Thursday, April 23, 2009

An Open Letter To The Israeli Government

What do you hope to gain by striking fear in the hearts of every mother, father and child in Gaza? What do you hope to accomplish with death and destruction?

Crushing Gaza and killing its people will bring no peace to Israel. Instead it will plant the bitter seeds of hate, hopelessness and revenge and it will drain your treasury and destroy your credibility.

Is this what God would command you to do? Who is now the fanatic? Who is now the terrorist? You'll find the answer in the eyes of the people you've attacked.

As a man of Jewish heritage, I plead with you to reach out to our Palestinian brethren and make peace before another life is lost and try to correct the damage you've done. The esteem Israel has in much of the world, your well-being and perhaps even that of mankind may depend on it.

Dick Kazan

andreagiambrone wrote:
In Science of Mind, we sing, "Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me." Yet peace seems as elusive as unity. "Peace on earth," proclaim the Holiday cards. Until a neighbor takes down a tree you loved seeing from your own window without mentioning it; or someone cuts you off on a freeway. And the term, "road rage" is born.

Are we capable of Peace? Is mighty Israel, with its Self Image, of the Little Guy who has to fight for everything all the time capable of Peace?

How about this country? Without checking the statistics, I'd say we've been involved in some kind of war since our Founding.

Is Peace Possible? That is the question. Ironic that until we test it, we'll never know.

How right you are, Sane Rambler, to take Israel to task for this miserable killing of innocents. Surely they will answer, "Kill or be killed." And so the misery seems destined to continue. Until, with one mega-retaliatory bomb too many, we will blow ourselves apart.

I feel empty and sad. "Give peace a chance," the late John Lennon sang. Late is the operative word.

Always with a sliver of hope in my heart,
Andrea Giambrone, peace-seeker

AZBEN wrote:
Sorry, folks, but I have to agree with Israel's actions. They have been bombarded for months, their citizens living in fear and peril. They have not been the agressors in my opinion, they have been the victims. On all fronts they are in danger, from every country that borders them or is in near proximity. If it wasn't for their military strength and determination to defend themselves, they would have been overrun and annihilated years ago.

It is so convenient for folks, safe in their homes in the USA, to cast aspersions at the Israeli's for their counter-attack. I am sure that if Mexico was lobbing (3,000 plus) bombs into San Diego, Torrance or Palos Verdes, the USA would assume the same posture as Israel, and with the urging and backing of it's citizens. Think about it. Their country has been attacked with impunity. They are being bombed daily!! With real bombs, guys!

The Jews tried to turn the other cheek in the past and that didn't work. They were lambs led to the slaughter. They learned their lessons well... and refuse to relive them again.

It is a sad commentary but we live in hostile and dangerous times that often times require military intervention.

I know that I, a conservative hawk, will be a minority on this site but at least I have a platform to discuss my point of view with the liberal doves.. and that is the democratic process.

Thanks for listening, AZBEN

beachfnt wrote:
Let's all step back for a moment and ponder what is Israel's end game. Is it to peacefully coexist with the Palestinians in a "recognized nation of Palestine?" If so then Israel would have sincerely done everything in its power to make sure that Hamas successfully transformed from a militant organization to one that governs. The path Israel chose predictably led to this situation so that Hamas could be blamed for the crushing that the Israeli military is bringing down on them.

Instead of looking at this at an inning by inning basis and instead finding the best way to "win" the game then you must assume that people around the globe want to live out their life cycles in a way that lets them provide for their families and celebrate their celebrations. Deprived of this, desperation will sink in as has happened in all of recorded history (please let me know where the inmates appreciate their jailers). Gaza is a ghetto (or very large jail) and Israel controls almost all of what goes on with commerce, utilities and free travel that it isn't hard to see why Hamas who opposes this rule AND provides goods and services for Palestinians is more popular than Fatah (accused of being corrupt by the US and Israel). If we were Palestinians how would we behave? If one of our children were killed how would that change our outlook and for how many generations?

