Disproportionate Violence
My friends are usually strong supporters of Israel but the slaughter in Gaza is just plain wrong. Many are totally outraged with the relentless massacre of both Christian and Islams in response to Hamas shelling.
By various media reports, that's nearly 1,100 Palestinians killed and 5,000 wounded in 21 days. Yes, Hamas has been seriously weakened but 400 innocent children and 100 women have died as a result. No amount of unilateral cease-fires can change that.
My Jewish friends are equally infuriated that Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Defense Minister Ehud Barak would allow attacks on dense civilian targets like homes, mosques, universities and schools. They've been growing skeptical of their country's illegal take over of land and building of walls in Palestinian territories for some time now.
The truth is Qassam rockets have no guidance system and a range of only 12 miles. Many rockets and mortar attacks end up in empty crop fields and on dirt roads. On the other hand Israel uses superior advanced ground forces and a prepared air force, navy and laser defense system. Much of these technical advantages are purchases from US companies because of our close diplomatic and military ties with Israel.
In fact, 25 Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth-enabled bombers are planned for purchase in 2010.
No amount of innocent killing should be tolerated but 8 Israelis died while 1,1000 Palestinians were buried in rubble. As they say "An eye for an eye makes everyone blind. A bomb for a bomb makes everyone dead."
Bush/Cheney war mongers will argue that the Palestinians got what they deserve because they voted for the terrorist leadership two years ago. Or, that bombing civilians is collateral damage because Hamas uses them as "human shields".
What they don't understand is that Hamas barely won the popular vote and the election was fraught with voter rigging and intimidation. Also that a strong majority, especially negotiating partner, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, craves peace.
Lets hope Barack Obama shows more concern, care and leadership for a humanitarian solution than the current administration has.
posted by Sonja Stark of PilotGirl™ @ 4:41 AM
1 Comments:
I could not agree more with this entry, except to add that this massacre has been financed by US tax dollars and that the conflict is not about religion as such, i.e., the attack on Gaza is not a fight per se against 'Islamic terrorism': it's about land.
The Palestinians were pushed off their land (about 1.5 times the size of New Jersey) and, logically enough, would prefer to live on it rather than being jammed into a area half the size of Manhattan surrounded by 25-foot-high walls on 3 sides. The 4th side, the Mediterranean, is patrolled by the Israeli Navy.
It's also always worth keeping in mind that the Palestinians had nothing whatsoever to do with the Holocaust, i.e., there's not a reason in the world they should suffer because of it.
Post a Comment
<< Home