At what point did you lose your empathy and compassion towards those outside your circle? Why are you able to feel for those around you yet not for other human beings who live close by and who have exactly the same wants and desires from life as you and your family?

Dear Mr Netanyahu,

You were, once, a young man and you probably flirted with the girls, went to meet your mates and generally lived the life of any average young man looking for fun. You are surely a loving father and husband, and a kind and considerate friend to your immediate circle. Youve probably celebrated birthdays with your kids, cut cake and watched them open their presents. Perhaps you attended their High School concerts or graduations. So what happened? Why are you able to feel for those around you yet not for other human beings who live close by and who have exactly the same wants and desires from life as you and your family? Where and when did the change occur? At what point did you lose your empathy and compassion towards those outside your circle?

Forgive my naivety, but I can never understand how someone can be loving and caring yet have another side that is so diametrically opposed to those attributes of care. What do you think when you imagine the Palestinians on the outskirts of your area? Do you smile with glee at their hardship or rub your hands together at the thought of yet another house being razed with women and children being terrorised or imprisoned? Help me understand how a loving father to his children can be so heartless to others who also celebrate their childrens birthdays and watch them open their presents.

Life could be so much simpler and happier for all concerned in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories if you could allow the Palestinians the same happiness that you yourself enjoy, and that of your family and friends. Power is so very over-rated if it means that you have to walk over the heads of others to retain that power. Its ugly. Wealth is only a pleasure if you can share it with others and improve the lives of those in need. I dont need to tell you that Jews and Muslims used to live in harmony on the very land that you walk. Jews were also living peacefully with Muslims in Southern Spain until the Christians came along and struck fear into the Jews with the menacing Inquisition. You can live together- its been done before and can be done today with goodwill. Its really not that hard.

You may think Im oversimplifying a complex situation in Israel, as many highbrow political analysts and policy makers like to say when obfuscation is the aim. But I understand it quite well. I understand that humans created the tension and the mess and that humans can fix it. Matters of State are only made and decided by humans, after all, not machines, robots or supernatural forces. Those same humans who make legislation which infringes on someone else, probably go home to a family dinner and perhaps watch a movie with popcorn on a Friday night. Imagine what a hero you would be to the world if you decided to stop this ghastly situation of oppression on your fellow human beings. The entire Middle East would change overnight. Weapons would be lowered, and civil relations would mean greater trade and productivity. An embrace of all cultures and creeds would bring millions of tourists who are patiently waiting for peace in the Middle East so that they too can experience the extraordinary history and beauty of the region. Israelis would no longer have to live in fear of retaliation from the oppressed imagine that.

No one really cares which God you worship or how you worship. We can be Jewish, Muslim, atheist or whatever, it really doesnt matter. No one cares as long as we dont infringe on other peoples right to exist. No one wants to shove Israelis out of the way, and probably one of the reasons you perceive this is because you know you have made hardened enemies with your refusal to abide by what is expected from a democracy in 2023. Most people simply want fairness. Just live and let live. Its a win-win. The world is weary, Mr Netanyahu. Far-right, far-left, fundamentalism and exceptionalismwe are all tired of it. We need a change of direction from the hatred, suspicion and chaos that is engulfing your region which affects much of the world. Theres enough oil for everyone so that old canard cant be used as the tired excuse for a fractious Middle East. Politicians use a fossil to deflect what is ostensibly a human problem, which is greed for power and money.

You might want to get on board with the new zeitgeist of the Middle East. Things have changed recently. Peace and prosperity does not work for one, it has to be for all concerned in order for it to succeed. You may well miss the boat if you do not recognise the movement currently underway in the Middle East. Perhaps you and your government should forge a different path ahead than the one Israel has been forging for over 70 years without any peace. It is so obvious; I dont understand why you cant see if for yourself.

We all want and need the same things. A roof over our head, food, water, a future, happiness and safety. Presumably thats what you want too for you and your family, so why not allow others to have the same. You would be infinitely happier if you dropped your weapons, shared Israel-Palestine and enjoyed your short time on this earth. You never, ever look happy, so all this claim to land and the desire for more doesnt appear to make you any happier one year to the next. We are all just passing through, Mr. Netanyahu, but what we leave behind as a legacy is far more important than any greed, creed or power that we imagine we need to get through the day while we watch our fellow humans suffer. We cant take money or power with us when we go, but we can take love which is a far more valuable attribute which can be fossilised in the hearts of future generations.

Give it some thought. Dont discard this letter as some silly ideological nonsense. Ive studied geopolitics and I understand how the world works behind the political curtain. But I also understand that John Lennon had the right idea. Imagine.