War is NOT the answer
Posted by: Tiffany
I have spent the last two weeks absolutely sick to my stomach reading and listening to the news of Israel’s attack and invasion of Gaza. I’ve never heard a rational explanation of the United States carte blanche approval of any move Israel makes, regardless of how it affects other countries in the region and the world. I also can’t seem to figure out why the vast majority of American media outlets are painting such a favorable picture of Israel and such a terrible picture of Hamas.
America says we want to spread democracy. But the problem with democracy (and the wonderful thing about democracy) is that the people don’t always vote how you want them to. Hamas, regardless of how we feel about them, is a democratically elected political party. How would we as Americans feel if the European Union said “we don’t like democrats, and therefore since the people of the US have elected democrats to run the government, we will no longer recognize America as a sovereign nation?” In effect, this is what America and Israel have done with Gaza. “We don’t like that you elected Hamas, and therefore we no longer recognize your government’s right to rule.” The fact of the matter is that the Palestinian people have spoken, and if we really do believe in democracy, we need to accept Hamas as the ruling party, at least until the next election. That’s how it works.
For the past 2 years, Israel has violated the cease fire agreement with Hamas. They have shot farmers while tending their lands. They have strangled the area to the point where even humanitarian aid can hardly make it to the citizens. Citizens of Gaza (not necessarily members of Hamas) fought back. Israel has used their retaliation as an excuse to go to war. And because of it, people are dying.
Israel is acting like a schoolyard bully. Except instead of a bloody nose and stolen lunch money, children are being murdered in their homes and losing limbs in the streets. Morgues are so full they can no long accept dead bodies. By last count, 9 Israelis have died in this “incident”. 500 Palestinians have died, many of them innocent civilians. Israel’s response is on par with calling out the swat team with automatic weapons to stop the kid next door from throwing rocks over the fence.
Israel’s justifications would be laughable if the outcome weren’t dead children. Israel says “Hamas is using human shields.” Translation: Hamas officials are cohabitating with their spouses and children, and when their houses are bombed, the innocents die with them. Israel says “we gave warning to the innocent civilians that we were going to bomb and they should flee the area, but they stayed behind.” But then they blocked off the borders so the civilians had nowhere to run. Why not tell the fish in your tank that you are planning to start fishing and they should flee. How will they escape?
I’m not saying Hamas is blameless. I’m just saying that Israel’s response is absolutely inappropriate. It is a human rights violation to every single citizen of Gaza. It’s time to talk diplomacy. War is not the answer. It wasn’t the answer for Iraq. It certainly hasn’t solved any problems in Afghanistan. And it isn’t and won’t solve any problems between Israel and Palestine. If Israel thinks that killing civilians is going to do anything other than breed a new generation of Palestinians who think Israel should be put down, they are dreaming. Just as America has created more terrorists than we have stopped by our invasions and occupations in the Middle East, so Israel is creating more “terrorists” who hate Israel by this incursion in Gaza.
It is time for a cease fire agreement that BOTH parties stick to (I’m looking at you, Israel).
Here’s a couple of articles that paint a pretty bleak picture:
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I agree with the basic premise of your post: peace will not, and has not, come at the barrel of a gun.
What we need to remember about Israel is the history behind the creation of the Jewish state. This historical perspective drives the hawkish outlook Israel has about her security.
To me, it is not Israel herself that is to blame. The people in Israel are loving people and share many of the same values that you and I share.
The Israeli political system is to blame. Minority groups garner much more political clout than what they are actually worth. This causes seemingly progressive governments (Don’t get me started about Bibi, “The Hawk”) to pursue aggressive policies to remain credible with the smaller political factions.
In line with this argument, the far-right political groups are also to blame. These political parties are open about their racism and hatred towards Palestinians and Arabs in general. These political parties do not see a peaceful settlement as a goal and intend to torture the Palestinians for as long as they can.
Israel is at fault, this is true. But the people of Israel are not. Many are not concerned with politics and hate to see the violence handed down by their government.
How can we change this? We can do what George H.W. Bush tried in 91. We can stave off funding until concrete steps towards peace are made. We can educate more Palestinians by bringing them to European and American run schools.
What we cannot do: We cannot confront the Israeli lobby, because we, as peace activists, will fail against the strength of the industrial military machine. Goals must be long term and must always recognize that we walk a thin line when working towards peace in Israel.
One thing is clear: If Bibi Netanyahu becomes Prime Minister, peace will not come to the holy land.