If look at this as a tit for tat then yes, Israel is justified in shooting back but if we want Israelis to enjoy their own peaceful life cycles then they and we should do everything we can to ensure that the Palestinians can enjoy theirs even if we do not like or approve of the winners of their election. This chess game was predictable and poorly played by Israelis that do not want a Palestine and wanted to punish the citizens for voting in Hamas. One has to wonder if a constant threat serves Israel's needs for aid better then peaceful coexistance with its neighbors...

Kevin wrote:
What about the missiles fired from The Gaza Strip into Israeli?
Kevin

Dick Kazan wrote:
Dear Reader,

As Gaza launched rockets into Israel, how would I respond if Mexico launched rockets into America?

If Mexico launched rockets, ASAP I would try to stop it peacefully by sitting down with their leadership to attempt to resolve our issues together. Not refuse to meet with them, nor ignore them and then attack them in return with far greater might. Nor would I sometimes shut off most of their food and medical supplies, electricity and their primary source of jobs.

When modern Israel was established in 1948, the Israelis didn't know how to govern, they knew how to fight. Arabs and the British called them "terrorists."

When Hamas was ELECTED as the governing body in Gaza 11/2 years ago, they too did not know how to govern, only how to fight. On occasion, they quietly reached out to the Israelis, and were shunned.

Instead, Israel tried to strike a peace in the West Bank as if that would solve their Palestinian problems. Clearly it hasn't and now their killing of men, women and children jeopardizes even that.

What Israel is doing in Gaza is so disgraceful, they're trying to censor it so the world doesn't see it, and trying to keep outsiders such as the Red Cross away so they can't help those in desperate need nor tell the outside world what they see.

No place in Gaza is safe from Israeli attack and even the United Nations has been forced to flee. What Israel is doing is shameful and like the Iraq war, it will encourage fanatics to retaliate in violence.

Dick

Kevin wrote:
I'm sorry, but I don't believe that it is within the human spirit to truly live in peace. There will always be aggressors and therefore the need for protectors. An argument can be made regarding which one is which in any particular situation, but the fact remains that the opposing forces exist. We are all multi faceted, and not all of those facets in all the people are good natured.
Kevin

Dick Kazan wrote:
"U.N. and Red Cross Add to Outcry on Gaza War," headlined The New York Times on today's front page.

"International aid groups lashed out at Israel on Thursday over the war in Gaza, saying that access to civilians in need is poor, relief workers are being hurt and killed, and Israel is woefully neglecting its obligations to Palestinians who are trapped, some among rotting corpses in a nightmarish landscape of deprivation.

"The United Nations declared a suspension of its aid operations after one of its drivers was killed and two others were wounded despite driving United Nations flagged vehicles and coordinating their movements with the Israeli military."
http://www.nytimes.com:80/2009/01/09/wo ... ?th&emc=th

And in a related New York Times story today: "Gaza Children Found With Mothers' Corpses"

"The International Committee of the Red Cross said Thursday it had discovered "shocking" scenes - including small children next to their mothers' corpses - when its representatives gained access for the first time to parts of Gaza battered by Israeli shelling. It accused Israel of failing to meet obligations to care for the wounded in areas of combat." http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/09/world ... wanted=all

A Message to the Israeli Government: No wonder you are trying to prevent news media coverage of this horrific war you've launched. The sickening sight of it would turn most of the world against you, including many Israelis.

If you think the ends will justify the means, think again. You're planting a very bitter harvest of anger, frustration, hate and revenge, and no military occupation will bring you the safety and security you seek.

It can only come from respect, consideration, foregiveness and love as you reach out to our Palestinian brethren in SINCERE brotherhood. At this point the ghosts of the Nazis may look at all of us of Jewish heritage and say, "Look how ruthless you turned out to be. We thought so all along, and now you have proven it to the world."

In the name of God, stop your attack and do everything in your power to correct the horrors you've inflicted. Let us all seek foregiveness and make amends for the incredible suffering we have brought these men, women and children.

Dick Kazan

Post Script: This Open Letter was emailed to the Israeli Government,
1) Ministry of Foreign Affairs, feedback@MFA.gov.il
2) Ministry of Communications, dovrut@MOC.gov.il
3) Ministry of Defense, pniot@MOD.gov.il

No comments: