Middle East - NOT amateur radio

Although I understand Israel being aggrieved that certain countries want the nation wiped off the face of the earth, I have no sympathy at all for this endless cycle of violence that sees so many innocent people killed or wounded. It must stop.

In the end the only viable solution is for Israel to be accepted as a state with a right to exist and the people of Palestine also having a right to statehood and a right to live in peace.

Recent pronouncements about doing things in the interest of Israel by the Israeli leader don't exactly sound like words of peace. It seems to me that violence will lead to more hatred, more violence and probably Israel in even more peril. If Israel attacks Iran, Iran and all its proxi groups will lash back at Israel.

Jaw jaw, not war war!! 

Israel - NOT amateur radio

Some of my best friends are Jewish, but I am at a loss to understand what is currently happening. 

I understand that a certain state and its proxies Hamas, Hezbollah and the Huthies want to see the state of Israel wiped off the face of the earth. I also understand that Israel feels "on top" with their recent pager and walkie-talkie attacks.

What I fail to understand are these:

• Why are journalists not allowed into Gaza? 
• Why has Gaza got to be flattened?
• Why are so many women and children killed or maimed?
• Why are UN peace-keepers fired at?
• Why are innocent West Bank Palestinians being killed?
• Why drag innocents in Lebanon into the killing?
• Do the suffering of those Israeli hostages mean nothing?

One would have thought after the horrors of WW2 that Israel would not want to cause suffering to anyone, even their sworn enemies. It would appear that Israel wants a war. The oft use phrase is these terrorists use innocent civilians as human shields.

In the end, the only long-term solution is a just peace for everyone. Israel has to be recognised, but so has Palestine.

At the moment, Israel is in danger of appearing arrogant and turning away good friends. If they attack Iran, the state of Israel is in mortal danger.

This cycle of hate does nobody any good.

At the moment the Middle East is strategically important still. Gradually, it will be less so.

Two-faced? - NOT amateur radio

The USA (according to the BBC) has told congress that it wants to send $1bn in arms to Israel.  No doubt these (along with many others before) will be used to render women and children dead, maimed or homeless. 

We accuse Russia of war crimes in Ukraine, but allow Israel to do the same in Gaza with weapons we provide. 

Indeed, Israel has a perfect right to defend itself.  However, many will question the way Israel is trying to prosecute the war in Gaza.

My firm belief is everyone on the planet has a right to live in peace, be respected and worship in the way they choose.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-69013279.

Crimes against humanity? - NOT amateur radio

We know that what Hamas did on October 7th was horrific and that the people of Israel were severely shocked. 

However, in going after Hamas, Israel is treading a very dangerous path. I am unconvinced that a hospital (or many) and so many houses have to be totally destroyed or so many people left hungry and thirsty. 

The state of Israel is in great danger of losing the sympathy of the world and its leaders becoming afraid to travel abroad for fear of arrest on war crimes.

Meanwhile, 6 months on, Israeli hostages are still being held, or killed by Israeli bombing.

Even if Hamas was to completely disappear, is this a recipe for long-term peace? So much hatred has been created, surely Arab states are even more anti Israel.

Surely, the only way to lasting peace is talking.

West Bank homes - NOT amateur radio

If only people could live together peacefully. 

It is reported on the BBC website that many thousands of homes for settlers have been approved in the occupied West Bank by the state of Israel. Surely this just stokes the fire.

Whilst what happened by HAMAS in Israel on October 7th was evil, surely the response by the state of Israel is over the top? 

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-68490034 .

Gaza-Israel conflict - NOT amateur radio

This conflict continues to trouble me. 

It would seem that Israel is dead set against journalists going into Gaza to see things for themselves. They continue to drive the people of Gaza (including women and children) to hunger and thirst using the horrific events of October 7th by Hamas as their reason.

I only wish peace and mutual respect. This requires compromise on both sides.  

Both Hamas and Israel have done things wrong. Both will be judged by history.

Gaza- Israel conflict - NOT amateur radio

Enough is enough.  

