Earlier this week, I wrote an op-ed on the Israel-Hezbollah conflict for the Daily News. Obviously, the situation is very fluid and things have happened since this was written, but I feel the core of it still is valid. I received a ton of e-mail on this, both pro and con, and I respect everyone's opinion on it. It is my hope that this starts a real dialogue about what we can do to minimize the terrorist threat, whether it is here or in Israel, or anywhere else in the world.
For those who feel that the blog does not examine the root of the problem and possible solutions, you are right. This is a complex and nuanced issue and I intend to give Citizen Hunters all I have, but I did want to make some points clearly before I began. More to come...
Those who agree with this column will very likely not agree with what I wrote two years ago and vice versa. I still agree with both - again the situation is complex.
Below is what I wrote to you after reading your column, but I would like to thank you very much for your kind and receptive response. My post, as I read it back now, could easily have been taken as combative. So you you really read
what I wrote, which I really appreciate.
I'm very interested in your thoughts on possible related topics.
Thanks again for your thoughtful and cordial response.
Ms. Colgan, please ask yourself:
Is it possible for Israel to be wrong?
It is at least theoretically possible, right?
Now, is it possible to point out that Israel is not acting in its best
interest, or the best interests of the reason, without hating Israel?
That's possible too, right?
Now please digest these facts:
number of Israeli civilians killed by Hezbollah:
current total: 35
israeli military deaths: 15
number of Lebanese civilians killed by Israel:
current total 355
hezbollah deaths: 0
Source:
http://israel.bodycount.googlepages.com/
Think about that for a bit.
Of course, Israel has a right to defend it's sovereignty and it's
borders.
No sane critic of Israel would deny this.
Israel just does not have a right to do anything it wants. Including to
kill any number of Lebanese civilians it feels necessary, to eliminate
Hezbollah.
That's reasonable, isn't it?
And so, just like the US invasion of Iraq, Israel's pursuit of this
conflict
is not going to eliminate the Terrorist infection, but instead inflame it
so
that it spreads. Invading a nation on the rationale of eliminating a
single terrorist organization within it is:
a) entirely ineffective towards eliminating the terrorist organization
in
question - AL Qaeda's recruitment and status in the Arab world has skyrocketed, and so now has Hezbollah's
b) MORALLY WRONG - and staining Israel's honor, with the deaths of
INNOCENT CIVILIANS.
c) destabilizing the entire region with war, hatred and yet another generational cycle of revenge and destruction.
That's the reality on the ground. We have to deal with facts as they are,notwith how we wish them to be.
The only way to deal with a terrorist organization using asymmetric
warfare methods, is to starve them out with progress until it has no support
among the populace.
To point this out is not to blame Israel - but to help her get on a better course, for the best interests of all our futures in this small world we all have to live on together.
Posted by: J Beach at August 4, 2006 06:15 PMi looked at your blog and i agree with a lot of what you say, however, your article about not blaming israel is really full of lies and distortions. i don't believe you intended to do this because you are vindictive or anti-arab, i just think you don't have the slightest clue what the heck you are talking about.
line by line your article can be spun on its head revealing the exact opposite is the truth:
You say: "Just after the news of Qana emerged, Israel immediately offered a sincere apology,"
Please cite a link to this sincere apology. i would love to see where you got the info to put this line in because all i could fine is this
article http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1153292030858&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
which offers 'sincere regret' towards the death from olmhert, not an apology. regret is far from an apology. and don't forget to read the disclaimer following the regret where he says that hezbollah is still the ones responsible for the deaths. would you accept an apology from hamas for a suicide bombing if they said "sorry we killed your people but your agression is the reason we did this?" i know rudy guliani didn't accept it from the saudi prince following 9/11.
next line: "acknowledged a tragic mistake"
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/744426.html
please look at this article and tell me if the IDF is taking full responsiblity for these deaths b/c according to them they may not be since the building supposedly collapsed at 8am, a full 7 hours after the bomb hit. how does this even get reported as having any basis in fact? how the hell does this give any proof that they may not have done it? was al qaeda not repsonsible for the twin towers collapsing b/c they fell and hour and a half after the planes hit?
next line: "paused air strikes not in support of ground forces until it could investigate what went wrong."
hmmm, another fishy line. yes, the IDF did say they would stop bombing for a full 48 hours. what humanitarians! the only problem is they resumed airstrikes 2 hours later.
