The Bridge with Peter Mansbridge - Your Turn -- Will The Middle East Ever See Real Peace?

Episode Date: October 23, 2025

This week's question followed the new peace deal in the Middle East, which is still being tested. We asked: "What are the chances of everlasting peace in that region?" As always, you go beyond just saying yes or no, which makes for some interesting answers. Then, as he does every week, the Random Ranter drops by with his thoughts this week on, Canada's team -- The Toronto Blue Jays. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

And hello there, Peter Mansbridge here. You're just moments away from the latest episode of The Bridge. Will there ever be everlasting peace in the Middle East? That's the question for your turn, and your answers are pretty one-sided. Plus, the random renter is here. He's talking about Canada's Blue Jays. Oh, yeah?

Canada's Blue Jays? That's coming right up. And hello there, welcome to Thursday. Peter Mansbridge here with a Thursday episode of your turn. The question this week I knew was always going to be a challenge, as this issue is always a challenge, no matter how you come at it, whether you're doing analysis, commentary, or questions. Your turn question was, is everlasting peace in the Middle East possible?

Are we seeing that starting to unfold now with last week's peace deal? I assumed that the questions would be one-sided, or sorry, the answers to the question would be one-sided, and yes, they pretty much are. But even in those answers, there's all kinds of interesting discussion and commentary from all of you. And so I'm looking forward to reading these letters. The other thing I noticed, and I've noticed this, I guess, ever since we started your turn. I'm not sure if I've ever mentioned it before, but. I find that while we have listeners across the country, and not surprisingly, most of them are in larger cities,

when we're averaging, I don't know, on the podcast portion of the program, 20,000 downloads a day, roughly. We get about 100,000 downloads a week. and it's a five-day week for the bridge including one day which is usually an encore edition although yesterday wasn't and I've had some nice comments about the NBit special another one yesterday

but here's the comment I get and once again those numbers are just for the podcast it's broadcast first on SiriusXM the satellite radio station and it's hard to know exactly how many people are listening there because most of that audience is in cars, right? And I get a lot of letters from people who are driving their cars.

They don't send the letter while they're driving. But I get a lot of letters from people who have heard the program while they were driving. I get a lot of letters from truckers. A lot of letters from truckers. And that's been consistent since day one. And it's great to hear from them as they travel a country. Sometimes on lonely highways in the middle of the night.

So, as I said, a lot of our listeners are in major cities. But those who write the majority, and you listen when I read them, because that's one of the reasons I always talk about the location. They come from smaller communities. In some cases, small towns, very small towns. In different parts of the country. And, you know, I pride myself in saying I've been all over Canada. I've been small towns and large.

Coast to coast to coast. But there's a lot of cases when I get letters here. from towns I've never heard of in areas that I used to live in. And so that's a treat. And I, you know, I look forward to that. I look forward to being challenged to, you know, go look on the map.

Where was that place? So let's get started. The question once again, is everlasting peace in the Middle East possible. All this in light of last week's peace deal, and I put air quotes around that. Okay, let's get started. Jed Sagan, in Paul Grave, Ontario.

That's about 50 kilometers northwest of Toronto. In short, there will never be peace in Palestine slash Israel until both sides agree to it freely. Many Israeli citizens believe this, as do Palestinians. While atrocities over the decades are never acceptable, those memories must make room for peace. Both Israelis and Palestinians must have freedoms and safety for a lasting peace. I fear that left of politicians, a solution is going to be elusive. Tim Stott in Kinnasota, Manitoba Long-term peace in the Middle East? Not likely.

That region has been fraught with violence since its inception. Religious wars, geopolitical conflicts, outside intervention or interference, depending on how you look at it. I think Trump is going to get his Nobel Prize for this peace deal next October, and once the prize is being given, he will walk away from the region, and when it blows up again, as it will, he will be nowhere to be seen. Wendy Cecil in Toronto. My optimism purrs, yes, the suffering of war ends now.

