I had a dream the other day. And in this dream Gaza was famed for its wonderful beaches, Tel Aviv for its bookshops, Riyadh for its food and Tehran for its cinemas. Yes, I had a dream. And in this dream, the peoples in the Middle East, from Tel Aviv to Gaza and from Tehran to Beirut, did not want their children to live to the sound of sirens and explosions. Nor did they want their lives to be governed by war, sanctions, or economic destruction. What they wanted was to live and to live in peace.
But I am not going to write a blog about war and peace. This has already been done by others much more in-the-know than I. After all, I am simply a writer. Perhaps, I am a simple writer and, therefore, I am unable to make meaningful statements regarding war even if this war may well be being prolonged by those who have the power to end it.
But, nonetheless, I cannot help but wonder whether or not somebody, perhaps a politician, is trying to put Iran centre stage. This would probably help divert attention from Israel’s genocidal actions in Gaza, wouldn't it? It might also divert attention from the bloody operations of the Israeli Defence Force against Hamas in Lebanon, mightn't it? Let's face it, this "somebody" might be happy to rewrite the conflict as one between the Western democracies plus Israel against evil Iran - the initiator of all the troubles and instability in the region. After all, such an angle on the conflict might make it harder for the US to criticise Israel and deny it full military support. But, as I said, I am a writer and not a politician, so what do I know? I can only wonder and wonder some more. That is what writers do, isn't it?
Here are some recommended books on the topic by writers who do know more than I do.
I saw Ramallah by Mourid Barghouti
In Search of Fatima by Ghada Karmi
Looking for Palestine by Najla Said
My Promised Land by Ari Shavit
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