October 29th, 2023

The South African Springboks have become rugby world champions. We’ve switched to wintertime, and meanwhile, the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian people continues to rage on. Since my day at the hospital has been quite calm, apart from the room change and the fact that tomorrow will be my last day here, I’m taking the opportunity to share some reflections on these global events.

Last night, I zapped through the French channels to watch the rugby final between New Zealand and South Africa. This sport never ceases to surprise me with its ethics, its respect for the rules and the opponent. No underhand tactics or theatrical dives as you sometimes see in football. After France was knocked out, I didn’t have a favourite team, but I’m pleased for the South Africans who once again confirmed their dominance.

This brings me to the situation in the Middle East. It’s striking to see that, although this conflict has been at the centre of media attention for months, the war in Ukraine seems to have disappeared from the headlines, overshadowed by the focus on Gaza.

In 1948, when Israel was created, nearly three-quarters of a million Palestinians were forced to flee. Imagine how the people of Geneva would react if the Principality of Savoy were reinstated, or those of Neuchâtel if Prussia returned. The division into the West Bank and Gaza Strip was bound to generate tensions. Worse still, Israel has deliberately established settlements in Palestine, with nearly 250,000 Jewish settlers in the West Bank, unacceptable for a sovereign state like Palestine. The construction of a wall around Palestinian territories is reminiscent of East Germany and the Cold War. All these factors made peaceful agreement impossible.

Of course, the actions of Hamas are condemnable, but the Israeli response is equally so. Hamas does not represent all Palestinians. The current situation makes peaceful coexistence unlikely, the wounds run too deep.

In my professional life, I’ve had the chance to travel to many countries, discover various cultures, and even run seminars in Israel. I have to admit that Israel left the worst impression of all the countries I’ve visited. Right from customs controls, I sensed an arrogance and paranoia unlike anywhere else. On a visit to Jerusalem with a Jewish guide, his disdainful attitude towards non-Jews deeply upset me, it felt like misplaced superiority. These experiences eroded the little respect I had for Israel. Its contempt for Palestinians and insolence towards the press, NGOs, and the international community only strengthened this feeling.

Statements by the Israeli government, such as “we will raze Gaza,” are terrifying and suggest accusations of genocide. If war crimes are discussed in Ukraine, then Israel must also be questioned and held accountable. Unfortunately, this will probably not change the tragic fate of the Palestinian people.

That is my personal view.