What is happening in the Middle East is insanity — pure and simple. What can be crazier than killing innocent women and children in the name of security?
A look at some perceived and stated reasons for the whole disaster will further reveal that there has been a pandemic of “mad man” disease. Supposedly the misbegotten operation (as it is called) was to rescue the two captured Israeli soldiers.
Let us try to view it in the right perspective, and try to put some questions to the protagonists.
When a person joins the armed forces, and is facing opposing forces, is he not knowingly exposing himself to the occupational hazards of being wounded, captured or killed? Is this the first instance of soldiers being captured?
It seems that, the soldiers are still alive (And we join everyone in praying that they are). What justification is there for the mass killing of innocent civilians? The capture of two versus the death of hundreds — is this the behavior of rational people with sense, morals, and conscience?
And even if God forbid, the soldiers are dead, what justification is there to kill hundreds of civilians in cold blood? Are the lives of the soldiers more valuable than those of the innocents — because they are soldiers or have a certain nationality or religion? Is this not what the Israelis and Jews themselves fought against and suffered during the Nazi pogroms? It would have appeared that the Jews, more than anyone else, would be sensitive to all this and the ill treatment or killing of innocents, having themselves suffered a similar fate.
When has the suppression of the rights of people by force been successful? When has the use of force and oppression broken the will of a people? When have deep-rooted issues been solved by might alone?
Look at the French Revolution, the freedom fight in Algeria, the quagmire in Vietnam, the freedom struggle of the Indian subcontinent. Do people never learn from history?
The basic supposed rationale is challenged by past history. Was there no operation(s) against the Palestinians and Lebanon before this incident? Did those operations succeed in achieving the stated objective(s)?
Israel invaded and occupied the territory of a sovereign nation for 18 years! They mounted numerous operations and sorties against the Palestinians. And yet they have not been able to achieve the stated objectives. Will they do now? Or are the real objectives something else, the hidden agenda important enough in twisted and inhuman minds to justify the action?
Is it again the change of regime in Lebanon? Is it to create an excuse to heap further accusations on Syria and Iran? Is it a prelude to possible action against these two? Is it to divert the attention of the world from other problems being faced by Israel and their partners in crime? Is it the result of obeying the dictates of “His Master’s Voice?” (Or has it become a case of the tail wagging the dog?). Is it to test the efficacy of new weapons? Is it to revitalize and support the US defense industry and economy?
Or is it just plain madness?
It is almost certain that this operation will not be able to eliminate the struggle of the Palestinians or destroy Hamas and Hezbollah. If anything, it will strengthen their resolve and gain them many new supporters and sympathizers. It will in some eyes validate, justify and sanction their struggle. On the other hand, it will cost the Israelis, and cost them a lot.
The disproportionate reaction is justified as a means to secure the safety of the country and its people, as just desserts to the perpetrators of violence against the people of Israel, as a means to stop such future problems. The “Final Solution”?
When people are driven to despair, when their freedom(s) are curbed, when their means of livelihood are stopped, when their food supply is cut, when they have no access to water, electricity and health care, when their houses are destroyed, when their dignity is robbed, when their families are broken up, when their near and dear ones are killed, when they fear for their lives, when hope and salvation are just a dim possibility — it is then that a people are driven to desperation and angry and violent (and sometimes irrational and insane) reaction.
It behooves both the parties to be calm, objective and rational. Sit down and talk. There always is a way to resolve differences and issues.
All it needs is good will, an open mind, a capacity to listen, to understand, be humane and be patient.
And please, please stop this insanity. Regain your sanity, reclaim your humanity. You owe it to yourself, your children, your future, your conscience, your sanity and your very being. You are both neighbors and cousins. Surely with the help of friends you can learn to live at least in peace, if not in total harmony.
