For some peculiar reason, it seems – nowadays – almost obligatory for each of us to take a side on every emerging issue.
Even if no one imposes it, we ourselves feel the obligation. As if the masses of social media expect us to express our opinion and mark our stance.
However, we stand with neither side, as inappropriate and apolitical as it may sound. Neither with Israel, nor with Iran. Neither with Netanyahu, nor with Khamenei. We stand with peace.
We look at one with the same dread with which we look at the other. The same feelings Putin evokes in us are now stirred by Zelensky, even if he is the victim of the attack.
We glance towards America and tremble at the thought that the salvation of the planet largely depends on Biden, and the alternative is Trump.
Was the world always like this, or were there leaders who would show some restraint in critical times? Leaders who might foresee impending doom and defuse the situation before it reaches a breaking point.
How distant are the two world wars now, and how faded are the images of the devastation they caused?
On October 7th, when Israel was attacked by Hamas, anyone who was not a fanatic condemned the attack. However, the attack cannot serve as a justification in human conscience for the extermination of a people.
But neither can anyone rejoice when Iran bares its teeth at Israel. And when Iran declares, “We struck now, we won’t strike again unless you retaliate,” we wish for reason to prevail.
We see no opportunity for religious clarification, cultural clashes, or other justifications. Behind all this, we see only people who will pay the price. We stand with neither Iran nor Israel.
We don’t divide life into West and East. We won’t cheer for anyone, we won’t be anyone’s cheering section. It’s not a derby, nor a game. It’s war. It has unpredictable dimensions.
And as much as analysts tend to interpret events as a match at this stage, no one rules out things spiralling out of control. And here we are, looking at the map, unable to not be terrified.
