A daughter’s childhood image of her father as a flawless protector shattered when he abandoned their family for another woman. While she initially stayed quiet during family criticism, she gradually gained a more cynical perspective, realizing her father was not the hero she once believed him to be. This personal shift mirrors the author’s changing view of Israel.
Growing up in a religious household, the author viewed Israel as a divine nation, heavily influenced by biblical teachings that framed the Jewish state as God’s chosen land. The author celebrated Israel’s military history, including the 1967 Six-Day War, as miraculous. However, a pilgrimage to Israel changed this perception. The author discovered that some religious sites were managed more for tourism than spiritual value, and noted the marginalization of Christians in the region. A visit to Gaza further exposed the harsh realities of the conflict, revealing suffering that contradicted the author’s previous romanticized views.
The events following October of last year have further deepened the author’s disillusionment. The scale of destruction, including the targeting of civilians, medical facilities, and journalists, is described as an act of terror that challenges any sense of moral conscience. The author contends that Israel’s pursuit of absolute dominance at the cost of Palestinian and Lebanese existence is unsustainable and inhumane, moving against the principle of human equality.
The article suggests that the world must question whether Israel acts as a stabilizing force or a danger to international peace. Ultimately, the author draws a lesson for nations like Nigeria, emphasizing that countries must prioritize self-sufficiency and define their own strategic interests rather than relying on external powers.