While Gaza Burns, the World Watches

As of this writing, US-supplied F-16I fighters and helicopter gunships continue to pound Gaza with bombs and missiles. Israeli ground forces appear poised to invade Gaza, unless Israel heeds world calls for a truce.

In the North American press version of events, we are told evil Hamas Islamic terrorists backed by Iran are raining deadly rockets on Israel with the intent of destroying the Jewish state. Israel, goes the mantra heard from our politicians and the media, 'has the right to defend herself.'

True enough. No Israeli government can tolerate rockets hitting its towns. Twenty four Israelis have died from these rockets over the past decade. The firing of these mostly feeble, home-made rockets by Palestinians is both useless and counter-productive: it damages their image as an oppressed people, enrages the Israelis, and gives their right wing extremists a perfect reason to launch more attacks on the Arabs and refuse to discuss peace.

Israel has the absolute right to drop hundreds of tons of bombs on `Hamas targets' inside the 216 sq mile Gaza Strip to 'take out the terrorists,' its supporters insist -- which is like shooting fish in a barrel. Civilians must suffer, says Israel, because the cowardly Hamas hide among them.

But, as usual, this cartoon-like version of events omits a great deal of detail and background.

The reformist Islamic movement Hamas, let us recall, won the Arab world's first real democratic elections there in 2006. Horrified that its stooges in the corrupt, US and Israeli-backed PLO/Fatah led by Mahmoud Abbas were routed, Israel and the US imposed a punishing blockade on Gaza aimed at starving its people into rejecting Hamas and accepting the puppet Fatah.

According to the UN, most of Gaza's 1.5 million Palestinian refugees subsist near the edge of hunger. Seventy percent of Palestinian children in Gaza suffer from severe malnutrition. Medical facilities are critically short of personnel and drugs. Gaza has quite literally become a human garbage dump for all the Arabs Israel did not want.

Gaza is one of the world's most densely populated places, a vast outdoor prison camp filled with desperate people. In the past, they threw stones at their Israeli occupiers; now they launch home-made rockets. Call it a prison riot, writ large.

In January, 2006, Israel began 'anti-terrorist' attacks and raids on Gaza in an effort to overthrow Hamas. Palestinians retaliated by rocket fire. In June, 2008, a cease-fire was brokered. But the skirmishing continued as Hamas fired rockets to protest Israel's failure to lift the punishing blockage. Firing rockets at civilians is a crime. But so, too, is the blockade, which was an egregious violation of international law and the Geneva Conventions. The western powers backed the blockade to bring Palestinians to their knees.

From 2006 to December of 2008, over 1,000 Palestinians were killed by Israeli bombing, attack helicopters, tank fire and ground attacks. That was before the current crisis in which well over 2,000 more have so far been killed and wounded. Israel, as of this writing, claims four dead from rocket fire. Whatever happened to the Old Testament's 'an eye for an eye?' Israel's new ration appears to be 500 to one.

The so-called truce expired just as Israel headed into an early election. Israeli politics are playing a key role in this crisis. Labor Party leader, Ehud Barak, and Kadima leader, Tzipi Livini, are trying to prove themselves tougher than Bibi Netanyahu's hard-line Likud Party. Israel's elections are only six weeks away, and Likud was leading until the air assault on Gaza. Kadima and Labor are now up in the polls.

The heavy attacks on Gaza are also designed to intimidate Israel's Arab neighbors, and make up for Israel's humiliating 2006 defeat in Lebanon, which still hangs over the Israel's politicians and generals.

As the current attacks began, Israel's Defense Minister, Ehud Barak, asserted, 'We have totally changed the rules of the game.'

He was right. By blitzing Hamas-run Gaza, Barak presented the incoming US administration with a fait accompli, and neatly checkmated the newest player in the Mideast Great Game -- that other 'Barack,' Barack Obama -- before he could even take a seat at the table.

