Why is Israel Fighting?

Posted on January 9, 2009
Filed Under Ahmed Tibi, Ahmedinajad, Annapolis, Ayatollahs, Egypt, Eurabia, Europe, European Union, European statesmen, Fatah, Fathi Hamad, Food shortage, Freedom, Gaza, Infidel-o-Phobia, International, International law, Iran, Islamic intolerance of other religions, Israel, Jews, Jihad, Jihadists, Liberalism, MSM, Muslims, Palestine, Palestinian terrorism, Realpolitik, Terrorism, UN Security Council, US State Department, Zionism, Zionist Entity, culture of violence, enlightened Europeans, fanaticism, free society, hatred, hatred of Jews, intransigence, mainstream media, palestinians, political arrogance, political hypocrisy, terrorists, violence, violence against children, violence against women | 5 Comments

War is hell. That statement may sound like a trite old cliché, but it is very true. I’ve been in wars and skirmishes and never was there any glee in my heart, nor in anyone else’s around me. Killing for killing’s sake is inhuman and regardless of who does such killing, regardless of who is killed, regardless of the cause, killing for killing’s sake is plain unadulterated murder! Pictures are all over the media of innocent Palestinians getting killed, pictures of Gaza children crying, dying, getting badly hurt…Ah, yes, the Zionist Entity is killing innocents…

When I’d get my call up notice for battle, apprehension would grip my heart. As I’d kiss my wife and children good bye, I’d try not to show the fear that I may never see them again, I’d try to shed no tear. Not while they could see me, at least… I did not want to fight, nobody normal ever wants it. Sometimes however, a war is imposed on us. There is little choice but put on the uniform, point a weapon and fight for a peaceful future where one’s children can grow up without danger, without fear, where they can fully realize their dreams. So why is Israel fighting?

Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Professor Gabriela Shalev, speaking to the UN Security Council on January 6, 2009, explains it best:

We have to defend ourselves – not from the Palestinian people, but from the terrorists who have taken them hostage. Not to gain territory or power, but to demonstrate that our restraint was not weakness and to give our citizens the basic right of a normal life. Mr. President, Mr. Secretary General, Distinguished Ministers, Eight years.

For eight years the citizens of southern Israel have suffered the trauma of almost daily missile attacks from Gaza. For eight years more than 8,000 rockets and mortar shells have targeted Israeli towns and villages. For eight years the residents of these towns have had a bare 15 seconds to hurry, with their children and their elderly, to find cover before rockets and missiles land on their houses and schools. 15 seconds, Mr. President, would not give the members of this Council time to leave this room. No State would permit such attacks on its citizens. Nor should it.

The MSM however, cares little about those eight years of fear. After all there weren’t that many dead, were there? Should Israel have retaliated, perhaps, by sending 8,000 rockets and mortars into the far more densely populated areas of Gaza? Would that have a more measured, proportionate response? Has Europe through its millenia long mistreatment of Jooz, become so inured to Jewish pain as to ignore it? Almost every part of Europe has been bathed in Jewish blood through the ages, has that so calloused Western hearts as to now considered it an unimportant and boring routine?!? Yet, while no Western people ever “turned the other cheek” dem Jooz in the Zionist Entity, did!

But Israel sought every way to avoid the current conflict. In 2005 Israel removed from Gaza every one of its soldiers, and every one of its eight thousand civilians, along with their homes and schools, their synagogues and cemeteries. We did this to try to create an opening for peace and for Palestinians to build a prosperous society. But the Hamas regime that brutally seized control of Gaza, murdering scores of fellow Palestinians, has no interest in peace and prosperity. It is vehemently opposed to negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians. It rejects the Annapolis process which was commended by this Council last month in Resolution 1850. Hamas has no interest in making peace with the enemy; for Hamas peace is the enemy. Its only interest is in establishing a regime of tyranny for Gazans and of terror for Israelis.

But… the Western sheeple blames dem Jooz. Dem Jooz have no right to live in peace, dem Jooz have created an apartheid regime, accuses hat great humanitarian Jimmy Carter, the one that supported that democracy lover – Robert Mugabe – in Zimbabwe over lawfully elected Bishop Gabriel Muzorewa… Apartheid state? There is a higher percentage of Arab professionals and university students in Israel than almost anywhere in the Arab world. Apartheid state? Almost ten percent of Israel’s Knesset (parliament) is comprised of Arabs and Muslim minorities just under their percentage of the total population. Apartheid state? Many of these legislators – including former Arafat advisor, Dr. Ahmed Tibi, speak out venomously against the Jewish state and no one has done anything to curtail their freedom of speech. Apartheid state, indeed!

