Neither side will achieve its aims in this conflict: peace is the only way forward.
No matter the right or wrongs of what is happening in Israel or Gaza, the worry for most people is that the war will spread with Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iran entering the conflict, as now seems inevitable.
The United States is now acting as peacemaker as well as flexing its muscles by making sure no other protagonists enter this conflict, for now at least.
There is a substantial and ever-increasing humanitarian crisis.
People who are trying to escape the bombardments in Gaza are caught in an ever-increasing spiral of death, injury, and starvation. Children, along with other innocent bystanders, are caught between Hamas extremists, who are using them as shields, and the Israelis, who are herding them like cattle into an even smaller strip of land with no exit to other safe areas.
After over 30 years of conflict and thousands dead and injured at the hands of terrorists and state actors, Ireland should be well aware that neither side will ever fully achieve their goals or aims. A peaceful solution is the only way forward, while a de-escalation is now required. Ultimately, all sides must sit down and come to an agreement.
We should be thankful that a Jewish lobby has existed in the US for so long.
Despite the fact that the state of Israel was formed as a result of two thousand years of Christian and Islamic prejudice and 75 years after the Holocaust, it is evident that if a Jewish lobby did not exist in America, there would be no Jews left on the planet. And we think we are post-Christian? A perennial shame.
Take heart, Ireland – your future is far from all black after World Cup defeat.
In Auckland on Monday, after the big win over the weekend, I overheard an old man walking past me, proudly telling his friend: “I was screaming at the TV…”
Well, who wasn’t? I thought to myself with a smile. You of course know why he and I, along with the rest of Aotearoa, were screaming, don’t you? Yes, we were fortunate enough to witness one of the Rugby World Cup’s closest, on-the-edge-of-your-seat knockout stage matches of all time. An agonizing and energy-sapping 30 phases into overtime – and we still didn’t know who the victor was going to be (begrudgingly, we Kiwis need to doff our cap to referee Wayne Barnes for playing his part in that one).
The match was between two feisty rivals: the current world number one versus the team who would regularly occupy that position in the rankings. And yes, after some hard-fought recent meetings, both groups of men were desperate to defeat the other. Bu,t is that really the real reason the old man of 80 needed a bit of a lie-down on Sunday afternoon?
No. If we are honest about it, most All Black fans would have to admit there was a more profound reason. We feared losing. And in my living memory, going all the way back to the original World Cup of ’87, I believe that’s a first.
Not even against the mighty Boks in the white-hot cauldron of Ellis Park in ’95, with President Nelson Mandela watching in the stands, and the crowd baying for our carcass, did we fear defeat. That was because we had the late great Jonah ‘The Juggernaut’ Lomu on the wing, and nothing was going to stop us from winning. Or so we thought. But I digress. This inherent self-belief in our Boys in Black though hasn’t come overnight. And it hasn’t come from winning a World Cup.
It started way back yonder. Almost one hundred years ago, with ‘The Invincibles’ and their unbeaten tour of Europe. Future teams learned from them and stood on their shoulders. The media that wrote about our boys thereafter started to create the legacy, which along with us continuing to progress, led to the beginnings of what some describe as an aura – which, if it ever existed, is no longer there.
For decades during the 50s, 60s, and 70s, our All Blacks fed off that momentum and it carried them eventually to picking up our first Webb Ellis Cup in 1987.
Of course, no Kiwi could ever have conceived that we’d suffer 24 more years of heartache till the next one – but that’s sport. It’s a cruel mistress.
So, take heart, Ireland fans.
Your gladiators stood tall and gave us a hell of a game that either side could have won. It was a game for the ages which will be talked about for years. A game that will inspire the next crop of young Irish players for decades, to dream the dream.
While you continue to wait, know this: your squad did something special – you put the fear of losing in us. And for that – we will forever respect you guys.
And don’t believe all the naysayers who talk about Ireland not being good enough to get to a semifinal or a final. That’s complete rubbish – ignorant and simple-minded.
In truth, it’s just a bit of bad luck and the fickle nature of knockout rugby. Don’t believe me? Then answer this: Are your boys as good as Argentina, who made it to the semis thanks to being on the easier side of the draw? Of course they are. And they finished third in 2007. Could you beat Australia on any given Sunday? Damn right you could. Well, they’ve won it twice. Logic says it’s a game of chance and patience. So, our advice is: keep the faith. And when you do finally get there, we hope we’ll be standing there in the final right alongside you.
After another cracking closely-fought contest, we hope, with you getting the rub of the green this time. With Johnny Sexton and Keith Earls looking on from the stands, and us shaking your hand.
Looking into your Irish eyes and saying from our hearts: “Mate, congratulations, you deserve it. Welcome to the club.”
And you smiling back, a tear in the eye perhaps, replying: “Míle buíochas, pal. It was well worth the wait.”
Irish fans in Gibraltar steady as a rock in their support of Kenny’s men.
One can only applaud the 3,500 Irish fans who traveled to Gibraltar to support Stephen Kenny’s team in their Euro qualifier on Monday night. The fans were rock-solid in their support.
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