From Tel Aviv
Last year on my birthday, Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in Pakistan. This year on my birthday, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) began bombing targets in Gaza to stop the rain of rockets falling on Southern Israel since the end of the ceasefire with Hamas on December 19. I wonder what next year's birthday will bring.
Technically, it is arguable that the incursion into Gaza can be called a war, as it is not a conflict between two countries but rather one country and a political-military entity. In Israel, however, the media has called it as such, as have the politicians. And so I state, that, my observations in Israel during a time of war are most disheartening.
What fails to make sense to me is: How is it that war is still considered an effective method of change? The United States got away with dropping nuclear weapons on Japan in 1945, bringing the war on that front to a stark and horrifying conclusion, but do we, as a human race ever EVER want for that to happen again? Are we not more evolved, more refined, more capable in the 21st century of managing conflict in a place, by the way, where people have more in common that what they have been led to believe?
It is understandable that the world is up at arms, marching through streets shouting slogans to end the war, to call for a ceasefire. It is unfathomable how in a week and a few days, hundreds have lost their lives, thousands have been wounded and those who survive this disaster will be left with nearly nothing to eke out an existence in the aftermath of Israel's attempt to remove Hamas from rule in the Gaza Strip.
However, there is more in the streets than a call for a ceasefire and a call for peace. There is a continued call for the end of Israel, and that is where the conflict intensifies and the Israel-supporting Jews and Israelis supporting the government's decision to invade Gaza, become more hardened, more embittered and more alienated from the rest of the human population.
The discussion, the demonstration, the debate, the tears, the anger cannot be about bringing an end to the State of Israel; it has to be a call for Israel to abide by international law and to make good on its promises. If anyone, the residents of the West Bank have greater reason to be fed up with Israel's policies than with those in Gaza, because Abbas and Fayad are toeing the line and, still, for the Palestinians the situation under occupation has not improved.
The violence is unforgivable on both sides. How it is that Hamas believes it will prevail with this method of rockets falling, killing, destroying, terrorizing and harassing Israelis of all walks of life, including Arab-Israelis, is incomprehensible. How an organization claiming to be for a living, developing nation could be so willing to jeopardize the lives of so many, filling them with hatred along way is also beyond my capabilities of understanding. But they have a right to resist, but they have a right to a country, but they have a right to Jerusalem, to compensation for refugees...
This is not what Hamas wants. Hamas wants an eternal battle, they will always need an enemy, if it is not the Jews or Israel, it is Fatah. If it is not Fatah, it is the United States, it is Egypt, one day it could be their current sponsor, Iran. They play a despicable game with people's lives, with children's lives. Children who have no choice but to emulate what they see and experience in their environment.
At the Tel Aviv University campus last week, Palestinian and Arab-Israeli students held a protest against the violence. Around a hundred students came out in their keffiyehs and their signs of solidarity with Gaza. They were angry and I found out, extremely sad.
My friend Davide and I spoke to two female demonstrators to ask what they wanted to get out of this demonstration. They wanted a stop to the violence. Telling us about a mother and her four children who were killed that morning in IAF bombings. One of the young women said, "They want all of the land," then thought again, "All of OUR land."
I responded to her, "It's all of our land, there's enough for all of us, and we have to all live here, so what do we do?"
I continued to ask her how do we make it stop? What's our plan? Other Jewish students were coming up to them and asking, "what about the rockets?"
They couldn't answer how to make the rockets stop, and neither were they justifying them.
But I wasn't interested in that argument. I was more concerned with the fact that none of us had a plan or a vision of what instead.
I continued to talk to the other young woman about the situation. She continued to tell me about the brutality, the starving, the suffering. And I told her, "I know, I want it to stop too, but how?"
We looked at each other and I asked her if I could give her a hug. I did, and when I pulled away I could feel tears forming in my eyes. When I looked up at her, she had started crying. There was no more anger in her body language, there was total sadness, defeat and helplessness.
She said, "I am so sad I feel like crying."
"Me too," I said.
Technically, it is arguable that the incursion into Gaza can be called a war, as it is not a conflict between two countries but rather one country and a political-military entity. In Israel, however, the media has called it as such, as have the politicians. And so I state, that, my observations in Israel during a time of war are most disheartening.
