THE CITIZEN ON MARS

I saw Pope Benedict XVI holding a conference on CNN and my eyes was plastered to the area where Arabic text was written, just above him, while the Pope was relaying his words to a wide audience silent in attention. I thought there was some visual error on my part, but on second look it was really as it is. Well, in this modern age, it wouldn’t be as surprising to see an immense Christian personality like the Pope being seen around symbols that portrays another religion, like Islam.

In fact, Pope Benedict’s visit to the Holy Land is highlighted for his call for peace and unity among all faith, and among all men.

It is so dramatic that way, and despite that previously Pope John Paul II had done similar visit to Jerusalem, this occasion becomes ultimately historic as well, especially with Pope Benedict’s call for the eventual establishment of a long-delayed Palestinian State.

I say long-delayed because it is almost unimaginable now that Palestine could share one state with the Israel, like it was planned before. This might be disarming and discouraging but that’s just the fact. A state consist of a people with a unique culture and nuances, some kind of thread that binds across the population. Palestinians and Israelis do not share any singular thread that therefore, there could not be any sort of a singular society to be qualified as a population of one juridical entity --- such as a state.

Being that the case, there’s no more reason to deny the formal delineation of a singular Palestinian state. To this end, I second the motion of the Pope’s declaration on this issue.

Perhaps, this might just lead to a more viable peace situation in the area; if not entirely eradicate the vicious conflicts there.

Now, it should be true that this proposal for a Palestinian state would be easier said than done. But the path to peace should pursued with great determination and with a staunch thrust towards it, for any half-hearted attempt would be merely futile considering the various problems that could stonewall it among which are;

• 1. Jerusalem’s status is divided between Palestine and Israel and both entities are claiming it to be fully their own. How do we divide the city? To what side goes to whom?


• 2. Most Palestinians work in Israeli territory and there’s almost zero economic activity and opportunity as of this moment. These Palestinian workers could not just go back home for there are exactly no work there.
• 3. Militant Hamas controls most Gaza Strip and we all know how they are so hard to deal with.
• 4. Israel occupies sizable portion of Palestinian areas and mostly, the Israelis there wouldn’t want to leave the homes they have been allowed to build there.
• 5. Endless rocket attacks against Israel continues to pervade.

I have just enumerated the major headaches that lie ahead the plan to establish the state of Palestine. But these could actually be surmounted if the United Nations and G8 countries like America and Great Britain would earnestly help and desire the plan.

One good solution I have in mind is the establishment of a temporary administration of Palestine by the United Nation, a mandate similar to what it did with East Timor and Lebanon, and a Marshall Plan-like fund would be implemented to help restore civility and development in Palestine, towards a slow and gradual handover over a fixed period of time.