Hamas likes to tell the Palestinians that it was terrorism that brought Israel to withdraw from Gaza in 2005. But the truth is plain to see: It was the hope for peace that led us to withdraw from Gaza and the terrorism of Hamas that compelled us to re-enter. In our efforts to avoid confrontation, we also agreed six months ago to an Egyptian-brokered tahadia – a situation of calm. Hamas violated this arrangement on a daily basis. Over 365 rockets and mortar shells were fired during this period. And all the while it used the so-called ‘calm’ to build up its supplies of weapons and rockets, smuggled through tunnels into the Gaza Strip. Yet still we restrained ourselves.

Hamas violated this arrangement on a daily basis. Over 365 rockets and mortar shells were fired during this period. And all the while it used the so-called ‘calm’ to build up its supplies of weapons and rockets, smuggled through tunnels into the Gaza Strip. Yet still we restrained ourselves. Yes, Israel turned ther other cheek. Did that bring the awaited peace?

But when Hamas unilaterally announced the end of the tahadia and began to wage a new campaign of rocket attacks against Israel’s citizens with the weapons it had smuggled in to Gaza during the ‘calm’, we could restrain ourselves no longer. With its new Iranian-made missiles, Hamas is now able to reach as far as the cities of Ashdod and Beer Sheva, placing over one million Israelis in the shadow of its terror.

Many in this hall have condemned Hamas’ terrorist attacks, and we welcome this statement of basic principle. But the families at home in the city of Sderot, and children at school in Kibbutz Netiv Ha’asara will not be protected by these condemnations.

No, gentle reader, turning the other cheek did NOTHING for the dream, NOTHING but trample the hope for peace!

In the face of such terrorism we have no choice. We have to defend ourselves – not from the Palestinian people, but from the terrorists who have taken them hostage. Not to gain territory or power, but to demonstrate that our restraint was not weakness and to give our citizens the basic right of a normal life. In this campaign Israel has dealt the Hamas infrastructure a major blow. Dozens of its terrorist factories and training bases have been destroyed, its stockpiles of rockets have been significantly depleted, and many of the tunnels used to smuggle weapons have been put out of action. But we have not only sought to change the reality for our citizens, we have also sought to uphold the values that set us apart from the terrorists.

Hamas rejects every core humanitarian principle. Instead of waging its battle openly between combatants, it directs its attacks against civilians. Some have called these attacks “indiscriminate” but this is not the case; Hamas’ attacks are very discriminate – directed deliberately at innocent men, women and children. In the past week alone, Hamas rockets have landed on a school and on a kindergarten. Hamas shows a similar disdain for the lives of Palestinians. It has adopted the terrorists’ tactic – the coward’s tactic – of using civilians as shields while its leaders themselves flee from combat with Israel’s soldiers and make pathetic demonstrations of bravado from their bunkers. It hides its missiles and terrorist bases in homes and hospitals and mosques, and, as we saw earlier today, deliberately launches attacks from in and around schools and United Nations’ facilities – with tragic results.

It hides its missiles and terrorist bases in homes and hospitals and mosques, and, as we saw earlier today, deliberately launches attacks from in and around schools and United Nations’ facilities – with tragic results. That’s right folks, we’ve all witnessed those tragic results, that make for superb PR for the Hamas. The have ruthlessly and on the backs, on the pain and the blood of Gaza’s people elevated PR to an art… An art, which so many in the West are willingly accepting as gospel truth! So if it is indeed the Zionist Entity that created all the misery in Gaza, why would a bereaved Gazan mother have reacted this way?

The collateral damage that has been inflicted on the residents of Gaza is a sorrowful consequence of living under the rule of rocket-firing fanatics. It is because of Hamas, and only Hamas, that Palestinians are suffering.

At least some of them know the identity of their tormentors. A New York Times dispatch captured an excruciating moment that took place in a hospital morgue, where a mother had just found half of the body of her 17-year-old daughter.

“May God exterminate Hamas!” screamed the woman in crystal-clear understanding that the terrorist band’s reckless, inhuman actions had brought death to her child.

There will likely be more tragedies as Israel presses an assault on Hamas by air and, now, on the ground. Each will trace to Hamas’ refusal to desist, once and for all, from raining rockets onto Israeli soil. And, perversely, each will increase pressure on Israel to stand down prematurely.

