Hamas has once again attempted to burst out of draconian Israeli policies with violence, and once again Israel has responded with overkill. After the misadventure in Lebanon some of us had hoped that Israel had learned that it was not free to launch expansive military campaigns in response to perceived threats to its security. But they have not and are looking like the military is out of control.
The killing of over 225 people, many innocent civilians, on December 27 is so out of proportion to the claimed provocation by Hamas that it raises the question of whether it was really a campaign tactic by the ruling coalition that is struggling to stay in power. It also raises the question for me of what right does Israel have to isolate, starve and kill those it disapproves of.
Yes, any nation has a right of self-defense. But the minimal impact of the Hamas rocket attack that Israel uses to justify this horrendous bombing campaign is simply does not justify this blitzkrieg.
It is time for the United States, the primary provider of money and armaments to Israel, to cut off any additional aid to them until the end this campaign, accept Hamas as the rightful government in the Gaza and get serious about negotiations to end the madness.
Israel has to stop relying upon violence in return for violence. It has never succeeded and will not now. Hamas will return the favor with more violence, then Israeli leaders will respond with more killing. What is gained with all this? Death and destruction.
Israel get big mileage out of the refusal of Hamas to recognize Israel, but that is a paper tiger. There is no real threat from this refusal and has to be viewed as posturing by Hamas. Israel, afterall, does not recognize Hamas, so there seems to me to be nothing to be gained by shaping policy around that fact.
It is time for the UN to impose sanctions on Israel for its refusal to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza and now over its brutal military attacks. Israel is a rogue nation and can no longer tug at our heartstrings as in danger of attack from Arab nations.
Israel is threatened by its own government much more than any external party. If the citizens of Israel will not reign in their government, the world must do it for them.
90 thoughts on “Israeli Overkill”
Addendum: Enough is enough. 1/10/09. This has gone on significantly longer than logically necessary to remove the missiles. And Israeli action is targeting far more than just those responsible for the missile launches. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to find any justification for the continuing extreme Israeli action.
So Israel has no culpability? Israel is white as the driven snow? Israel is opening the floodgates for serious and real negotiations? Are you blind?
The fact that the Israeli government is elected does not absolve them of the crimes of terrorism. Both sides are GUILTY, and Israel is not the “poor victim.”
I am about sick of all the Pro-Israel crap not only from our idiot politicians but the worthless conglomerate that is our media. For those morons still believing that Israel is the “poor victim”, read about the massacre the Israelis executed at the Jenin refugee camp in 2002 – horrific.
10th century BC? Please explain where you get that wild claim because the Jewish calendar I found here:
https://www.jewfaq.org/current.htm
says it’s the year 5769.
Also, the land in that area has changed hands so many time over the years, that I hardly think you can say that Shlomo’s great x 400 grandfather’s ownership 10,000 years ago means that he necessarily has a claim to that land now. After all, that ancestor may have sold his land legally to Abdul and what right do you have now to take it away from him just because at one time, he may have owned it?
The Qassam rockets are not the primary cause of the Israeli incursion.
Many news sources report that Hamas has recently been firing “Grad” rockets; of original Russian design, probably obtained through Iran and smuggled into Gaza.
That’s a whole new ballgame. These rockets have better accuracy and longer range. Most importantly, they may put the Israeli nuclear processing facility east of Dimona within range and in the cross-hairs. A hit on the facility could cause massive radiation release, cost many lives, and cause billions of dollars of damage. The facility is a sitting duck.
Under these circumstances the Israelis have little choice but to find the “Grads”, eliminate them, and make sure no more get into Gaza.
Not intending to start a discussion on the wisdom of the Israeli nuclear program or the existence of the facility at Dimona. Only, that’s the present reality.
Spot-on, succinct analysis as usual TJF…! : )
Carl Nemo **==
As far as this piece is concerned, there are many things Phil is wrong about. And since the hole is getting deeper… he should PUNT !!!
to mix a metaphor.
