Which Side Are You On?
Title
Which Side Are You On?
Creator
Jacob Schlitt
Description
"Pro-Israel and Pro-Peace Jews are in a quandary these days."
Date
2014
Format
application/pdf
Type
text
Language
en
Identifier
WHICH_SIDE_ARE_YOU_ON
Text
WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON?
Pro-Israel and Pro-Peace Jews are in a quandary these days. The war in Gaza is tearing us, as well as Gaza, apart. As usual, the question of “who is responsible?” is not easy to answer. Where do you want to start? God’s promise to the Jewish people? Herzl’s dream of a Jewish homeland? The Balfour Declaration? The UN Declaration? Israel’s War for Independence? The Arab world’s rejection of a Jewish State? All the succeeding wars and Intifadas? The refusal of Hamas to accept the existence of Israel, and its pledge to destroy it? Israel’s occupation of Gaza? Israel’s unilateral departure from Gaza, but maintaining its blockade? Hamas’s rocket attacks on Israel?
So where are we? Israel has a right to defend itself, and destroy the rocket launchers and those who are launching them. Israel has a superior army and weapons. Invading and bombing Gaza has resulted in overwhelmingly disproportionate casualties, including thousands of Gazan women and children. Israel insists that Hamas places its weapons among civilian populations, and when Israel attacks those areas, it tries to notify civilians to leave the area.
A new phenomenon: tunnels dug by Hamas which enable Hamas fighters to both smuggle in arms, and enter Israel. Despite the blockade, Hamas has been able to bring in the material to build the tunnels, and despite the blockade, Hamas has been able to obtain rockets and missiles to attack Israel, which sparked the latest fighting.
Growing AS; Efforts at a cease-fire; Israel’s (Netanyahu’s) desire to finish the job. Role of American Jews. Stand by Israel or be critical of excesses. Continue to fight for peace.
Pro-Israel and Pro-Peace Jews are in a quandary these days. The war in Gaza is tearing us, as well as Gaza, apart. As usual, the question of “who is responsible?” is not easy to answer. Where do you want to start? God’s promise to the Jewish people? Herzl’s dream of a Jewish homeland? The Balfour Declaration? The UN Declaration? Israel’s War for Independence? The Arab world’s rejection of a Jewish State? All the succeeding wars and Intifadas? The refusal of Hamas to accept the existence of Israel, and its pledge to destroy it? Israel’s occupation of Gaza? Israel’s unilateral departure from Gaza, but maintaining its blockade? Hamas’s rocket attacks on Israel?
So where are we? Israel has a right to defend itself, and destroy the rocket launchers and those who are launching them. Israel has a superior army and weapons. Invading and bombing Gaza has resulted in overwhelmingly disproportionate casualties, including thousands of Gazan women and children. Israel insists that Hamas places its weapons among civilian populations, and when Israel attacks those areas, it tries to notify civilians to leave the area.
A new phenomenon: tunnels dug by Hamas which enable Hamas fighters to both smuggle in arms, and enter Israel. Despite the blockade, Hamas has been able to bring in the material to build the tunnels, and despite the blockade, Hamas has been able to obtain rockets and missiles to attack Israel, which sparked the latest fighting.
Growing AS; Efforts at a cease-fire; Israel’s (Netanyahu’s) desire to finish the job. Role of American Jews. Stand by Israel or be critical of excesses. Continue to fight for peace.
Original Format
application/msword
Citation
Jacob Schlitt, “Which Side Are You On?,” Autobiographical stories & other writing by Jacob Schlitt, accessed April 23, 2024, https://tsirlson.omeka.net/items/show/240.