Gaza Haiku

Over the last two weeks I’ve had numerous requests from readers for a cartoon or commentary on the Gaza conflict – expressing everything from the Palestinian and Israeli points of view, to the lack of timely response from the UN to help resolve the crisis. I couldn’t think of an appropriate cartoon given the situation at hand and decided to compose a Haiku verse instead which for me sums it all up – regardless of which side you may be partial to.

I’m certain most of you have either read, heard or seen the arguments from both sides. If you haven’t, the BBC’s Q&A on the Gaza conflict is a good primer. Considering the debate has still not been concluded since I first studied it in high school some 25 years ago, I see it as a futile exercise to engage in discussing the arguments for and against the Israelis or Palestinians here. What is clear to me however, as alluded to in the Haiku verse above, is that as long as the status quo remains in terms of attitudes between the two parties in conflict, neither will benefit nor move toward their end goal of a peaceful existence.