The Gaza Pullout Nightmare

Obviously there are a lot of emotions running high in the Palestine/Israel area lately because of the orders sent to the settlers to vacate the area. Being served with eviction notices by their own fellow countrymen is not a pleasant task on either end. There is more to the story than meets the eye.

According to the settlers in the area, this is a grave injustice being served upon them. Looking at it from the point of view of the people being evicted, you can understand why they are upset. No one likes to be kicked out of their home. It happens all the time, somewhere in the world someone is being evicted out of a place they have come to call home. To have the police, their fellow countryment, serve them with papers and orders to follow to have their belongings forced out of the property and lock up. Being evicted under normal circumstances is not a pleasant task for the people being evicted nor for the ones who must carry out the orders.

These settlers have lived in the area for over the last 40 years. They have their roots to the land. A few generations have had time to grow up there. Some have never before left the area. To be told to get out is outrageous, in their minds. They have broken no laws. They paid their dues. They worked hard to get these homes and acquire the property. They had no say in this decision to turn over their homes and it is highly unfair.

At least, that's how they see it.

When I lived in Chicago, I was always floored by people who moved to Bensonville, a suburb in the Northwest, who complained about the noise from the airport. When they moved into the area, they knew there was an airport nearby. What did they think would happen?

When these settlers moved into the Gaza strip area, they knew it was a disputed territory. The dispute had never been resolved while they were living there. It should have occured, somewhere in the back of their minds, that perhaps one day the dispute would be settled and it just might not be the way they wanted.

As Ariel Sharon stepped into office, he was on a platform of not negotiating with the terrorist groups such as Hamas. Back then, Arafat was still very much alive and in control of the direction of these terrorist organizations. When he stepped into office, his decisions were based upon the circumstances at the time. Times have changed and so must his policy.

There has been so much bloodshed, so much loss of innocent lives on both sides. Isn't it time that concessions be made for the sake of future generations? If it means sacrificing one area of land and acknowledging the rights of Palestinians just to have security to the Israeli people, isn't it worth it? It seems as if these Gaza residents do not care about the overall big picture and do not want to give up their "property" for the cause.

Of course, there is a growing concern among some in the Israeli camps. What if it does not stop there? What if they want more? What about those among the Palestinians who just do not want to live next to the Israelis at all who would rather see them all dead? Is giving up this land surrendering to an enemy that wants to take it all away?

Both Palestinians and Israelis see this area as their God given right. Both sides have suffered abuse and genocide and have had to put their plea to a worldwide audience. Both sides have committed war crimes, genocide and general acts of terrorism against each other. Neither side has the moral superiority on this issue.

As an American, I can appreciate the difficulty of the situation. What if one day the Natives wanted to reclaim the land and boot out all the Americans? What if the world was on their side as they claimed it was their God given right to the land and site the abuses, the genocide, and the broken treaties before a world counsel to gain sympathy for their cause? One day, the world could come together and order all Americans off the land and return it to their owners. We would have a similar reaction here.

I wish those departing from their homes well. I hope there will finally come a day of peace in the entire region. In the words of Rodney King, "Can't we all just get along?"

Ministry of Get A Miracle