Understand Netanyahu is anxious to secure US support. There has been much aggression in the Mideast, and people whose loved ones have been killed or maimed, whose homes have been torn down, who have been forced to refugee camps, have long memories.

My father Jozsef who witnessed many wars in his time in E. Eu, said that memory of those killed and harmed in war, soldiers and their families, civilians and their families, will remain in vivid memory of injustices for 7 times 7 generations… 49 generations. If one thinks not, ask most any Southerner about the “Northern Invasion, Northern Aggression, Northern Incursion.” Ask most any Native American from the US about the Bosque Redondo, the forced movement of the Creek, Trail of Tears, the doubletalk in treaties from the US government. It was a long time ago. Long. Yet, today, many have not forgotten or set-aside such horrific times.

Long ago in the years following WWII, Israel had many supporters throughout the world, in the US in particular… in large part out of sympathy for the hideous suffering of Eu Jews under Hitler and then the Red Army (it was a joke that Joe Stalin just loved Jewish people).

Israel today, is different on the face of itself, and in its depth of militaristic intention, than it was long ago.

In the US, the main images long ago were not only from the newsreel films of atrocities against the Jews throughout all of Europe, but also as often happened in the era of cinema– from Leon Uris’ novel and film of same, that of dejected and ragged Eu Jewish people re-arriving back in the mideast with not a penny, hanging over the sides of nearly capsized boats, and with horror stories of rapes, murder and maiming by –the other in power… that is, those who decided Jews ought be routed from their homes, ought not own property, not have their stores, not walk the streets freely, ought be starved, ought not be given effective medicines, ought be shot.

Sadly note the irony of then vs the now.

There was heartfelt sympathy for Israel long ago by I daresay, many, and no one imagined the intentions fast-forwarded to Israeli leadership today. I’m still with those Jews and others who died in Hitler’s death camps. Those killed where they stood in their streets and homes. I think many of us who were born in that time, will ‘never forget.’ Not ever. Whether we are Jewish or not.

But, as for being ‘with Netanyahu and his current agendas’ … not so much— Many people worldwide stand all the way from sort of, to not at all. Except for those that are, for their own reasons.

However, I note that there is an absurd litmus test being circulated over these last few years. An export from somewhere in the Mideast about this particular subject. I notice that when the word Palestinians is used in company today, there is an immediate division in many people’s hearts and minds, as either for or against… for or against Palestinians… for or against Israelis. The export, stamped in the USA … is posed as though one has to, must, ought to, should choose one side or the other.

I’m not convinced to side with Net, especially since one multi-gi-jillionaire boasts he will swing the US election to his candidate for Israel. Many voters here are already having the bends from all the tv commercials that with sound turned off look inane, and with sound turned on, sound all alike: Nah nah nah nah nah. You!, No, you!, No YOU.

When I think of Israelis and Palestinians, I’d choose the wise and thoughtful hearts that are peace-called and peace-teachers, and peace dedicated circuitry… the boys, girls, men, women, elders of both groups who speak of a future together, rather than hold the past far too preciously to one’s senses in terms of avenging and collecting more and more stories about “yes, but look what they did to us.” There comes a time when even such pain has to be given a decent and honorable burial from and on all sides.

May the bridging souls live long and strong and help others to see how, not to live in fairytale peace, but to live and let live, as it is said in all holy books across the world. Not only to live and let live, but ‘to thrive and let thrive’ in ways that absent maiming and murderous aggression.

My grandmother Katerin, who survived WWII, both Hitler and Stalin, used to say, “Lookat vat de people do first ven dey are truly free…. dey plahnt flahrs ant flahrs ant flahrs, nott fire.”

I do not know the definitive answers, but remember one of the most iconic images from the Viet Nam war… a girl placing a flower in the barrel of a soldier’s rifle. The soul’s answers to difficult matters is often very different than the ego’s ambitions to ‘avenge and aright’ difficult matters. “…plahnt flahrs ant flahrs ant flahrs, nott fire…” seems difficult to maintain with exhortations to the contrary flying like poison around the peace-teachers.

But it is a worthy instruction for building together, growing together, the old and experienced, yes, but especially for the young and visionary…

from all sides– for there are not just Palestinians and Israelis. The USA is a third side. There are other nations that also represent ‘a side’ in this matter. All ought stand on the visionary tense with youth present and future, instead of old bitter minds past–and-present-tense.