I’m writing this post, partly in response to some comments which I received.
First, I wish to address the touching comments, some with links to horrendous videos depicting the plight of the people of Gaza.
Not a day or an hour goes by that I don’t have the people of Gaza on my mind. My heart breaks when I think about the families there. The children and the parents. I keep running scenarios in my head, imagining what it must be like and it’s so scary I have no words to describe it with. When I talk to my kids about the war (which is daily – they are worried for their father who’s out there), I always make a point of explaining to them that the ones suffering the most are the people and children living in Gaza. I try not to get too graphic, as they are only 5 and 7. They were asking me this morning, if they can prepare a care package with some of their favorite toys for children in Gaza. They even offered to send them their favorite robot – space warrior 2! Hey, for my two boys, that is the ultimate sacrifice!
But I digress.
My point is that I want this suffering to end – no less than anyone else. As soon as possible. Yesterday, if possible, or two weeks ago. It will also mean my husband will be back home.
Now, imagine for a minute that I am not an Israeli. After all, I really do not represent anyone here, just my own views. Let’s say we want to end the suffering of those people, as soon as possible. What would be the most effective way to do that? the fastest way to end the hostilities?
IMO, the fastest most effective way is for Hamas to declare a one-sided ceasefire. Decembre, I hope you’re reading this, because this is in answer to your question too. They don’t need to “admit they were wrong”. All they need to do is to announce that they will not fire more rockets at Israeli towns and stand by their word. Call it a Hoodna, find whatever word you need in the Quran, I don’t care. I assume Israel will insist on an international mechanism of supervision – but if they won’t be lying about the cessation of fire, I don’t see why that should be a problem.
Once that is done, they will be pulling the rug under the Israeli reasons (call them excuses, if you like, it doesn’t even matter) for war. International pressure and to some extent internal pressure in Israel too, will quickly force Israel to stop the military operation.
See, I am not even talking about the Israeli interest here. I know many, if not most Israelis, may claim that it’s in Israel best interest to “finish this off”, “deliver a painful blow to create better detterence” etc. So, in their view, my advice to Hamas is counter-productive for Israel.
I am not even going to discuss this aspect now. I’m just saying that I believe that the best way to end this as soon as possible, the best realistic and effective and fast way, lies in the hands of the Hamas. Therefore, anyone who cares about the people of Gaza, IMHO, should be calling out for Hamas to declare a ceasefire. It’s in their best interest, both in the short term – to stop the killing now – and in the long-term too. For crying out loud, even if their end goal is the utter and total destruction of Israel – can’t they see that the best thing for that is short term peace, strengthening Gaza and the Palestinians now, for a decade or two. Then we’ll see. They don’t stand a chance against Israel now as it is anyway.
You see, this time around, all the bloggers in the world could cry foul against Israel, but international law says Israel’s actions are defensive. International law does not require a defensive act to be “proprionate” either. It is why both the US and the EU, and not to mention the Arab leaders and even the Palestinians in the West Bank – nobody offers any real objection to the Israeli move.
I am not saying this with pride. I am not commenting on the moral implications or on my own moral values. This is not about that. This is about being practical in my wish to end the suffering. And practically speaking, keeping on the fight, as the Hamas is doing, is fruitless and will only lead to more suffering in Gaza. If we want to help those people, we need to exert more pressure on Hamas to comply with international pressure, from the UK, France, the EU, Egypt, you name it, and declare a ceasefire.
In a sense, the only arena where the Hamas can still feel it may be winning is world public opinion, specifically among Arabs. It’s giving them strength to continue – and making this pointless war continute. Bringing me back to my original point – as peace lovers, as people who appreciate human life, as people who care about the people of Gaza, we should all condemn Hamas and call out for a unilateral ceasefire.
I imagine my post today is going to annoy some posters. But hey, seems like I manage to do that anyhow. One thing though – please do not, for a minute, question my pain for the people who are hurting. We may disagree on how to alleviate the suffering, but no one here has a monopoly over feeling bad for them.
on Jan 6th, 2009 at 8:54 am
Cute kids, i raise my hat for their humanity, wow if people all remain kids we will live in a paradise i think, i wonder which brave arab blogger of your friends ready to blog about your kids and their robot they wish to send to gaza, i bet no one.
War is like meds, tastes bitter but sometimes we have to take it.
An Egyptians last blog post..Merry Coptic Christmas Everybody – عيد ميلاد سعيد للكل
on Jan 6th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
We cannot condemn Hamas. In Israel you tend to think that they are nothing but a group that fires rockets on Sderot (Najd) but in reality they are running hospitals, supplying food and shelter for the poor, they run schools and so on. Moreover they won a fair (by EU standards)democratic election and should have been recognized as it.
Israelimom: Look around the world. Every street in europe alone is filled with people enraged by the ongoing slaughter. No one is blaming Hamas except israel and european/american politicians.
bouhamzas last blog post..Fiih Eh ya Ra’is???
on Jan 6th, 2009 at 4:38 pm
bouhamza;
Hamas challenged Israel not caring what Israel’s reaction gonna be like for the civilians, who run hospitals and schools are Palestinians it’s not Hamas.
Hamas steel the authority from Abu Mazen, they violate the constitution when he kick them out but they insist to remain.
on Jan 6th, 2009 at 8:13 pm
[...] And if you are curious about mainstream sentiment toward the war, I commend the blogs of Liza and Israeli Mom. Both express regret for the suffering of Palestinians, alongside a belief that the war is [...]
on Jan 7th, 2009 at 1:13 am
Before the 1st Intifada, Palestinians and Israeli’s worked together, went to each other’s dentists and doctors and made a world of tension relax enough to cultivate and experience relationships. Now, the war spiral continues – these “meds” can also be addictive – and we have a complete generation who have no concept of friendship among these two noble peoples. To say things moved backwards is an understatement. It will take dramatic moves by someone in politics to fix this very broken thing. We watch from America with almost disbelief, sometimes, that this entire episode still rages. It is the cause of so much violence elsewhere, as well. It is a sore on the entire earth. Nor are we somehow blameless in it either and for that I apologize.
There seems to be no light at the end of this protracted tunnel. All one hears are the wrongs from the other side, so often. In my opinion, being the victim – this time – next time, your turn – often insures deafness from those who could help – on either side. It becomes an endless drone which loses significance. One cannot help but feel a courageous people need to stand up to those who are too thick to find answers. Talking amongst ourselves provides clues which we can work on and use. Otherwise, the humanity of this woman’s posts is just lost to those who could experience it and her kids, first hand.
on Jan 7th, 2009 at 11:29 am
[...] And if you are curious about mainstream sentiment toward the war, I recommend the blogs of Liza and Israeli Mom. Both express regret for the suffering of Palestinians, alongside a belief that the war is [...]
on Jan 8th, 2009 at 8:18 pm
These are some great ideas on how to end the war in gaza. I wish we could just have peace throughout the world. Life is too short to fight and be at war.