I do realize that the conflict between Israel and Gaza, between Israelis and Palestinians is like a Hydra....that it is complex, multi-layered, chock full of "reasons" and its mutual karma is stuck on an Infinity loop. Someone needs to "jump the track" soon or this could get ratcheted up beyond our wildest nightmares.
However I do have some feeling about this. I have a pressing sadness, it feels like chest pressure.....like the inability to draw a full breath when I contemplate what is taking place in Gaza. One of the contributing factors is this:
I heard Israel's Defense Minister interviewed; his comments were aired on NPR yesterday. He stated that the reason Israel is going on an all out offensive after "so much restraint" (!!) is that the rocket shells being lobbed into southern Israel had made normal life impossible for Israelis living there. He said that they never knew when rockets would be fired onto their streets, their child's school, their car, etc. He said that Israel finally had to go in to crush Hamas to give Israelis "the peace and tranquility and standard of living they deserve." The life they "deserve".
I was aghast at the psychic and emotional disconnect of this man and his sentiments. What about the standard of living of the Palestinians? They have been living in a third world ghetto, cut off from aid for 18 months. Their territory is one big prison, utterly impoverished relative to the territory of Israel. I don't understand how Israel refuses to look at this, unless they view the Palestinian people as "less deserving" humans. Or is it simply "less human"?
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I have to agree with you completely. The massacre in Gaza is a travesty. Write a short note to both Senators Feinstein and Boxer as well as Rep. Farr. It is easy to google their emails.
It may not do any good but I keep at it from time to time. Feinstein joyously ignores feedback from her constituents as she noted on the floor of the Senate last year before voting for the bailout after receiving 90,000 emails of which 86,000 were against any bailouts. She says she knows better what is good for us than we do.
Sigh. So much for representative gov't. But I keep trying.
Bob,
See the article I posted by Professor Ari Shlaim. Interviewed by the Guardian of the UK. He spells it out exactly!
Thanks to you for your efforts on behalf of Peace and justice.
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