Middle East Meshugaas* 
It’s a disaster in the Middle East. Some of you might be wondering why I have yet to post on this most recent phase of horrific events in that region. What can I tell you…What’s to say that isn’t totally obvious and futile and pointless, and that hasn’t been said before 1000 times by people smarter than me?
Yes- Israel is currently using an extreme and egregious over-use of force. Something akin to trying to kill a fly with a jackhammer… Yes- the number of Lebanese civilian dead FAR outnumber the number of Israelis…Yes- Israel is clearly the Goliath in this epic yet stupid tale of biblical proportions…but it’s just not that simple.
Israel is at war with Hezbollah, because some of their fighters crossed on to Israeli soil and captured two of their soldiers. Hezbollah is a sworn enemy of Israel, supported by Syria and Iran. Iran’s president has made several public statements this year about his desire to “wipe Israel off the map”. So what’s a country to do? Say, “excuse me, but we’d really like our soldiers back, and please don’t invade our country again”?
And then, like vinegar in a paper cut, Israel goes and bombs a UN post and kills 4 unarmed peacekeepers….talk about shitty optics. Interesting thing is that this particular UN post dates back to 1948- the year that Israel declared its statehood. When I found this out today, I was suddenly struck by the fact that Israel’s been fighting this war not for the past 3 weeks, but for the past 58 years.
Since its inception, Israel’s neighbours have been quite vocal and active about their hopes for its destruction. The country that began as a haven for victims of genocide has had to defend itself from the very beginning. Yes, it’s true that the Zionist dream germinated in a context of European colonialism, but it’s also true that Jews had been victimized and decimated in that very same context. The nation of Jews were to be given a state in their biblical homeland; unfortunately, there happened to be other people living there and the neighbours weren’t too thrilled about the new arrivals. As a result, in order to exist as a sovereign nation, the victims have in many instances become the oppressors. I guess what it comes down to is whether or not one believes Israel has a right to exist, and then, at what cost. So where does that leave us?
Does Israel institute racist and unjust policies? Yes, sometimes.
So if Israel played fair, would the neighbours accept its existence? I kind of doubt it.
Then, is the use of excessive force justified? I don’t know, maybe.
So is it worth it? Who am I to say one way or the other.
* Meshugaas mean craziness in Yiddish.
It’s a disaster in the Middle East. Some of you might be wondering why I have yet to post on this most recent phase of horrific events in that region. What can I tell you…What’s to say that isn’t totally obvious and futile and pointless, and that hasn’t been said before 1000 times by people smarter than me?
Yes- Israel is currently using an extreme and egregious over-use of force. Something akin to trying to kill a fly with a jackhammer… Yes- the number of Lebanese civilian dead FAR outnumber the number of Israelis…Yes- Israel is clearly the Goliath in this epic yet stupid tale of biblical proportions…but it’s just not that simple.
Israel is at war with Hezbollah, because some of their fighters crossed on to Israeli soil and captured two of their soldiers. Hezbollah is a sworn enemy of Israel, supported by Syria and Iran. Iran’s president has made several public statements this year about his desire to “wipe Israel off the map”. So what’s a country to do? Say, “excuse me, but we’d really like our soldiers back, and please don’t invade our country again”?
And then, like vinegar in a paper cut, Israel goes and bombs a UN post and kills 4 unarmed peacekeepers….talk about shitty optics. Interesting thing is that this particular UN post dates back to 1948- the year that Israel declared its statehood. When I found this out today, I was suddenly struck by the fact that Israel’s been fighting this war not for the past 3 weeks, but for the past 58 years.
Since its inception, Israel’s neighbours have been quite vocal and active about their hopes for its destruction. The country that began as a haven for victims of genocide has had to defend itself from the very beginning. Yes, it’s true that the Zionist dream germinated in a context of European colonialism, but it’s also true that Jews had been victimized and decimated in that very same context. The nation of Jews were to be given a state in their biblical homeland; unfortunately, there happened to be other people living there and the neighbours weren’t too thrilled about the new arrivals. As a result, in order to exist as a sovereign nation, the victims have in many instances become the oppressors. I guess what it comes down to is whether or not one believes Israel has a right to exist, and then, at what cost. So where does that leave us?
Does Israel institute racist and unjust policies? Yes, sometimes.
So if Israel played fair, would the neighbours accept its existence? I kind of doubt it.
Then, is the use of excessive force justified? I don’t know, maybe.
So is it worth it? Who am I to say one way or the other.
* Meshugaas mean craziness in Yiddish.
posted by Emma Jo Aiken-Klar, PhD at 8:21 PM
2 Comments:
Very nice post.
One point of interest - last night i went to a rally to support Israel. Certainly, i don't support the killing of innocent civilians, but i wholehartedly support the country of Israel and what it stands for.
During the rally, retired major general Lewis Mackenzie discussed the UN "targetting" fiasco. Mackenzie indicated that he had received an e-mail days before the incident from the Canadian observer at the post. He interpreted the e-mail to say:
"We have Hezbollah fighters all over our position engaging the IDF and using us as shields. They will probably stay, hoping that the IDF won't target them for fear of hitting us."
Given this situation, Mackenzie believes it was neither unreasonable nor deplorable that the IDF hit the UN position. Further, he thinks it was totally inappropriate to have UN unarmed observers at the post given the intensity and presence of a war-like situation.
It was also interesting to note that Mackenzie, in his professional opinion, stated that the civilian casualties experienced in Lebanon considering the intensity of the fighting are "extremely low". He went on to say that this displays Israel's careful avoidance of hiting civilians.
One more interesting note by Mackenzie - he said that Israel is "very wise" to hold the cities in southern Lebanon until an international force arrives.
Whether this will be the case remains to be seen. But it was particularly informative to get a Canadian professional peacekeeper's military comments on the situation.
See http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060727.wxcomack27a/BNStory/specialComment/home for further information.
Excessive force? Is it excessive to respond with a resounding "you are not permitted to kill us in order to achieve your objectives! (whatever those may be?)"? This rebel force is equipped with roughly 14,000 missiles and rockets. A force that has accumulated its impressive arsenal for at least the past 6 years if not much longer. A force that the international community has allowed to grow and develop in south Lebanon. This is not an insignificant group of fighters as your post suggests: It is a rebel army with much firepower and an unabashed willingness to fire aimlessly, literally and politically. How can the measure of force be a central issue in a war which is still live? Your post reveals your revelation that Israel has been fighting this war since 1948. This war, that for the first time 5 years ago, has spread outside of the region known as the Middle East. This war is psychologically much deeper than the mere acceptance of Israel's right to exist. Or the acceptance of Israel's right to exist in the Middle East. It is a war of ideology. A war of extremism. A war of retention of power and paranoia or greed for more. A war of world or international identity. You are a citizen of this world. You belong to the international community. That is who you are to have an opinion. What is your opinion?
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