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20060731/D8J6VVGG1.html
i could go one but i wont. i think you get the point.
I read your article and as much of what you say has wisdom. I don't understand why Lebanon wasn't focusing more on the root of the problem, eliminating Hezbollah.
Though I am inundated with mommy/wife things to do, I am trying to follow what is happening in our world. It frightens me tremendously. However, when I watch the News it seems to me Lebenon is focusing mostly on its destruction, which is indeed horrific, but as you said it is doing little to solve the problem. I would think that when a problem this prevalent arises, the government would have more power to investigate and eliminate it or more of it.
Posted by: Allegra at August 4, 2006 06:35 PMI think Flavia is right on this one. Hezbollah doesn't want peace - I think that's abundantly clear by the fact that she points out that Hezbollah bombed Israel as they were sitting down with Jordan.
I love how apologists for Hezbollah now say "well their missiles haven't been accurate" and that Israel has lost fewer civilians so therefore Israel is wrong.
PLUHEEEEZE. First, so Israel is supposed to wait for more missiles to hit their civilians before stepping up operations? Second, someone asked how the drones work, mockingly saying "Do Hezbollah wear glowing vests?" No, try watching the news. The drones find where missiles fire from and within minutes IDF hits that exact target. THE PROBLEM is that Hezbollah fires from civilian areas and buildings - even they do not deny that they do this. if Hezbollah gave a flying crap about civilians, they'd stop firing missiles from their neighborhoods. But they do not care about civilians on either side.
Then apologists for Hezbollah say "Well Israel created them when they occupied Lebanon..." Well Israel has been out for 6 years. So what's their justification for attacking Israel since the pullout, both now and over the last 6 years? Hmmm? TO KILL ISRAELIS FOR THE SAKE OF KILLING ISRAELIS.
So Flavia is right in her conclusion - focus on the real threat to peace in the region, Hezbollah. Stop with the whole en vogue crap of trying to tie Israel to George W and making them one and the same. When one of the greatest doves in Israel's history - Peres - is 100% endorsing Israel's response, you cannot chalk this up to some neocon conspiracy. Honestly, you'd think by some of the language used by posters on Huffingtonpost, where I also saw this blog, that German's had every right to get angry at Jews because they "hijacked" their economy and "kept non-Jews poor and oppressed after WWI." Cripes.
Posted by: Eric at August 4, 2006 06:45 PMRashad,
we both know we could google until the world stops spinning and find "news reports and quotes" to support any point of view.
I have personally seen on many, many occasions, Islamic militants use civilians as a shield.
That is much different from accidentally hitting civilians in close proximity to a place where people were firing rockets.
One is a mistake, trying to keep people from firing rockets at civilians.
the other is a conscious decision.
Maybe you could pick another example to support your argument.
Posted by: evolo at August 4, 2006 06:46 PMNice column--right on!
Posted by: Brian at August 4, 2006 06:55 PMGreat Article!
Posted by: Judi at August 4, 2006 07:07 PMThe article was one I disagree with. I join Senator Hagel and world leaders in calling for an immediate cease fire. Israel went overboard with the bombing. Qana showed the carelessnes of Israel. Since the start of the war, their whole intent has been to punish democratic Lebanon and teach them a lesson. What was the point of bombing the airport? Hezbollah has no airlines. The bombing of apartment buldings, bus stations, and roads was excessive and dead wrong. The Bombing of Christian communities has been disgraceful. There is the smart way of conducting war and then there is the senseless way of conducting a just war. Hezbollah can be beaten with the help of Syria. Syria holds the key to peace if we engage them in serious diplomacy. We can tear Syria away from Iran and cut Hezbollah off from Iran. If the U.S. fails to talk to Syria, Hezbollah can effectively turn Lebanon into an Islamic state by winning in future elections by having the support of a sympathetic Lebanese population who is furious at Israel. Then Israel would be in real trouble. A lasting peace plan is only available with a United States that is an objective and even-handed power broker.