What guarantees there will be another small army of 10 to 14 year olds prepared to strap explosives to their bodies is the hatred taught to Palestinian children from the time they are born.
https://www.pmw.org.il/tv%20part1.html
Israel may not be perfect, but when it comes to tolerance, it is in a different universe from Hamas. Hamas is dedicated to the destruction of Israel, and fundamentalist Islam believes you must be a Muslim or die (or perhaps be a dimhi paying subhuman). Ask a Hamas member point blank, and see if you hear anything different.
All the bleeding hearts bemoan the security fence, but it has pretty much eliminated terrorism from the West Bank. Israel is entitled to do whatever it needs to to protect the security of its citizens. Even Libertarians agree, that’s the primary purpose of a government.
As for obtaining freedom from rocket attacks, I think Israel should make the northernmost 20 miles of Gaza a free fire zone, unless Hamas agrees not to fire a single rocket into Israel. If Hamas gets longer range rockets and keeps firing them, extend that all the way to Egypt if necessary. If you insist on twisting the tiger’s tail, you need a better strategy than depending on the world caring about your self inflicted victimhood (even if it works on a few weak minds posting here). Firing rockets accomplishes nothing, other than an inevitable response from Israel.
There are several things Phil is right about. One was that I should not have used the verbiage I did. I apologize, and it will not happen again by me.
Another thing is that this is a difficult topic. Yes, Hamas is the duly elected leaders of Gaza, in an election which even Jimmy Carter says was fair.
For a long time I have been advocating the peace table. But the quantity of mortars and rockets – more than 3,000 just this past year alone – make keeping that stance untenable.
No, not every Palestinian voted for Hamas, but enough did to vote them into power. Yet Hamas is recognized by all the Western countries as a terrorist organization.
I personally think that Israel will launch a ground attack on Hamas in the Gaza, and I can’t blame them at all. In my view, what Hamas is doing (pursuing terrorist attacks by rocket and mortar, since the Israelis closed the border) Is simply intolerable,
John1172002
Some Texas village is missing its’ idiot. However, they just called and offered us money to keep him.
John, we have been able to disagree in the past and I encourage you to post as you see fit, but within the boundaries of civility.
I will not tolerate anyone using that kind of hateful speech against me or anyone else who posts here. It just doesn’t help in resolving our differences.
Thank you.
Phil Hoskins
OK, I will no longer use those words. Iassume news articles are ok?
John1172002
Some Texas village is missing its’ idiot. However, they just called and offered us money to keep him.
John, I have tried to engage in a civil discussion with you about this difficult topic, but I will not tolerate your Hitler/ovens reference.
If you persist I will delete every post by you and see that your are removed from the site.
Phil Hoskins
Exactly,Chick. Which is why we must base our efforts for peace on what exists today, not back in the 600s when Mohammed was writing the Quran nor the 50s to the 250s, when the New Testament was being written, nor the 1500s to 30s BCE, when the Old Testament was being written. Which is why I demand that people look at Hamas’ Statement of Purpose, which is to exterminate the Jews and Israel.
From:
https://www.hawaiireporter.com/story.aspx?b2935df8-6bd4-4726-87c1-a28e368c650b
The ‘Realist’ Fantasy
Special from the Jerusalem Post
By Caroline Glick, 1/2/2009 10:45:30 AM
Both Iran and its Hamas proxy in Gaza have been busy this Christmas week showing Christendom just what they think of it. But no one seems to have noticed.
On Tuesday, Hamas legislators marked the Christmas season by passing a Shari’a criminal code for the Palestinian Authority. Among other things, it legalizes crucifixion.
Hamas’s endorsement of nailing enemies of Islam to crosses came at the same time it renewed its jihad. Here, too, Hamas wanted to make sure that Christians didn’t feel neglected as its fighters launched missiles at Jewish day care centers and schools. So on Wednesday, Hamas lobbed a mortar shell at the Erez crossing point into Israel just as a group of Gazan Christians were standing on line waiting to travel to Bethlehem for Christmas.
How’s that again? They LEGALIZED crucifixion?????? And we are supposed to negotiate with them??
John1172002
Some Texas village is missing its’ idiot. However, they just called and offered us money to keep him.
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