What fails to make sense to me is: How is it that war is still considered an effective method of change? The United States got away with dropping nuclear weapons on Japan in 1945, bringing the war on that front to a stark and horrifying conclusion, but do we, as a human race ever EVER want for that to happen again? Are we not more evolved, more refined, more capable in the 21st century of managing conflict in a place, by the way, where people have more in common that what they have been led to believe?
It is understandable that the world is up at arms, marching through streets shouting slogans to end the war, to call for a ceasefire. It is unfathomable how in a week and a few days, hundreds have lost their lives, thousands have been wounded and those who survive this disaster will be left with nearly nothing to eke out an existence in the aftermath of Israel's attempt to remove Hamas from rule in the Gaza Strip.
However, there is more in the streets than a call for a ceasefire and a call for peace. There is a continued call for the end of Israel, and that is where the conflict intensifies and the Israel-supporting Jews and Israelis supporting the government's decision to invade Gaza, become more hardened, more embittered and more alienated from the rest of the human population.
The discussion, the demonstration, the debate, the tears, the anger cannot be about bringing an end to the State of Israel; it has to be a call for Israel to abide by international law and to make good on its promises. If anyone, the residents of the West Bank have greater reason to be fed up with Israel's policies than with those in Gaza, because Abbas and Fayad are toeing the line and, still, for the Palestinians the situation under occupation has not improved.
The violence is unforgivable on both sides. How it is that Hamas believes it will prevail with this method of rockets falling, killing, destroying, terrorizing and harassing Israelis of all walks of life, including Arab-Israelis, is incomprehensible. How an organization claiming to be for a living, developing nation could be so willing to jeopardize the lives of so many, filling them with hatred along way is also beyond my capabilities of understanding. But they have a right to resist, but they have a right to a country, but they have a right to Jerusalem, to compensation for refugees...
This is not what Hamas wants. Hamas wants an eternal battle, they will always need an enemy, if it is not the Jews or Israel, it is Fatah. If it is not Fatah, it is the United States, it is Egypt, one day it could be their current sponsor, Iran. They play a despicable game with people's lives, with children's lives. Children who have no choice but to emulate what they see and experience in their environment.
At the Tel Aviv University campus last week, Palestinian and Arab-Israeli students held a protest against the violence. Around a hundred students came out in their keffiyehs and their signs of solidarity with Gaza. They were angry and I found out, extremely sad.
My friend Davide and I spoke to two female demonstrators to ask what they wanted to get out of this demonstration. They wanted a stop to the violence. Telling us about a mother and her four children who were killed that morning in IAF bombings. One of the young women said, "They want all of the land," then thought again, "All of OUR land."
I responded to her, "It's all of our land, there's enough for all of us, and we have to all live here, so what do we do?"
I continued to ask her how do we make it stop? What's our plan? Other Jewish students were coming up to them and asking, "what about the rockets?"
They couldn't answer how to make the rockets stop, and neither were they justifying them.
But I wasn't interested in that argument. I was more concerned with the fact that none of us had a plan or a vision of what instead.
I continued to talk to the other young woman about the situation. She continued to tell me about the brutality, the starving, the suffering. And I told her, "I know, I want it to stop too, but how?"
We looked at each other and I asked her if I could give her a hug. I did, and when I pulled away I could feel tears forming in my eyes. When I looked up at her, she had started crying. There was no more anger in her body language, there was total sadness, defeat and helplessness.
She said, "I am so sad I feel like crying."
"Me too," I said.
Comment
-
Comment by Giblatsai (Peter) on January 4, 2009 at 10:05pm
-
-
Comment by Janice Bakow on January 4, 2009 at 10:04pm
-
Living in the United States, the violence isn't as blatantly devastating and obvious in terms of individuals collectively united in destruction. We have gangs and drug addicts who are responsible for a lot of violence; but ignorant individuals who are blind to their own patterns of thinking and beliefs can be just as destructive - i.e. The State of Delware where I reside, does not permit Independents to vote in primaries unless they re-register as Democrat or Republican. Politics can be an intoxicating drug that blinds people to their behavior and how they "hurt" people. I'm not trying to provide a solution, but get see the problem clearly is political and
requires tremendous faith to align one's Being with a Creator who has no political agenda.
