以色列一直以以饑餓對待巴勒斯坦人作為武器, 逼使哈馬斯恐怖份子投降, 現時更表示意圖把加沙地帶併入以色列版圖。今天,西方國家意識到, 承認巴勒斯坦國的獨立主權, 才是解決現時以色列使用強權不人道消滅巴勒斯坦人的政策, 為中東地區帶來持久和平的出路。繼法國、英國等歐洲國家的表態後, 澳洲政府表示, 將於9月聯合國大會中支持巴勒斯坦國成為獨立國的處理。

西方國家支持承認巴勒斯坦國為獨立國家, 是回到第二次大戰後的聯合國1947年第181號決議, 把巴勒斯坦地區分割成立兩不同民族及宗教信仰的國家。在決議通過其時, 以色列是願意接受決議, 反對的是他們旁邊的阿拉伯國家。今天時移勢易, 巴勒斯坦人失去了原來指定給予他們的土地, 極端恐怖主義被一代一代成為難民的巴勒斯坦人視為救星, 令巴勒斯坦地區陷在無休止的戰亂中。今天西方國家再次要求世界各國接受「兩國」安排, 盼望能為這地區長期的戰亂, 帶來轉機。

澳洲作為以色列的友好及美國長期盟友, 能在要求哈馬斯不可以成為新政府一部分的大前題下, 承認獨立的巴勒斯坦國,  對以色列及美國施加了壓力。不過, 從數以十萬計澳洲人走上雪梨大橋, 表達對長期受到不人道對待的巴勒斯坦人的同情, 可見總理阿爾巴尼斯的決定, 是得到國民的支持。

這週五, 美國總統特朗普將與俄羅斯總統普京在阿拉斯加會面, 商討解決俄羅斯入侵烏克蘭問題。烏克蘭及歐洲各國強烈表示, 沒有烏克蘭參與談判的結果, 將不會被接受。特朗普總統看來是明白這一原則, 且看他能否說服普京, 讓烏克蘭總統澤連斯基也走到談判桌上, 一起解決這問題。

特朗普總統上任這半年來, 使用了關稅作為武器, 影響著世界各國經濟的同時, 也為國與國之間的關係及合作, 帶來了極大的轉變, 同時間也為解決俄烏戰爭提供了一個新的局面。巴勒斯坦及烏克蘭兩國今天令人心碎的暴力及戰亂, 現時似乎走向緩解之中,到底實際結果如何, 現時仍未有定論, 但相信在可見未來, 就會知曉。

我盼望那掌管歷史及萬有的神, 能讓和平再一次臨到這兩片飽受戰火摧殘的土地上, 讓這些土地上的人, 能走向平靜安穩。

周偉文, 社長

Hope Peace is Coming Around

Israel has been employing starvation as a weapon against the Palestinian people, aiming to force the Hamas terrorists into surrender. Now, it comes the intentions to annex the Gaza Strip into Israeli territory. Today, Western countries realize that recognizing the independent sovereignty of a Palestinian state is the true solution to Israel’s current inhumane use of force to wipe out Palestinians, and the path to bringing lasting peace to the Middle East. Following the statements from European countries such as France and the United Kingdom, the Australian government has announced that it will support the recognition of a Palestinian state as an independent country at the United Nations General Assembly in September.

The support from Western nations for recognizing a Palestinian state is a return to UN Resolution 181 passed in 1947 after World War II, which proposed the partition of Palestine into two separate states for different peoples and religions. At the time the resolution was passed, Israel was willing to accept it, while opposition came from the neighbouring Arab countries. Times have changed. The Palestinian people have lost the land originally designated for them. With each generation growing up as refugees, some have come to see extremist terrorism as their saviour, plunging the Palestinian territories into endless conflict. Today, Western nations are once again urging the world to accept the “two-state” solution, hoping it can offer a turning point for this long-troubled region.

Australia, as a long-time friend of Israel and an ally of the United States, has added pressure on both by supporting the recognition of an independent Palestinian state—on the condition that Hamas will not be part of the new government. The decision by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese appears to have public support, as seen by the hundreds of thousands of Australians who marched across the Sydney Harbour Bridge in sympathy with the Palestinians, who have suffered prolonged inhumane treatment.

This Friday, U.S. President Trump is scheduled to meet Russian President Putin in Alaska to discuss solutions to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine and European countries have strongly stated that any outcome of the negotiations will not be accepted unless Ukraine is involved. President Trump seems to understand this principle. Whether he can persuade Putin to bring Ukrainian President Zelensky to the negotiating table remains to be seen.

In his six months in office, President Trump has used tariffs as a weapon, impacting the economies of many countries while also significantly rocking international relations and cooperation. At the same time, we see an opening to a new path towards resolving the Russia-Ukraine war. The heartbreaking violence and conflicts in both Palestine and Ukraine seem to be moving towards a degree of relief. While the actual outcomes remain uncertain for now, we believe they will become clear in the foreseeable future.

I hope that the God who holds all of history and creation in His hands will bring peace once again to these two lands, devastated by war, and that the people there may walk calmly into stability.

Mr. Raymond Chow, Publisher