http://www.exeterpsc.org.uk/map.jpg

Have you ever taken a step forward only to find that you have to take two steps back?
.
Well this is how I feel today as I peruse the world news and find that my eyes rest on details emerging of the Palestinian Elections. A win to Hamas. A loss to Fatah. A loss to any chance of reconciling the problems deeply seeded in the Middle East.

.

The Israel/Palestine conflict has been a topic I have closely watched over the years, after randomly coming across a documentary on television once. Ever since then, I've actively researched and read about the many issues which have led to the problems that exist today in the area. Unfortunately, the problems that were there centuries ago exist now. Its not just about land. Its about history. Its about religion.

.

The situation cannot be summed up in a blog entry. Lord knows, I would not even try. For many years I have tried to understand what it is that has gone wrong there and for many years I have struggled to find information which is written from a completely unbiased perspective. After all, the root of the troubles involves each side's denial of the other's existence.

.

It isnt just any war. It isnt one man's vision of power and control over people.

.

It is hatred like no other. Its in each side's blood and its uncompromising.

.

For some, the "Road Map" was to be the slow but positive "compromise" that Ariel Sharon was going to make on behalf of Israel, to Arafat, the leader of the Fatah regime (the leading political party of Palestine, and "breakaway" group that moved away from the more right wing and radical Hamas).

.

Sharon allegedly "compromised", a move that the previous Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, would never have done.

.

Sharon risked political rising against him by making this decision for the benefit of world peace.

.

Sharon has since become very ill and unlikely to recover.

.

Benjamin Netanyahu is urging the Israeli's to re-elect him into power. This is looking likely.

.

Arafat of Palestine has passed.

.

The radical political party that is Hamas has now won the election.

.

Violence is once again throughout the troubled areas.

.

.

I feel like the world has taken one step forward and two steps back. Yet I can't even put my hand up and say that I have a reasonable solution to give.

.

Like I said in one of my recent blogs - Why bother trying to hope for a more tolerant society when you have people trying to teach our generation how to be intolerant?