If there has ever been a time for prayer, this is that time.

If there has ever been a place forsaken, Gaza is that place.

Lord who is the creator of all children, hear our prayer this accursed day. God whom we call Blessed, turn your face to these, the children of Gaza, that they may know your blessings, and your shelter, that they may know light and warmth, where there is now only blackness and smoke, and a cold which cuts and clenches the skin.

Almighty who makes exceptions, which we call miracles, make an exception of the children of Gaza. Shield them from us and from their own. Spare them. Heal them. Let them stand in safety. Deliver them from hunger and horror and fury and grief. Deliver them from us, and from their own.

Restore to them their stolen childhoods, their birthright, which is a taste of heaven.

Remind us, O Lord, of the child Ishmael, who is the father of all the children of Gaza. How the child Ishmael was without water and left for dead in the wilderness of Beer-Sheba, so robbed of all hope, that his own mother could not bear to watch his life drain away.

Be that Lord, the God of our kinsman Ishmael, who heard his cry and sent His angel to comfort his mother Hagar.

Be that Lord, who was with Ishmael that day, and all the days after. Be that God, the All-Merciful, who opened Hagar’s eyes that day, and showed her the well of water, that she could give the boy Ishmael to drink, and save his life.

Allah, whose name we call Elohim, who gives life, who knows the value and the fragility of every life, send these children your angels. Save them, the children of this place, Gaza the most beautiful, and Gaza the damned.

In this day, when the trepidation and rage and mourning that is called war, seizes our hearts and patches them in scars, we call to you, the Lord whose name is Peace:

Bless these children, and keep them from harm.

Turn Your face toward them, O Lord. Show them, as if for the first time, light and kindness, and overwhelming graciousness.

Look up at them, O Lord. Let them see your face.

And, as if for the first time, grant them peace.

I wish for peace among all nations. But I don’t understand what that protest was supposed to solve. If they truly wanted peace for all, they would have acknowledged the suffering of all. I saw it — they didn’t. And it was sponsored by the “Instead of War” coalition? Umm, aren’t they aware that the Palestinians broke the 6 month cease fire and started a war by firing missiles at Israel? It’s like people are so clueless sometimes.

I think that people felt you were advocating a position and that’s why they spoke up. Perhaps you weren’t although it’s fairly clear where you stand on the issue. I’ll be sure to send you notices for the rallies by Jewish peeps that wish peace for ALL. Thanks for maintaining an objective forum, Antonio.

That being said, I think the Palestinian people — not the terrorists, but the actual Palestinian people — are definitely feeling the brunt of this violence.

“If somebody was sending rockets into my house where my two daughters sleep at night, I’m going to do everything in my power to stop that….and I would expect Israelis to do the same thing.”

- Barack Obama on his visit to Sderot, Israel in July 2008.

View the full video at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFoj-PKJhck

Hamas prematurely ended a six month cease fire and recently began bombing again. This video shows a little bit about what life is like during the bombings.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WICdn3uqbg&feature=channel_page

Antonio,

I don’t know why you posted this. Are you involved or sympethetic with this protest or is this just a public service of posting any press release that comes your way? Are you going to start covering or commenting on Middle East politics on this site?

In 2005 Israel carried out a total disengagement from Gaza, giving the Palestinian leadership an historic opportunity to establish self-rule and improve living conditions for its citizens.

Rather than avail itself of this possibility, however, Hamas, which last year violently seized full control of Gaza, has used the territory as a launching pad for thousands of rockets and mortars fired into Israeli cities, villages and farmland. Today, approximately 500,000 Israeli residents live within the range of those weapons.

Where was this anti war organization after thousands of rockets were fired at citizens in Sderot Israel?

Your views don’t have to be even handed but it would be helpful to those who take the time to read this blog to know what they are.

Happy to buy you a beer sometime to discuss.

Wishing you and all of us a peaceful 2009.

Know that the Palestinians have elected a government whose goal is to eradicate Israel from the map. Do you actually think there can be peace when their goal is to decimate Israel? Until the Palestinians love their children more than they hate Israel and the Jews, there will never be peace.

Your views don’t appear to be very even-handed and just. Is that so wise for someone that claims to be a Public Relations guru?

“Shadow of Iran Looms Over Gaza” by Walid Phares, terror expert: http://foxforum.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/12/31/phares_gaza/

“The Gaza solution is in the hands of Palestinians”: http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1230733118401&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull

“Is Israel using ‘disproportionate force’ in Gaza?”: http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1230456535626&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull

The Hamas Covenant (Palestinian Government): The Covenenant of Palestine: “Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it” (The Martyr, Imam Hassan al-Banna, of blessed memory).”…”Allah is its target, the Prophet is its model, the Koran its constitution: Jihad is its path and death for the sake of Allah is the loftiest of its wishes.”…”The Islamic Resistance Movement believes that the land of Palestine is an Islamic Waqf consecrated for future Moslem generations until Judgement Day. It, or any part of it, should not be squandered: it, or any part of it, should not be given up.”…”This is the law governing the land of Palestine in the Islamic Sharia (law) and the same goes for any land the Moslems have conquered by force, because during the times of (Islamic) conquests, the Moslems consecrated these lands to Moslem generations till the Day of Judgement.”….”There is no solution for the Palestinian question except through Jihad.”