Is Mayor Bloomberg Running for President of Israel?

Mayor Bloomberg's rush to travel to Israel in a show of solidarity makes one wonder if he has decided to leave the US and run for president over there. After all he has hopped political parties, why not countries?

He and many other US leaders are showing unconditional support of Israel's military actions despite their knowledge about the brutality of war. You would think after a lifetime of hostilities in Israel and the US's Iraq debacle both would be doing everything in their power to think beyond it.

After the Mayor returned from his trip, he was asked about his reasons for going. "Israel's fight is our fight," he told the waiting journalists.

Well, Mr. Mayor, with all due respect Israel's fight is not 'our' fight. In fact, according to a recent Rasmussen poll, Americans "are closely divided over whether the Jewish state should be taking military action against militants in the Gaza Strip" (44-41%, with 15% undecided), but Democratic voters overwhelmingly oppose the Israeli offensive -- by a 24-point margin (31-55%)." Truthfully it would be appreciated if our representatives would take into account opposing opinions when it comes to US policy, especially in the Middle East.

In the words of General William Sherman who served in the American Civil War, "I am tired and sick of war. Its glory is all moonshine. It is only those who have neither fired a shot nor heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded who cry aloud for blood, for vengeance, for desolation. War is hell." It would serve us all well to pay attention to the General's insight before concluding battle is the answer.

There is no doubt that the Israelis and Palestinians have a long history of fighting and mistrust. One can go back centuries and blame. The latest carnage though begs us all to question whether we should hang on to the past or develop the courage to make an alternate reality. Staying on the same path will yield certain death and destruction.

Within this context both parties must realize that they are partners. Both parties undeniably have the right to exist. This means that they both need equal rights and equal treatment. It is not ok to just think about security for Israel without security for Palestinians.

For now though some quick steps must be taken.

First and foremost, all parties must stop firing weapons. Outsiders must help. Parties who are at war seldom see clearly. General Jones suggested outside troops to assist in security so why not get them there. Then they can blockade incoming weapons while allowing necessary medicines and food to get through.

Second, all parties must start talking. This means Likud, Labor, Kadima, Hamas and Fatah as well as all other factions and groups. Just like Ireland.

Partial peace does not work. Besides, the Palestinians did elect Hamas freely and democratically as their government. How are they supposed to be a democracy if no one is willing to allow it.

Third, there must be an understanding that the peace process is a two 'nation' solution. Both Israelis and Palestinians need to participate equally and to the fullest. There must be clear negotiation and milestones. All financial and military aid to either party must halt until these milestones are met and these parties finally understand that they are cohorts and neighbors who must co-exist. Until then the situation will not change and children will continue to die.

The most recent explosion of violence tells us all that we do not have time to mull over who did what last year or a decade ago. Weapons must be put down now. In just seven days, over five hundred Palestinians are dead - 111 of them children - and the wounded are rising 2500 and counting. Israel reports that five are dead with random rocket fire continuing. Men, women and children are traumatized and anger is mounting.

So Mr. Mayor, I, for one, do not believe war works. Therefore I do not support it in this case or any other for that matter. Our addiction to combat allows us to deceive ourselves into thinking that hurting others brings security and peace. If bombing people into submission were the ultimate response, this conflict and many others would have been over long ago. Furthermore, based on the world's warring history, all nations would be free of poisonous weapons.

Comments

[wml209]

I vote instead of a 3rd term for Bloomberg, that he return to Israel to stay! He won't get my vote in NYC!!!
Israel shells 2 UN schools, a clearly marked UN aid truck & now UN headqurters!?! WTF, No one was shooting from any of these sites, NONE!!

4 too many Israeli "Oops, We're so sorry" Let alone the 1000 dead Palestinians vs. 20 dead Israelis!

[joecash]

Couldn't he at least show some concern for the Palestinian civilians killed - and not because he is Mayor, but because he is a human being.

[alexa07]

I saw vids of him examining with moral indignation & grave concern a concrete driveway that had suffered some minor damage somewhere in Israel. He missed the more than 700 dead bodies in Gaza! He wants to continue the abuse of how our American aircraft, armaments & monies, both directly from Congress & tax-free charities are emboldening Israel. Not for this taxpayer or my family & friends!

[scolando]

Here's the problem with argument that we should respect the democratic election of Hamas. First, while Hamas may have taken power in a relatively free election, their conduct after that election (namely killing or expelling political rivals) have shown them to be anything but democratically inclined. The parallels you try to draw to N. Ireland fail here precisely because while Sinn Fein tried to seek political legitimacy apart from the IRA, there are no equally distinguishable components to Hamas- with them it's all about armed struggle, it's essentially dealing with the IRA alone (to extend the analogy), the difference again being that the IRA's interest wasn't in killing every last Briton.

[wml209]

It's OK when Israel, "unprovoked" bombs Syria or continually threatens to bomb Iran because they are (proven not) building a bomb? Please don't bother responding with proven false zionist talking points.Israel should start by declaring their nuclear arsenal, instead of just... being... hypocrites!!
Go drop some more white phosphorous acid bombs on a civilian population!

Israel, a Democracy!?! That's not even funny...

http://zope.gush-shalom.org/home/en/channels/downloads/democracy_flash/democracy_eng.swf

[SiberianRat]

Bloomy is yet another example of a clueless, grandstanding, self-important politician. Yuck.

[GrainOSand]

You made it plain.

[Stirner]

Perhaps the Mayor might choose to remain in Israel?

[chaos4700]

He'd certainly be doing us a favor. It's too early to say but I think maybe Bloomberg has sunk his political career by tying himself to Israel's atrocities. The world is not going to stand for the militancy of Israel and the US for much longer.

[Rog49Thomas]

If you have to ask why he's there, it would appear you know very little about US politics.

[MichaelR]

Encourage what alternative? It amazes me that Israel is blamed for the deaths of Palestinian children when Hamas, the duly elected government of Gaza (who shot Fatah supporters in the legs when the fighting started to assure they would not try to regain control) repeatedly fires rockets into Israel TRYING to kill civilians. Olmert virtually begged Hamas to stop firing an ever increasing number of rockets when the "cease fire" recently ended, but Hamas refused to stop and forced Israel (like any country in the world would do) to take matters into their own hands and route out the Hamas terrorists who have vowed to destroy the Israeli state and have rejected any negotiations on the issue. Where do the terrorists hide? Amongst civilians. Where do the terrorists store their weapons? In Mosques and schools. Hamas knows they cannot win on the battle field, but they know they have supporters like Ms. Degennaro who are easily duped by their tactics (which is to maximize Palestinian civilian casualties) to try to isolate Israel in world opinion. Thank you Mr. Bloomberg for going to Israel to show your support.

[chaos4700]

Trying to kill civilians, huh? Those rockets almost never even wound anyone, let alone kill. It's a war crime certainly, since Hamas is taking no effort to avoid civilian casualties but Israel has violated that many, many times over now. The Rome Statute does /not/ give /any/ country the excuse to target civilian buildings.