Like the steps needed for peace, our inner transcendence to go beyond the consciousness of politics is necessary. It requires a faith in Life, that includes all Life and a desire to live within It Peacefully and the highest Good of all Its inhabitants.
May that God, beyond Religion and beyond Politics give the necessary strength, moral understanding, and needed wisdom be a channel to hearts and help lift humanity and help us Share Love and extend Peace throughout Planet Earth giving that God the Glory to operate through us!
-
Comment by Kuesta on January 4, 2009 at 10:03pm
-
I feel the pain of this sad experience.Peace!!
-
Comment by caroline b on January 4, 2009 at 9:54pm
-
Your simple act of loving kindness - listening, sharing your heart, literally touching this young woman, IS the key. It needs to be repeated a million fold. As we have seen in the U.S. when enough people stand up (finally!) and notice that while they feel voiceless when they are isolated, in great numbers they are actually a powerful voice. If enough people are touched this way on both sides perhaps they will be able to create large enough numbers to stand up and say - No - Enough - You do not speak for me. I know it created hope here in this country to finally feel like the silent millions were heard. You have inspired me to consider how I can take similar actions within my country to help spread love and communion between Israelis and Palestinians, Jews, Muslims, Christians, et al. Thank you for having the courage and the love.
Caroline
-
Comment by Cida Medeiros on January 4, 2009 at 9:51pm
-
If we all, human beings that do not approve wars and violence stand up for our rights, I think we can make difference. What we just want is to stand up.
-
Comment by Arthur Gabriele on January 4, 2009 at 9:51pm
-
This is in reference to Tony's post.
There is a group addressing this problem. You can find a meet up by you at http://ronpaul.meetup.com/
-
Comment by Sandra Reis on January 4, 2009 at 9:46pm
-
Dear Heidi
The history of humanity has evidence that the war is never a method of changes (effective or not). Only peace can change the world.
I hope that in your next birthday you receive the best gift of all: PEACE among all beings!!!
Here in Brazil we are praying for all, to finish that insane war
-
-
It's very troublesome to see that innocent children have to suffer and even die over this senseless ever lasting war. This can escalate throughout the Middle East and even into a World War. When will it stop?
There has been many failed peace negotiations over the years. It's like a broken record: Peace, No Peace, Peace, No Peace. There is no easy answer to peace.
I personally believe that the real pathway to peace is for the people in Israel which is about 6 million should really search their conscious if they think it's worth it for their children and all future generations to live in fear and danger of being hurt and dieing. I wouldn't want that for my children or anyone else's. Nor would I want to bring up my children to go to war. "All 6 million can be absorbed by the rest of the world. We have space here in the US in New Orleans. The US government should afford the accommodations including the land elevation there.
If they truly want Peace and a stable life and a bright future for their children, begin booking flights to a new destination to start a new and better life in a non hostel place. There may still be discrimination in other parts of the world but at least it will be a stable life. There's still discrimination here in the US not only for Jewish people but for others. But we still manage here without such violence.
-
Comment by Raven Cohan on January 4, 2009 at 9:22pm
-
I will bring always to such commentary that will appear here, the suggestion that we use positive imaging to help bring in visions of peace. Let us stay in the infinite NOW and be with our empowered mind/hearts that can realize the truth of Oneness amongst people. It doesn't transform us to being more together when we speak of past ills. Smile to the idea of blissful harmony of the world... Today, this second. Bless everyone on all sides that have inside themselves a seed of longing to belong to a world that includes and does not exclude... That exudes an ecstatic bliss and adores and opens doors...
-
Comment by Mohamed B. Marrakchi on January 4, 2009 at 9:09pm
-
There are some people in both side that don t want peace. They are building an economy of war.
Israel party leaders from U.S. and all the west government and Palestinians leaders from the arab countries. Both people are paying the price. Some litle others more. One of them was Rabbin.
Welcome to
iPeace.us
Latest Activity
© 2024 Created by David Califa. Managed by Eyal Raviv.
Powered by
You need to be a member of iPeace.us to add comments!
Join iPeace.us