The Peace Prescription, my book published in 2009, was followed within a few months by essentially the end of the then-raging civil war in Myanmar, aka Burma, which was accomplished by the two main factions there doing the plan suggested in the book.
Why was that able to work so fast, and yet, the plan I propose in the same book for peace in the Middle East has not yet taken place after nearly six years?
It took me a while to figure this out. In Myanmar, the plan called for leaders of the two conflicting sides, the pro-democracy side and the in-control military dictatorship side, to meet together and to plan to work together so that neither side would have to kill off the other side to get the desired results: both sides wanted to survive, and one side wanted more democracy and the dictatorship wanted to keep their power. The solution suggested was that the pro-democracy forces would agree to not try to punish, arrest, imprison or kill the military dictator leaders, if they, in turn would agree to add more democracy to the government and essentially govern together with the pro-democracy leaders. That’s what happened.
In the MIddle East, my plan, as in the book and in a previous Blog on this site, calls for ordinary citizens, who want a peaceful resolution, on the Arab/Muslim/Palestinian side to form a committee to work with a similar committee of ordinary citizens, who want a peaceful solution, on the Jewish/Israeli side. Why ordinary citizens? Decades of time has shown that governing leaders on both sides, given diverse factions, and other governments of the world,
or the United Nations, or any other combination of leaders, simply are not able to get overall peace, although peace was achieved between Egypt and Israel and between Jordan and Israel, with the help of mediating American Presidents Carter and Clinton.
Instead of waiting for decades more of mini-wars and larger wars, with killing, injuring, and destroying of property on both sides, with revengeful attacks going back and forth endlessly, why not have the two committees do the job quietly behind the scenes, and then publicize the successful results of their bargaining, negotiating, trading and making deals? The committees could then also present their agreed-upon plan to their leaders, governmental and otherwise.
So, why has this taken so long to get started? Because non-leaders are needed to get together and do it. An Israeli and a Palestinian who know each other have to be sure they each understand the strategy and that each will form the needed committee on each side, in order to each prepare the results they propose in order to have a bargaining meeting, or meetings, between the two committees when they are both ready.
It’s a lot easier to have the leaders of two sides who are conflicting, as in Myanmar, to learn about the plan and do it. In the Middle East, not only does the peace deal have to be made by ordinary citizens, the deal is not that simple. Boundaries, travel regulations, compensation for unfairly seized properties in the past, and much more, need to be resolved. See my earlier Blog for more details. Yes, it’s more complicated for the Middle East, but should be doable in the next year or two, if the process gets started.
How can it get started? If you know a Palestinian who is capable of forming a committee of 3 to 5 people, and who wants to have a peace deal, contact that person, especially if you know that the Palestinian you know has an Israeli friend who can start an Israeli committee. Do the same if you know an Israeli who fits the same description, and has a Palestinian friend who can start a committee on that side. Get a copy of The Peace Prescription to the one you know. Hopefully, since the book isn’t available in Arabic or Hebrew as yet, they can both read English or get it translated. Maybe send them translated, if necessary, copies of this Blog and my earlier one on Mid-East peace, to the Israeli or Palestinian you know. More than one committee is also okay, because some committees could be more successful than others, on either or both sides. Chances are, peace agreements negotiated will be similar by multiple committees, and leaders on both sides can help work out differences, and would be likely to do so, given the publicity in the media about the agreements of the committees.
Endless violence and hostility is not a sensible alternative. As Gandhi said, “An eye for an eye only leads to everyone being blind.” Peaceful lives, with normal travel on both sides, new friendships, and business trading, will be great for everyone on both sides.
Thank you for your attention to this Blog.
Your friendly problem solver,
Dr. Ed
I enjoy reading a post that will make people think. Also, thank you for allowing me to comment!
It’s a shame you don’t have a donate button! I’d most certainly donate to this outstanding blog!
I suppose for now i’ll settle for book-marking and adding
your RSS feed to my Google account. I look forward to fresh updates and will
talk about this website with my Facebook group.
Talk soon!
You are great philospher and a great person. I think you are very smart and thanks for the food for my mind.
Thank you. Sorry it took so long to see your comment.
Dr Ed
I want to tank you DR ED for sharing this benificial experience with us, I foud it reely helpful and hope giving ….
I want to try it my self, but since I’m living in Algeria I’m wondering haw can I get this surgical glue, is it available to buy it on line?
Mari,
Sorry I had trouble getting notified about comment messages sent to me, such as yours. If you still need the information,
yes, you can order the surgical glue on Amazon.com.
Dr Ed