My pessimism barks read history. This is a never-ending conflict. Peace is an elastic which could snap momentarily because of a crossed line, an ignited bomb, a born in hatred, or a bit ego demanding, a big ego demanding a clear win. This fragile agreement holds peace dangling from a filament, land, religion, politics, control. Human nature desires a victor. We hold our collective breath and wait. John Minchell in Comox Valley, BC. Are we going to see everlasting peace in the Middle East?

No. Will it provide peace for a time in the Middle East? Yes, it probably will. But everlasting peace? No. There have been so many problems going back from decades to centuries, depending on how you look at it. So I find it hard to believe that we will get a piece that is everlasting.

Kyle 80 in Peterborough, Ontario. No, I don't think this will lead to any long-lasting peace. This peace deal is little more than a technocratic colonial takeover. When and where has a colonial takeover led to a long-lasting peace for all signs. It wouldn't surprise me if this technocratic governance plan for Palestine is more of a trial run of what MAGA Republicans wish to roll out in the U.S. Maybe I'm wrong. Don Whitmore in Kelowna, BC.

For there to be everlasting peace, both sides would have to accept that the other has the right to exist. The USA and other Western nations would have to discontinue. their unwavering support for Israel. Then, maybe a two-state solution could be implemented with both sides agreeing to a clear border over which no military incursion can occur. Similar to the DMZ between North and South Korea, the demilitarized zone, right?

Or the DMZ in Canadian. Ken Peloshock in Newstatt, Ontario. I think we're looking at a brief, calm before the storm. Ukraine and Russia will be pressured into an uneasy peace. God help those trapped in the occupied territories. And the Middle East will be relatively calm. What comes next will make us nostalgic for those days and World War III won't spare the Middle East just as World War I and World War II. I hope I'm wrong, but Gaza and Ukraine are teaching authoritarian's all the wrong lessons.

Marilyn Wallace, Fannie Bay, B.C. I recently found a teaching moment with my 15-year-old granddaughter about the formation of Israel and the current grievous Gaza situation. It was hard to describe the heartbreaking, seemingly impossible complexity of Middle East conflicts. However, Janice Stein's suggestion that President Trump's outsized ego and greedy financial interests, will only be satisfied by a true ceasefire, brought hope. The proverbial silver lining of a dark clown.

With cautious optimism, I believe peace is possible. Michelle Kaufman in Toronto. Until all women in the region have equal rights, until all its citizens recognize with respect the religious beliefs of others, until all housing developments are fairly negotiated, until all governments truly make peace a priority, until every human is actually treated like one, no, there will not be everlasting peace in the Middle East.

Peter Arato in Toronto. History has no examples of everlasting peace. Peace is a fragile pause in hostility. when there are sufficient military deterrence as well as aligned economic or social interests. Hamas, an Islamist terrorist group, is intent on the river-to-the-sea ethnic cleansing, not coexistence. When Hamas was forced into a ceasefire by nations who concurred that peace requires Hamas' disarmament, none were willing to collect Hamas' weapons. That leaves Israel to defend itself.

as before. Doug Yarnel in Codette, Saskatchewan. That's southeast Saskatchewan, south of Nippewan. Will there ever be a lasting peace in the Middle East? No. There is too much money to be made in the chaos and mayhem. Also, important people will be held accountable if it ever comes to an end. important people don't like being held accountable.

Sandy Esposito in Aurora, Ontario. Sandy writes, I struggle to believe lasting peace can take hold in this region. When we visited Israel, I was struck by the deep-rooted hostility. Provocations from both sides were common. These feelings run through generations, and without mutual trust, I fear a two-state solution or any enduring peace will remain out of reach. Constance Menzies in Narell, Manitoba Despite the ostentatious agreement signed last week,

Nope, such a long history of conflict with too many erratic and self-interest, leaders involved. Historically, the Americans had some neutralizing effect, despite vast amounts of money and military contributed. But now any true peace is exasperated with the current U.S. leader angling for resorts, deals, prizes, and certainly not for peace. Getting supplies to the people that appears to be the only hope. Michael Artendale in Sudbury, Ontario.

