Gaz-Rael
2009-01-07
By DeAngelo Starnes
Maybe Marvin Gaye was onto to something when he sang, “War is not the answer. For only Love can conquer Hate.” A little flower-child Kingesque for me. But something has to conquer hate when it manifests itself in the violent mayhem that’s been happening in the Gaza Strip. Certainly, an understanding and strict abidance with an agreement might prevent the carnage the world has witnessed over the past two weeks.
Who’s going to win this conflict between the Hamas and Israeli governments? Certainly, not the civilian casualties.
The current events in Israel and the Gaza Strip are nothing short of insane. While my sympathies may sway in one direction, I’m not choosing sides in this conflict. Neither is completely right but both are completely wrong.
By now, Hamas has to know it does not have the artillery to compete with Israel. And I’m sure Hamas knows history, so it had to understand the monstrous way Israel went after Hezbollah in Lebanon a couple of years ago. It had to know that was an indicator of what the Israeli government would do in the Gaza Strip if it was continuously provoked.
On the other hand, Israel went overboard in sending its message. Its callous disregard for civilian casualties is appalling, disproportionate, and unnecessary. I never understood its belief it had to bring a bazooka to a water pistol fight. And it has to understand that no matter what it does, the Palestinian people will not lay down. They’re a mirror image of each other; each believes God is on their side.
Of course, it’s easy for me to sit in my glass house and make these observations. I certainly don’t profess to be an expert in this complex relationship between Israelis and Palestinians. I will say I am extremely uncomfortable with the one-sided coverage we receive here in the United States. This “Israel is the good guy who has the right to defend itself” as the only angle activates my b.s. detector. Also, I’ve done enough research to know there is a significant portion of Israelis and American Jews who despise the Zionist tendencies of the Israeli government. This much I will conclude from my perch: there’s some deep, entrenched anger and hatred on both sides. I’m not sure who’s right, if there is a right in this fight, but the approach is wrong. Only honest, cathartic discourse along with choosing difficult decisions will resolve this conflict.
From Israel’s perspective, they’ve withdrawn from the Gaza Strip, including all settlements. But what about the economic sanctions and border policing? They’ve made Gaza a prison disguised as a settlement.
From Hamas’ perspective, these sanctions may not be bombs but they have the same effect. It’s understandable that they feel as if the isolation and economic deprivation is humiliation worthy of retaliation. Which is why the rockets fly. But if you’re Howard University playing USC in the Rose Bowl, what chance do you have of winning the game?
Hamas’ exercise reminds me of the Panthers back in the day. Did the Panthers have legitimate gripes against the Government? No question. Were they going to win if they waged war against the Government and “offed the pigs?” You saw the slaughter that ensued. And that slaughter was just based on words. I'm not suggesting Hamas lay down, but the Panthers never employed the kinds of actions against the U.S. Hamas has against Israel.
What’s significant to me is I haven’t read reports where the casualities in Gaza are Hamas rocket launchers. I haven’t read that Hamas rocket launchers have been captured. I keep reading about, and have even seen photos of, dead innocent civilians. If you take it to the extreme, you might say if these dead civilians voted for Hamas, they are not innocent. That would be an intellectually dishonest assessment. I might vote for my presidential choice but I didn’t vote for bombs being dropped, feel me?
Maybe I’m naïve enough to believe Hamas predicted the slaughter in Gaza. And that slaughter is a sacrifice for worldwide sympathy. For instance, the U.N. General Assembly (as opposed to the Security Council) most likely will condemn Israel’s violence. But what’s a condemnation? If Israel launches attacks, promises to continue to do so, and continues to do so with impunity, have you won?
Regardless, Hamas must accept that Israel is going nowhere. Just like the Indian nations lost their land to the Europeans, it’s a fact of life. The Gaza Strip is Israel’s version of a reservation. Harsh reality, but reality. The best Hamas can hope for is to achieve more humanitarian conditions. There would be very little room to argue the Devil’s Advocate position.
What’s problematic is whether other countries with massive firepower, like say China, will get involved. Then what? Another world war once all the alliances line up against each other? If the media displayed the true physical consequences of war, not so many people would beat that drum.
But then again, we are facing a depression. And what was the cure for the last one?
I could care less if you call me a pacifist. War is ugly, nasty, and deadly. If that’s the answer to our economic woes, we should be ashamed.
More to the point, Hamas and Israel need to cool out and cool off. Because, again, Israel is going nowhere, and Israel can’t blow up every Palestinian. Each party, however, is acting as if they are willing to kill each other while the world watches it for (blood)sport. That’s about as realistic as Hamas’ belief that Israel will no longer exist.
It’s a crisis, especially if a possible massive multi-country conflict might occur. Let’s not take sides but demand that diplomacy prevail.
DeAngelo Starnes is a writer living in Denver with his wife and son.
