Israel, Hamas, Gaza: Plenty of Us in America Just Need to Shut Up

Something labeled "Subject: Fwd: Some Differences Between Hamas and the Nazi Party" showed up in my inbox Monday night. The forwarded e-mail came from a loved one who'd skimmed its contents and thought it might prove useful if I decided to write about Israel's offensive in Gaza.

"Some Differences Between Hamas and the Nazi Party" turned out to be a recent blog post by Ron Rosenbaum, the author of Explaining Hitler and other books. Here's the first of the curious differences Rosenbaum detailed in his post:

"The Hamas founding covenant explicitly calls for the extermination of all Jews. Hitler never made total extermination an official plank of the the Nazi party platform. (see Holocaust scholar Omar Bartov's article in the February 2, 2004 issue of The New Republic. He points to the extermiationist [sic] 7th article of the founding Hamas covenanat [sic] which cites the Hadith (saying of the prophet). Here is a translation of the Hadith in a deeply disturbing summary of Hamas' exterminationist anti-semitism by the Brown University scholar Andrew Bostom:

"'The Prophet, Allah's prayer and peace be upon him, says: "The hour of judgment shall not come until the Muslims fight the Jews and kill them, so that the Jews hide behind trees and stones, and each tree and stone will say: 'Oh Muslim, oh servant of Allah, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him,' except for the Gharqad tree, for it is the tree of the Jews." (Sahih Muslim, Book 41, Number 6985)'

"In other words, Hamas is not committed merely to the political goal of expelling Jews from the land of Israel but to what they believe is a sacred religious goal of exterminating all Jews everywhere behind every tree in creation. (I'm not pinning any hopes on "the Gharqad tree"). I'd suggest those who deceive themselves into believing Hamas is just another Palestinian rights group, maybe a little on the extreme side, read the whole Bostom article. The exterminationist anti-semitism of Hamas is more excessive than Hitler's.

"So that's one difference."

Rosenbaum's piece made me bristle.

Why?

Maybe the quickest way to sum that up is just for me to cut and paste, to share with you how I responded to the forwarded e-mail that brought Rosenbaum and his analysis into my Monday evening ...

Dear XXXX,

Thanks for forwarding that to me. It's certainly thought-provoking. It cements my sense that I do not know nearly enough about the ongoing mess to pick sides. There's such a shrillness to so much of what gets said and written that I don't begin to know how to sort it out.

That was certainly the case with this analysis by Ron Rosenbaum. His whole "Differences Between Hamas and the Nazi Party" angle struck me as a gimmick. The piece amounts to a coy invitation to conclude that Hamas is worse than Hitler. But Rosenbaum never really says as much himself. He just refers to these "differences" -- all of which are stacked to show Hamas as more extreme than the Nazis.

For me, Rosenbaum deliberately misses the point.

Bottom line: I want Rosenbaum to take a moment to think of some terrified, innocent Jewish mom being herded into a Nazi gas chamber. Could Rosenbaum possibly claim that that mom would have consoled herself with the thought that things could be worse, that she could have the even greater misfortune to live in a vibrant, industrialized Jewish homeland that's afflicted by a toxic, bellicose, backward neighbor which sometimes lobs rudimentary rockets across the border?

Rosenbaum seems like too smart a guy to believe that genocidal ideology somehow trumps genocidal wherewithal. At least I hope he's too smart for that. Because if not, heaven help the guy who's worse than Hamas. That guy exists. Bet on it.

Somewhere, maybe in some flophouse in Tuscaloosa, there's some drooling, penniless quadriplegic who's so anti-semitic that he even advocates the slaughter of Jewish people who manage to hide behind those Gharqad trees that apparently work like Kryptonite against Hamas. Is that guy -- in all his blustering, impotent Holocaust lust -- worse than Hamas? As such, is he worse than Hitler? Should we nuke him? Should we kill the lady from Meals on Wheels who knowingly brings nourishment to his hate-filled ass? Are his neighbors acceptable collateral damage?

Sorry to be so gruff.

Unable to make sense of this on any geopolitical level, I revert to empathy. What little I know is that Israel's strikes are making orphans and widows and parents who suddenly aren't parents anymore because their kids have just been killed. The Hamas rockets aim to do the same. The whole thing is a pathetic mess and a blot on humankind. I'm distressed by Americans' willingness/eagerness to take sides.

Thanks for doing your best to make sure I was informed if I chose to blog about this. I doubt I will. If I do, my blog post will probably just be a plea for everyone as ignorant as me to refrain from taking sides. So few of us would be able to face the ghosts of the dead and justify why we cheered on Israel or why we made excuses for Hamas. We should shut up.