We may see a reprieve from war in the Middle East, but I doubt it can be everlasting. That area has seen wars for centuries. Unless they learn how to live with each other, this break may last years, maybe a decade, but not much longer. Christine McDonald in LaSalle, Ontario. Everlasting? No. The ceasefire was a scam, something Trump and his group are good at.

The only reason for the release of the remaining living hostages was to lull the citizens of Israel into feeling better. Now the bombing of the remaining areas can continue as it was always planned. neither side wants a two-state solution well there are people on both sides who want a two-state solution they're just not running things

on either side at the moment to be fair Frank Padisi in Toronto the puzzle piece not being considered excuse me the puzzle piece not being considered is Iran. Palestinians are on side with the peace deal in the short and medium term

because they need money to survive. Hamas simmers quietly until they find future support from Iran. That support will not happen if Iran's theocracy collapses and is replaced by a secular government. Therefore, the battlefield now moves to Iran, with the secular side backed by an unholy alliance of U.S. and Saudi interests. You know, I, you know, we're only halfway through our letters here, but you see there's this kind of a theme to them,

a common feeling on the part of most of the letter writers today. that this isn't long term. It might last a while, but it's not going to last a long time. You know, I understand that. People ask me, what do I think? I'm far from being a Middle East expert. That's why I love to talk to Janice Stein and others about the Middle East.

and I, you know, my experience in the Middle East is that I'm kind of there every few years when something else happens and goes wrong and blows up. You know, I've seen it from the homes of those living in the West Bank, Palestinians living in the West Bank, the challenges they have in life, watching the various governments come through on their side. You know, I've seen it from areas where the shooting's going on,

whether it was in the first Intifada or the second Intifada. I've never been in Gaza. I've been over Gaza, but not in Gaza. And when I talk to those who have been there and been on the ground, they tell these stories of the, you know, horrific devastation and situations on the ground that are. truly terrifying and they also talk about

the incredible resilience and stability actually of some of those who live in Gaza and you see the images you know you see children playing in the rubble and you go are they are they ever going to be like playing in a park

a lot ever happen what's their future and then you see on the Israeli side are they ever going to feel safe I mean it's a tiny country right I remember flying in a black hawk helicopter

over parts of Israel I mean you can pretty well do the whole country in a matter of hours in a helicopter And when terrorists were coming out of different Palestinian areas and going into Israeli areas and doing suicide bombs or what have you, you realize how close everything is. I can remember being in Jerusalem once

and there was a bomb went off in a bus, a suicide bomber on a bus. a couple of blocks from where I was. And, you know, we all go charging up there with cameras and microphones trying to tell the story. And you are left, you know, looking at the horror, the scene of horror, a blown-out bus, bits and pieces of human flesh. and you go, is this ever going to change? Can it ever change? It's this kind of hatred on both sides,

ever going to end? Well, you know, it's easy to end up saying it can never change. And we're certainly getting a lot of that in our letters. As I said, the letters will continue. We're about halfway through them. We're going to take our normal break about this time, which is followed by the Random Rancher for this week with a completely different topic. And we'll get to that right after this. And welcome back.

You're listening to The Bridge for this Thursday. It's a Your Turn Thursday where the question is, is an everlasting piece even possible in the Middle East? We'll get to more of your answers on that question in a few moments. But as we like to do at the halfway mark of the Thursday bridge, as we bring in the random renter. And this is a much easier topic to talk about. Right?

It's all about that team from Toronto. That's going to be and does wear the Canadian flag and it will be waving across the country. As the Blue Jays get in the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Dodgers, Jers, It starts tomorrow night. You can be sure that a lot of Canadians

from coast to coast to coast to coast will be watching it unfold. So go J's go. And go rancers go, right? Let's see what the random ranter has to say this week about baseball. Well, I'm always proud to be Canadian. There are times when I'm completely overcome by it.

As a prairie boy that usually involves a road trip, the tragically hip, a wheat field, a sunset, or all of the above. For me, it's always been the wide open spaces. There's just something about the daunting grandeur of them that makes me feel small and at the same time alive. and so proud to be of this country. This week, I was struck by that same feeling again, but for a completely different reason, because when George Springer hit his magnificent Dinger on Monday night, I felt it, and I'm still feeling it.

