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- Joey Barton Weighs in on the Middle East Conflict
The Big Issue -Joey Barton: "Israel and Palestine is tit-for-tat violence"
Columnists - Dec 4, 2012
Joey Barton: "In the Israel-Palestine conflict, the leaders of each side really need to man up"
We have to support the most powerful at all times, don’t we? If I was to tell you those innocent children, women and men were being killed in Gaza because of a largely interpreted book that was written more than 2,000 years ago, would you really believe me?
This is actually something I would probably tweet in jest, yet when I did give my opinion on Twitter about Israel’s atrocities I was told to get back in my box.
The problem is, not only are there not too many boxes that I can fit in, but also that this issue needs to be discussed and challenged by as many people as possible in order to stem a battlefield response, and put an end to this madness.
So there are a group of Jews out there, with extreme beliefs, that think the Old Testament is all fact, which means that Israel belongs to the Jews and the Palestinians must give all of the land back to them, as this book is, of course, the law. Now, come on, if someone turned up at my house and said that they had found a book saying my house belonged to them, I would have my lawyers rip them a new arsehole.
Now, Israel was created in 1948. Okay, the state of Israel, before you jump on your high horses again. It had been governed by Britain but was given to the Jews. The area is surrounded by pretty hostile Arab territory, so they kill a load of Arabs in order to let them know who is boss. If I was an Arab I would be pretty pissed off at this, but then again the Jews needed a homeland after the Holocaust and so they were supported financially by the Americans to fight their corner against hostile forces in
the region.
Now the United States has been largely supportive of the Jews’ fight in Israel over the years, but let’s have it right. This has simply gone on for too long. Every time peace talks occur the situation worsens. Seriously, what are they doing in these rooms?
Someone needs to be brave here. There have been situations with mass hatred, and Northern Ireland strikes me as one, as does South Africa, where there have been brave leaders on both sides that have allowed each to come through the other side.
I look at these two feuding and the violence perpetuated and wonder when it will all end. Both are in the wrong, but even when researching it seems there is propaganda behind every Palestinian attack as a major terrorist attack, but the Jews are chucking settlements on the Arabs’ land and persecuting them. So what is the answer?
Build a wall across the place – that way you cut out suicide bombings. What genius thought that idea up? It beggars belief in the modern day. Segregate them, so they hate each other more and the hatred bubbles into the next generation.
Now, I have read of and seen the atrocities, albeit through said propaganda, and I still cannot see the clear answer. However, I can clearly see what is not the answer. It is not the answer to read one side of the story. It seems at times to be tit-for-tat violence.
However, it is the leaders of each side that really need to man up. Not be worried about them being attacked and having the ‘My gun is bigger than your gun’ approach. Instead, they need to sit down and man up to get themselves out of this situation. Not be afraid of losing their own power at the risk of countless lives.
I do not see how the Israelis can have a right to defend their land because a book, which the jury is still out on, said so. There are Israelis living in areas that they have travelled halfway across the world to live in, in order to protect ‘their’ land, which really is insane.
When I made these comments on Twitter it was said that I was anti-Semitic. How ridiculous is that? But there will always be these idiots out there, quick to jump to hate because I do not agree with their take on it.
In the meantime, I hope with all my heart that someone comes up with a solution. As I write this piece there has been a ceasefire. Both sides are claiming they have won. And, you know what? There is a ceasefire, so maybe they both have won...
Joey Barton plays football for Marseille. @joey7barton The Big Issue
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BBC
Paolo Di Canio on Redknapp, Abramovich and Movembert.
QPR - Redknapp's toughest challenge
If Harry Redknapp keeps Queens Park Rangers in the Premier League, they should build a statue of him outside Loftus Road.He has performed miracles in the past and he is someone who has proven he can go against the odds and do well at clubs in difficult situations.
But it will be difficult at QPR, not just because of where they are in the league, but also because there is a big problem there in terms of discipline, attitude and behaviour.
Two months ago I watched QPR lose at home to West Ham with my assistant coach Fabrizio Piccareta.
I said to Fabrizio during the game that if QPR have 10 points by December I would pay for dinner. They didn't so dinner is on him.
There were four or five players in the Rangers team who should not have been there. In fact, given their history, I could not believe they had been brought to the club. They were players who were names from the past and even then not fantastic names in my opinion.
I am not surprised that Redknapp came in and knew the situation straight away, stating that the players need to take responsibility for where they are.
I would have said exactly the same.
I would have gone to speak with my players about the situation, then after one hour of discussion we would realise I was right and I would then go out and publicly make them take responsibility for what they have done, and say what they need to do to improve.
People have said I am wrong to publicly blame players in the past, that Paolo Di Canio's way is not the right way to manage.
But at QPR Redknapp has said the same thing, and for me it proves why I think I am a top manager.
I know that not every time I say something I am right, but 99% of the time I am.... BBC
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