Monday, November 19, 2012
A Reply To Comments On The War
I have dedicated the past three posts on this blog to the situation in Israel at the moment. Most of the comments written have offered me their love, best wishes, and hopes that things will not escalate into a full blown war. I thank you all for this, it really does help.
Many comments have also expressed sadness for those suffering on the other side, i.e. in Gaza. You are right to be sad for the Gazans. The fact is that most of the 1.17 million residents of Gaza are innocent civilians who would be extremely happy to have Hamas leave them to get on with living their lives productively in peace and safety. I and all of Israel feel desperately sad for these people caught up under a regime they neither asked for nor want.
I just want you all to know that we know about the poor souls who are suffering on the other side. Believe me, we know. That is one of the reasons, as well as world pressure, that we have not retaliated on such a big scale until now. However, a million of our citizens are at breaking point already and when over 300 missiles were fired at them in the space of a few days last week, we could see no alternative but to fight back.
Israel has dropped leaflets, made thousands of phone calls and loud broadcasts trying to warn the innocent in Gaza to stay away from known weapons supplies and military centres. This is not easy because some of them are in schools and hospitals. And we continue to let in medical supplies and other essentials including continuing to provide clean water, gas and electricity.
We pray for those suffering in Gaza as well and if anyone could tell us how to defend our children in a better way we would do it. Obviously no other way has been found.
If the rocket attacks from Gaza stopped we would stop retaliating immediately.
Meanwhile Israel is preparing for a war on the ground. This is the last thing we want - the casualties on both sides will be enormous.
However, the bottom line is that we cannot sacrifice a million citizens (more now as the rockets are reaching Tel Aviv and beyond) even when we know that innocents on the other side will also die.
Tragically this is the nature of war. Militants do not attack from deserted islands but from the midst of civilian lives.
So please know that we are not oblivious to anyone's suffering, just desperately trying to defend ourselves against a rain of rockets on our towns and villages.
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I think Golda Meir says it best in some of her comments about war and peace"
ReplyDelete“Peace will come when the Arabs will love their children more than they hate us.” (Statement to the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., 1957)
“When peace comes we will perhaps in time be able to forgive the Arabs for killing our sons, but it will be harder for us to forgive them for having forced us to kill their sons.” (Statement at a Press Conference in London, 1969)
It breaks my heart watching this on the news...the more so because it is not reported with an even hand. I just pray you stay safe and that this situation can be resolved... xxxxxxxx
ReplyDeleteI echo what Jane says. Thinking of you lots, hoping you stay safe and this is resolved sooner rather than later.
ReplyDeleteThanks for speaking out Rachel. You word it so clearly.
ReplyDeleteThis is so articulate and I embrace the fact that you can see the suffering on the other side too.
ReplyDeleteI hope a cease fire comes before ground attack becomes necessary. As you say the casualties would be enormous and unthinkable.
We are so lucky in the UK and often take it for granted.
Thinking of you often, promise.
Much love, Liska x
Eloquent as always Rachel and clear about what, why and how Israel needs to defend its population and the efforts it is taking to try to protect the poor souls in Gaza who are not being protected by their own leaders.
ReplyDeleteLots of love
Gillyx
I really hope that this doesn't escalate into ground war - the tragedy is that those that pay the price are mostly civilians. Why can't both armies be shoved into a field and sort it out there - not over the roofs of innocent men, women and children. My thoughts are with you. X.
ReplyDeletePraying for you and all the innocent civilians on both sides caught up in this horrible battle. xx
ReplyDeleteM.L.S.M. - thank you for you speaking out. It is amazing to see what a propaganda battle Hamas (and the rest) have waged. Using the civilians in Gaza and blaming it on big, bad Israel has been a typical strategy of the militants. It is repeated over and over again by the Taliban, Al Qaeda (a few short years ago) 1967 Nasser failed invasion, Golan Heights, etc. Hamas always paint themselves as the victims. It wouldn't be so horrible if they shut their missiles down. Enough of the Hamas and poor pitiful me victim strategy that they love to export around the globe.
ReplyDeleteI often think of you, even though I am ashamed to say I don't know much of the details of the situation, which is terrible especially as I'm so close to it as well.
ReplyDelete