Posted by: Rafael at August 5, 2006 04:23 AMIf the arabs laid down their weapons, there would be no more killing. If Israel laid down their weapons, there would be no more Israel. Need anything more be said about the situation?
Posted by: steve at August 5, 2006 01:08 PMExcellent article! Ignore the Hezbollah apologists.
Posted by: Jack Davis at August 5, 2006 04:09 PMThose of us calling for an immediate cease fire are not Hzbollah apologists. Hezbollah is a terrorist organazation with an ideology of evil. Israel's cuurent agression is making Hezbollah popular and supported throughout the Middle East.
Look at the demonstrations in Iraq. The Sunni terrorist organazation Al-Qaeda, is now supporting Hezbollah. There is a danger that the Lebanese civilians will sweep them into power as Hamas was earlier.
Israel would not be in danger, once a peace-keeping force is established in Southern Lebanon. U.S. interests could be severely damaged if there is no cease fire. If the war continues, and a peace plan is not worked out, the hearts and minds of the normal arab population will be won over by the Islamic terrorists and extremists who are using the Israel's use of force as a sympathetic ralling cry to their cause.
Posted by: Rafael at August 5, 2006 04:34 PMa good bit of journalism.
By MICHAEL COREN-Toronto Sun
Last week I stood waiting at a West Bank checkpoint between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Contrary to what some would have you believe, these places tend to be fairly clean and warm and the security personnel efficient, if not particularly friendly.
In front of me was a small boy, perhaps five years old. He looked at the soldier in front of him and then suddenly lifted up his shirt to display a slightly bulging package taped to his tiny body.
All I could think was that this was an absurd, pathetic way in which to die.
Then there was a cacophony of explanations in Arabic and Hebrew, and Israeli soldiers told the boy to keep still and raise his arms away from his body. They were firm but not angry or bullying.
The boy obeyed, and it then became clear that this was no suicide bomber but a poor, suffering child who had to wear a colostomy bag.
His permit had expired but a colonel in the Israeli paratroops, a hardened combat officer, took charge of the situation and brought the boy through the turnstile.
He was then taken to the Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem where he received some of the finest medical treatment in the world. A hospital, by the way, where every third or fourth person treated is a Palestinian or Israeli Arab.
I tell this story because it is more typical of the Israeli reality than most of the propaganda currently being poured out over the war in Lebanon. Nobody can claim that the Jewish state is without blemish, but anyone who knows it and its people appreciates that this is a nation worthy of respect.
Enough is enough. It is time to be bold.
Israel is an island of decency and moderation in a raging sea of dictatorship, theocratic madness and undiluted political hypocrisy.
The last thing it wanted was a war on its northern border.
More of an extended family than a nation-state, the country moves into spasm each times it loses one of its soldiers.
Losses are counted as individuals rather than units and names are far more important than ranks.
Critics have argued that Israel engineered this war because it wanted to smash Lebanon as a potential economic rival.
Nothing could be further from the truth. A prosperous and pluralistic Lebanon would have delighted Israel, a country that cries out for trading partners in the region.
The war is economically disastrous, emotionally traumatic and rips Israel apart as its finest sons lose their lives.
Nor is this in any way mass invasion and full-scale war. Israel has some 3,500 frontline battle tanks, one of the strongest and most capable air forces in the world, tens of thousands of elite troops and advanced nuclear technology. In other words, if it waged full-scale war we would certainly know.
Instead, it has sent teams of commandos across the border to take Hezbollah-held villages one by one.
Just as when the Israeli army cleaned Jenin of its terrorists, lives are lost because of tactics based on honour rather than brute force.
The usual opponents of Israel will dismiss these comments, but political fashion is usually irrelevant and always too easy.
Peace in the Middle East is possible, but it is the Arab world and its friends rather than Israel that has to transform.
Soon -- and with full and absolute commitment.
Bury the children over there, so we won't have to bury them here. Seriously, are we that bankrupt that we are picking sides on whose bullets are more righteous? Remember that "vision thing"? Growing up, my siblings and I would knock each other out, and sometimes mom or dad had to step in. We were both wrong and needed guidance and correction. This is no different. Ask the children, they know.
