I despair at Israel sometimes

[AndHarry]

Well, often really. I have family out there who have a bomb shelter in their house and have had to evacuate for weeks at a time so I have great sympathy for ordinary Israelis trying to go about their lives. What happened to 3 sch

[Backinthering]

Peachy you are right about why more blame isn't laid at the door of the US. They bankroll Israel to the tune of a third of their foreign aid budget, and support them politically. Hence Israel gets to act with impunity.
In the face of US support, the UN is toothless.
Hamas... I am not an apologist for them but they did receive the majority vote in Gaza. And those people are in a desperate, awful situation so I can understand them voting that way.
Israel has all the power, the Palestinians none. It's up to Israel to offer a compromise that will stop this bloodshed and allow the Palestinians to live decent lives.
I personally believe a one state solution is the only way but sadly that seems further off than ever.

[winkywinkola]

Those young boys were buried in Fatah shrouds. That is a very big and daring statement.

[Springheeled]

I don't know enough about Hamas but I gather that there are moderates and extremists within it and that the last year had been one in which the more moderate wing were gaining control, providing a greater opportunity for peace talks: I don't know how true that is? If it is, this is an even greater disaster and, if I were a conspiracy theorist, I would wonder about the kidnappings.
Who does not want a peaceful solution? Well, certainly the weapons manufacturers! I'm not sure who else.
It is sinister indeed that, to my knowledge, only Chile has spoken out against Israel this week: is it really the case that every other nation is in support? What kind of world is that for all our children?

[wordsmithsforever]

South Africa/the ANC sent a very strong statement - sorry can't find the link right now and in rush out door but there has been a lot of debate/upset in the Jewish community here about its wording - I think they linked the statement to the Holocaust - will try to find it when I get back. Also huge protest here yesterday - looked very peaceful though.

[Chipstick10]

Jon snow on chanel four news last night couldn't contain his anger with an Israeli spokesperson

[MrsMaturin]

That Hamas is wrong does not make Israel right.

[AndHarry]

Jon Snow is an absolute diamond. His autobiography Shooting History is well worth a read if anyone's interested in reading about less well-known parts of the world.

I haven't seen anyone supporting Hamas' rocket attacks here. There are certainly reasons for them but no one saying they're doing the right thing, unless I've misread or forgotten something.

I am so shocked at those boys' deaths yesterday. It reminded me of one of the websites linked to here, with Israeli soldiers giving accounts of their time serving in Gaza and one of them saying that it was like a video game. Yesterday seemed like that: the person doing the shelling completely detatching from the fact that the target was little kids, not baddies on his Xbox.

[Numanoid]

And if they and most of the other Arab states could kill all Jews, they would. Damn right they would.

I don't think either side launching missiles and killing innocents is right but that is quite the sweeping generalisation.

[Numanoid]

I like Jon Snow too, even more now!

[AndHarry]

I've written to my MP this morning. Who knows if it will do any good but something had to be said. This is what I wrote:

Dear xxxx,

I am one of your constituents. I'd like to register my opinion with regards to David Cameron's phone call on the 9th July with Prime Minister Netanyahu, in which he "condemned the appalling attacks being carried out by Hamas against Israeli civilians... [and] reiterated the UKs staunch support for Israel in the face of such attacks, and underlined Israels right to defend itself from them."

Hamas is wrong to launch rockets at the civilian population in Israel. Israel is equally wrong to target civilian homes, hospitals and refugee camps in its response. It's difficult for me to say just how horrified I am at the shocking death rate, where the UN estimates that 77% of casualties are civilians, among them tiny children, the elderly and the disabled who have no option to leave their homes. I'm sure you will have seen the news yesterday where 4 small boys were shelled as they played by the sea, the shell that killed them having been deliberately recalibrated to hit them as they ran for safety.

Part of my family is Israeli. They also condemn the Israeli government's response and hope for a future where Palestinians and Israelis can live peacefully side by side, respecting one another as individuals and communities.

I haven't seen any comments from you about the current conflict. I hope that you will consider whether the UK government is wrong in its support for Israel's bombing campaign and if so, that you will be vocal in condemning David Cameron's response.

Best regards,

xxxx

[KareninsGirl]

Something positive.

www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4544971,00.html

[AndHarry]

That is very positive. I think it's initiatives like that that will bring peace in the end. They need a lot more encouragement!

[TheHoneyBadger]

did any of the israeli apologists give their opinion of the murder of those boys on the beach?

[cleanmean]

Andharry that is a great letter. Do you mind if I use some of it to send my MP?

Jon snow was fantastic and Regev came across as cold calculating uncaring and indiscriminate. Much like the israeli regime.

More disturbing than the financial support that the US gives Israel is the fact that it is complicit in and condones the actions of israel. I have spoken to many jews this week who were totally in support of Israel and who have now seen the reality of the brutality. This is a turning point. Israel can control the world's media but it cannot control social media.

The opinions within israel are also changing. I have family there who are appalled that they themselves can download an app to tell them if a strike is imminent and it's location, but the palestinians are warned by a bomb.

There is also a growing belief in Israel that the 3 teens were not killed by Hamas who are always quick to put their name to killings. Let's hope this latest war will lead to many apologists questioning the loyalty to a brutal regime.

And I agree, more initiatives to bring people together. Those innocent families within israel and palestine know better than anyone what they lived through these last 60 years. They can help each other heal. I hope.

[Yruapita]

andharry do you mind if i copy that letter (most of it, as i dont have family in Israel) and send it to my MP too? It would be interesting to come back and let everyone know what response we get. Maybe us mums can make our government spring into action - i dont know.

Also, would you be happy to start another thread (part 2) as Palestinians are still suffering and this thread has given me hope, learning about the good work being done by some israelis.

I also am a Jon Snow fan.

[wordsmithsforever]

That Netanyahu facebook page is very worrying. It is exactly how I was brainwashed as a child - even our school textbooks were carefully crafted to make sure we remained terrified of the 'swart gevaar' - literally, the 'black danger'. Israelis are being manipulated by a far right wing government agenda that tells me there is no alternative to war.

[wordsmithsforever]

Sorry an agenda that tells them there is no alternative to war. My only hope is that social media means news is less controlled than ever before and people will learn to think for themselves.

[Yruapita]

wordsmith it has been really good hearing about your experiences and your contribution to the fight for justice in South Africa. I am also trying to find the ANC statement. When you get the time and if you find it. Please could you provide a link?

[AndHarry]

Anyone's welcome to copy & paste the relevant bits of my email to use as they like.

I'll definitely start a part 2 later on today and post the link here.

[AndHarry]

The new thread is here.

[Numanoid]

That Netanyahu facebook page is very worrying.

wordsmith I have seen it too, it is scary, the man sounds as if he's completely lost his mind. So much talk of there being no alternative but to destroy Gaza, etc. It's also worrying how many comments on his posts are in support of him, I've yet to see a negative one on his page (although they may well be moderated and quickly deleted).

[Wannabestepfordwife]

I've had to read Netanyahu's Facebook and I'm in agreement he seems to be in the midst of some sort of episode.

[Bambambini]

Does anyone have a link to Netanyahu's FB page, please?

[Numanoid]

It's //www.facebook.com/Netanyahu

[edamsavestheday]

I think he is trying to destroy Gaza right now. He'd like nothing more than to exterminate the Palestinians. That's what his words and his actions make clear.