One man's opinion.

Love,

Dave

Huffington Post blogger David Quigg lives in Seattle. Click here to visit the blog where he's gradually posting his entire first novel. Click here for an archive of his previous HuffPost work. And finally, as now required by law, his Twitter feed.

Comments

[hopeful2009]

Dave, I think you misunderstood Rosenbaum, not the other way around. i agree with you that Hitler's actual actions and tactics were worse than Hamas is at this moment, however, I believe Rosenbaum was just saying that Hamas' OVERALL GOAL is more extreme than Hitler, not their actual actions that they have carried out to date. Unlike Hitler, Hamas DOES NOT have the ability to do what Hitler did. I'm sure that if Hamas had the ability to do what Hitler did (such as the trains to the gas chamber, as you mentioned) they would be happy to copy Hitler's actions AND whatever worse things Hamas could think up.

[Michale32086]

@cordillera

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I do not believe that the Cubans are in need of medical supplies - or are dying without them. I also believe that I would have taken notice if we were bombing children in Cuba.
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The point is, is that vinny states that his definition of terrorism is a blockade..

I have shown that the definition is not accurate as many blockades have taken place in history and they weren't terrorism..

Secondly, if the Palestinians are in such dire need of medicine, why doesn't HAMAS import medicine in, instead of thousands of tons of military weapons, missiles and hardware?

No one has been able to answer that question in over a week of discussion..

There is a reason for that.

Michale.....

[cordillera]

I will shut up when my government stops sending billions of dollars every year to the IDF. If Israel is so superior - from a moral and military standpoint - let them stand on thheir own.

[Michale32086]

@astrozombie

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It goes without saying (although I will say it here, lest I be accused of one-sidedness) that the terrorizing and killing of innocent civilians by any party (state-level or otherwise) is deplorable. Such behavior is in violation of established international laws which govern the conduct of war and military occupation. However, to state that Israel is fully compliant with international law vis-à-vis the Occupied Territories, as you do Michale, is simply not true. Here is a list of Israeli violations of the 4th Geneva Convention (1949):

http://www.jfjfp.org/factsheets/geneva4.htm

The list was last updated in 2005 and thus does not include violations ascribed to the Israeli Defense Force during the 2nd Lebanon War of summer 2006, nor to the current siege of Gaza.
{{{{{

It was not my intent to justify Israel's actions throughout time immemorial or to make the claim that Israel is as pure as the driven snow in anything and everything they do.

If I gave that impression then I well, truly and sincerely apologize..

My only point is that, in the here and now, Israel is 100% in compliance with the Geneva Conventions, the International Criminal Courts and the rules of warfare...

And Hamas is in complete and utter violation of the same....

That's my only point...

Michale.....

[Michale32086]

@vinny

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how about the blockade?
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The blockade is not considered terrorism, since Israel (AND EGYPT, I might add) are blockading their own borders...

If a blockade is considered terrorism, then the US blockade of Cuba was terrorism and the Soviet blockade of Berlin was terrorism..

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how about the Nov 4 incursion?
{{{{{{

An Israeli strike team ambushed a crew of Hamas kidnappers who were in the process of kidnapping Israeli soldiers, a'la Cpl Schalit. The would-be kidnappers were killed. A justified shoot in ANY jurisdiction..

What else ya got???

Michale.....

[Michale32086]

I should also point out that, using your definition of terrorism, our blockade of CUBA and the Soviets blockade of BERLIN would be even MORE SO considered terrorism, because the borders that were being blockaded were not of the ones doing the blockading..

So, while a blockade such as the one the US and the Soviets were doing WOULD be an act of war, it would NOT be terrorism...

However, this isn't applicable to this situation because Israel (and Egypt) are blockading THEIR OWN borders..

I re-iterate.. Terrorism is NOT defined as simply something you want it to be at any given moment for any given thing that might happen to piss you off at any given time...

Michale......

[cordillera]

I do not believe that the Cubans are in need of medical supplies - or are dying without them. I also believe that I would have taken notice if we were bombing children in Cuba.

[Michale32086]

@Fireslayer

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But the IDF is a wholesale terrorist organization.
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This is wrong.. But provide me your definition of terrorism and we can discuss it..

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IDF just bombed a school, intentionally killing 40 innocents to catch a few people firing rifles at an invading force which is what most of us would do against violent intruders.
{{{{{

Mortars were being fired from the school. This is documented on film.

That made the school a legitimate military target. All responsibility for the deaths of innocent civilians lies with Hamas..