Great article Flavia. For the most part I'm now completely desensitized to reports of Israeli wartime excesses due to the constant false propaganda put forth by the other side. Here's another example of media manipulation, this time involving Reuters (shocking):
http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/
When Hezbollah, Hamas, Syria, Iran, and everyone else on the I hate Israel martyrs brigade bandwagon finally start talking about a legitimate, peaceful resolution to all this, then maybe I'll start paying attention again. Although it would take a lot of convincing to make me believe it.
Posted by: JSM at August 7, 2006 03:05 PMBy the way Flavia, I enjoyed your article but have to disagree with your characterization of the situation as complex. Only the history of the region and cultures is complex, the moral issue facing Israel (and us) today is quite simple. Tip of the hat to steve for summarizing it perfectly above.
Posted by: JSM at August 7, 2006 03:15 PMI look at the evening news with my brother -- the one who wants peace, but says you must fight to get it, and I say that God wants us to love, not kill each other; if God gives us that command, then God will give us the way. Some people who follow Christ believe Jesus is the way -- and that is love; so love is the way; only love can change the world. Only love can give us peace. I will Pray first for love in my heart and peace will come. I believe this.
Teresa
Israel has not started any of the wars, dating back to the UN proclamation of statehood in 1948. Nevertheless, when land is taken, as it is and rightly so in ALL wars where a country is forced into battle, it is not given back. If it is, what's the message?!...Whether it's an Arab country or an Islamic terrorist group, faction, whatever the make-up, they always begin the violence and end up crying, "You're o-c-c-u-p-y-i-n-g our land!"...Somebody please help Israel with its massive PR failure and help any and all radicals to love their children more than they hate (fill in the blank)...Without this, all bets are off (including the 72 virgins :-) Sorry, Charlie. God wants people that are good, not perverse.
Posted by: Tony Glassman at August 8, 2006 12:08 PMFlavia's right, it is complex. The only thing with sure answers are machines. Sometimes it is necessary for us to not have all the answers all the time. Much growth that occurs in society, (and on a personal level), is when the first step is made in the dark. We have to trust this step. Unfortunately, no one wants to trust the other side or look at things other than absolutes. We think we know all the answers, but it is obvious we don't. So continue to listen and weigh, and wrestle and listen, and then listen some more. As teresa said, we know the way. We just have to trust it and take that first step.
Posted by: Joe at August 9, 2006 02:14 PMISRAEL AND JERUSALEM FACTS
1. ISRAEL BECAME A STATE IN 1312 B.C., TWO MILLENNIA BEFORE ISLAM;
2. ARAB REFUGEES FROM ISRAEL BEGAN CALLING THEMSELVES "PALESTINIANS"
IN 1967, TWO DECADES AFTER (MODERN) ISRAELI STATEHOOD;
3. AFTER CONQUERING THE LAND IN 1272 B.C., JEWS RULED IT FOR A
THOUSAND YEARS AND MAINTAINED A CONTINUOUS PRESENCE THERE FOR 3,300
YEARS;
4. THE ONLY ARAB RULE FOLLOWING CONQUEST IN 633 B.C. LASTED JUST 22
YEARS;
5. FOR OVER 3,300 YEARS, JERUSALEM WAS THE JEWISH CAPITAL. IT WAS
NEVER THE CAPITAL OF ANY ARAB OR MUSLIM ENTITY. EVEN UNDER JORDANIAN
RULE, (EAST) JERUSALEM WAS NOT MADE THE CAPITAL, AND NO ARAB LEADER
CAME TO VISIT IT;
6. JERUSALEM IS MENTIONED OVER 700 TIMES IN THE BIBLE, BUT NOT ONCE IS
IT MENTIONED IN THE QUR'AN;