The fighting has to stop as too many innocent people are being killed, traumatised, injured or made homeless. Whilst I think it is entirely right for Israel to defend itself from Hamas, one could be forgiven for thinking this is now genocide.

I understand that Israel wants to prevent future incursions and massacres like October 7th, but is the fighting in Gaza the way to forge long-term peace? We now have generations that will grow up hating Israel.  OK, Hamas might be weakened, but the cycle of violence will go on.

As I have said before, my friends include Jews and Muslims. We need a just peace.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-middle-east-68358053

Gaza-Israel conflict - NOT amateur radio

Whilst I fully understand the feelings of disbelief over the events of October 7th, I am dismayed by Israel's response in Gaza and the West Bank.

As an outsider, it is hard to think Israel's actions are not war crimes.  Countless innocent women and children have been killed or maimed and made homeless. Tell me, surely this will make many people hate Israel for decades to come?

In my view, the only fair and enduring peace has to be based on justice for all and mutual recognition. I have friends who are Jewish and friends who are Muslim.

Peace..... for the sake of ordinary people, please.

Wrong side of history? - NOT amateur radio

This evening, I heard that Mr Netanyahu had rejected the truce proposals in Gaza. I am no expert on the history of the Middle East, but I am sure his response to the appalling events on October 7th will win him and Israel no friends. Until there is a fair and lasting settlement there can be no peace.

In the meantime innocents are killed or maimed. Sadness goes on. Surely the only fair outcome cannot be won by bullets and weapons. 

What I find puzzling is why the USA and UK seem so pro Israel and passive about the people of Gaza. Surely the USA and UK should be working overtime to seek a just peace, or Israel never ever gets support in the future.  Recognising Palestine would be a start.

Time to stop - NOT amateur radio

What happened in Israel on October 7th was appalling. It was understandable that the people of Israel and its government were angry. It is clear they want to stop such attacks in future.

However, I am unsure of the real motives of Israel in Gaza.  

There were lots of people killed or taken hostage on October 7th, but the destruction and deaths in Gaza are surely out of proportion. Many there are starving, and you can understand why many are calling the actions of Israel genocide. 

If, as was the declared intention of Israel, they want to decimate Hamas, then surely there are more clinical ways of going about it? I am not impressed from a population that was so badly impacted in WW2.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-68004449 .

Israel and Hamas - NOT amateur radio

My friends are of all faiths and none. 

Whilst I have every sympathy with Israel over the senseless events by Hamas on October 7th, I think their revenge on the people of Gaza is over the top.  We can understand that Israel wants to feel safe, but in their hunt for Hamas fighters they are inflicting great pain on the people of Gaza.

One could be forgiven for thinking that Israel wants to get rid of all Arabs in the land they believe is theirs. 

In my view, a radical review of the Middle East is needed based on dialogue and not war. There is a great danger of much hatred being created, which could backfire on Israel. What have the innocent children in the photo done?

The world is losing patience.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-67670679 .

Why? - NOT amateur radio

As much as I think the massacre in Israel on October 7th was totally wrong, I cannot see long-term good coming out of the response. All that is achieved in the end is yet more hatred.

Although unsure of the answer, it surely has to be based on mutual respect and talking, not bombs. Many of my best friends are Jewish and I am sure they hate the present situation as much as I do.

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-middle-east-67605703 .

A better way? - NOT amateur radio

It is understandable that the people of Israel were deeply traumatised by the Hamas attacks on October 7th. 

However, by attacking the Gaza Strip as they have been must surely be self-defeating. Many in the world will resent the Israeli actions for generations. Even if Hamas was completely eliminated, a new group would appear still hating Israel.

The only solution cannot be won with war. The solution has to be one based on negotiations and fairness in which everyone is respected mutually and is free to worship as they want.

In my view, what is happening now is genocide and ethnic cleansing.

Jaw, jaw, not war, war.........please!

See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-middle-east-67584895 .