Look, there's a weird dynamic in this country. Lots of Canadians, me included, harbor some level of resentment for Toronto as the center of Canada. But when it comes to the Jays, it's all love. at least for me it is because I love the Jays. And true story, the first time I ever visited Toronto was during the 1993 playoffs when I found myself front row at the Skydome to Joe Carter.

How close was I? I was close enough that after a big play, I yelled, Way to go, Joe! And he turned to me and tipped his cap. It was amazing. Just the way he did it. It was something out of a movie, but not a regular movie.

A Christmas movie. You know the kind where Santa winks with a gleam in his eye? Or George Bailey hears a bell? It was magic. So magic that I've been telling that story for over 30 years. It affected me. Or rather, it affects me because I'm a full-grown man who's cosplaying complete Jays fanboy right now.

I've got all the merch. My PJs are Blue Jays. And if I'm going to be completely honest, maybe even my boxer shorts are too. Look, I've been a Jay's fan my entire life from Rance Mullinix's mustache to the Batista Batflip, and none of it, none of it hit me the same way as the game the other night. I mean, I woke up Tuesday morning, barely able to walk. I guess that's what happens when you spend nine innings clenching your butt cheeks on the edge of your seat for every pitch.

Now, I'm not sure why a team that's virtually devoid of Canadian content has made me so proud to be Canadian, but I am. and I think it's the spirit of the team that's done it. They might not be Canadian, but they embody the spirit of Canada and the best qualities of Canadians. They're joyful, they're humble, and they're hardworking. They're serious without taking themselves too seriously. They get the job done and they have fun doing it. They know how important this is, not just to the city they play in,

but to the entire country, and they make sure to honor that at every opportunity. There's a reason all of Canada supports to Jays. And that reason is they deserve it. Now, I know this isn't a sports podcast, and maybe a lot of you out there have zero interest in baseball. Fair enough, you're a loss. But for those of you who do love it, I see you. We're in for a fun ride.

Canada is proud. And go, Jays, go. Oh, boy, fan boy, fan boy, is right. The random ranter, all in for the Jays, starts tomorrow night. Aren't we all? I mean, let's face it, it's a great story. They're the underdog, the overwhelming betting favorite. For those who follow betting, are the Dodgers and Shohei Otani and all the rest of them.

But the fun team, the team that has not shied away from surprising us all year round are the Toronto Blue Jays, Canada's Blue Jays. So go Jays go. You know, I was, I haven't gone to a lot of Jays games, but I still have tickets from the opening game. I had to go to the Netherlands on a story at the last minute. And I didn't want to sell them. I wanted to hold on to those tickets.

So they were actually physical tickets in those days. So I still have those. I was there at the, you know, 85, the year they first made the playoffs. I was sitting in the stadium when Joe Carter hit his home run to win the World Series in 1993. I watched that ball go out. I was there when Jose Batista did the bat flip. But I'm watching this one from Scotland in the middle of the night. And I can't wait.

It'll be fun. Okay, let's get going on our final letters. back to the reality of hoping a peace deal can last as long as everlasting peace lasts that was the question this week do you think it can more answers now from you Lizanne Donnelly in Sutton, Quebec no I believe we're experiencing a ceasefire not a peace treaty there are still many opposing players and stakeholders

The ideologies and values haven't changed. I imagine many of the Palestinian children affected today will develop a strong resentment towards both the West and Hamas. They will eventually seek revenge. And I won't blame them. Faddy Zigby, or Fatty Zigby in Montreal. No, I don't think peace is possible yet. Israel, most definitely today, does not want peace.

