Critical Eye

CNN had a surprisingly fair and mostly balanced piece on what's happening in Gaza tonight. I was impressed. What I am not impressed with is the quickness with which people, the media, organizations, etc. are ready to abandon Israel and paint the Israeli government as either an evil empire that submits an entire population to collective punishment, or a weak government that  can't keep its' own residents safe. When the Gaza power plant decided to shut down, did it also turn off the lights to the world's critical eye?

The first group of people who need to turn their critical eyes back on is the mainstream media and everyone who depends on them for their news. Did you know that Israel has NOT cut off the electricity to Gaza? Its all a farce that Hamas has cooked up to create panic!? And it is most certainly working! The spin that all the major newspapers in the States is that big bad Israel is cutting off Gaza. And while it is true that the border crossings have been closed, Israel is being very careful not allow a humanitarian crisis to emerge - at least outside of the city of S'derot, which is the one that they are trying to prevent.

Additionally, you may have heard of the buildings that have been destroyed and people who were killed. What impressed me most was that the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) destroyed one of Hamas's head-quarters...WHEN IT WAS EMPTY. The goal wasn't to kill people, the goal was to stop their killing of people. 

The second group of people who need to turn their critical eyes back on are the very well meaning American Jews who view Israel's children as in mortal danger just by being in the country. I would agree that they are in mortal danger while living in S'derot. And even if they aren't killed (which I pray that they aren't!), they are most certainly doomed to live in fear and to suffer the effects of post-traumatic-stress-syndrome. The answer is NOT to send them to the United States. The answer IS to give money to set up organizations that will provide psychological counseling inside of Israel but outside of S'derot. The answer is to get them out of the war zone but to not let them think that Israel can't take care of them - because she can.

And the final group of people who need to turn their critical eyes back on is the rest of the world. S'derot has lived under a barrage of rocket attacks for the past seven years, or so. Israel has been very very patient and blatantly turned a blind eye to the daily torture that Gaza militants have poured on them. It is time for that bullying and harassment to stop. And while I respect the right of the Gaza civilians to live in peace, until the people that they fund, support, house, and hide stop trying to murder the people of S'derot, I will support the Israeli government's attempts to stop that murder .

Comments

[Gila]

Hi Rachel,

First--well written piece--will try to look up the CNN coverage on the web. I am now quite curious.

Second--thanks for the shout out about my blog! :)

Third--if you ever in Tel Aviv--be in touch!

Gila