There has been too much bloodshed on both sides in Israel and Gaza. I roundly condemn the attacks by Hamas which killed some 1,200 people and took hundreds of hostages. I understand the anger in Israel, but their assault on Gaza has killed far too many innocent civilians, totaling some 12,000 including Hamas fighters and civilians.
I had a friend who called Israel's assault genocide. Genocide is defined as "the deliberate killing of a large number of people from a particular nation or ethnic group with the aim of destroying that nation or group." Killing 12,000 out of over 2 million people in Gaza is not genocide, though it certainly is unnecessary bloodshed.
I feel that Netanyahu has not made any serious attempt to reach a two nation solution. The attack by Hamas makes it clear that they don't want one either. Sane people on both sides need to end terror attacks and the expansion of illegal settlements on the West Bank and work toward establishing a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza.
It will not be easy, since there are those on both sides who see advantage to continuing the existing system with the hopes of pushing out the other side. Both sides have rights and there needs to be something that recognizes the rights of both groups and gives them a chance to have their own independent nation.
Diehard partisans on both sides will hate this and try to put all the blame on the other side. Both sides have contributed to the existing deadlock, and nether side can have everything they want. Neither side is without blame, regardless of what some might say. Only when we can accept both the wrongs and rights of both can peace come.
No comments:
Post a Comment