# 297 – Peres the Fighter

September 16, 2016

Thank you for the prayers. Peres has not given up the fight. He may be known as a man of peace, but he’s a fighter – especially when there is a life still to live, and work still to be done.

During these 68 years of Israel’s existence, Peres has been ‘in the middle of things’. When this involves countless wars, uprisings, intifadas, difficult negotiations, horrible accusations, anti-Semitism, BDS, UN-biase and so on, it is incredible that this man’s legacy will be covered in the word ‘peace’.

Yet Basel Ghattas and his associates call Peres – while he is still alive, mind you  – a “blooded war criminal”, a  “tyrant covered in our blood”.

On his Facebook page, he wrote, and I quote –

“Peres was the most ruthless, extremist and damaging president to the Palestinians.” and “a dictator responsible for war crimes against us. Peres is covered in our blood from head to toe. We are in no rush to join the parade of sadness and sorrow.”

Ghattas is an Israeli MP. His was one of the several Arab parties in danger of losing their seats in the Knesset, so they made the politically-clever step of uniting with the others, forming the Joint List. This way they gained 13 out of the 120 seats. They may not like each other any more than before, but they are able to take full advantage of Israel’s democracy and immunity from prosecution. They can be what most others would call ‘traitors’.

Come you left-wingers out there!! Tell me I’m wrong to join the masses who want Ghattas hung, drawn and quartered. It’s one thing to say that anyone, let alone a Shimon Peres, acted perfectly when involved in so many wars. I can’t think of any Palestinian who would fit that bill. Arafat may have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, but I hardly think the Pope would put him on the same pedestal as Mother Teresa, and make him St. Yasser.

Like so many of his colleagues before him, Ghattas has crossed the line.

Come on, you critics of Israeli politics! This is not the way forward; this is not how to to change the sad status quo and move for peace.  It’s people like Peres who will eventually make it possible.

Perhaps the best response to all this disgusting behavior is the following cartoon by Guy Morad, which appeared in yesterday’s ‘Yediot’ newspaper…(“Emergency Room”)

And Peres…he fights for his life, and I have no doubt that, should he survive, he will continue his fight for peace between these 2 peoples.

I continue to pray for him.

Stephen