This just in: Alex Thurston has posted an extremely thoughtful treatment of the debate that is heating up among American Jewish supporters of Israel regarding the escalation in Gaza.
This open debate needs to happen. Many Zionist supporters of Israel, and many non-Zionists who respect Israel's right to exist, perceive that Israel's titanically disproportionate use of force and its near-colonial economic and political treatment of Palestinians are bad policies for Israel as well as for the entire region. Moreover, such vocal pragmatists, centrists, and progressives are no longer willing to let a misguided and increasingly isolated Israel speak for them.
Precisely because things have gotten so bad, this much-needed debate -- challenging the shopworn excuses for Israel's sense of entitled excess -- is good.
Israel's attack seems really massive and violent, on the other hand - WHAT should they do? Rocket attacks are not done by ordinary Palestinians, but by few thousands (?) of Hamas members and supporters. But is it reason for Israel to look how Hamas rockets are killing citizens? Leaders have responsibility to protect citizens...
Elli
Posted by: Toronto realtor | January 05, 2009 at 12:56 PM