The Abuser

by keith jeffries

Thursday 2nd November 2023 9:53 am

The Abuser

The abused has become the abuser,

both have become each other as a loser.

It is wrong to take another's land,

and expect to stay there and make a stand.

The evils of the past have been renewed,

as we see daily on our TV news.

Two wrongs do not make a right,

and so both sides continue to fight.

Brutal atrocities now abound

in what was once a holy land.

Seventy five years of repression and occupation,

has created a situation of never ending damnation.

It is wrong to take another's land,

and expect to stay there and make a stand.

Mutual recognition and equality of rights,

are now beyond any person's sights.

Massacres are daily events of merciless fear,

and any peace is very far from here.

We pray for justice, peace and reconciliation,

but those who rule unjustly have no time for negotiation.

It is wrong to take another's land,

and expect to stay there and make a stand.

Those who were once so cruelly abused,

have turned on others who they now badly abuse.

Comments

keith jeffries

Sat 4th Nov 2023 12:46

Thank you to all who liked and commented on this poem. As Stephen said it is tragic indeed. This conflict has raged for 75 years and shows no sign of coming to an end. Is there a solution? I believe there is but it will require humility and reconciliation. A two state solution simply will not work. There must be one state shared by both Israelis and Palestinians. A liberal democracy with all citizens enjoying full equal status and rights. An excluively Jewish state is not viable. This will take a long time to achieve but there is no alternative. My hopes and prayers are that both nations can come together and share a common land.
Thank you all again,
Keith

Stephen Gospage

Sat 4th Nov 2023 08:53

A thoughful response to a tragic situation, Keith. Life is precious and every killing or death is to be mourned. It is so sad to to see hate prevail everywhere.

Uilleam Ó Ceallaigh

Fri 3rd Nov 2023 10:25

Thank you Keith...a heartbreaking subject.
When will the voices of "Jewish Voice for Peace" (USA) and "Jewish Voice for Labour" (UK) be heard in the hypocritical UK media?

Orthodox Jews in Israel who follow the Torah, claim that their faith "Judaism is diametrically opposed to Zionism", they, for their pains are beaten up by Israeli police.

The UK is complicit in war crimes and fascism...
"We shall remember them"?
It appears we've already forgotten them.

keith jeffries

Thu 2nd Nov 2023 18:20

MC., I am well acquainted with the history of Palestine and the British Mandate not forgetting the 1904 Balfour Declaration. I have been a frequent visitor to Israel over the past twenty years. When the state of Israel was created the British and French Governments abstained in the UN Vote. The USA managed to get the majority needed. That day saw over 750,000 Palestinians flee or were ejected from their land. Thank you for your comment,
Keith

M.C. Newberry

Thu 2nd Nov 2023 18:06

The question of "taking another's land" is certainly one that deserves proper consideration of circumstances. The world
seemed to approve of the creation of the State of Israel and
Britain's servicemen were subjected to a terror/murder campaign
along the way....lest we forget.

Manish Singh Rajput

Thu 2nd Nov 2023 10:54

This is powerfully written, Keith, with impactful words and imagery to what has been happening lately.
"Seventy five years of repression and occupation,
has created a situation of never ending damnation.
It is wrong to take another's land,
and expect to stay there and make a stand."
Are the lines that I liked, and which I feel is one of the main reasons of conflicts that further leads to the occurrence of a war.

If you wish to post a comment you must login.

The Abuser

Comments

Please consider supporting us