“May God exterminate Hamas!” screamed the woman in crystal-clear understanding that the terrorist band’s reckless, inhuman actions had brought death to her child. She screamed at and cursed Hamas!!! Why not at Israel? Because the Israeli government in its search for peace made Gaza j <!– /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:”"; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-fareast-font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-bidi-language:AR-SA;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} –> üdenrein in 2005! Not a single despised Joo was left there! And what happened to the plight of the average Gaza man, woman or child? Their lives became absolute hell when Hamas took over 18 months ago, mercilessly and cruelly murdering many of its opponents!

Ambassador Shalev continues:

For Israel, every civilian death – Israeli or Palestinian – is a tragedy. In responding to terrorist attacks that show no respect for human life – either Israeli or Palestinian – Israel takes steps to protect both. It takes every possible measure to limit civilian casualties – even where these measures endanger the lives of our soldiers or the effectiveness of their operations.

It takes every possible measure to limit civilian casualties – even where these measures endanger the lives of our soldiers or the effectiveness of their operations. So unlike the enlightened Europeans, don’t you think?

The IDF has dropped tens of thousands of leaflets and made thousands of phone calls to Palestinian civilians, beseeching them to leave the areas of terrorist operation to avoid harm.

The IDF has dropped tens of thousands of leaflets and made thousands of phone calls to Palestinian civilians, beseeching them to leave the areas of terrorist operation to avoid harm. Europeans have always through the centuries done that in every war, haven’t they? Oh, my bad! Europeans never did that. No nation in history ever tried as hard as Israel to avoid civilian casualties!

But let it be clear. Failing to respond to terrorists simply because they are using civilians as cover is not and cannot be an option. To do so would simply broadcast an invitation to every terrorist group in the world to set up shop inside a hospital or a kindergarten.

Unlike the Hamas regime, which has targeted crossing points to prevent the entry of aid and has prevented Palestinians from boarding ambulances, Israel respects its humanitarian responsibilities. It has permitted Palestinians in need of medical care to enter Israel for treatment and has set up a special humanitarian situation room to coordinate with the aid organizations working in Gaza. Since the start of the fighting, Israel facilitated the entry into Gaza of over 540 trucks, delivering over 10,000 tons of humanitarian assistance. In fact, just a few days ago Israel was asked by the World Food Program to halt supplies of food shipments since their warehouses were full.

Everything Professor Shalev said is easily to verify, even by that very United Nation!

It is time, Mr. President, for the international community to place responsibility for the humanitarian situation in Gaza where it lies – on the shoulders of the terrorists that have chosen violence over peace. It lies on the shoulders of those Hamas leaders who, from their bunkers and luxury hotels in Damascus, have abandoned the people of Gaza, and have chosen to endanger and exploit them rather than protect them.

This conflict, Mr. President, is a fundamental clash between two world views. Between moderates and extremists. Between those who seek to preserve life and humanity and those who glorify death and destruction.

As Hamas spokesman Fathi Hamad was proud to announce on Al Aqsa TV: Palestinians have created a human shield of women, children the elderly and the jihad fighters as if to say to the Zionist enemy: “We desire death as you desire life.” [video in the post below]

For this reason, there is no – and can be no – equivalence between Israel and the Hamas terrorists we are confronting. There is no equivalence between a State which equips civilian homes with bomb shelters and a terrorist regime that fills them with missiles. There is no equivalence between military commanders who struggle daily to ensure that their operations are conducted in accordance with the requirements of international humanitarian law, and the terrorists who flout this law by keeping Corporal Gilad Shalit captive, without even allowing the International Red Cross access to see him for 930 days. There is no equivalence between a State using force in exercise of its right of self-defense and a terrorist organization for which the very resort to violence is unlawful.

Only useful idiots, only paid for shills, only those with an agenda can possibly find moral equivalence, between senseless, callous murder and careful self defence.

Mr. President, No doubt there will be much discussion today about the credibility of the Council and the need for a resolution. But the credibility of this Council is measured not by the pieces of paper it issues but by the values it upholds. Is the Council’s credibility strengthened when it calls for a cease-fire that effectively equates a terrorist group with a State defending itself against it? Does anyone here truly believe that Hamas will heed the words of this Council? This is not about a “cease-fire” with terrorism or a mutual cessation of hostilities. It is about ensuring the end of terrorism from Gaza, and the end of smuggling weapons into Gaza; so that there is no longer a need for Israeli defensive operations.

