Applying basic moral principles and a simple recognition of international law and of Palestinians as human beings makes the road to peace obvious: Israel must allow all humanitarian aid into Gaza, immediately relinquish all occupied territories, lift the crippling blockades, destroy the illegal portions of the separation wall, remove all illegal settlers from the West Bank, and pay reparations for all of their war crimes, minus reparations that would be owed to Israel from Hamas rocket attacks, suicide bombings, etc. Finally, the leaders of the Israeli government and Hamas should be tried for war crimes and punished accordingly, showing the entire world that the populations are benevolent and righteous, even if their leaders are warmongers.

Reparations to Palestinians will rebuild the country’s infrastructure, allowing children to be educated, receive medical care, food and other basic needs in kindness on behalf of the Israeli government. These reparations should not be difficult with the $3 billion in yearly aid from the United States that has made Israel the world’s fourth-largest military and a nuclear superpower.

Apologists for Israel claim that no such agreement can be possible because Hamas is a terrorist organization, and because their charter calls for the destruction of Israel. But if we look up the definition of terrorism — using violence or the threat of violence to achieve political ends — we must acknowledge that the United States and Israel not only commit terrorist acts, but that terrorism is a cornerstone of their foreign policy.

Although Hamas refuses to recognize the state of Israel, they have on multiple occasions proposed a long-term cease-fire along the 1967 borders, provided Israel’s recognition of a Palestinian state and compliance with international law. Perhaps not what Israel wishes to do, and maybe Hamas won’t honor it, but there’s one way to find out: Try it. It wasn’t Hamas who broke this past cease-fire, so the credibility issue lies with Israel.

The rocket attacks into Israel have helped no one except perhaps to vent some of the frustration felt by Palestinians who have suffered under the boot of brutal Israeli occupation for decades, but grant Israeli hawks a pretext to use violence that kills scores of civilians. Those civilian casualties offer Hamas political points in playing the victim. Neither side should wish to appeal to these base human instincts. Instead, those that wish for peace should take the high road and appeal to the humanity in each other.

Both sides have achieved the first step of immediately declaring a unilateral cease-fire. Next, talks of the details of the two-state, roughly 1967 border solution, or at least a long-term peace, can begin. The details of right of return, Jerusalem, and contiguity will be complex and require minds of fairness, but both long and short-term peace must underlay any discussion.

The reason for my focus on Israel is twofold: First, it isn’t controversial that Israel has broken a plethora of well-recognized laws. Secondly, with Israel and its proponents constantly waving the flag of self-righteousness and restraint, they should begin by demonstrating that in a real way. The righteous do not waver when others commit evil out of weakness — their behavior remains righteous indefinitely and they set an example and reach out to slaves of impulse whose chains are vengeance and power.

If this all sounds radically idealistic, just remember that it’s the application of principles we all well know. If you think those principles are irrelevant, you must admit you’re not interested in peace — except through extermination.

Drew Robert Winter is a State News guest columnist and an English and journalism senior. He also is president of Students Promoting Animal Rights, or SPAR. Reach him at winterdr@msu.edu.