Israel's siege of Gaza looks likely to short-circuit any plans Barack Obama might have had to press Israel into withdrawing to its pre-1967 War borders and sharing Jerusalem. It also puts paid to the current Saudi peace plan, backed by all members of the Arab League, that called for Israel to withdraw to its 1967 borders and share Jerusalem in exchange for full recognition from the Muslim world and normalized relations.

Israel's security establishment remains dead set against allowing a viable Palestinian state, and refuses to negotiate with hated Hamas. Unable to kill all of Hamas' men, Israel is slowly destroying Gaza's infrastructure around them, as it did to Yasser Arafat's PLO.

Israel is confident its mighty information machine will allow it to weather the storm of worldwide outrage over its Biblical punishment of Gaza. Who remembers Israel's flattening of parts of the Palestinian city of Jenin, or the US destruction in Fallujah, Iraq, or the Shatilla and Sabra massacres?

Though the torment of Gaza was seen across the horrified Muslim world as a modern version of the WWII Warsaw Ghetto uprising, western governments took no action. In his last act of criminal folly, America's outgoing president, George W. Bush, cheered Israel's attack on Gaza.

Though Israel's use of American weapons against Gaza violates the US Arms Export Control and Foreign Assistance Acts, the docile US Congress will remain mute. Israel's assault on Gaza was clearly timed for America's interregnum and the year-end holidays, a well-used Israeli tactic.

Hamas, the militant but still democratically elected government of Gaza, is even less likely to compromise.

Hamas refuses to recognize Israel as long as Israel refuses to recognize Hamas and the rights of millions of homeless Palestinian refugees. It calls for a non-religious state to be created in Palestine, meaning an end to Zionism. Ironically, the founder and late leader of Hamas, Sheik Ahmed Yassin, had spoken of a compromise with Israel shortly before he was assassinated by Israel in 2004.

Israel's hopes that it can bomb Gazans into rejecting Hamas are as ill-conceived as its attempt in 2006 to blast Lebanon into rejecting Hezbullah, which backfired badly.

The lapdog Fatah regime on the West Bank installed by the US and Israel after Yasser Arafat was likely murdered, will be further discredited, leaving the militants of Hamas as the sole authentic voice of Palestinian nationalism.

The Muslim world is in a rage. But so what? As Stalin liked to say, "the dogs bark, and the caravan moves on." As long as the US gives Israel carte blanche, it can do just about anything it wants. Let the dogs bark.

Obama inherits this mess in a few weeks. During the elections, Obama bowed low to the Israel lobby, offering a new US carte blanche to Israel and even accepting Israel's permanent monopoly on all of Jerusalem. His Mideast team looks like it may be top heavy with friends of Israel's Labor Party. Chances Obama will make any progress towards a real Mideast peace seem dim at this point.

The tragedy of Palestine will thus continue to poison America's relations with the Muslim world. Those Americans who still do not understand why their nation was attacked on 9/11 need only look to Gaza, for which America is now being blamed as much as Israel.

Unless Israel can make five to seven million Palestinians disappear, it must find some way to co-exist with them. Israeli leaders on the center and right continue to avoid facing this fact. The brutal collective punishment inflicted on Gaza will likely strengthen Hamas and set back hopes of any Mideast peace by years.

Comments

[rmle]

as an american living in germany during the 80's and 90's, i often wondered how the german people could have accepted the persecution of and attempts to exterminate the jewish race. i wondered about the organization of thought in the minds of those who passively accepted the actions of their government.

living now in the u.s. , and watching the the mental, moral , and logical contortions of the politicians, journalists, bloggers, and commentators regarding the israeli treatment of the palastinians in gaza, i feel i am much closer to understanding the mechanisims and processes involved in the acceptance,and even the praise of inhumanity.

i have great respect for mr margolis for exhibiting the knowledge, interest , and courage to write truthfully about this tradgedy.

[oxi]

"The reformist Islamic movement Hamas, let us recall, won the Arab world's first real democratic elections there in 2006. Horrified that its stooges in the corrupt, US and Israeli-backed PLO/Fatah led by Mahmoud Abbas were routed, Israel and the US imposed a punishing blockade on Gaza aimed at starving its people into rejecting Hamas and accepting the puppet Fatah."

