One of my most outspoken Jewish friends, Steve, recently confronted me on the Gaza flotilla issue and challenged my neutral standpoint on the Israel/Palestine issue. He’s an unabashed defender of Israel, and while I think I understand where he’s coming from, I also see the plight and struggle of the Palestinians as something worth caring about and can understand why they fight.
We’ve been back and forth with many articles, arguments and videos since that debate began… and recently he sent me an article which he says:
Justin,
This guy puts into words exactly how I feel and just could not communicate to you. This is 100% the best explanation of the truth.
washington post: Those troublesome Jews
Now I know there are many versions of “The Truth” in this situation and everyone on both sides feels just as passionate about theirs… but this is a very persuasive argument and I thought I’d post my reaction to Steve after reading this article. So you might want to click here first to read the Washington Post Op-Ed by Charles Krauthammer… then proceed to my thoughts…
Why was the offer refused? Because, as organizer Greta Berlin admitted, the flotilla was not about humanitarian relief but about breaking the blockade, i.e., ending Israel’s inspection regime, which would mean unlimited shipping into Gaza and thus the unlimited arming of Hamas.
Yeah, this is a very good argument… by a guy I usually consider a right wing crazy (Krauthammer) but I’ll ignore that fact because I think he’s pretty much right in this case.
Israel is in a very tough position because they are simultaneous the big dog (fighter jets, navy, nukes, etc) and the underdog (everyone hates and wants them dead in the whole region)… so they must adhere to international standards, treaties, etc. while the opponent (practically all Muslims) seem to “get away” with deception, victimhood and outright hatred. I get that, trust me I do. It looks like the youth population of Israel are getting that too now, even the ones who might be sympathetic towards the Palestinians.
I also get that the frustration you must feel as a Jew, having seen many incarnations of “peace” talks and hostilities towards Israel. What I don’t fully “get” is the full historical and mental impact that all those years of fighting and killing do to a group of people. They are entrenched enemies and so many people on both sides have had friends and relatives killed by the other side that it’s unlikely that forgiveness is EVER possible…. so what to do then? That’s what baffles me.
It seems like somebody (the jews probably) should just find a different place in the world to live and be safe and happily apart from their region and their agressors. And that’s what MANY of them have done… but of course that’s not acceptable to the religious and folks who are attached to their country-state. From an outside perspective, though, that could be the ONLY short-ish term solution to this problem because i doubt you’re going to quell arab hatred toward the Jews. Nor are you going to quell it in reverse. It will probably always be an uneasy neighborhood. And that sucks. big time.
It sucks to watch. I believe that most people on both sides of this conflict are good people, reacting to external stimuli in the only way they can and/or have been taught. It’s the system and the entrenched hatred passed down over generations that’s the real problem here… and how do you fix that?
To attempt to begin to answer my own question, I suggest starting with watching a TV experiment where Arabs come to the US for a cross cultural journey of discovery and pre-conception-bending humanity. It’s called “On the Road in America” and it’s airing right now on the Sundance Channel in the Middle East. You will be able to watch it in the US soon. For now, please watch the trailer, check out the blog, and join the facebook page.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Justin, Great job on this blog and posting this OP ED from the Washington Post but you still do not get it and I so frustrated trying to get you " a very bright and education young man to see the light "….. There are only two opinions and two sides when you live in a utopian lala world of protecting the downtrodden and helpless which means that the Jews and Israel will always get bashed. Did you write and or protest about the almost 50 South Koreans killed by a missile attack on a South Korean ship in its own waters. Did you or anyone other Jews and Israelis give a damn or do a single thing to to obtain the release of the Israeli Gilad Schalit. Hamas Terrorists came into Israel crossing the border and captured this Israeli. Three years. Have you done one blog in his defense to gain his releases though due to a criminal activity of illegally breaking a naval blockade with ships know to be carrying 50 Islamic JiHadist s with weapons you and the world utopian dreamers , activists and the arab world get the media to go crazy and vilify Israel. Its the same story since 1948. Israel has every right to have a blockade to prevent the flow of weapons into GAZA. When the PA and HAMAS decided to make peace