Israel and Hamas

Tuesday January 6, 2009

Categories: Public Issues

I read this piece by Saul Singer in the Washington Post. I wonder if Obama's silence is support for Israel, support for taking out Hamas, or an indicator that he's not sure what to think about this international crisis. Any thoughts?

By taking on Hamas, Israelis deserve the gratitude of decent people everywhere. More than that, by sending in troops to fight them on the ground, Israel is risking its precious soldiers to minimize Palestinian casualties. These soldiers risk becoming martyrs to human rights and the Geneva Convention because they are fighting in places where other countries, including the U.S., might have called in an artillery or air strike and been done with it. We should be proud of them and least have the decency to honor their sacrifice.
Finally, these soldiers are doing a service for humanity, not just for the Israelis. A defeat of Hamas is a defeat of it sponsor, Iran. It is no substitute for using economic, diplomatic, and - only if necessary - military means to prevent Iran, the world's primary terrorist regime, from going nuclear. But it should help concentrate minds regarding the necessity of doing so. The Israeli wars with Hamas and Hezbullah are only holding actions. The only way to give peace in the region real hope is to defeat the main source of war and terrorism, and that is the regime in Tehran.

Comments (33)

Filed Under: Politics

posted by Scot McKnight @ 2:00pm Permalink email icon

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Travis Greene

January 7, 2009 4:57 PM

ChrisB, "Long term, the only solution to the world's problems is Jesus. Short term, when you've got a treaty that the other side is ignoring, if they target your civilians and force you to target theirs, what options do you have? You can watch your people get torn to pieces, or you can defend them."

I think if Jesus had to choose one, he would say to watch your people get torn to pieces. He would likely come up with something much more creative, though, and that's what we're called to as well. Remember, he was also talking to an Israel besieged by brutal enemies when he said, "Love your enemies."

I'm not saying the Palestinians are the good guys. There stopped being "good guys" over there a long time ago. I'm also not saying they all just need to become Christian (though I'd be in favor of that too, of course). They (Israelis and Palestinians) need to listen to and follow the words of Jesus on the subject of violence.

steph

January 7, 2009 8:50 PM

This is an excellent article by Dr Robert Fisk yesterday from the Independent newspaper (UK).

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/fisk/robert-fisk-why-do-they-hate-the-west-so-much-we-will-ask-1230046.html

caleb

January 8, 2009 12:36 AM

http://thewaterboy88.blogspot.com/

kester,
i think you are right on. although, i would argue that the eradication of israel by hamas has a different meaning than the eradication of the palestinians by israel. hamas seemingly just wants land and soveriegnty back. the gaza strip is currently the world's largest prison. israel built a big wall around it and controls what gets in or out. i think hamas would be okay with the israelis living as long as they lived outside of israel. however, i am not so sure the israelis have any respect for human life, especially 'worthless' arab lives (which would explain why they have killed 64 palestinians for every dead israeli this week)

Tim Wright

January 8, 2009 5:48 AM

Hamas is a culture of Death. They will reap what they sow in their children-Death

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gi-c6lbFGC4

Like the Nazi's in WW2, Islamist must be resisted with the only language they speak - Violence.

Tim

William Brown

January 9, 2009 1:42 AM

2 words - Rohm Emanuel

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Scot McKnight is a widely-recognized authority on the New Testament, early Christianity, and the historical Jesus. He is the Karl A. Olsson Professor in Religious Studies at North Park University (Chicago, Illinois). A popular and witty speaker, Dr. McKnight has given interviews on radios across the nation, has appeared on television, and is regularly asked to speak in local churches and educational events. Dr. McKnight obtained his Ph.D. at the University of Nottingham (1986). Click to continue reading Scot McKnight's Bio...

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