Quote Conner and Dad. "Unfortunately, the world will sit back since Hamas and many Islamist organizations embrace terrorism since it's cheap and it works (in the short run)."
If you listened to the Syrian Leader's response, and I have to agree with him, Hamas was democratically voted in. It cannot therefore be a terrorist group but a legitimate military force who's place is to defend it's own people. It is not Hamas that is invading Israel, it is Israel invading Gaza. . . AGAIN!
It is also my understanding that Hamas have never broken ceasefires, it has been Israel (and Egypt?)
The Bush administration have called 'wolf' (terrorist) before and been shown to be wrong. Hamas may well have links with terrorists groups, but the impact of what they are doing in Israel is minuscule in comparison to what Israeli forces are doing in Gaza. In fact, the Israelis have suffered fewer losses than most cities experience as road deaths on a daily bases, and almost half of them were friendly fire. What Israel is perpetrating amounts to terrorism and war crimes.
Be very aware of the use of terms they assign to themselves eg retaliate, defend, victims etc. These terms are far more appropriate, in this conflict, to be assigned to the Palestinians. Both countries have the right to defend. Israelis have warnings of rockets, they have bunkers, they have the freedom to escape. Those in Gaza do not. They are STILL trapped. They are starving, they are running out of basic need supplies. The term terrorist does not only apply to Hamas.
I do not condone terrorism, from any country, or group. The people dying in this crisis, on masse, are innocent, non militant, non terrorist civilians. Surely you must question what Israel is doing when they won't allow reporters into Gaza. When they say they allow in supplies but use those supplies in the most horendous way, to elicit information about Hamas from civilians who are desperately in need of those supplies. eg we'll give you this if . . . . When CIVILIANS are already terrorised, traumatised, starving, thirsty, should they really be subjected to further humiliation and trauma.
Israel are creating a perfect environment amongst the trauma and terror they have caused to plant the seeds of terrorists of the future. These victims will be far more receptive to a 'cause' had they not been victims in the first place. The only way they can prevent this from happening now is to ensure that the conflict stops, the hate stops and they assist in the rebuilding of Gaza, financially, with no presence, I doubt any Palestinian wants them there after the years and years of control and daily humiliation they have placed on both the resident Palestinians and those who attempt to visit. Create a Palestine that is not poverty stricken, that has it's land back to become self sufficient again, and to stop the bulldozing of Palestinian homes for Israel's own 're' settlement (another aggression by Israel against Gaza over the years and condemned by UN) eg an illegal activity. The US would also be better off assigning their millions of dollars given to Israel for their aggression and funding a strong Palestine. But no, this won't happen, they want to 'retailate' just like the 'terrorists' retaliated on Sept. 11. and the cycle will keep going.
The US and its allies seem to always have an enemy. The communists, cold war, now it seems all of Islam. There is a lot of hate for Arab ethnics. It's stereotyping, racism and fear at it's worst, again! Beware of labels. Not all Muslim, or Muslim countries are terrorists or are run by terrorists. And the label 'terrorists' does not only belong to Muslims or Muslim run countries.
The real focus though, should not be Hamas, and terrorists. The real focus should be what Israel is doing to innocent civilians in Gaza. Don't be fooled into not seeing past the labels Israel is putting on Hamas. Wouldn't it be interesting if reporting didn't include the words, Hamas, Israel etc but used ficticious names and labels. I wonder how differently people would view the conflict then.
Thanks for your comment Connor.
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I read your long post and I have only one question:
ReplyDeleteDo you read arabic?
Right on
ReplyDeleteNo, I do not read Arabic, am not Muslim. Using the judgment process you have used on me I should assume you are both Jewish? I am 3rd generation Australian. I am a teacher and for many years a teacher of ESL (English as 2nd language). I taught many refugee students from many countries and wars. I do not wear blinkers.
ReplyDeleteI might suprise you, but I don't wear blinkers as well, even though I'm both Israeli and Jewish.
ReplyDeleteI live in Beer Sheva, which is on of the cities bombed (or more accuratly "missiled") by HAMAS.
Look, I have no intrest or intention to go into a flame-throwing demagogic dispute with you. I have better things to do with my life (Like running to the shelter a couple of times a day, volutenteering in shelters and trying in between to write my MA thesis).
But, I have one point I would like to focus on (I would have wanted you to think about and tell me if I'm wrong, but, hell, I can't force you to think).
One thing I've learnt about researching history (which isn't my major, I must say), is that you can't research history seriously without reading (and therefore knowing the language) manuscripts in the language of the people involved. As you don't read arabic nor hebrew, I would think you should be a bit more modest when you declare certain comments (if you would have known, I would have directed you to a few sources to try and understand this complex conflict (and not only pro-israeli articles), but as you know only english it is worthless).
Look, unlike a lot of Israelis I speak fluent arabic (and no, I'm not from the army or the foreign office). I've been watching a lot of arabic channels from my computer in the past two weeks. I think Israel was right to go to this war but doesn't necessarily know how to end it (for a couple of reasons).
One thing I've understood over the last two weeks is that people who don't live under constant danger of their and their children's life (either here or in Gaza) can't start to understand what we are all going through, and it doesn't really matter if they are sitting in Darwin, Londen, Delhi or even Tel Aviv.
So please don't preach.
I am very pleased that you have a strong army to defend you. Does Palestine have this? I am very pleased that you have bomb shelters and refuge and are able to escape if you wish. Do the people of Gaza have these options? I am mortified at the loss of life of your fellow Israelite s. How many of those are civilians, women, children? Please compare these losses with those of people in Gaza and then tell me your country has the right to inflict such carnage that can only be described as genocide. English may well be inferior to Arabic and Hebrew but pictures, images, conscience, can be equally translated into ANY language. We all share this human ability and the ability of language. I care not what happened thousands of years ago, I care what happens now, today, this week. this year. I know some of the history, enough of it to make judgements. Thank you for your comment and stay safe. And when you help those in the shelter, try to spare a thought for those that in the circumstances that YOU use that shelter, they do not have that life saving luxury, they much endure, and watch their loved ones endure life threatening danger administered by your country.
ReplyDeleteOh I almost forgot. It seems that all nations, bar the United States (not surprising since they finance Israels attack) in the UN security council agree with the view that Israel is committing war crimes, not adhering to human rights, and demand a ceasefire from both Israel and Hamas. Hamas is not being blamed for so much of the horrendous actions taking place, nor should they be.
ReplyDelete