The State Of Israel
Let's make one thing perfectly clear: Israel has the right to exist. Any nation, and there are nations, who specifically state otherwise is not only an enemy of Israel but an enemy of the United Nations, of peace and of the right to exist.
In addition, since Israel's rebirth in 1948, Muslims and Christians have been allowed to visit and worship in Jersualem, a holy site for the three religions. This was not the case under Muslim rule before that.
Also, Jerusalem is the center of Judaism. It always has been. It's also the true center of Christianity. It never was the center of Islam. That title belongs to Mecca.
Since 1948 Israel has been under near constant attack from the Muslim world. Never have they lost a battle or a war. Where Israel has lost is in the media and in the United Nations.
Why is that?
Let's review: the United Nations consists of well over 100 countries. At least thirty of these countries lie in one of two areas: Europe and the Middle East. We know that the Middle Eastern Muslim nations despise Israel. The united front against them is obvious. It is the other place, however, that we need to look at.
Every single European country has a roughly 2,000 year history of oppressing, persecuting and murdering Jews. Anti-Semitism in Europe did not begin with the Nazis. No, it was there for centuries. Italy has a Jewish ghetto in Rome -- Jews were not allowed to live elsewhere. France twice attempted to rid its land of Jews. Britain has a long history of anti-Semitism. And there is a reason so many Russian Jews now live in the United States and in Israel. And I think we've all heard of the Crusades, the Inquisition and pogroms. The Holocaust may have been the worst of it, but it was far from the first.
That 2,000 year history does not get erased overnight. I think anything said by European nations must be taken into that context, that it is coming from a nation who has spent centuries persecuting the very people they are criticizing.
Back to the current war in Lebanon. I do believe excessive force is being used here. I do not know that this much bombing, this much loss of innocent life is necessary. That said, Israel has every right to do what they are doing. They have been under attack by a terrorist organization. They refuse to yield. They refuse to allow this to continue. They, hopefully, have realized that the United Nations is no different than the host countries of their European ancestors.
And we, hopefully, will learn from Israel's resolve in war. They are succeeding where we have failed. They have targeted their enemy and are rendering them powerless. We cannot say the same.
In addition, since Israel's rebirth in 1948, Muslims and Christians have been allowed to visit and worship in Jersualem, a holy site for the three religions. This was not the case under Muslim rule before that.
Also, Jerusalem is the center of Judaism. It always has been. It's also the true center of Christianity. It never was the center of Islam. That title belongs to Mecca.
Since 1948 Israel has been under near constant attack from the Muslim world. Never have they lost a battle or a war. Where Israel has lost is in the media and in the United Nations.
Why is that?
Let's review: the United Nations consists of well over 100 countries. At least thirty of these countries lie in one of two areas: Europe and the Middle East. We know that the Middle Eastern Muslim nations despise Israel. The united front against them is obvious. It is the other place, however, that we need to look at.
Every single European country has a roughly 2,000 year history of oppressing, persecuting and murdering Jews. Anti-Semitism in Europe did not begin with the Nazis. No, it was there for centuries. Italy has a Jewish ghetto in Rome -- Jews were not allowed to live elsewhere. France twice attempted to rid its land of Jews. Britain has a long history of anti-Semitism. And there is a reason so many Russian Jews now live in the United States and in Israel. And I think we've all heard of the Crusades, the Inquisition and pogroms. The Holocaust may have been the worst of it, but it was far from the first.
That 2,000 year history does not get erased overnight. I think anything said by European nations must be taken into that context, that it is coming from a nation who has spent centuries persecuting the very people they are criticizing.
Back to the current war in Lebanon. I do believe excessive force is being used here. I do not know that this much bombing, this much loss of innocent life is necessary. That said, Israel has every right to do what they are doing. They have been under attack by a terrorist organization. They refuse to yield. They refuse to allow this to continue. They, hopefully, have realized that the United Nations is no different than the host countries of their European ancestors.
And we, hopefully, will learn from Israel's resolve in war. They are succeeding where we have failed. They have targeted their enemy and are rendering them powerless. We cannot say the same.
posted by E-Luv at 12:23 PM
1 Comments:
Hey Eric - thanks for the great perspective on this situation. But I do wonder one thing - given the unexpectedly extensive Hezbollah arsenal (supplied by Iran and Syria) that Israel has revealed during this offensive, do you really still think that Israel is using excessive force?
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