then maybe peace can come to Israel as well. How can you peace activists not attack Hamas. Over 15 tons of goods a week are sent by Israel into GAZA every week. Nothing is being stopped to come in except military goods obviously. It is an inconvenience but HAMAS has declared war on Israel so Israel should allow HAMAS aligned with Syria and Iran to have free open borders for the unfettered flow of goods. Israel is the only democracy in the middle east and the only 100% friend and ally to America. In my previous letter I told you that Arabs hold parliament seats in Israel. That does not happen in any middle east county. You should be focused on the bloodshed in Africa occurring everyday and the horrible human right conditions in China, Russia and the abuse woman endure overseas in addition to the horrible human trafficking of woman in the sex slaves. I don't see any blogs or big time news on any of these subjects. Now basing Jews and Israel. That is always fun. Israel bungled this mission. They should have surrounded the boats and made them wait it out. OK so they didn't. Israel did not cause this. Did you see the peaceful boat Rachel Corrie. They allowed Israel Soldiers to board and even assisted the soldiers. They protested in the open seas and communicated in peaceful protest that they would not go to the port Israel wanted them to dock out. The Flotilla last week chose to come into a gunfight and they as in interviewed prior to and during the trip said they were prepared to fight and die. So they did. They got what they wished for. I abhor the loss of any human life but they brought this on themselves. Where is the blog on the Palestinian suicide bombers that are young boys and girls. Where is the blogs and uproar against Hamas and the arab world for allowing this. Iran pays a financial gift to the families of any Arab family that does carries out a suicide mission against Israel. Do you see this anywhere in Al Jazeera . Nope… Just hatred and propaganda against Israel and Jews…. When I see biased reporting or arab leaders standing up against abuse, terrorism, corruption, and allow for human rights and free speech and use there oil money to uplift the poor Palestinianthen we can have a different conversation.
http://www.pmw.org.il/Bulletins_May2009.htm#b1305…
The above link is very eye opening for the uneducated and or those that only watch the arab controlled bashing that Israel and Jews endures. Arabs hate Jews and the State of Israel. It is a proven and known fact to anyone that studies and digs a little. Yes there are arabs that do not fall into this category but they are few and far between. if Jews and Arabs live together in Israel and Arabs hold parliament seats in the Knesset then why do the Arabs kill each other in the GAZA strip and the WEST BANK. Arabs hate each other so if they can't live together peacefully how in the heck do you think they can co0exist with Israel. You need to seriously wake up Justin and stop watching You tube videos and news gathering from liberal non credible news sources that are forming your opinion. You have never been to the Middle East. I have and talked to the Aran in the street along with the US ARAB here. They do not share you sentiments. Anyone and everyone including the Arabs knows that HAMAS is a terrorist group and are killing arabs everyday in GAZA and shooting missiles into Israel. You would like Israel to lift the blockade so that Iran and Syria could hand deliver freely and openly weapons of mass destruction to their enemies that they have said they wish to wipe out. The people are not starving in Gaza and they get everything they want delivered to them. Until Israel has a peace treaty in place then there enemy currently a terrorist group will have to settle for deliveries by land and not sea. Too bad.
Justin "This is neutral unbiased and interesting piece" New Approach Sought as Pressure Grows to End Gaza Embargo – NYTimes.com
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/11/world/middleeas…
Steve, that NY Times article is definitely the most even-handed piece you've ever sent me. It explains why the blockade doesn't really work, why Hamas keeps getting stronger despite the blockade, and why Israel needs to rethink its policy on this.
Encouraging a non-Hamas reliant economy is crucial to peace and "life" in Gaza… and Israel has not done that. Instead, their policies just continue to make them an easy target for more hatred and condemnation.
And contrary to your Israeli-centric opinion, Obama is not selling Israel down the river… he's merely trying to bring some balance to a debate that has completely favored the jewish state in America… to a sometimes ridiculous extent.
You certainly won't agree with this position and probably think me naive for even posting it, but Andrew Sullivan, my favorite conservative columnist (way better than Krauthammer) has a two-part opinion article called "Israel Derangement Syndrome" and I want you to read it. It's the perfect rebuttal to Krauthammer's article that this thread started with: http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_d…