There is a lot to say about your article. I will begin as I have ended this response. I hear your pain and frustration, especially over the killing of innocent people in this conflict. But with a little knowledge in this area, as well as a lifetime of witnessing the unfolding of history in the region, I'd like to make a few points...
Regarding the Israeli situation, it seems to me that we have to parse out many of these ideas to avoid conflating them. For example, while the Israelis seem to have crossed the line in many cases, a great many protestors have attacked Zionism as if they know what it really means to be a Zionist. And, protestors have conflated antiIsrael actions with Jewish wrongdoing that continues to result in antisemitic actions against students and professors.
Next, from what I have seen over the many decades, the Arab world has been involved in a PR campaign to invalidate all Israeli claims to statehood, despite the conveniently overlooked fact that there could be no Islam without Judaism. Absurd claims that Jews have not always lived in the area that is now the state of Israel undermine the beginnings of the Islamic faith. Persistent lying and invalidation is the key to the ongoing propaganda campaign, which by the way, has been widely accepted by protestors. How do we know? Just talk to as many as you can.
In nearly all demonstrations these days there are counterfeits who join the ranks to rile them up and incite violence.
There are still Jewish hostages held by Hamas, but protestors really haven’t shown any interest in showing compassion for these noncombatants. Nor has the United Nations, which since 1948 has been vehemently antiIsrael. How do we know? Just read what they have said and take note of all the actions they have taken.
If we cannot parse out all of the actions and situations in this Israel-Hamas conflict, including that Netanyahu suffers from some sort of psychological issue (perhaps because his brother was killed by terrorists who hijacked a plane that they flew to Entebbe, Uganda — or maybe it's something else), then we end up adding to the divisiveness and insanity.
The Israelis have had a long-standing policy against negotiating with kidnappers. Why? Because it only encourages the radicals in the Muslim world who really do not care about human life to continually use this tactic. Why this is can easily be known by speaking to those who have fled Muslim-ruled countries. I have done this and they all say the same thing, something that is not a secret and that you can see in videos if someone hasn't taken them down: From early childhood Muslim children are taught that Jews are lower than dogs and must be wiped out, and all the rest of that nonsense that is worthy of the worst Nazi. And they refer to the Protocols of the Elders of Zion as if it is a nonfiction work. I have witnessed over the many decades how prior to each peace accord in the Middle East there is a terrorist action taken by the Palestinians against noncombatant Israelis.
But when we parse all of this out without a goal of having compassion, we run the risk of an eye for an eye, or tit for tat, mentality, which just causes an endless succession of human deaths and suffering. This is what we are experiencing from both sides these days.
Having said all of this, yes, there is a huge problem. First, Hamas, Hezbollah, and other terrorist followers have no interest in peace. None at all. They never have. Their charter dictates that they murder all Jews and that’s all there is to it. From the river to the sea.
On the other hand, Israel's military campaign is run by extremists, including Jewish religious extremists, who don’t exercise their intellect and compassion. Some protestors are horrified by the Israeli response to Hamas, while others are confederates as well as ignorant and naive individuals. And Hamas has always, and continues to, use their own people as human shields and decoys, but is anyone protesting against this war crime? Further, you cited the International Court of Justice. Read this about what this court really is and who is behind it: https://jcpa.org/the-insidious-anti-israel-agenda-of-the-international-court-of-justice/
You stated: “And now Netanyahu is heading to Washington, where he will be applauded by both houses of Congress on July 24th…” Yes, of course, because the right wing extremists who occupy so many seats in Congress have their own insane agenda, one of gathering all the Jews in the world and having them go back to Israel so that Armageddon can ensue — the final battle between God and Satan on Earth, as described in the Christian Bible's Book of Revelation.
Lastly, I would ask you how you would propose settling this conflict. It's not difficult to condemn the actions of both sides or one side, but what is the resolution?
I can feel your frustration and understand your call for Jews to live up to their mandate for tikkun olam (the process of restoring the world to a state of spiritual wholeness and harmony), but unless we look at this issue from all sides then we continue to fuel it and lump everyone in together. This is an extremely complex issue and always has been. I would really like to hear more talk about resolution from other people as long as the ideas are founded on facts and knowledge in these issues.