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The vast majority of the world's people are now condeming the Israeli war machine- including hundreds of thousands in Israel.. ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!!! Cease fire now!
{{{{{

Actually, this is also wrong. Egypt, Jordan, The US, Saudia Arabia, all those countries are saying that complete responsibility belongs to HAMAS...

Michale.....

[cordillera]

Give a citation for this mysterious film. This seems to be a popular urban myth. Since cameras were taken from IDF soldiers and no journalist are allowed into Gaza, this seems highly unlikely. Some international news organizations, however, are reporting that a 2006 video, from another school, is being widely circulated and is being recast as if it were the school at which at least 40 people died today. AT least ten of them were children, seeking refuge. How proud you must be to support these people.

[Michale32086]

The film is actually from 2007.. My mistake. But it does show that Hamas has used UN schools in the past to attack from.

By using the schools in this manner, HAMAS makes them into legitimate military targets..

It's a shame that innocent people were killed, but the fault and responsibility for their deaths fall COMPLETELY on HAMAS' shoulders..

Michale.....

[ColinGallagher]

"I guess my question for all the people condemning Israel . . .what would they want the US to do in the event that their cities were being bombarded by rockets?" Well my answer to that is my country, the U.S., not Israel, is not being attacked. However, my government is sending $2 billion each year to another government which is shelling innocent women and children as kind of collective punishment for the acts of a few persons. In other words, my government is funding war crimes in the Gaza Strip. My goverment has taken sides and I don't think it is wise for it to continue to do so. This is especially as Hamas has never attacked us. Hamas is not our enemy and we, the U.S., should not be antagonizing them or the Arab public.

[vinny]

your government also sent armor, rockets, and grenades to fateh last spring to oust the democratically elected government of palestine...

[Realization]

A good reason for not blindly supporting Israel is that the U.S. has larger responsibilities. To achieve peace in the region, which is in the best interests of all concerned, the U.S. must be neutral and perceived as neutral. We also have to be willing to put significant pressure on everyone, including Israel. For a start, we should stop assistance to Israel, it is a rich country. Look at the per capita GDP.

[IbrahimSapien]

Hamas would not exist if Israel didn't have Palestinians locked up in those concentration camps called Gaza and the West Bank.

Hamas is the equal and opposite reaction to Israel's action. America's been blinded to all Israel has done over the years, from media neglect and politicians’ apathy, so all they are aware of is Hamas' terrorism. Invest some energy in studying the truth.
Israel has been killing Palestinians long before Hamas existed, long before the first suicide bombing. Look up “Lehi” and “Irgun”. Jewish terrorist organizations which got absorbed into the political parties like LIKUD. Minachem Begin was a member of Irgun.

If the world works to give Palestinians independence, if they work to free Palestine to trade, to build an economic infrastructure and a national identity, then Hamas will be rejected and the fanaticism will die away.

[Manchurian]

Well said. Here's an especially insightful article from Salon: http://www.salon.com/opinion/kamiya/2009/01/06/gaza_war/index1.html

[research]

54% of the vote went to Humas.

so 45% of Gazan's are against Humas.

Were against Humas....

[Manchurian]

But over 90% love hummus.

[research]

me too.

[Morocco]

Israel use state terrorism to prevent any final peaceful solution to the native people of Palestine.
Israel want to keep occupying land that was never part of the state of Israel legally. Israeli occupation of the native people is maintained by organize state terrorism.
No one could NOT change his mind unless he has no mind. Occupying other people by force is losing policy in the past and now and has no future.

[Michale32086]

Please cite Israel's alleged terrorist acts. Please be specific..

Thank you..

Michale.....

[vinny]

how about the blockade? how about the Nov 4 incursion?

[wandering girl]

Wounded Knee. that gives me the right to defend Hamas.

[Michale32086]

Why would you want to defend terrorists???

Michale.....

[demandfortruth]

so how could you defend israel's actions?

[Morocco]

She didn't say she'll defend Israel!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!

[Michale32086]

The one overriding fact is that HAMAS is a terrorist organization..

The one fact that overrides THAT fact is that NOTHING justifies terrorism..

Given these two indisputable facts, I simply cannot understand how anyone can support Hamas...

Michale.....

[Paul]

The Gazans support Hamas.

Gazans see Hamas as defending Gaza from Israel and later, when Israel is forced to withdraw, as rebuilders of Gaza.

Hamas is a terrorist organization and achieves this support from the citizens of Gaza because supporting Hamas is the most militant expression they can make against the state that is bombing them (Israel).

If Israel started dropping microwave ovens and big screen TVs on Gaza, support for Hamas would dry up.

But israel fully expects that military action against Gaza will result in Gazans turning against Hamas.

