WASHINGTON, July 18 (RIA Novosti) - Israel's increasing military might has not made Israel any safer, Dr. Saliba Sarsar from Monmouth University told RIA Novosti on Friday, making an urgent plea for peace.
“The upper-hand of Israel, with all its military and all its technology, is not giving it more security. It has been waiting for that security since 1948,” noted Sarsar at a Thursday event sponsored by the American Task Force on Palestine. “Bringing security is embracing the other.”
Despite the tremendous military capabilities of Israel, and the effectiveness of the Iron Dome system to intercept rockets fired from Gaza, Sarsar argued that the strongest military does not make a nation safe.
“I do not believe any Israeli or Palestinian in his or her right mind would want to oppress the other, and that is something the Prime Minister, the President and other have to realize and stop doing,” said Sarsar, addressing the role of political leaders in the region.
Sarsar, who grew up in Jerusalem and continues his efforts to bring Palestinians and Israelis together in dialogue, emphasized, “The death or injury of a single life is unacceptable, let alone the 222 plus dead and over 1,600 wounded in Gaza, as well as the one killed in Israel and the 20 plus wounded.”
On July 8, Israel began an offensive in Gaza, with both sides exchanging rocket and mortar attacks without stop. A recent ceasefire brokered through the United Nations lasted a mere 5 hours before there were incursions from both sides. While Israel appeared to be hedging closer to an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire earlier on Wednesday, a ground assault began late on Thursday.
“They are neighbor forever, no matter what happens,” stated Sarsar of the Jews and Arabs. “The people between the river and the sea are neighbors, and the quicker they get to that realization the better they are.”
