Israeli mistreatment of Palestinians must stop
When Hamas took power of the Palestinian government in 2007, a blockade of the country was immediately set up by both Israel and Egypt. At the time it was thought a smart move. But after 3 years, the blockade’s legacy is atrocious. It has impoverished the people of Palestine, created legitimate anti-Israeli fuel for extremists, and turned Israel into the human-rights violators it originally sought to stop.
I maintain that here in the west, our lilly-footed approach to Israel has allowed sub-standard living conditions to persist in the country of Palestine for far too long.
In fact, a report by the United Nations in September of last year confirmed that Israel’s actions against the people of Gaza amounted to “war crimes.” In several instances, attacks were carried out against civilians with no clear military purpose
“The Mission investigated 11 incidents in which the Israeli armed forces launched direct attacks against civilians with lethal outcome. The facts in all bar one of the attacks indicate no justifiable military objective.”
“The facts gathered by the Mission indicate that all the attacks occurred
under circumstances in which the Israeli armed forces were in control of the area and had previously entered into contact with or had at least observed the persons they subsequently attacked, so that they must have been aware of their civilian status.”
Israel is a bully.
But not the mean-spirited bully that slaps you in the face while everybody’s looking, and then laughs. No. Israel is a bully by proxy. This type of bully uses the influence of someone or something else to prey upon others, constantly invoking its leeched power.
We enshrine the actions of Israel under the guise of “her right to defend herself”. And while America sees Israel as a sister and a tie to the holy land itself, in reality our close ties with the middle-eastern democracy has given it the right to abuse the people of Palestine.
Also, Israel has consistently refused to allow inspectors to have access to ANYTHING in the “holy land.” Specifically its nuclear stockpile. Sound familiar? Ahmadinejad is doing the same thing–but for some reason, Israel is exempt from the scrutiny that is bestowed upon the Iranian leader. (note: I consider Ahmadinejad to be a lunatic, which might ALSO explain why people don’t listen to him. But, this does not dismiss Israel’s actions)
Palestinians have begged the international community for help: the Muslim world has responded. As a result, Palestine has been demonized.
At the same time, Israel specifically targeted infrastructure in Gaza; infrastructure which had “no mililtary purpose.” Factories were destroyed, schools, homes, hospitals, Gaza was blown to bits for no military reason. In fact, the mission concluded that
“From the facts it ascertained, the Mission finds that there has been a violation of the grave breaches provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention.”
But the western world chose to ignore these facts. Faith plays a serious role here. Not only does faith allow Israel to have the upper hand (of course the group nearest to Christ gets American loyalties), but it also allows Israel to shirk its moral responsibilities.
And now Israel is faced with serious backlash from the international community:
“International condemnation continued Friday, with protests in Syria, Greece, Mauritania, Bahrain and Malaysia, where some demonstrators burned Israeli flags and carried mock coffins. In Norway, the military canceled a seminar scheduled for later this month because an Israeli army officer was to have lectured.”
Turkey, who lost the nine people aboard the flotilla earlier this week, is particularly fuming at Israel. The prime minister of Turkey also hinted at the religious undertone present in the conflict, and our bias against Islam: “You [Israel] killed 19-year-old Furkan Dogan brutally. Which faith, which holy book can be an excuse for killing him?” The prime minister went on to praise Hamas–a dangerous consequence of Israel’s treatment of those living in Gaza.
The blockade of Gaza must end. And while president Bush was a strong supporter, the Obama administration understands that a blockade is “untenable” and must be replaced with a more humane option.
If we don’t keep the pressure on Israel to pay attention to the suffering of others (which, given the history of Jewish people SHOULD be at the forefront of their actions), the Jewish state risks alienating their supporters, fueling an oft-predicted “jihad”, and justifying the FALSE idea that God’s chosen people really are the evil ones that anti-Semites make them out to be.
Hamas did not “take power”…it was elected by the Palestinians.
They CHOSE to be represented by a Jew Hating organization that has a charter that calls for the destruction of Israel.
In furtherance of this, they used Gaza as staging area and supply depot for the thousands of missles fired at Israel.
Kennedy did not allow the Russians to ship arms into Cuba, and stopped their vessels on the open sea, and would have sunk them if there had been resistance.
And Israel has a right to inspect shipments into an area controlled by a Political Party sworn to its destruction.
The Jews did not fight back in World War Two in any organized fashion, but that is never going to happen again.
When the world understands that, then you can talk about “Peace”.
I see Grady that here you are using the "Israel has a right to defend itself" defense for their mistreatment of Palestinians.
Every country in the world has the right to defend itself–including Israel. They also have the right to inspect ships going into Gaza. However, if those ships show no sign violent cargo–weapons, or parts of weapons–they should be allowed to pass.
If Israel is attacking Hamas then it should do that–it should not punish ordinary people for their governments actions.
When a people elect and continue to support a Jew Hating organization that calls for, in its official Charter, the elimination of Israel, then they should not be suprised if there are consequences.
Hamas is certainly not concerned about pushing ordinary people for their government’s actions.
The days when Jews just quietly marched to their deaths are over.
Those days will never come again.
The world needs to learn that.
The world WILL learn that.