We Can Have Peace in the Holy Land by Jimmy Carter

photo source: wikipedia.com

I visited the Bookshop last Tuesday and found this book for P45 ($1). Having interest in peace and conflict resolution, I bought it. It's a personal narrative and view of 2002 Nobel Peace Prize Jimmy Carter on what's happening in the Middle East specifically the Israeli-Palestinian relations. It enlightens me in the complexity of their situation. Relating it in the Mindanao conflict, I could say that the Mindanao conflict is easier to solve compared to Israelis. It's not worth comparing at all, but we can learn from them. In Mindanao, the major players (GPH, MILF, MNLF, Abu Sayyaf) are domestic with some international presence (International Monitoring Team, Malaysian facilitator, foreign observers) while the Israeli-Palestinian conflict involve countries like Syria, Lebanon, Iran, Jordan, US, EU, and other Arab countries. 

mindanaoreader notes: 

Everyone who engages in the Middle East peacemaking is bound to make mistakes and suffer frustrations. Everyone must overcome the presence of hatred and fanaticism, and the memories of horrible tragedies. Everyone must face painful choices and failures in negotiations. Nevertheless, I am convinced that the time is ripe for peace in the region.-Introduction

Perhaps the most important overarching decision for the Palestinians is whether to seek equal citizenship within a single nation instead of continuing their frustrated struggle for separate statehood. The Israelis will have to provide the ultimate response.p.170

"The blood of Abraham, God's father of the chosen, still flows in the veins of Arab, Jew, and Christian, and too much of it has been spilled in grasping for the inheritance of the revered patriarch in the Middle East. The spilled blood in the Holy Land still cries out to God---an anguished cry for peace." It is time to replace anguish with joy and celebration. -p.182