Israel, Gaza and me
December 28, 2008 at 3:52 pm 3 comments
I’m addicted to Twitter. Those who use the service know (and I’m sure share) my malady. I first identified it as an addiction during the attacks on Mumbai. It manifested again recently as Israel attacked Hamas. Note, I said Israel attacked Hamas – not attacked Gaza.
Yesterday evening (Saturday the 28th), I found myself (OK, put myself) embroiled in debates (arguements) with what I politely call Israel haters. It amazes me how much anecdotal disinformation people spout as historical fact. I’m the first to admit, history is never clear cut or one sided. In the best Jewish tradition, even history needs interpretation. However, the consistent interpretation that Israel is a war-mongering aggressor is, for me, getting old!
One Israeli newspaper ran the headline, “Europe refrains from one-sided condemnation of Israel.” Yay! And how sad. Why is it that Israel, a sovereign nation, cannot defend itself from outside aggression? I simply don’t understand why Israel does not rate the same rights as other nations in the world. Israel is a blip on the radar in a sea of Arab nations, most of whom want its immediate obliteration. I defy any American or European to convince me they can remotely relate to this level of personal threat.
I would never condone everything Israel does in the guise of self protection. To the contrary, as a member of Rabbis for Human Rights I’ve been very public about my displeasure with many of Israel’s mistakes. This isn’t about that though – at least for me. It’s about applying the same rules for Israel that we use for every other county in the world.
Here’s a great article on Jewcy by Shmuel Rosner, The Two-Sided Argument Over Gaza
Ma Hamatzav? (Was' Up?) 
1.
clayton williams | January 3, 2009 at 8:04 pm
According to you, if anyone disagrees with anything Israel does against the Palestinians or Gazans, he is an Israel Hater. BS. In this recent Israeli contrived incident, there have been 4 Israelis killed versus 400 in Gaza, about 25% of whom were children.
Israel for years has been on a genocidal tear, and my recentment is that the U.S. taxpayer is picking up the tab and providing the arms and equipment. Israel has a right to protect its people and sovereign territory, but should do so at their expense. Israel has existed 60 years, and economically is still a third world country.
2.
clayton williams | January 3, 2009 at 8:05 pm
sorry, but i will not moderate my comment.
3.
dave | January 5, 2009 at 3:46 am
Maybe the world just expects Israelis to live with a daily barrage of rockets and, uh, just sort of think that’s OK?
Or how about this: If we apply US involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq after 9/11 as the standard for appropriate military response, then Israel should have nuked somebody into oblivion long ago. Considering the constant level of threat, we might say Israel has shown remarkable restraint over the years.