So I guess democracy does not work anymore, what does the U.S. want? Make up your mind, geesh!!!

[Michale32086]

Let us recall the facts..

HAMAS won a majority as REPRESENTATIVES....

They staged a bloody coup to wrest control of Gaza from Fatah that resulted in the deaths of over 1500 Palestinians..

They are NOT the legitimate leaders in Gaza..

These are the facts....

Michale.....

[oxi]

Majority how small it may be means they hold the power even with a coalition government!

Hamas was created by the Mossad to rival the PLO and let's face it, Eric is right when he states the U.S. backed Fatah lost which embarassed the U.S. and this is the result!

Just like how the U.S. tobbled the democratic regime in Iran to where the U.S. supported them hence why Iran today still has U.S. F-14's...

Just like how the U.S. supported Saddam even when they knew he was gassing Kurds...

Just like how the U.S. supported the Taliban...

Just like how the U.S. supported the KLA terrorists in Kosovo...

Just like how the U.S. supported a military dictatorship in Greece over democracy back in the 60's...

Just like how the U.S. supported a military dictatorship in Pakistan back in 2001 over democracy...

[alexa07]

Again, this continues to be my lucky day! I found a letter that arrived a few days ago offering my family a subscription to the New York Times, 50% off for the first 8 weeks of delivery. I have responded in writing to them:

My family strongly disagrees with & is morally offended by the coverage of the NYT of the Israeli atrocities in Gaza. We would NOT accept a subscription from you even if it were free. We do not want your newspaper in our home.

[mchammer]

Regarding the disproportionate retaliation, this is not some sports event where the sides have to be even so that it is "fair" . The Hamas were targeting Israeli civilians for 8 years now and Israel has not only the right, but the obligation, to directly defend its citizens with all its power, even more than the US has the right to hunt down terrorists in Afghanistan that are not actively shelling American tons.

An eye for an eye, or a rocket for a rocket, certainly will not have any effect on the Hamas who seem to value the lives of their own people no more than they value the lives of Israelis. This is religious fanaticism being dealt with.

In fact, had the sides been comparable in power, it is doubtful Israel would have still existed now.
There is a deeper asymmetry to this conflict than the asymmetry in military might.
Israel has never aimed to annihilate the other side, just to defend its own right to exist.
The Hamas, as other Arab countries and organizations (not all at the same time) have aimed to annihilate Israel.
Israel's wrongdoing in the eyes of the Hamas is the fact that it exists.

[commonsense30]

Logical arguements are not allowed here....

[quetafortruth]

Many are protesting this slaughtered being aired with no shame.

"Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world.
For indeed, that's all who ever have." - Margaret Mead.

[alexa07]

As luck would have it not only did my family receive a phone call yesterday from a Democratic fund-raiser, we also received in the mail today a letter from the DNC, also requesting further donations & providing us with a very nice plastic ID card. We indicated to the caller yesterday our unwillingness to support the Democratic Party because of the Pelosi, Reid stands on Israel. In response to this new request, this is the message from my family I am sending back to the DNC: "As Americans we are deeply ashamed of how our leaders have emboldened the Israelis to commit atrocities in Gaza with our aircraft & armaments. Pelosi, Reid & other Dems have made statements in support of Israel that are morally offensive to us. we won't support their actions or statements with donations."

[unwashedmasses]

I think you ought to have a look at the Huffington Post from November 11th to genuinely gauge the trouble Barack Obama has placed himself in:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeff-gates/rahm-emanuel-barack-obama_b_142837.html

If I had know Obama would have mixed it up with Emanuel, I would not have voted for him.To me, this is indicative of how green Obama is, and the trouble he is already facing is part of the US Congess meeting him at the front door. GOOD for them, finally!