War crimes? - NOT amateur radio

When Israel was attacked last week, many were (rightly) horrified. They are in a difficult position. They want to stop future attacks, which is fully understandable.

What I question is the ethics of their recent plans. They have asked 1 million people to leave northern Gaza. This is extremely difficult if you are old or disabled. As a person who was in intensive care 10 years ago, I know leaving would be impossible.

Starving innocent people, no water, no fuel?

So the cycle of hatred goes up again.

In my view, the long-term bad feeling created works against Israel.  

I have no idea what the answer is, but punishing the ordinary folk of Gaza cannot be the right one.

War crimes - NOT amateur radio

The recent barbaric attacks by Hamas in southern Israel were terrible and I can understand the anger. 

However, taking revenge on the (largely) totally innocent men, women and children of Gaza is surely not the right course of action. 

By attacking Gaza they may weaken Hamas, but innocent people will be harmed. Israel will be guilty of war crimes itself! 

The only solution, in the end, is peaceful co-existence and mutual respect of differences. People the world over are different, and rarely, if ever, do wars really solve issues. All they do is create yet more hatred and bitterness, as well as many innocents killed or maimed. All it does is increase the coffers of arms manufacturers the world over, when this wasted money could be far better spent solving the existential threats that call into question of the very survival of the whole human race.

In my view the UK should keep out and the USA should put pressure on all sides to negotiate a fair and just peace that respects everyone.

We live in dangerous times.

Israel and Hamas - NOT amateur radio

There is little doubt that recent incursions of Israel by Hamas caused widespread outrage. However, for more than my lifetime, the people of Gaza have been treated as prisoners by the Israelis.  Cutting off all supplies to Gaza is in danger of backfiring on Israel. I understand their view of Hamas, but does making innocent women and children suffer advance peace? I think not.

I do not have the answers.

Palestine and Israel - NOT amateur radio

Any aggression is dreadful and the taking of hostages unforgivable.  I wish that the people of Palestine could be treated fairly by Israel and that people (both Arab and Israelis) could all live in peace respecting their differences.

When I was taking my A levels in 1967 there was a war between Arabs and Israelis . After a lifetime of work and 15 years of retirement, the bad feeling is still there. Peace, please.

UK and Israel - NOT amateur radio

"International Trade Secretary Liam Fox is visiting Israel to boost economic ties ahead of Brexit" ... from the BBC News website earlier.

In my mind Israel is a puzzle. The Jewish people suffered immensely in WW2 yet their attitude to the Palestinian people seems so out of character. I do hope the UK will insist Israel treats the Palestinians better before we trade more with them. 

I know the Israelis will say they need to be recognised first, but compromise is needed on all sides. Israel was fighting in 1967 when I was about to go to university. I have been retired for 10.5 years and still there is no peace.

Grow up and act like adults!!

Israel (again) on 6m WSPR

For the third year running my 1W ERP has been spotted in Israel on 6m WSPR by 4X1RF (3519km). This is a long way on VHF. It has now happened at this QTH for the last 3 summers! It seems too strong and regular for multi-hop Es. To me, it seems more like some sort of chordal-hop Es.

Labour Party - NOT amateur radio

So the UK Labour Party has suspended Ken Livingstone (ex Mayor of London) for being anti-Semitic! Like many, he is appalled by how badly the state of Israel has treated the Palestinians. No, let these people speak out about wrong in this world, where ever it comes from. Sorry, but the UK Labour Party is tearing itself apart. This will let the UK Conservative Party back into power in 2020.

In the last 70 years the state of Israel has done much wrong, as have several Arab nations. Let's try for some real peace. Up to now we have seen very little real effort to forge a lasting peace in the Middle East. Arab blames Jew and vice versa.

On an individual level I know many Jewish people who are kind and generous. I wish well for every human being. We all need tolerance and understanding. All human beings have a right to peace and justice. We all need to be tolerant of our neighbours, whatever their creed or colour. We may not agree with them on many things but they share this small rocky planet with us.