It wants submission. In the West Bank, Gaza, and South Lebanon. Money might buy time, but peace will only come with security and dignity for all. Marge Andre in Richmond Hill, Ontario. Peace isn't just the absence of guns, it's the presence of respect. Returning to how things were before October 7, 2023, isn't the answer. The conditions that existed in Palestine made the tragedy inevitable. Real peace will come only when compassionate people on all sides work to live together,

with resources devoted not just to rebuilding but to healing deep trauma, and when women are meaningfully involved in shaping the future. Patrick Chung in Toronto I can't see how peace will ever be achieved in the Middle East as long as the U.S. is actively involved in the process. It's a country well known for its military industrial conscience. complex. It's like the Palestinian people going to a loan shark to consolidate their debts. On the other hand, Israel wants to expand its footprint in the region, and U.S. politicians will

line up to provide any support to achieve its goal. Bruce Armstrong in Port Dover, Ontario, that's the north shore of Lake Erie. Here are three, just three of the many reasons I remain skeptical that everlasting peace can be achieved. I'm one, I'm unaware whether the 20-point plan or its primary orchestrator has considered compromise a key negotiating tool. Two, there remains widespread bias towards and resentment between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli factions. And three, enforcing total disarmament of the Hamas forces when many are still to be located. I sincerely hope that history proves me wrong. Joanne Stevens in Vancouver, no, not so long as the two-state solution remains a festering sore.

The Israelis will not relinquish the West Bank for a whole lot of reasons. The children of Gaza who are living in fear and deprivation will be ready converts for some future interests of Hamas. Salam Gwinnett in Victoria As a Canadian of Palestinian heritage, I find it difficult to be optimistic. The recent proposal excluded Palestinians from consultations and the Israeli government's consistent rejection of a Palestinian state makes its position unmistakably clear. Until religion and politics are disentangled

and people begin to see one another as human beings rather than adversaries, peace will remain a dream. Betsy Dobb in St. Agatha, Ontario. No, they are still shooting at each other. Janice said, Trump owns this, and he has the attention span of a toddler. Most of those involved are clowns. The Palestinians were not equally included in the negotiation, so it's all still stuck in a colonial mindset.

It's all one big grift with the grifter-in-chief in charge. Sorry, I can't be more positive. I do not see In Halifax I do not see everlasting peace as a result of the deal as long as Israel is surrounded by Arab countries who teach their students

to hate Israel and who glorify violence there will be attacks on Israel and Israel will defend itself Gareth Wilson in Bowmanville, Ontario How can it be lasting? It's Trump's plan motivated by his own needs.

It's an asymmetrical reality. Trump is the arbiter as the head of a board of peace with Blair. No Palestinians. It was Trump who denied Palestinians travel to the United Nations. Netanyahu does not even utter the word Palestine, yet he determines if Palestinians meet the benchmark of worthiness. No talk of the West Bank within the plan. Destined to fail.

Trump is no man of peace. Christine Frenzen in Dundas, Ontario. Considering the long and complex history of conflict in the Middle East, along with the significant concentration of wealth in the region, I do not believe that peace can be achieved anytime soon. I am particularly worried that discontented Hamas insurgents may continue to rise and attempt to maintain control, regardless of their actual capacity to do so.

Reports indicate that the situation remains extremely volatile. And yes, it does. there are skirmishes, there are firefights, and there have been missiles fired. But still, those who negotiated this deal said, you've got to expect that in the early days after a ceasefire. It takes a while for things to settle down, for the word to actually get around.

We'll see. We'll see about that. Leah Richards in Toronto. The Middle East conflict will not be resolved within this generation and likely not the next due to prolonged violence, radicalization, trauma, misinformation, and harmful social media influences.

A vague peace plan and lack of credible enforcement will allow groups like Hamas, extremist settlers, other religious zealots, and the power hungry to maintain their influence in the region and continue to sow chaos. Mike Brown writes from Brockville, Ontario. To quote Neville Chamberlain, I believe it is peace for our. time. Now I recommend you go home and sleep quietly in your beds. Oh, the irony, says Mike. Now, I know most of you know this, but let's remind ourselves of that Chamberlain quote. It was on September 30, 1938. The British Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain, returned from a meeting with Hitler that resulted in the what's known as the Munich Agreement, right? After disembarking his airplane at the Hestona Aerodrome west of London,

he stood there with reporters and a crowd all around him and he held up in the air a piece of paper. Chamberlain spoke at that time with great relief and satisfaction of the agreement he held in his hand. an agreement with Hitler to allow the Reich to annex German-speaking areas of Czechoslovakia, also known as the Sudatenland. Chamberlain later appeared together with the king and the queen

on the Buckingham Palace balcony. Thousands of people in the crowd below. Cheering, the peace deal. Still later that day, he spoke from the window of 10 Downing Street and made his peace for our time speech.

