The Israel-Hamas War: Open Letter to Palestinian President Mahamoud Abbas...The Path to Comprehensive Peace Between Israel and Palestine.

This article series aims to chart a course toward a lasting peace between Israel and Palestine. The opening piece addresses the Palestinian leader, followed by an installment for Israeli leadership, and concludes with one for the global community.

To President Mahmoud Abbas,

Palestinian Authority,

Ramallah, West Bank

Dear President Abbas,

As of November 25, 2023, the conflict with Israel has resulted in the deaths of 14,532 Palestinian, with projections suggesting a death toll of twenty thousand by the end of the current conflict.

While it may be instinctive to point fingers at Israel or label their retaliation as war crimes, such accusations do nothing to alter the tragic reality: thousands of Palestinians are dead. Leadership is about making prudent, not necessarily popular, decisions. Failure to do so implicates one in the resulting casualties, just as much as those who initiated the violence. Meaning you are as guilty of those deaths as Hamas.?

Lessons from Nelson Mandela

On the very day President Mandela was set to share his vision of peace nationwide, tragedy struck: a bomb was detonated in a black community. Amid the rubble and anguish, there were ?cries for vengeance.

Yet, Mandela chose a different path. Leaving the chaos behind, he moved from the devastation to the airwaves, where he extended an olive branch instead of a clenched fist. Opting not to inflame the wrath of his people, he made a plea for reconciliation over retribution.

This pivotal choice laid the groundwork for the nation we see today: a South Africa marked by progress and unity. President Mandela's commitment to forgiveness over vengeance has woven a tapestry of coexistence among South Africa diverse population, creating the rainbow nation.?

Lessons from Martine Luther King

Civil rights lawyer Bryan Stevenson has observed that some recount the civil rights movement as if it were a brief, triumphant episode. They imagine it began with Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat, the following day the March on Washington, and the next day, the passage of the landmark civil right legislation.

This romanticised narrative omits the prolonged struggle marked by indignity, violence, and the loss of countless lives in the fight for civil rights. Like their mentor Mahatma Gandhi, President Mandela and Martin Luther King consistent call for non-violence was not only a moral stance but a strategic one. ?

Taking a page from Mahatma Gandhi's playbook, they recognised the folly in a marginalised community challenging powerful opponents through force. Gandhi himself had seen the futility of Indians directly opposing the British Empire. President Mandela and Dr. King insight was clear: the path to change was through steadfast peaceful resistance, not destructive conflict.

This is a lesson that you President Abbas and the Palestinian Authority need to learn. Pound for pound, Israel has the best fighting force in the world. All the military experts were predicting the level of difficulty Israel was going to encounter from Hamas if they invaded Gaza. We can all see the so-called resistance quickly faded away.

Basically, what Palestine is up against is the best fighting force in the world backed by the most powerful nation on earth.

Palestine will never win.

The odds are overwhelmingly against Palestine. No matter the determination, the present course will likely lead to further death of Palestinians and the perpetuation of suffering in ghettos and refugee camps. This is a moment that calls for the wisdom displayed by President Mandela and Dr. King, who recognised when a struggle could not be won on the battlefield and chose a different path for the sake of their people.

Palestine is fighting a losing battle.?

So, what's the path forward?

I will outline a strategy for progress shortly, but first, let's address a pervasive misconception among many in the developing world—the idea of an 'International Community' as a savior. This term is often invoked, but it's vague. Who is the international community? Where is his address? Where is his phone number?

I say this not in jest but to confront a recurring pattern: Palestinian leaders frequently appeal to this nebulous 'International Community' for aid, a call that has echoed since 1948 without response.

Consider this—can we genuinely expect intervention from the West that will change the fate for Palestinians? Even if there was a will, the capacity for such a rescue is highly unlikely.

Let's examine the United States as an example, starting with issues that, while serious, are less complex than international conflicts. Consider the epidemic of gun violence: how many the American children were tragically killed in school shootings this year? Then the frequency of shootings affecting Americans in the workplaces, and other public spaces.

Then there's the crisis of drug overdoses, which claims countless lives annually. And the challenges of border control, with significant numbers of individuals entering the country.

These domestic struggles highlight a sobering reality: if a nation struggles to protect its own children from internal threats, how can it be expected to effectively intervene and safeguard the children of another country?

Turning to the UK, my current home: In the wake of the October 7th attack on Israel, British Prime Minister engaged in intensive diplomacy across the Middle East, with the Foreign Minister currently in the region. However, back in Britain, the National Health Service teeters on the edge of collapse, with medical staff in continuous strikes. The railway system is near paralysis due to worker strikes. Even the much-discussed Brexit deal with the European Union remains unresolved, with an ally like the EU at an impasse with the UK.

How, then, can we expect a country facing such internal challenges to effectively address and resolve an external crisis?

Then there is Ukraine. Here we are in 2023, witnessing a war at the heart of modern Europe that seems intractable. If the nations you hope will aid in resolving the conflict with Israel are themselves engaged in a war they cannot end, how can they be expected to successfully mediate peace elsewhere?

Reflect on this, President Abbas.

Every nation grapples with its own challenges; my critique is not aimed at particular countries but at the broader reality. The very 'international community' expected to rescue Palestine is struggling with its internal issues. The British Prime Minister, struggling with domestic negotiations, is hardly in a position to facilitate a complex peace process between Israel and Palestine.

The stark reality is that no external force will come to Palestine's rescue. The skill set required for such an endeavor is absent. Ultimately, it is the Palestinian leadership and people who must make the hard decisions for peace. Recall that it was the resolute choices of President Mandela and Dr. King that carved the paths to freedom for their nations, not the intervention of an international body.?

My Blueprint for Israel Palestine Peace

You may find my suggestions unsettling, but it's crucial to confront the harsh reality. Already, 14,532 Palestinians have perished in the current conflict. Tragically, the death toll will surpass twenty thousand by its conclusion. If the prospect of sacrificing so many lives is acceptable to you, then by all means, persist with your current strategy. However, if the loss of these innocent lives truly horrifies you and you wish to prevent further suffering, I urge you to consider what follows.

Three key factors could bring Palestine closer to a peaceful resolution with Israel.

Firstly, it's important to acknowledge that Palestine, having lost all its wars with Israel, is in a position of disadvantage. In the context of peace negotiations, this historical reality means that Palestine cannot dictate the terms of an agreement. Just as Germany, a nation defeated in the world wars, had to accept the terms set by the victors and pay reparations, so too must Palestine recognise its position in peace talks with Israel. Practically, this means that Israel will have significant influence over the terms of any peace agreement.

The second key point is the non-negotiability of Jerusalem. No Israeli Prime Minister will cede Jerusalem to Palestine. This might seem unfair, but life often is. A practical arrangement, however, might be possible where Palestinians maintain control over their sacred sites. In the future, perhaps in twenty or fifty years, a new generation of Israelis and Palestinians could foster enough trust to jointly steward Jerusalem. History shows us unexpected alliances, like the union of Germany with other European nations. Such a future is conceivable, President Abbas.

Thirdly, the concept of a 'right of return' for Palestinian refugees to Israel is unrealistic. No Israeli Prime Minister will permit the return of millions of Palestinians into Israel. The most feasible outcome for Palestinian refugees is to settle in a newly established state of Palestine, and they receive compensation from Israel.

Should you accept these three conditions, I am confident that Israel will promptly begin peace negotiations with the Palestinian Authority. However, if you choose not to, the tragic loss of Palestinian lives will likely continue. This decision rests entirely in your hands. The cries of Palestinian children and the mournful wails of fathers for their lost children echo in my ears. Are you able to hear them as well?

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