By Barb Shelly, Kansas City Star editorial page columnist
There have been occasions on which Israel has been properly condemned for overly aggressive tactics toward the Palestinian state and people. This is not one of those occasions.
Jeff Robbins, a US delegate to the United Nations Human Rights Commission during the Clinton administration, makes important points in an essay in today's Boston Globe:
1)Hamas has launched approximately 3,000 rockets and mortar attacks at Israeli civilian centers this year alone.
2)Hamas finds it acceptable to recruit young Palestinians to wire themselves with explosives and kill both themselves and Israeli civilians.
3)Hamas uses Palestinian civilians as human shields.
The loss of civilian life in the current Middle East warfare is to be deplored. But blame for it must be laid at the feet of Hamas, not Israel.
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The Only-est Thing is Religion
In 1948 the Palestinians objected to side-by-side separate states with Jerusalem being an "international city."
Okay, so the concept of an "international city" did have its problems. Vienna got out of it, Berlin got messy. But in 1948 it seemed to be an option.
What's happened for 60 years now is any time one side or the other perceives a strategic (or even tactical) advantage, either would refuse to compromise.
A pox on both their houses.
Through an accident of history (or God's will; whatever) Jerusalem is a sacred city for Jews, Muslims, and Christians. There's no logical reason any of those sects would willingly destroy it. The Wailing Wall, the Dome of the Rock, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher... all are immune from destruction because of religious bias.
Iran isn't gonna nuke Jerusalem. Nor are the Christians (except for the Rapture-Ready who'd just love a nuclear holocaust so they can welcome Jesus back to earth).
But maybe we need someone to call the bluff of the Muslims, the Zionists, and the Twice-Born: let everyone know we're determined to solve the Israeli/Palestinian problem once and for all. A real King Solomon split-the-baby moment:
Announce we'll evacuate everyone in the region prior to a thermonuclear device exploding halfway (within a half block) between the Wailing Wall and the Dome of the Rock, reducing everything there to a lump of radioactive glass.
Or, as an alternative, agree that Jerusalem is truly an international (and interfaith) city; divvy up the suburbs for Muslims and Jews and whomever, and get on with more important stuff than devotion to a narrow perception of "God."
If Israel wasn't there
If Israel wasn't there the Palestinians wouldn't have had their land stolen from them. They wouldn't be dodging bombs signed by Israeli kids. And millions of them would not have been murdered by the Israelis.
And if you honestly believe the Arabs would ever keep that oil from flowing, I have some ocean front property in Missouri to sell you.
Interface - it's probably cheaper security
If Israel wasn't there with the ability to lookout for our interests, we'd have to do it. And they are there on the ground, so it's probably cheaper. Hey, if we were energy independent, maybe I'd think otherwise, but leave a bunch of warlording Arabs in charge, and there would be chaos, and oil would not flow. And when you start your car today, remember we are dependent, like it or not.
Christlike compassion, or lack thereof.
How Christlike of you.
But how do you feel about our tax dollars flowing into Israel's defense coffers, hmm?
Apop - It is okay
Do you think the U.S. worried about keeping a tally after Pearl Harbor? You attack the enemy, and try to prevent another attack by making the enemy realize that their attacks are hurting them. Yes, Israel should stop soon, but I have no problem with their response not being tit-for-tat. That would just lead to other attacks. I really have no sympathy for the Gazans. They knew well they were putting a terrorist organization in power when they elected them. But they did it anyway. I think everyone knew that there would be a showdown.
Peanut gallery,
Wrong once again I see.
I want us out of the entire region
The region has spawned partisan violence for at least a couple thousand years which is exactly what the creation of the state of Israel was designed to put an end to.
The history since 47/48 suggests that the Israeli's have continuously attempted to live in peace while suffering neverending attacks from arab states and terrorist factions, many of whom refuse to acknowledge that Israel has a right to even exist.
My view remains that Israel is the victim here of Hamas' actions .....just as are the peaceful palestinian christians, muslims and jews in Gaza. Since you are of the "UN loveing left" it would seem that you too should acknowledge Israels right to exist and to condemn the 50 years of arab sponsored terrorism and war against the nation state of Israel.
Actually I don't acknowledge Israel's right to steal land. It was wrong in 1948 and Israel has continued to steal more and more land since then. Would you be willing to give up your land because the UN thinks it is okay? Didn't think so.
I favor the US getting out of the mideast entirely. As you said, this is a long struggle and our involvement has obviously not solved a thing. It can be argued that it has caused us harm. But since we give Israel several million dollars every day, I do believe that gives US citizens the right to speak out against how Israel spends this money.
And no, they have not just sat there peacefully while dodging Arab aggressors. Do some research. Just this week, the Israelis have avenged the deaths of a few by killing over 300 Palestinians. Is that okay?