03/26/10 | "The things that make for Peace"

"If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes." Luke 19:42In recent news articles we are seeing some audacious things being done by the Netanyahu Government that ignores U.S. wishes that they cease building settlements in East Jerusalem. Israel continues under Netanyahu to make a land grab of territories that belong to the Palestinians. Israel has had a history of just ignoring the tepid request of our government and other governments around the world that have asked it to cease building settlements especially in places like East Jerusalem.Most recently, Secretary of State Hilary Clinton objected to these settlements suggesting that it undermines U.S. creditably as a U.S. Peace Maker in the region. On the other hand, no one can sanction Palestinian violence, which also does not make for peace. The constant building of settlements on the West Bank is not something that makes for peace either. It can only make for frustration, anger and add more fuel to the argument that Israel is only interested in making peace on their terms.Finally, I agree with columnist Tom Friedman who said that Joe Biden should have turned around and gone home instead of putting up with the humiliation he suffered by coming to Israel at the same time as they announced the building of new settlements.I hope that the Obama Administration remains vigilant in their effort to find a true peace in that region. We can only pray that they will do, “ the things that make for peace.”