As soon as President Obama has comfortably assumed office, I am going to forward to him my plan to help resolve the Gaza Strip conflict. Most solutions of complex political and religious conflicts are very intricate. My first step solution is really quite simple.
I have recently become aware that the Gaza Strip and the island of New Providence in the Bahamas, where we currently live, are about the same size. Both parcels of land are about 20 miles by 7 miles. The Gaza population is about 1.5 million and the Bahamas population is about 200 thousand.
I propose that for a year the two populations be exchanged. The idea of population swaps occurred in the 1920s between the Turks and the Greeks and a similar swap would be the first step towards a Middle East peace.
It is almost impossible to resolve the existing Israeli Palestinian conflict when both parties are living in such close quarters. The sporadic rocket assaults from Gaza into Israel and the subsequent retaliation cannot occur if one of the parties is not home. The year the Gazans are on their Caribbean sojourn will provide a time for calm, stability and for Israeli reflection on the present situation.
The Palestinians, who are a very industrious and focused people, will enjoy the life style of the islands. They will be surrounded by warm tropical water, and enjoy a mild and sun filled climate without the presence of walls, checkpoints and the fear of Israeli bombs or air strikes. They will have a chance to experience a peaceful lifestyle and develop new farming and fishing industries to provide for their people.
The Bahamians will probably be in for quite a shock waking up in Gaza. They will be forced to live in a war torn country that is walled in and surrounded by Israelis. While this may appear to be harsh and unjust, it may just be the kind of motivation the Bahamians need to wake up and smell the coffee. They have probably taken their laid back, easy, island life style for granted and will find that most of the world’s people need to be productive and contribute to the development of their own economy. They will no longer just be able to sit back and feed off tourist dollars because there are none in Gaza.
Without a doubt the exchange of countries has the potential for some very positive changes in the lives of all concerned. After a year, both Bahamians and Gazans will have the option of returning to their homelands. Perhaps enough of the Palestinians may chose to remain in the Bahamas and say to hell with fighting with the Israelis. You never know!
I am sure President Obama will be inviting me to join his administration after he hears of my First Step Middle East Peace Proposal. I have dozens of other wonderful creative solutions to world issues that I know he would love to hear!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment