Gideon Levy writes a powerful article in Ha'aretz on how Israel's leadership has gone off the deep end. I agree with everything he says, and it echoes Peter Beinart's fear that liberal Zionism exists "only in memories." I really think that years of playing God in the occupied territories has given the Israeli military a false sense of what will fly in the international arena. At the end of the day, this is a Turkish ship in international waters, a member of NATO. What the hell were you thinking?
In a way, this kind of thing had to happen, and in the long-term, hopefully it can increase the chances for peace by forcing a correction in Israel's path towards a policy based on reality. Hamas isn't going anywhere, while the blockade is both a moral outrage and a strategic failure.
But in the meantime, this is an unmitigated disaster that will bring diplomatic isolation and perhaps even sanctions and court cases. Stopping Iran's nuclear program just got a thousand times harder, while pressure will be on Israel to denuclearize. Netanyahu, if he has any honor, should resign.
- Jon
Click "read more" for the money excerpt of the article-->
In a way, this kind of thing had to happen, and in the long-term, hopefully it can increase the chances for peace by forcing a correction in Israel's path towards a policy based on reality. Hamas isn't going anywhere, while the blockade is both a moral outrage and a strategic failure.
But in the meantime, this is an unmitigated disaster that will bring diplomatic isolation and perhaps even sanctions and court cases. Stopping Iran's nuclear program just got a thousand times harder, while pressure will be on Israel to denuclearize. Netanyahu, if he has any honor, should resign.
- Jon
Click "read more" for the money excerpt of the article-->
…Israel embarked yesterday on a mini Operation Cast Lead [2009 Invasion of Gaza]. Like its larger, losing predecessor, this operation had it all: the usual false claim that is was they who had started it - and not the landing of commandos from helicopters on a ship in open sea, away from Israeli territorial waters.
There was the claim that the first act of violence came not from the soldiers, but the rioting activists on Mavi Marmara; that the blockade on Gaza is legal and that the flotilla to its shores is against the law - God knows which law.
Again came the claim of self defense, that "they lynched us" and that all the dead are on their side. Once more the use of violence and excessive and lethal force was in play and once more civilians wound up dead. …Again Israel will pay a heavy diplomatic price, once which had not been considered ahead of time.
Again, the Israeli propaganda machine has managed to convince only brainwashed Israelis, and once more no one asked the question: What was it for? Why were our soldiers thrown into this trap of pipes and ball bearings? What did we get out of it?
If Cast Lead was a turning point in the attitude of the world toward us, this operation is the second horror film of the apparently ongoing series. Israel proved yesterday that it learned nothing from the first movie. Yesterday's fiasco could and should have been prevented. This flotilla should have been allowed to pass and the blockade should be brought to an end.
This should have happened a long time ago. In four years Hamas has not weakened and Gilad Shalit was not released. There was not even a sign of a gain.
And what have we instead? A country that is quickly becoming completely isolated. This is a place that turns away intellectuals, shoots peace activists, cuts off Gaza and now finds itself in an international blockade. Once more yesterday it seemed, and not for the first time, that Israel is increasingly breaking away from the mother ship, and losing touch with the world - which does not accept its actions and does not understand its motives.
There was the claim that the first act of violence came not from the soldiers, but the rioting activists on Mavi Marmara; that the blockade on Gaza is legal and that the flotilla to its shores is against the law - God knows which law.
Again came the claim of self defense, that "they lynched us" and that all the dead are on their side. Once more the use of violence and excessive and lethal force was in play and once more civilians wound up dead. …Again Israel will pay a heavy diplomatic price, once which had not been considered ahead of time.
Again, the Israeli propaganda machine has managed to convince only brainwashed Israelis, and once more no one asked the question: What was it for? Why were our soldiers thrown into this trap of pipes and ball bearings? What did we get out of it?
If Cast Lead was a turning point in the attitude of the world toward us, this operation is the second horror film of the apparently ongoing series. Israel proved yesterday that it learned nothing from the first movie. Yesterday's fiasco could and should have been prevented. This flotilla should have been allowed to pass and the blockade should be brought to an end.
This should have happened a long time ago. In four years Hamas has not weakened and Gilad Shalit was not released. There was not even a sign of a gain.
And what have we instead? A country that is quickly becoming completely isolated. This is a place that turns away intellectuals, shoots peace activists, cuts off Gaza and now finds itself in an international blockade. Once more yesterday it seemed, and not for the first time, that Israel is increasingly breaking away from the mother ship, and losing touch with the world - which does not accept its actions and does not understand its motives.
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