Middle East peace policy
Abel Tomlinson
Issue date: 2/13/09 Section: Opinion
The following is not meant to be taken as against the Jewish religion. There are many Jewish people who support peace and opposed the Gaza war.
Additionally, I strongly condemn the indiscriminate killing of civilians by any organization, whether it is Hamas and Al Qaeda or the American and Israeli governments. This is the only consistent position.
Hamas was unjustified in killing three civilians, and likewise, Israel was unjustified in killing more than 700 civilians. We are told terrorism is when poorer groups kill civilians with less sophisticated instruments of death. But when Israel or America kills hundreds of times as many civilians with costly warplanes and missiles, it is not terrorism. The dead are merely "collateral damage" or "human shields."
Whenever civilians are indiscriminately killed it is terrorism, and both sides are guilty. Hamas rockets kill few civilians, but the greater terrorist aspect is the fear Israeli citizens must endure. Similarly, whenever Israeli bombs are dropped on buildings, civilians die. There is no such thing as a discriminate "smart" bomb when dropped in densely populated urban areas.
Estimates find 1,330 Gaza residents were killed in late January, including 437 children. Moreover, Israel was targeting civilian infrastructure like water treatment facilities, hospitals, schools and houses of worship.
It is important to correct another record: it was Israel that broke the ceasefire. Moreover, Israel also failed to uphold the ceasefire terms by refusing to lift the U.S.-backed blockade. This blockade prevented food, medicine, energy and water supplies from entering Gaza and led to rampant suffering, malnutrition (especially among children) and hundreds of deaths.
This blockade, like the Israeli and Hamas bombings, is considered "collective punishment" in violation of international law. The International Committee of the Red Cross publicly stated Israel also was breaking international law by preventing ambulance access to bombed areas.
Additionally, I strongly condemn the indiscriminate killing of civilians by any organization, whether it is Hamas and Al Qaeda or the American and Israeli governments. This is the only consistent position.
Hamas was unjustified in killing three civilians, and likewise, Israel was unjustified in killing more than 700 civilians. We are told terrorism is when poorer groups kill civilians with less sophisticated instruments of death. But when Israel or America kills hundreds of times as many civilians with costly warplanes and missiles, it is not terrorism. The dead are merely "collateral damage" or "human shields."
Whenever civilians are indiscriminately killed it is terrorism, and both sides are guilty. Hamas rockets kill few civilians, but the greater terrorist aspect is the fear Israeli citizens must endure. Similarly, whenever Israeli bombs are dropped on buildings, civilians die. There is no such thing as a discriminate "smart" bomb when dropped in densely populated urban areas.
Estimates find 1,330 Gaza residents were killed in late January, including 437 children. Moreover, Israel was targeting civilian infrastructure like water treatment facilities, hospitals, schools and houses of worship.
It is important to correct another record: it was Israel that broke the ceasefire. Moreover, Israel also failed to uphold the ceasefire terms by refusing to lift the U.S.-backed blockade. This blockade prevented food, medicine, energy and water supplies from entering Gaza and led to rampant suffering, malnutrition (especially among children) and hundreds of deaths.
This blockade, like the Israeli and Hamas bombings, is considered "collective punishment" in violation of international law. The International Committee of the Red Cross publicly stated Israel also was breaking international law by preventing ambulance access to bombed areas.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
Bob Tiberius
Jeremy
posted 2/12/09 @ 11:25 PM CST
I agree with Abel that we should never kill civilians. Even if it is the only way to kill people killing us. We should die to a man to not kill a single innocent. (Continued…)
naffel
posted 2/13/09 @ 7:57 PM CST
I agree with Abel. "I strongly condemn the indiscriminate killing." However, discriminate killing is a different thing. When you couch your speech with words like indiscriminate, you make your thesis toothless and meaningless. (Continued…)
naffel
posted 2/13/09 @ 8:00 PM CST
Sigh...they need an edit capability...
Boarder should be border.
Alex
posted 2/13/09 @ 9:35 PM CST
"We are told terrorism is when poorer groups kill civilians with less sophisticated instruments of death."
No, we are told terrorism is when a group carries out an attack or other event with the intent to create chaos, confusion, and **terror**. (Continued…)
Post a Comment