Over the past few days, I've been getting a sense that those of us on the Left are far more likely to condemn Israel's "aggression" against Gaza than to look at Hamas' incipient terrorism with anything resembling a critical eye. As one who has spent some time in the region, I know that no argument is ever as simple as "This side is right and that side is wrong". BOTH sides have blood on their hands...and for very different reasons.
NO reasonable person could look at what is happening in the Gaza Strip without a sense of revulsion. Israel, some say, continues to pursue a policy of violent repression against the aggrieved masses of innocents in Gaza. This, of course, completely ignores the reality that the only thing of more political value to Hamas than dead Israelis are dead Palestinians. While putting up a brave front claiming that they will create as many Israeli war widows as it takes to destroy the Jewish state, Hamas gladly, almost gleefully, allows international news cameras free and unfettered access to the bodies of dead Palestinians. They know how these images will play in the international media, and they're milking the suffering of those they purport to serve for every last ounce of political advantage.
There's no denying that the international community can, and should, be questioning the proportionality and appropriateness of Israel's actions against and in Gaza. Let's get something straight, though; how can we reasonably expect Israel to stand pat as Hamas fires rockets into Israel indiscriminately, knowing that the toll in innocent civilians will be high? Walk a mile in the shoes of the Israeli government...if you can. An enemy sworn to your destruction randomly fires missiles into Israeli territory, killing innocent women and children. What would you have them do? Can you reasonably sit there with a straight face and preach restraint? If it was your family under random attack, I daresay that you'd be doing everything within your power to end those attack. This is essentially what the Israeli government is doing.
Currently, the Israeli govenment is trying to frame the debate by arguing that they, as a sovereign state, are exercising their legitimate right of self-defense against a terrorist organization, Hamas, that indiscriminately fires rockets into Israeli population centers. From where I sit, I find it difficult to argue with the Israeli position. Yes, Hamas may be the elected majority government of a portions of Gaza, but Hamas can't haven't it both ways. Either they conduct themselves as a full member of the international community, or they continue acting as a terrorist organization that uses the Gaza Strip as a launching pad for random, indiscriminate rocket fire. This crisis largely stems from Hamas' refusal to face this reality. Hamas' leadership seems to think they really can have it both ways.
Ultimately, the solution to this crisis rests squarely with Hamas. Then again, when you understand that the only the thing worth more to Hamas than dead Israelis is large numbers of dead Palestinians, it doesn't take much to understand that a speedy and peaceful resolution isn't likely in the cards.
More blood and tears...same as it ever was.