7. KING DAVID FOUNDED JERUSALEM; MOHAMMED NEVER SET FOOT IN IT;
8. JEWS PRAY FACING JERUSALEM; MUSLIMS FACE MECCA. IF THEY ARE BETWEEN
THE TWO CITIES, MUSLIMS PRAY FACING MECCA, WITH THEIR BACKS TO
JERUSALEM;
9. IN 1948, ARAB LEADERS URGED THEIR PEOPLE TO LEAVE, PROMISING TO
CLEANSE THE LAND OF JEWISH PRESENCE. 68% OF THEM FLED WITHOUT EVER
SETTING EYES ON AN ISRAELI SOLDIER;
10. VIRTUALLY THE ENTIRE JEWISH POPULATION OF MUSLIM COUNTRIES HAD TO
FLEE AS THE RESULT OF VIOLENCE AND POGROMS;
11. SOME 630,000 ARABS LEFT ISRAEL IN 1948, WHILE CLOSE TO A MILLION
JEWS WERE FORCED TO LEAVE THE MUSLIM COUNTRIES;
12. IN SPITE OF THE VAST TERRITORIES AT THEIR DISPOSAL, ARAB REFUGESS
WERE DELIBERATELY PREVENTED FROM ASSIMILATING INTO THEIR HOST
COUNTRIES. OF 100 MILLION REFUGEES FOLLOWING WORLD WAR 2, THEY ARE THE
ONLY GROUP TO HAVE NEVER INTEGRATED WITH THEIR CORELIGIONISTS. MOST OF
THE JEWISH REFUGEES FROM EUROPE AND ARAB LANDS WERE SETTL ED IN ISRAEL,
A COUNTRY NO LARGER THAN NEW JERSEY;
13. THERE ARE 22 MUSLIM COUNTRIES, NOT COUNTING PALESTINE. THERE IS
ONLY ONE JEWISH STATE. ARABS STARTED ALL FIVE WARS AGAINST ISRAEL, AND
LOST EVERY ONE OF THEM;
14. FATAH AND HAMAS CONSTITUTIONS STILL CALL FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF
ISRAEL. ISRAEL CEDED MOST OF THE WEST BANK AND ALL OF GAZA TO THE
PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY, AND EVEN PROVIDED IT WITH ARMS;
15. DURING THE JORDANIAN OCCUPATION, JEWISH HOLY SITES WERE VANDALIZED
AND WERE OFF LIMITS TO JEWS. UNDER ISRAELI RULE, ALL MUSLIM AND
CHRISTIAN HOLY SITES ARE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL FAITHS;
16. OUT OF 175 UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS UP TO 1990,
97 WERE AGAINST ISRAEL; OUT OF 690 GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTIONS, 429
WERE AGAINST ISRAEL;
18. THE U.N. WAS SILENT WHEN THE JORDANIANS DESTROYED 58 SYNAGOGUES IN
THE OLD CITY OF JERUSALEM. IT REMAINED SILENT WHILE JORDAN
SYSTEMATICALLY DESECRATED THE ANCIENT JEWISH CEMETERY ON THE MOUNT OF
OLIVES, AN D IT REMAINED SILENT WHEN JORDAN ENFORCED APARTHEID LAWS
PREVENTING JEWS FROM ACCESSING THE TEMPLE MOUNT AND WESTERN WALL.
THESE ARE TRYING TIMES. WE MUST ASK OURSELVES WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING,
AND WHAT WE WILL TELL OUR GRANDCHILDREN ABOUT OUR ACTIONS DURING THIS
CRISIS, WHEN WE HAD THE CHANCE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
Well Steve, it looks like you have all the unvarnished facts. Thanks. As for me, the only thing that concerns me with my children and grandchildren is that they will be saved and go to heaven, and that they stay alive.
Here's some more facts in our own backyard:
225,534 infant deaths were reported in the United States during 1995--2002 (CDC, DHHS)
2,827 children and teens who died from gun violence in 2003 (Children's Defense Fund)
etc etc etc etc.
Tell me, who CRIES for them?
Posted by: Timmy at August 10, 2006 05:47 PMThe common thread in all of this mess is religion and the twisted, small-minded "men" that purport to be holy and believe in fairy tales.
Posted by: Blod Wanblo at August 11, 2006 01:34 PMIn a recent interview, General Norman Schwartzkopf was
asked if he thought there was room for forgiveness
toward Hizbollah
The General said,
" I believe that forgiving Hizbollah is God's
function. The Israeli's job is to arrange the meeting
Oh brother...is what I have to say to that worn out and reused military quote. Yeah, thats what Jesus taught us. Not a good lesson to be teaching our children guys. Not at all.
Posted by: Sue at August 14, 2006 08:39 AM