If Kerry Wants To Make Peace in the Middle East…

…He Should Just Put God In Charge…

The real problem is symbolic. Jerusalem, beyond being a real place, is a very symbolic place. It’s too symbolic for its own good, perhaps, but it is what it is. Because of this, neither side can countenance concessions in matters of principle. Even were Israeli or Palestinian leaders to consider such a thing, rabid partisans of one side or another—probably both—would crucify them for all their trouble. (I use the word advisedly.) It’s just not possible to divide a mystical whole. Things or places with the aura of eternity floating about them somehow defy the law of integers.

The two sides—and others with an interest like Hashemite Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Christians of various descriptions—can far more easily swallow a no-national-sovereignty solution. Human nature being what it is, it’s much easier to accept not having something if your rival doesn’t have it either…

Evil Temptation

Shalom,

I am just a slightly arrogant, anonymous member of the internet who will be posting on to this pseudo-blog occasionally. I am interested in a great many of things, and my posts will vary greatly, I enjoy technology and have a soft spot for Asimov. I’m going to shy away from religion mostly, as I do not know a great deal about it, but an occasional post about Judaism will probably not  be rare, nor one on gender or social issues, in truth I have no idea what I will post about, but I guess we will see. I’ll leave you with one of my favorite quotes from Asimov, “Life is pleasant. Death is peaceful. It’s the transition that’s troublesome.”

Yetzer Ra

November 2013