Posted on 01/13/2009 5:23:33 AM PST by SJackson
The world must be wondering, 17 days into Operation Cast Lead, why it is taking so long for Jerusalem to cave into pressure for a cease-fire in Gaza. From the UN Security Council, that renowned bastion of international probity, and the constellation of Muslim, Arab and non-aligned states to our unwavering European allies, the international community - and much of the media - wants Israel to stop fighting.
Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations Gabriela Shalev and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at a Security Council meeting about the situation in Gaza, UN headquarters in New York, Tuesday. Photo: AP
We Israelis can hear these erstwhile friends in Europe and the media saying: "Everybody is wrong, and you alone are right?"
They continue: "Yes, Israel has a right to self-defense - but must your IDF kill innocent civilians and destroy buildings in the process? Can't your tanks avoid harming them? Your failure to fight a war that is televised live, 24/7, without spilling blood has enraged the Arab street. We don't want this fury turned against our interests in the Middle East."
That's why London's Telegraph could withdraw its "support."
"There comes a point beyond which an operation of this sort becomes… morally unjustifiable," it said. "The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is so severe that a cease-fire is essential, irrespective of whether Israel feels it has achieved its military objectives."
By this logic, Britain should have thrown in the towel in its war against Germany by September 18, 1939 - 17 days into WWII. Instead, Winston Churchill fought on for five long years at an awful - but morally justifiable - cost in Allied and enemy civilian lives.
The New York Times, likewise, sympathizes with Israel's predicament but worries that trying to wrest Gaza from Hamas's grip will complicate the efforts of the incoming Obama administration to broker peace.
Yet the reality is precisely the opposite: Unless Hamas is defanged, the prospect that relative moderates among the Palestinians, led by Mahmoud Abbas, will be emboldened to strike a deal with Israel is - nil.
The reaction of Israel's European allies in particular has been instructive. Having abandoned Israel as it defends itself against a transparently fanatical Hamas - and after Israel unilaterally uprooted its settlements and pulled its soldiers out of Gaza in 2005 - Israel will be mindful of how much their support is worth when the time comes to "take risks for peace" in the West Bank.
SPEAKING AT the Sunday cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert made Israelis feel proud when he summed up the justice of the struggle and denounced the world's callous reaction: "For three weeks now… Israel has been making an impressive military effort in the Gaza Strip in order to change the security situation in the south of the country. For many years we've shown restraint. We reined in our reactions. We gritted our teeth and absorbed barrage after barrage.
"No country in the world - not even those who preach morality at us - would have shown similar patience and self-control. At the end of the day, the... obligation to defend our citizens - after we issued many warnings - led us to the unavoidable decision [that we had] to defend our [people], whose lives had become intolerable.
"We knew in advance that this struggle would be neither easy nor simple. We did not delude ourselves that what seemed natural, clear and self-evident for any other country would be similarly accepted when the State of Israel is involved. But this did not, and does not hinder our determination to defend our citizens.
"We have never agreed that anyone should decide in our place if we are allowed to strike at those who bomb our kindergartens and schools; nor will ever agree to it...
"Israel is nearing its goal [of changing] the security situation in the south so that our citizens can experience security and stability in the long term. We must not, at the last minute, squander what has been achieved in this unprecedented national effort that has restored a spirit of unity to our nation.
"The Israeli public, especially the residents of the south, have the patience and willingness needed. So does the Israeli government."
Amen to that.
Israel would have preferred to act with the support of those who claim to back our right to self-defense. In a cynical world, Israel must press ahead without it.
High Volume. Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel. or WOT [War on Terror]
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Boy, imagine what would have happened if there wasn’t an election coming up. Hamas probably would be claiming Jerusalem and Olmert would have given it to them.
If the Israeli government were to stop and allow the status quo it would be time for the Israeli citizens to dissolve it, save the tax money they spend on it and began establishing individual militia for the local protection of individual population centers.
I think the salient fact is that while many factions are flapping their gums and telling Israel to stop, there are no concrete action to stop them. I think this speaks volumes.
Oddly enough, yes, only Israel has been attacked for years and only Israel is right.
The illusion of relative moderates over there, who need to be encouraged, is part of the problem. The illusion leads Israel to (ultimately futile, self-defeating) halfway measures like "defanging" Hamas. There is one solution to the problem, take back the land you traded for the peace you didn't get, and don't give away any more. Not one house.
If you don't take the snake and fondly clasp it to your breast, you don't need to defang it.
I think only the US would have any real chance of stopping them - not that I think they should be stopped. But, at this point, the US will not try to do that. I think Israel is convinced that will change after Jan. 20th - and reasonably so.
I was thinking precisely of that drawing.
Israel is never alone.
This is actually a good thing for obiewan. It gives the Israelis time time to get the job done and when he comes in all the hard work will be done.
Churchill said that the Hun is always either at your throat or under your foot. I’m sure the Israelis would say the same of the Islamists.
For Israel’s sake, I hope that turns out to be the case. Obama’s more likely to provide US support to Hamas than anything else.
Ban Kee-moon : “To both sides, I say: Just stop, now,”
I wonder what this geek would be saying if is was North Korea rocketing South Korea EVERY DAY ?
Agreed, talk is cheap. And if it keeps islammofascists from rioting, I can justify Euroweenie 'leaders' using it. But at some point, they will have to bring in the police and the military to deal with the problem.
So Olmert has grown a spine. Or more likely, one was implanted against his sheepish will. But either way, Israel’s leaders cannot back down now. Seeking to pacify its detractors is useless and above all, dangerous to her survival. Maybe Olmert has figured that out. Or maybe he just doesn’t want to go down in history as the “leader” who contributed the most to the end of the nations existence.
To be in the palm of the hand of God is a fearsome thing. I have often thought that it is the very intensity of the adversity that Hebrews/Israelites/Israelis have been subjected to that has kept them from dissolving into the nations among which they lived and, later, among which they were dispersed.
America has suffered no such adversity. We will not last a fraction as long.
As the lamest of ducks, he probably wants to go out looking that way. I suspect the story is essentially true, Condi put a great deal of effort into the Egyptian/UN resolution and had to be disappointed the US abstained. There had to be a reason, but Olmert should keep his mouth shut. I wouldn't be surprised if there is some personal animosity involved as well. You might recall that at Annapolis, in an incident that should embarass all Americans, Condi granted a Saudi request that the Israelis enter through a side/service entrance as Arabs don't enter a meeting on equal footing with Jews. IMO Olmert should have left, but in any case that type of treatment doesn't make friends.
Sorry, the Condi comments were meant for a different thread. But his actions are more legacy building than anything else.
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