Well, it was a little more than a year later. The Chamberlain got tossed. The war started in September of 39. He remained as Prime Minister for the next six of months until May of 1940

which shouts from not just the opposition benches but some of his own MPs including remarks like directed at Chamberlain like go just go he was

perhaps unfairly never forgiven for that deal he signed in Munich with Hitler. And I say perhaps unfairly because if nothing else, it gave Britain a chance to prepare. Churchill had pleaded with the Brits. You got to be aware of this guy, Hitler. You've got to prepare.

You've got to build more aircraft. You've got to build more ships. You've got to get the army ready. and they hadn't for the most part. But that period between Munich and the invasion of Poland in September 39 did give the Brits some chances to better prepare themselves

for what seemed to many like Churchill to be a certain eventuality. It was May in 1940 that Winston Churchill took over, the prime ministership, and you all know the rest of the story on that one. So let's move on to the final three letters. Regway Flynn in Goose Bay, Labrador. I do not believe there will be a lasting peace in the Middle East, As long as there are Israeli settlements on Palestinian land, there cannot be peace.

As long as there are Palestinians who believe they can regain the land lost during the creation of Israel and that there are Israelis who dream of a recreating ancient Judea, there will be no peace. I hope I'm wrong. Robert McMillan in Hope River, Prince Edward Island. I wish I could say yes, but the certainty of the last 50 years shows a different picture. The hostages came home, but the fighting continues because one side, Hamas, refuses to give up. Further, it is becoming a civil war with the Palestinian territory between factions that have always been there. Only the Palestinian people can turn this around, but judging by the protesting in the Canadian streets,

this conflict is doomed to repeat its continuing failure. And here's our final letter for this week. It comes from Ian Walker in St. John's, Newfoundland, Labrador. Merriam-Webster defines everlasting as lasting or enduring through all time. I'm no longer convinced there will be a... everlasting peace in Europe or Asia, let alone the Middle East. Ian puts a cap on it with that comment. And it puts a cap on all of your remarks.

As I said, it was incredibly one-sided in terms of how you feel about that question. But in spite of that, I found it informative to read your letters and to read your understanding of why, overwhelmingly, it seems, you feel that there's no chance for everlasting peace. I think all of us regret that we feel that way. But history, especially recent history, has shown us the most likely outcome is eventually more fighting.

We'll see, and we all hope to be proven wrong. All right, that's going to do it for today, for your turn, this week, and the Random Ranter, on a more pleasant subject, let's face it. I hope for those of you who will be sitting watching the game tomorrow night, whether it's in the stadium or whether it's in your living room, I hope you enjoy it. I hope it's an exciting game. One way or the other.

Keep it exciting. Keep it special. The World Series. Gosh, I remember going to high school in the 19, or not high school, public school even, in the 1950s. When the games were all in the daytime, not nighttime, the World Series games are in the daytime. and if you were really lucky you could smuggle in a transistor radio and run the little earpiece up the side of your neck and listen to the game

while somebody droned on in the front teaching Latin or whatever and I got caught a few times on that one but those are my World Series memories from way back as well as the more current ones I mentioned to you a few moments ago Anyway, enjoy the games. And tomorrow, of course, is Good Talk with Chantelle-Bear and Bruce Anderson. Lots to talk about on the national political front. Prime Minister are giving more hints as to what might be in the budget in two weeks' time.

Get ready for that. Plus, Pierre Palliev, keeps seeming to find trouble within his own party. You know, every time we talk about, Polyev, I get letters saying, ah, you're so mean to Pierre Polyev from conservatives. You guys are biased. Hey, it's not me. It's conservatives.

Certainly this week. All right. Enough said. Until tomorrow. Until good talk with Chantelle and Bruce. That's tomorrow. I'm Peter Mansbridge. Thanks so much for listening today.

We talk to you again in less than 24 hours. Thank you.