Israel and Always Being Ready to Make a Bad Situation Worse

I'm gravely concerned about the escalating issue in Israel and the long-time policy, dating back even before the right wing retook power in Israel under Sharon in 2000, of always striving to make a bad situation even worse. Firing on the democratically elected prime minister's office? Constantly taking what little the Palestinians have for punishment for crimes that are often miniscule compared to the wrong done by the far right Israelis? Not good.

There is evil being committed in the name of God on both sides. However, Israel has one of the most powerful militaries in the world, completely underwritten by the U.S. which provides more aid to the tiny country of Israel than any other country in the world. While Palestinians lob stones and occasionally send in a suicide bomber, Israel retaliates with huge gun ships and massive fire power, seize whatever they please, and deny Palestinians access to their own land as well as basic services as well as refuse to pay the money provided to the Palestinians in aid from the rest of the world. All this has done is perpetuate the violence and made both Israeli and Palestinian territories a terribly dangerous, hate-filled place for the majority of Jews and Arabs who want to live their peacefully and profitably.

Both Israel and Palestine have a right to exist; both need to acknowledge that. The U.S. is abetting much of the worst behavior of the Israelis in power and that needs to stop. Instead, however, we get slanted news stories, up to and including the fact that papers like the NYTimes have published incendiary and WRONG translations of remarks by the democratically elected Hamas prime minister which, although hardly messages of peace, are usually nowhere near as bad as these translations make them out to be.

Yes, I know this post will anger some. Today, you cannot criticize an Israeli action without it being read as anti-Semitic, much as any criticism of Mr. Bush is immediately denounced as anti-American and traitorous. But even there you see the bias: both Palestinians AND Israelis are semites.

But, like other reasonable people, I recognize the right of Israel AND Palestine to exist. I want the majority of both people to prevail in a sentiment that does not require the extermination of either side. Peace is not possible with so many fomenting hate; the answer is not to build walls or force the Palestinians out but to push out those extremists who make peace impossible. That includes extremists from our own country who want to use Israel and its citizens as a pawn in their end-time scenarios (read George Bush, James Dobson, Tom DeLay, et al).

From the wires:

Israeli leaders stepped up a ground offensive in the Gaza Strip, authorizing troops Wednesday to move into residential areas and create a security zone to prevent militants from firing rockets into Israel.

The Security Cabinet's decision indicated that Israel could be prepared to partially reoccupy Gaza, less than a year after withdrawing all troops and settlements from the coastal strip.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert convened the urgent meeting after militants from the ruling Hamas group fired a rocket into the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon late Tuesday. Although the attack caused no injuries, it was the first time a rocket has flown so far into Israel, signaling that militants have improved the range of the primitive weapons and escalating a crisis over a captured Israeli soldier.

Before the meeting, Olmert called the strike a "major escalation" and vowed harsh retaliation.

"There will be steps taken and they will be very serious," said Cabinet Minister Yitzhak Herzog.

"There is a very broad operation here. It will continue."

Participants said the Security Cabinet authorized the army to enter densely populated residential areas, which militants often use for cover to fire rockets.

One official said Israel had no plans to reoccupy Gaza. But a second participant said the ministers approved creation of a "security zone" in northern Gaza to prevent rocket attacks, raising the possibility of an extended presence in the area. Israel maintained a small strip in southern Lebanon for 18 years before withdrawing in 2000.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity, saying a formal statement would be released later.

Israel launched its offensive into Gaza last week after Palestinian militants kidnapped an Israeli soldier during a brazen attack on a military outpost. The army has been operating in Gaza, but has avoided sending troops into the strip's dense cities. Wednesday's rocket attack changed the equation.

"As far as I'm concerned, the people of (northern towns) Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahiya can start packing," said Zeev Boim, a senior minister in the Security Cabinet.

Earlier Wednesday, Israeli aircraft targeted the Palestinian Interior Ministry for the second time in a week, the Israeli military said. Witnesses said missiles hit the main structure and damaged a building next to the ministry. Rescue workers said five people were wounded.