This conflict will end not when terrorism is appeased or accommodated but when the international community stands determined and united against it. Anything less than this will only embolden Hamas, lengthening this round of the conflict, and accelerating the next. Anything less will reward Iran – the coward’s coward – which hides behind terrorists as they hide behind civilians, and encourage its world-wide efforts to use Hamas and other terrorist groups to fight its wars on the cheap. And anything less will be a major setback for hopes for peace and prosperity for the Palestinians. As long as Hamas rules Gaza, rejecting the Quartet Principles and seeking Israel’s destruction, Gaza can never be part of a Palestinian state.

This conflict will end not when terrorism is appeased or accommodated but when the international community stands determined and united against they never think of asking any other country on earth. Enough’s enough!

There are many in this Council who speak in favor of peace. But it is not enough to support peace; we have to confront those who work to destroy it. For this reason, the current military operation is not an obstacle to peace; it is a prerequisite for peace.

Before it became reduced to a mere bumper sticker the phrase “war on terror,” was thought to have some meaning. When the Realpolitik practitioners at Foggy Bottom redefined some terrorist organizations as “liberation movements” they destroyed any inherent meaning in that phrase and the terrorists felt relieved. They took over Gaza in a bloody battle against their own brothers, against their own people.

Mr. President, We, the people of Israel, listened to the international community when you told us to withdraw from Gaza and promised that this would give us the credibility to respond forcefully should Gaza turn into a launching pad for terrorism. We listened when you promised us that acting with restraint during the period of calm would give us the credibility to fight back should the rocket attacks resume. Now is your time to make good on those promises. In the clash between life and death, between building societies and destroying them, Hamas has taken its side. Now there is no choice but for the international community to take a side itself.

Yes, the Western world made promises and Israel implemented what was asked of it, will the West keep its word and not interfere as Israel rids the average Palestinian on the street of a ruthless dictatorship and itself from a terrorist next door?  Will the world have the moral integrity to get rid of the proxy for the Ayatollahs in Teheran and their putrid little maggot Ahmedinajad? Or, will the West once again cave in and reward the very terrorists they claim to hate?

A friend on Facebook sent me an article by an Israeli reserve soldier and author, Adam Harmon, written yesterday. I’ll quote a few paragraphs:

Moments after Israel launched its operation, European leaders were calling on Israel to stop. They were not alone. Leaders and groups from across the world are calling on Israel to halt its military operations. The response of these nations and groups are reflexive and expected. This is how the West reacts to violence in the Middle East. The mantra is “Stop fighting. Start talking.”

That’s a nice sentiment when you’re at café, university, park, or government office thousands of miles away from the actual conflict. Egypt borders both Israel and Gaza. They explicitly blame Hamas, have shown considerable understanding of Israel’s actions, and call on Hamas – not Israel – to unilaterally halt its attacks. Palestinian leaders in the West Bank bluster, but they were eager to mention on the first day of Israel’s operation that they are ready to take control of Gaza if Israel dislodges Hamas.

The governments most affected by Hamas rule over the Gaza Strip – the Palestinian Authority and Egypt – aren’t suggesting that Israel engage Hamas in dialogue. They understand something that much of the Western world has still failed to internalize – you can’t convince Islamic radicals to stop being Islamic radicals. I am not suggesting that Islamic radicals aren’t rational. They are very rational and many of their leaders are politically sophisticated. It’s just that their strongly held beliefs – which are essentially incomprehensible to a Western mind that has detached itself from religious and ideological thinking – lead them to see Israel as a cancer and the West as a poison that must be eradicated at all costs.

No doubt Egypt and the PA must have received guarantees from some international cabal of Jewish bankers… hmmnnn… Naaah, there hardly any left. Have Egypt and the PA suddenly become a Zionist tool? Were they bought off, perhaps, by Israeli oil?

No one is going to convince the Hamas leadership to live side-by-side with Israel in peace and harmony. That is never going to happen. If they agreed to live side by side with Israel – something they have rejected continuously – they wouldn’t be Hamas anymore. That’s why nothing can be gained by entering into dialogue with them and that’s why violence is sometimes necessary. In this case, conflict between Israel and Hamas might be critical to the achievement of peace between Israel and the Palestinians. The destruction of Hamas and the subsequent re-introduction of Palestinian Authority control over Gaza would enable forward momentum in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process that is currently not possible.

Saudi Arabia, who never misses an opportunity to lash into Israel at the slightest excuse, has been strangely silent on this one. Hmmmmnnn… Could it that Israel bought them off with oil too? Oh, wait… Israel doesn’t have any oil!

The time has come for the West to drop its hypocrisy. Either they let Israel finish the job and save the Palestinians and itself, or they openly confess they hate Israel far more than they love the downtrodden people of Gaza!

Chaim

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