‘Violence, hate breed the same’

As Muslims globally observe their holiest month of Ramadan, the month when the Qur'an was first revealed to the illiterate Prophet Muhammad, pain, loss, violence, and agony are reigning over the Holy Lands.

The recent string of violent attacks on Israeli Arabs by Israeli Settlers, extremist right wing groups, and encouraged by inflammatory statements from right wing politicians started it all. This was followed by the murders of four teenage boys.

Three Israeli youth were kidnapped and later shot to death, followed by the Palestinian Muhammad Abu Khdeir who was burned alive. On July 3 his 15-year-old Palestinian-American cousin Tarek Abu Khdeir, from Tampa, Florida, was brutally beaten by two undercover Israeli police in the yard of his uncle's home in East Jerusalem. He was held in an Israeli jail without charge, later released, and is under house arrest, pending an investigation.

Following the murders of the three Jewish teens, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu declared, ”Vengeance for the blood of a small child, Satan has not yet created.”

Rockets from Gaza started flying over Israel and Israel started active bombing of Gaza with many casualties. The cycle of violence has begun once again and is escalating.

Among all that hate, vengeance, and brutal killings, a glimpse of hope and healing came through from very unexpected quarters Muhammad Khdeir's grieving father made an appeal for 'both sides to stop the bloodshed” On Sunday, the uncle of Naftali Fraenkel offered his condolences in a phone call with Mr. Khdeir's father.

In Iowa City, Rabbi Portman of the Agudas Achim Congregation reminded me of another time and place so many years ago. He called on local Jews and Muslims to hold the 17th of Tammuz which coincides this year with July 15, the 18th day of Ramadan as a joint fast day to pray for an end to violence in the region.

On this date in 70, C.E., the Roman army broke through the walls of Jerusalem. Three weeks later was the destruction of the Second Temple. Rabbi Portman's call is a reminder to both Muslims and Jews of our historical and ancestral lineage as Abrahamic religions and sister faiths. Violence and hate only breeds the same. The only pathway to peaceful coexistence is for the end of the occupation and establishment of two free independent communities living respectfully and humanely side by side.

Let us follow the Khdeir and Fraenkel families' example. Let us pray that God's light and mercy guide us all to the righteous path. May the dead rest in peace and may their families' find, healing, solace and strength.

The Holy Qur'an:

2:47:”O children of Israel! Remember those blessings of Mine with which I graced you, and how I favored you above all other people;”

5:32:”Because of this did We ordain unto the children of Israel that if anyone slays a human being-unless it be [in punishment] for murder or for spreading corruption on earth - it shall be as though he had slain all mankind; whereas, if anyone saves a life, it shall be as though he had saved the lives of all mankind.”

' Shams Ghoneim is coordinator of the Muslim Public Affairs Council's Iowa chapter. Contact: shamsghoneim@mchsi.com