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- No, It Will Be A Terrorist State – Israeli Envoy
From Aidoghie Paulinus, Abuja
Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, has said the issue of a two-state solution to the conflict between the State of Israel and Palestine is not impossible.
Speaking with journalists during the 76th Independence Anniversary of the State of Israel in Abuja, Onaiyekan recalled that the conflict has lasted for 76 years, noting that the moment the State of Israel was established in the land, the problem began.
Onaiyekan further said he believed 76 years was long enough for a problem to be resolved.
Onaiyekan said: “There is no doubt that Israel has come to stay. We can see what the State of Israel has done. But I believe strongly that the Palestinian people too, who were there before, also have a right to have a place of their own.
“And from what I am hearing on the international level, it seems that the general position of the United Nations is that they should work towards a two-state solution in which each of the states is autonomous, independent and prosperous and not a solution in which one is swallowing the other.
“Now, is that going to be possible? I am afraid. I think it depends on both countries. In my own opinion, if the majority of the world is saying work towards a two-state solution, I believe it will be best if they work towards that. How the two-state solution will work, I don’t know. But I do believe it is not impossible.”
Onaiyekan also recalled that during the Second World War, the so-called Allied Countries were all at war with Germany.
Onaiyekan, however, said the war ended and everything became resolved.
“Today, nobody remembers anymore that there used to be East Germany and West Germany. They have all become one.
“For us human beings, no matter how bad a situation is, with goodwill, we can always overcome difficulties of this nature.
“How wonderful it will be if the two-state solution can work and the whole of Palestinian states and other Arab nations can take advantage of the wonderful progress that Israel has made and on the other hand, Israel will also have the wonderful assurance of security. That is the major problem. There is fear that we will not be secure with these people still here. But you just have to decide that you want to survive in secured borders,” Onaiyekan further said.
The former President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) stated that he had a feeling that dialogue was going on behind the scenes.
He expressed the hope that peace will return to Israel, Palestine, Gaza, the Middle East and, by extension, the entire world.
“So, I am praying that whatever they are doing behind the scenes will eventually emerge as a solution that will bring peace to Israel and peace to the Palestinians. And for me, Palestinian includes Gaza. Peace to the Palestinians and then, peace to the entire region – Middle East and then, possibility of peace in the world,” Onaiyekan stated.
However, the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, said the way forward to achieve peace between Israel and Palestine is to release the Israeli hostages that had been held by Hamas.
“Hamas is a radical terror organisation. The Gaza Strip is holding 125 Israelis; it murdered 1200 Israelis on the 7th of October and we saw exactly what Hamas are and who Hamas are.
“And there is no one at the moment talking about giving Hamas or those people who support Hamas or those people who want to act like Hamas a state because we know exactly what that state will be. That state will be a terrorist state, that will be a state that carries out massacres and murders and has unacceptable dynamics,” Freeman said.
On Israel’s 76-year journey, Freeman explained that it has been a journey of miracles as Israel is a miraculous country.
The Israeli envoy further said for 76 years, Israel has made the desert bloom, turned Israel into a prosperous, modern, fantastic economy and is a leader in the world in water management, agriculture, hi-tech, defence, security, health, education and many more in 76 years.
“And I am sure the next 76 years, and the next years after, that will even be more successful,” Freeman stated.
