to move in that direction.

I believe the government have been critical of the Israeli government and have made representations along these lines. A debate was held in Westminster Hall and a full text can be found via the Parliament home page. www.parliament.uk

However, as you can see below I have learnt from working with peace and reconciliation projects world wide that condemning a situation does nothing to bring peace any closer. We have to put ourselves into the mindset of both parties to understand where common ground can be found and inch by inch restore trust to take forward measures that bridge the gap.

Does the Road Map Offer the Chance of Peace in the Middle East?

To be perfectly frank it has to. It is the only hope we have at the moment of standing any chance of bringing the two sides together.

I Fully understand that the obstacles that lie in its path seem unsurmountable, but this process needs patience. Of course the main sticking ground will be what has been called 'simultaniety' - one of those made up words that finds its way into political speak every now and then. Each side cannot demand the other gives ground before an action takes place. On thr contrary the two sides need to act simultaneaously... recognise the Palastinain state for ending suicide bombings.

My goal is the establishment of a viable Palestinian State and security for Israel and an end to the violence that surrounds the process.

I have had a certain amount of experience behind the scenes during crucial periods of the Northern Ireland Peace Process and this has taught me that loud condemntation might make one feel good, but it does nothing to move the process forward. In my heart I would admit to be on the Republican side of the argument, but found that I had to work with Unionists. Only by taking a non condemnatory line - almost accepting that both sides are as bad/ or good as each other, could you ever hope to inch towards reconiliation. The same is true of the Middle East. There will always be a minority of both extremes who probably will never have a meeting of minds. Whilst we cannot afford to ignore them we cannot let them be the sole target of the peace process. It is the 98% in the middle who want peace, even at a price of compromise where maximum effort needs to be made.

It would be all too easy to see things from either side - condemning the actions of Israel in the West Bank or Gaza for example. Or condemning PLO Suicide bombers in Tel Aviv, killing and maiming women and children. But these words do nothing for reconciliation. All they do is confirm the hatred and distrust.

I personally deplore the actions of Israel in most of these matters - the settlements, the revenge killings, and the conditions of Palestinians, but in order to understand how to move this process forward you have to put yourelf into the position of an average Israeli, fearful of suicide bombers on your childs school bus. In a rational way I could argue that the best way to bring that fear to an end would be through a peace process and finding acceptable terms for the Palastinians and a viable state. But that requires trust and that does not exist.

All of this may seem to be a middle way that pleases neither 'lobby'. It is not. It is the lessons I have learned about peace and reconciliation from experience and my hope that those involved in the Road Map will join togther to take the rhetorical heat out of the Middle East and allow the dialogue to start. There will be many harsh words along the way and many set backs, but the ultimate goal has to remain the focus.

Updated May 2003