To have or to have not

I think when a culture is predominantly very religious, it is very hard for young people to think for themselves - many religions do not want that, for their own organisations' power; and we see that in Christian sects even in democratic nations, let alone among orthodox Jews, Muslims, etc. in more theocratic ones.

Further, when you live in a near-permanent state of conflict it must be all too easy to see the other, especially if predominantly of a different faith or culture, as always your enemy.

There are, or were, many Arabs and Jews who would like to live in peace with each other, and at least until last year many did - but young people growing up in that part of the Middle East have never really had much chance to see other as any more than enemies.


I can quite believe what you heard on TV.

I have not previously heard of that accusation against Christians, but it would be a bit rich given that the country called "Israel" was carved out of Palestine for them in 1948 by mainly-Christian countries; perhaps in a wave of guilt after what Hitler's regime had done. While Palestine itself had previously been a British Protectorate against the Turkish attempt to take over the land - so when "Israel" was created by the League of Nations, an idea first proposed by Britain I think in the 1920s, the Arabs could justifiably feel betrayed.

So very likely the reporter there was quoting the views of some Israelis who might never have known their own, mid-20C history properly and worse, are now living in a war with their neighbours. A war largely created by their own leaders on both sides.

I have heard reports that young Palestinians are only taught the Israelis are their enemies - probably a sign of the grip Hamas has on the country. So the idea of corresponding propaganda on the other side is credible indeed; maybe more so now.