Friday bore fruit to the futility of Israel’s overwhelming militaristic response to Palestinian resistance. Israeli shells hit a beach in the northern Gaza Strip, killing 10 people, including 3 children and injuring 30.
The targeting of civilians in military activities is condemned as a form of terrorism. Indiscriminate or incompetent use of heavy arms within an urban area I consider to be morally equivalent. This tragedy is little more than a particularly bloody example of terrorism against the Palestinian public by the Israeli military.
If words are to be believed, the goal of Israel is to live peaceably with a neighbouring Palestinian state. How then, is this goal being accomplished by the military response against Palestinian militants?
For 18 months, the paramilitary and political group Hamas has kept a ceasefire. Israel, however, has not kept up its end of the “truce”, launching frequent military action into Palestinian territory. Although it is accepted that these are mostly in response to suicide bombings launched by other Palestinian groups, this displays a significant lack of “temperance” in the part of the Israelis. For 18 months, Hamas has tolerated “just” Israeli incursions while Israeli has repaid Hamas with criticism and disdain of its political authority.
Israel’s immediate withholding of the Palestinian Authority’s share of tax and customs revenue, along with the withdrawal of aid by the US and Europe (reference) after the victory of Hamas in the Palestinian elections has crippled the Palestinian state. Public servants, along with a large contingent of armed security personnel have not been paid for months. No matter how politicians try to reframe the situation, Israeli and U.S. policy is punishing the Palestinian people for their democratic choice.
One must ask the question, “for what purpose”?
If it is to “encourage” (coerce) the Palestinian public to drop their support for Hamas, then this policy of economic terrorism is a clear failure. Hamas has become ever more popular amongst the poor and disenfranchised.
After Hamas swept into power, there was a small window of opportunity that was lost to mutual belligerence. Within the model of its own political ideology, it had stretched out a hand to the Western community; coming as close as what could be expected for recognising Israel (considering one of its founding goals is for the destruction of the Jewish state). This was firmly rebuffed by both Israel and the United States with the proclamation that unless Hamas renounced violence and recognised the right for Israel to exist, that there would be no negotiation.
Although this may seem “reasonable” to the casual observer, it is bound in hypocrisy. Israel after all, has never denounced the use of “violence” upholding the use of extreme military force for the purposes of “protecting itself”. Furthermore, significant parts of Israel that they would have the Palestinians recognise is founded on stolen and occupied land; of which Israel is in breach of several UN Security Council Resolutions.
In a remarkably clear minded essay, American right wing conservative Patrick Buchanan states:
“The purpose of U.S.-Israeli policy today is to punish the Palestinians for how they voted and to force Hamas to yield or to collapse its government… Terrorism has been described as waging war on innocents to break their political leaders. Is that not a fair description of what we are doing to the Palestinians?”
At the end of the day, it is almost pointless apportioning blame. Both sides are at fault. Nevertheless, as the overwhelmingly dominant side and the occupying force, Israel has the ability and thus the responsibility to establish peaceful relations with the Palestinians.
On Friday, June 9 2006, the “regrettable mistake” of the senseless slaughter of civilians at a picnic on a beach finally broke the ceasefire that had held back Hamas’ hand for a year and a half. The cycle of violence continues and all the while it is the Palestinian public that suffers.
Source articles:
The American Conservative: The Persecution of the Palestinians, by Patrick Buchanan
BBC News: Palestinians killed on Gaza beach
Yahoo! News: Hamas ends truce with Israel amid Abbas showdown
Middle East News: List of United Nations Resolutions Against Israel (1955-1992)
Council on Foreign Relations: Hamas and the Shrinking PA Budget
1 comments:
The interesting thing about the "blogosphere" is that just about anybody can raise a point of view.
For example, here is a point of view from someone who is rabidly moronic and yet considers himself to have somewhat a clever wit.
I've always wondered how the Israelis - the fiercest anti-terror warriors and sheer tenacious survivors the world has ever seen - would ever be brought to the point ... Of course, we also know that the Israel we see now will never again be destroyed, so the demonic dreams of Hamas and the Iranian mullahs will never fully be realized.
It is ironic that this loony would call himself "home to the mainstream". To frame the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in messianic terms is the calling card of a right wing religious fundamentalist, but hey, if you're a Christian rather than a Muslim then you're on the "right side"...
A fool calling others fools... ridiculous.
Regards,
Michael Tam
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