[SilviaMaria]

I completely agree with your post. Israel is trying to control the PR war but it is not working as well because there is something called Internet, we can check the news and see other side of the issues, and we do not like what we see. There is a lot of misinformation regarding the whole conflict; nobody seemed to know that there have been a blockade for over 2 years, and Palestinians are saying enough.

News outlets are forgetting about the political election background that would explain the disproportionate attack.

Just put yourselves in the other shoe and see how it feels to be humiliated every single day, you are supposed to be in your land, but have no rights.

"Unless Israel can make five to seven million Palestinians disappear, it must find some way to co-exist with them." My solution to this conflict is simple: Just one state where Christians Palestinians (we tend to forget that many Palestinians are Christians) and Arab Palestinians have the same rights regarding everything than the Israelis; the state should be non-confessional, separation of State and Church; everybody is free to worship their God in their homes and religions places,; no discrimination..... it is called liberal democracy.

[SiberianRat]

I think it's a great idea--Israel doesn't, however. Israel refuses to have a state without an overwhelming Jewish majority.

For more on the PR vs. reality, check this out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IopjMpu9aVo

[Michale32086]

More PR..

Where's the reality???

Michale.....

[slarabee]

I too am one of those American's that is increasingly disappointed in Israel's actions. I have contacted my reps and senators letting them know that I do not support continuing to fund Israel as they violate our laws and international law.

[Michale32086]

Israel's actions are fully supported by International law..

Although mistakes have been made (it IS war, after all) Israel's actions are fully within purview and the bounds of the Geneva Conventions and the International Criminal Courts..

Michale.....

[SiberianRat]

Says the all-knowing Michale. MANY others (not just posters on here) disagree.

[Equator180]

Sir, this is perhaps the most honest and relivant piece of writing on this issue that I have read in years. I am not in the U.S. and often wonder how the people there can go along with what is being done in Gaza. Do they not see what the rest of the world sees? I concur with fully with your writing and look forward to future post of your work.

[SiberianRat]

Some of us do see, and we're working hard to open the eyes of others.

[alexa07]

An increasingly number of Americans are fed up with the Israeli actions. You won't hear about them if you read New York Times or watch Cooper Anderson on CNN. The International CNN seems only slightly less biased, but compared to what Americans see here, is better. I recommend you check out Democracy New online & Link TV Mosaic. I recently have discovered Euro News, a different view too.

[gageeandbaba]

They learned from US is what they've done. Please, FORCE your way onto the television. Seriously, force yourself on them and Forcefully debate.

[SiberianRat]

Yes!

[TIME]

Obama has consistently stated his support for Israel and his determination that Iran will not have an atomic weapon. So nothing much will change on the U.S. part, of allowing Israel to do what it wants.

I could have more sympathy for the Palestinians if they proved to me that they were more interested in creating a State for themselves, rather than wiping Israel off the face of the Earth (totally unacceptable). Electing terrorists to be their government, is not a sign that their priority is creating a State.

America (and the World) are tired of this fighting. They sigh and switch off the news, not wanting to see the dead bodies, or hear about the injustices. Everyone would like to see a peaceful solution, but History tells them that even if their is a peace pact, it's only a matter of time before they start killing each other again.

I doubt it was a surprise (in 1948) that creating a State of Israel would also create a long term problem with the Arabs. I wonder what would have happened to the Jews, if the World had not voted to create the State of Israel in 1948. I'm sure that question crossed everyone's mind when they did vote to create Israel.

[alexa07]

More than once, I have contacted Obama, my Congress officials, etc., about my views regarding the abuse by the Israeli govt of Congress-a­ppropriate­d monies, tax-free charitable donations, armaments, aircraft et al. I also had the pleasure of talking to a Demo. fund raiser who just incidently TODAY called my family about making yet another donation to the Dems. We said no thanks because of the shameful & decidedly nauseating comments made by Pelosi, Reid & other Dems in support of the current Israeli actions in Gaza.

[SiberianRat]

Great! Keep calling, keep writing, keep speaking out!

[Mykel]

God bless Eric Margolis.