This Latest Round of The Israeli/Palestinian Conflict is Starting to Scare Me

As a third generation American Jew, I’ve grown up in the safety and security of the United States. I’ve always known that antisemitism exists, but it has hit me in the face this week with the latest round of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.

For the first time in a long time, I am scared.

I am scared that there are too many in this world who believe the lies that Hamas (and Iran by extension tells the world). Human rights are universal and always important, but they can also be twisted to fit one’s perspective.

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I am scared that some of my Jewish brothers and sisters are falling for the falsehoods that could kill them. Across the United States, Jews have been attacked by pro-Palestinian mobs. In Los Angeles, a mob screamed at customers and threw glass bottles as they eat outside a restaurant. I am all for peace, but how does one make peace with a neighbor who constantly agitates for your death?

I am scared that the Israel I know and love will cease to exist. Not just due to the violence within the region, but due to the silence and the complicity (again) by the outside world. I am scared that both Palestinian and Israeli children will grow up not only psychologically damaged, but also unable to see past the fears and hatred that they were taught by the adults around them.

If you listen to only one thing today, listen to last week’s episode from the podcast Us Among the Israelis. I cannot imagine what it is like to not be able to function normally, not knowing when a rocket may fall on your home or place of business. It’s akin to living during the Blitz. But instead of this happening during a specific time in history, it becomes a common occurance.

I am a Jew and proud of it. I have yet to move away from my faith and will likely never. But that does not mean that it scares the shit out of me.

No Surprise There

In recent world news, a top European Union court has taken Hamas off the terrorist list.

As much as I love the romance and beauty of Europe, they’ve showed some really ugly and stupid sides lately.

Like taking off the terrorist list an organization who does not hide the fact that they have no problem with the destruction of Israel and her people. In fact, they are more than able and willing to do so.

What these fools fail to realize is that Israel, in taking the brunt of the terrorism, is saving the rest of the world from what has become commonplace to Israelis.  What they also fail to realize is that Israel is small potatoes to the Hamas and their ilk. If they could have their way and annihilate Israel, then the rest of the world is open for the taking.

Am I surprised? Not one bit. Especially that 70 years ago, many Europeans turned a blind eye to the death and destruction that was being rained on their Jewish neighbors.

What goes around comes around and what comes around, may end up biting them in the behind.

No Sympathy

It is no secret that the press is notoriously one sided when they report on the conflicts between Israel and her neighbors.

The headline this morning reads as follows: “U.S. says Palestinian-American killed by Israeli forces”.

Am I sorry to see read that a 14 year old boy is dead? Naturally.

But I have no sympathy for the family of this boy. What kind of parent sends their child to a riot, knowing full well that violence is inevitable?

The statement from my government, who gives millions of our tax dollars to a terrorist organization, reads as follows:”The United States expresses its deepest condolences to the family of a U.S. citizen minor who was killed by the Israeli Defense Forces during clashes in Silwad on October 24.”

What about the infant girl who was killed earlier this week? Where was the official statement when the news of her death was released? Wasn’t she a minor and an American citizen?  And what about the three teenage boys, one of whom was also an American citizen, that was killed over the summer? I don’t recall an official statement of sympathy from our government then.

On top of it all, the press is once again repeating lies “Palestinians fear the visits, along with the moving-in of dozens of Israeli settlers to homes in a crowded Arab district in the shadow of the holy compound, aim to deepen Israel’s claim to the city as its eternal and indivisible capital. Palestinians want East Jerusalem, which was captured by Israel in a 1967 war and later annexed in a move not recognized internationally, for the capital of a future state.”.

The world wants Israel to make peace with her neighbors. If anyone can enlighten me how to make peace with a neighbor who openly threatens you, please do so. I would love to hear it.

I have no sympathy.

 

A Three Month Old Baby Is Dead

A three month old baby was killed yesterday.

An innocent, angelic three month old baby girl whose only crime was being with her parents in the wrong place and the wrong time.

In Jerusalem yesterday, a member of Hamas rammed his car into a crowded train station. Eight people were injured. The only fatality was the infant.

The press jumped on the story in the usual fashion.

The headline from the Associated Press was as follows: “Israeli Police Shoot Man in East Jerusalem”.

The rest of the international news outlets, in their usual sheep like way, just followed along.

A three month old baby is dead. And as usual, the press points fingers at Israel as they always do.

Shame on them.

My  heart breaks for the family of this child.

A three month old baby is dead.

The next time the press reports that Israel has supposedly been the Goliath to the Palestinian’s David, remember that a three month old baby is dead. She died once yesterday. She will die a thousand times over every time the members of the press points fingers at Israel without doing their homework.

A three month old baby is dead and if I had any more tears to shed for her, I would.

Oh, The Irony

The leadership of Hamas have never been shy about their goal. Their goal, through any means possible, is to destroy Israel, kill the population and take over the land for themselves.

And yet, when they need medical care, they go to Israel.

Ismail Haniyeh, the former President of Gaza has sent several of his family members to Israeli hospitals for treatment.

The staff of the hospital, despite knowing full well that the patients they are treating are related to the former Gazan President only see the patient who needs medical care. They do not see the family member of the man who calls for their death and destruction of their land.

I cannot think of another country in the world that, despite being in a long standing war with their neighbors, sees to the medical needs of that neighbor’s citizens without hatred or bias.

