It is within our legitimate desire for peace that we would dare to call upon the Israeli government to show restraint in its latest battle in Gaza. We can see for ourselves through the various media that there are innocent Palestinians caught in the crossfire who have nothing to do with Hamas, and we can be certain that children are getting hurt and killed. With equal certainty, we can see for ourselves that innocent Israelis are being hurt and killed as well. However, there is a significant difference that the world seems to be overlooking: Israeli civilians are not caught in the crossfire – they are the deliberate and intended targets of murderers seeking headlines. This can be the only logical explanation since Israel has made it clear by word and deed that they do not negotiate with terrorists, and their national will has not diminished over time. Western citizens would do well to bear this reality in mind before they offer criticism.
These misguided persons intent on terror as their means of waging war have become convinced that the will of Israel and of the world will somehow be weakened if just one more atrocity were to manifest itself in the slaughter of innocent civilians who are guilty of doing nothing more than living their lives and going about the daily business of living. This is not to be, however, and peace continues to elude us because of those who live by this credo.
We can call upon the Israelis to show some restraint for the sake of those innocent Palestinians who, like Israeli civilians, just want to live their lives in relative peace and safety, and I think in many instances the Israelis do just this. To criticize them, however, for taking stern measures to protect its citizens from indiscriminate attacks coming from Gaza is not reasonable, is not rational, and shows a great deal of naiveté, if not historical and political ignorance about the reality of terrorism.
Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria, the West Bank from Jordan, and the Gaza Strip from Egypt during the ’67 Mid East War not for the “spoils” or for the “booty” but for the sake of national security and for the protection of its citizens. Indiscriminate attacks had been launched against Israel from each of these nations in the past, and the land served well as a buffer against future attacks. Thankfully, these nations came to the peace table, if grudgingly, and Israel responded in good faith by offering back this captured land. Peace seemed possible.
Not much later, attacks began to mount from within Lebanon. It would seem that Syria was perhaps one of the “grudging” nations to have come forward since it has been shown that Hamas and Hezbollah had been well financed by Syria to mount attacks from Lebanon which, in turn, forced Israel yet again to move into Lebanon to put an end to these attacks against Israeli civilians who were, again, not caught in any crossfire but were being deliberately attacked. And yet again, for the sake of national security and because of the cowardly tactics of terrorists who hide among the civilian populations, Israel was again accused of atrocities against Lebanese civilians and refugees who had been caught in the crossfire of the new battle front.
Here we are today in the Gaza Strip. Israel had given over control of the territory to the Palestinians as an act of good faith, and they are rewarded with terror attacks not only against their army but, again, against their civilians. And because of the shooting and because Israel will always fire back when threatened or fired upon, innocent Palestinians are again caught in the crossfire because of the cowardly tactics of terror.
Peace is not possible for those who do not desire peace. Israel has given more than any other nation would consider being reasonable for the sake of living in peace. Yet time and again it is proved to the world that those who could benefit from laying down their arms refuse to do so, and critics of Israel do not seem to notice. I cannot help but to wonder if Israel really has this many enemies.
No comments:
Post a Comment