In the recent days shocking news about the continuous attack on the Gaza strip from Israel woke up again the public opinion regarding the ever-lasting conflict between Israel and Palestine in the Middle East. A long story of hate and violence out of our door is continuing: whether right or wrong, the political game behind the crimes committed in Gaza is killing civilians and citizens, enraging more and more young people to get involved in a conflict that seems to be endless.
The latest episodes of violence, which started apparently because of a rocket attack from Gaza to Jerusalem, lasted 6 days and killed too many children and families. Meanwhile, all the big actors of the International Affairs moved to (or close to) Gaza to ask Israel to stop the attacks: while Ban-Ki Moon asked for an immediate “ceasefire,” Ms Clinton flew to Jerusalem and Cairo, and the Arab League entered Gaza with nine Foreign Affairs Ministers, including the Turkish representative. And Europe?
The EU Foreign Ministers meeting held on the 19th of November 2012 asked for an immediate “ceasefire,” condemning Hamas and the other armed groups that attacked Israel, stating the right of Israel to defend and protect its population, but acting proportionately and ensuring protection of civilians.
Unfortunately, as usual, the European Union couldn’t go any further than a weak statement asking for peace. Too many national interests, first of all the economic interest in one of the richest region around Europe, couldn’t allow the European Union to take any serious step, nor to act as intermediary to help out a constructive and helpful debate that could lead to a decrease of violence in the area.
But where politicians fail, there’s still a huge majority of civil society that can/ is / should express their opinion about the matter, and help out the populations from both sides to look for a possible and long-lasting solution. The EuroArab project is working on a wider cooperation between the “two sides”, but shouldn’t AEGEE play a role also for young people from this area? Or it is enough to know that what happens is “out of our range”, to keep our eyes closed and to look at ourselves sure that nothing can be done?
Written by Alfredo Sellitti, AEGEE-Salerno