I would love to see how the media and the BDS would try to spin this story into increasing “evidence” that Israel is an apartheid state. The truth is that Israel has never been and never will be an apartheid state. It’s just easier to go with the crowd than to think for themselves.

 

An Open Letter To President Obama And Secretary Of State John Kerry

Dear President Obama and Secretary Of State Kerry

I want you to know that I voted for the both of you. I voted for you, Mr. President, twice. I voted for you, Mr. Kerry very eagerly in 2004, in hopes that you would defeat George Bush.

I now wish I had not.

It has been reported in the press that you will be giving $212 million dollars to the Palestinians to help them rebuild Gaza.

I have two questions and for once, I would like a straight answer.

1. WHY ARE YOU GIVING MONEY TO AN ACKNOWLEDGED TERRORIST ORGANIZATION?

Hamas has never disguised their true intentions. They care nothing for the people of Gaza, except to be used as human shields.  While I sympathize with the people in Gaza who are trapped under Hamas rule, I have no sympathy whatsoever for the person who shoots rockets into Israel and then cries crocodile tears when the IDF acts to protect the civilian population.

Hamas is alone responsible for the destruction of Gaza. This is not the first time they have received a financial transfusion. Instead of using that money to build up  the infrastructure and economy, it was used to buy rockets and build concrete tunnels into Israel.

In case you need reminding, one of the young men who was murdered at the start of the war this summer was an American citizen.

2. WHY IS THAT MONEY NOT BEING USED FOR ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE RESOLVED WITHIN OUR OWN COUNTRY?

I can think of plenty of ways this money could be used to fix issues in this country. We have a national debt that is growing by leaps and bounds.

Last December, Congress voted to stop extended unemployment benefits after 27 weeks of unemployment. This means that when the period to receive state unemployment insurance has ended, there is no more unemployment.  I don’t know if you have ever been unemployed, but the maximum amount of money that unemployment insurance provides is $405. It may not sound like much (and believe me, it isn’t),  but that weekly $405 check is the only thing that keeps some people off the streets.  That $212 billion dollars could more than help those who need unemployment until they find work again.

You made me believe in you at one point. I had no doubt at that point in time, that you would follow through on your promises.

I now see that I was wrong.

Sincerely, A Concerned Citizen

Schmuck!

Martin Lidegaard, the Danish Foriegn minister, has threatened Israel with sanctions if she fails to capitulate to Hamas.

In the words of my ancestors, Schmuck!

Would he capitulate to a neighbor who routinely assaulted him, both verbally and physically? Who called for the death of him and his family and proclaimed that his home was theirs?

Before Mr. Lidegaard or anyone who thinks like him opens their mouth about this subject, they should think. If had a neighbor that assaulted me routinely, both verbally and physically and called for the death of me and my family, there is no way I would sit back and do nothing. I would do everything in my power to protect my home and my family.

Is it me or is it just a no brainer?

Now what are you going to do?

Hamas has all but admitted to shooting rockets into Israel from heavily populated civilian areas.

Now that the truth is out, I wonder what the world press and the UN will do?

Will they follow the business as usual path and ignore the facts?

Or will they what is right and honorable? Will we be seeing apologies from the world press and the UN? Will the UN revoke the accusations of war crime and human rights violations against Israel? Will they finally pull their heads out from their asses and finally take away the billions of dollars that Hamas receives in international aid that goes to building bombs and tunnels instead of homes, schools and hospitals?

World, you have the facts in front of you. Now what are you going to do?

Really?

According to news reports this morning, there is evidence slowly trickling out that Hamas was shooting rockets at Israel from civilian population centers.

Thanks world media. I didn’t know that.

It doesn’t take a PHD in neuroscience to figure out that Hamas doesn’t give a sh*t about the people in Gaza. Their one and only goal which you can read for yourself here, is to wipe Israel off the map and kill all of her Jewish residents.

Of course they shoot rockets from civilian areas, knowing full well that the IDF will do everything in it’s power to prevent civilian casualties.

So thanks world media for clearing that up. I really needed that to start my Friday.

Response

Earlier today, I received a response to the most recent post about Israel and Hamas.

This person asked if I was worried about the Palestinian children.

I am not entirely un-sympathetic to what is happening to the children living in Gaza. No child should have to live with the stress and tension that comes with living in a war zone. We should all have happy and thriving childhoods so we can become happy and thriving adults. But life is not always easy, sometimes we are born into difficult circumstances.

I entirely understand that the people living in the West Bank are caught in between and rock and a hard place. However, I have no sympathy for the adult who consents to storing rockets in their home, knowing full well that the IDF’s mission is to destroy the rockets, not the home or take the lives of those who live in the home. It is unfortunate that Hamas uses civilian spaces to store and launch rockets while encouraging those same civilians to stay on the property knowing that it is about to be destroyed and lives are about to be lost.

This person then advised that Hamas does warn Israel when and where they will strike. I would like to see proof of that.

One of the people I follow on twitter is a former lawyer and political commentator (@LionelMedia) often uses the following statement “Ted Baxter sock puppet media”. I deleted this person’s comments because they were sheep comments, following the cues of the Ted Baxter sock puppet media.

This is an issue with many shades of gray. I am happy to debate this issue, but to do so, I  need a thinking, intelligent person. Not just someone who retreads over the same rhetoric.