6.—“No state at war with another shall countenance such modes of hostility as would make mutual confidence impossible in a subsequent state of peace: such are the employment of assassins (percussores) or of poisoners (venefici), breaches of capitulation, the instigating and making use of treachery (perduellio) in the hostile state.”
Kant, Perpetual Peace, Preliminary Articles
Only the weapons employed have changed since 1795. Israel and Hamas both assassinate by bullet and poison. Both sides have time and again brokered and then broken deals. As for treachery, does anyone truly doubt that both sides change agreements, goals and minds as the winds of foreign affairs change. Which is a serious problem because it is not possible to move from a state of war to a state of peace unless the combatants trust each other. Or to use an older and possibly hackneyed expression, both sides must be seen as honorable.
Sadly, today neither Hamas nor Israel fights with honor. Both fight as only poltroons’ fight. Which is to say they fight as cowards, dishonorably and against the recognized laws of war.
For there to be peace both sides must regain their honor. Once that is done either or both sides can sue for peace.
Barring a direct Angelic intervention building the needed trust will take time. Which means that an interfaith peace maker force will be needed in the Middle East for quite a long time.
Brian
It Be A Slow Walk 