In a previous post, you stated that Gazans were gathering on the rooftops of Hamas leaders to shield them from airstrikes. Why would they do that if the Israeli policy is working so well?

[kentonstubbs]

I'm curious . . . can someone explain to me when Israel bombed Gaza from the time they withdrew from Gaza in '06 to the time they started the blockade after Hamas routed Fatah to the present??

From what I've found, there are a few occasions Israel attacked militants who were building tunnels toward Israeli territory and some naval skirmishes (not the right word here). But there is much documented information on the amount of rockets/mortars fired from Gaza to Israel. The information I've found shows that it has progressed steadily over the last few years with over 3000 being sent this year alone prior to the invasion.

So, can someone correct me on the confusing information I get from various sources?? Did Israel leave Gaza then continually attack it or not? Did Gaza fire all of those rockets or not?

Thanks.

[Fireslayer]

But the IDF is a wholesale terrorist organization.

Hamas is a retail terrorist organization.

Hamas rockets occasionally kill indicriminately.

IDF just bombed a school, intentionally killing 40 innocents to catch a few people firing rifles at an invading force which is what most of us would do against violent intruders.

The vast majority of the world's people are now condeming the Israeli war machine- including hundreds of thousands in Israel.. ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!!! Cease fire now!

[dianora1981]

Mr. Quigg, with respect, I am glad that Winston Churchill did not shut up during World War II.

[SiberianRat]

Thanks, David, for an interesting post. It's funny how Rosenbaum and those like him don't see themselves as the flip-side of the Hamas coin. Both want to erase the other. One thing for sure is that Israel, in this instance, has grossly exaggerated the true military threat Hamas has over Israel--this is preemptive strategy a la Bush. Moreover, the translation of the Hadith may or may not be accurate, just as biblical translations from Aramaic and Greek are also questionable. Finally, the Torah, Bible, and Quran (and accompanying Hadiths) all have loads of contradictory content so for one book-based religion to attack another book-based religion is stupid, no matter whose book we're talking about. To me, the choosing of sides, so to speak, is a moral one, and right now, my moral compass points to compassion for Palestinians who are suffering terribly right now under Israel. If Israel had followed international law by tearing down their wall, pulling back to the 1967 borders (per UN resolutions), and allowed Palestine to become a viable, sovereign state, I might feel a bit more ambivalent.

[Noviceboy]

How have they exaggerated the Hamas threat? Isn't half of the area of the country, 1 tenth of the population, being in missile range, plus the only nuclear power plant, being in missile range, and having missiles raining down on those areas... isn't that a threat? If that is not a threat to a nation's security, then please enlighten me as to what is.

Also, you never responded to my comment on Afghanistan. What are your thoughts on US disproportional responses in that country?

[phute]

Israel doesn't have a nuclear plant per se.
It does however have storage facilities for its nuclear weapons - is that what you meant by nuclear plant.
And this threat to Israels security from missiles raining down - it's just an excuse to embark on a violent incursion into the Gaza Strip. These missiles just cannot amount to the threat you would have us believe. And if they are such a threat then it makes Israel rather pathetic don't you think?

Re Afghanistan - current events in Gaza will - in my opinion - have a dreadful impact on the siuation faced by troops there. Many more will die for nothing.

[kentonstubbs]

I'm sitting in Israel watching a French news station and seeing militant islamic leaders call for the death of all Jews around the world. I look up this reference on the net and find this same ideology going back years and years.

I guess in this case it's the right thing for Israel to give up more of their "occupied" land so that these people can accomplish their aims.

One thing can be said for certain: Religion makes people crazy. Or is it that crazy people embrace religion??

[Noviceboy]

You wrote an interesting blog post. I agree that intentions are not the only factor in determining how hard to attack an enemy. If there was a guy living in a city who hated Jews (or anyone for that matter) to the extreme, it would of course be wrong to destroy all of that city. Naturally.

I guess my question for all the people condemning Israel (and completely forgetting about... what's that place called... Dar... something...?) what would they want the US to do in the event that their cities were being bombarded by rockets? Would Americans prefer that the US take the painstaking time to only arrest and try those exact specific people responsible even if that means taking 20 years, or would they want a rush attack, killing thousands?

The approval rating for Bush after a massive invasion and bombing of Afghanistan that killed multitudes of people suggests the latter.

[bbrecht]

Holding up Bush as the model for foreign policy is not very good support for your argument. You might recall that he is the most unpopular president ever, and also that he has led failed policies in Iraq, Afghanistan and also Israel/ Palestine. But for the grace of god, he will step out of office before more damage is done.

As I've hear it said about the six day war, the first six days are easy....