Israeli Attacks on Gaza: Not by Might, and Not by Power

Rabbi,

As a Christian ignorant of Jewish thought and conversation inside your community, I am very pleased to happen upon your reflections here on belief.net. I know no group wishes to air their inner conflict in public, but it helps to know there are different opinions as to how to handle the conflict between the two "sons of Abraham".

With this statement - "in what Hamas sees as itself a retaliation against the Israeli blockade and semi-starvation of the people of Gaza." - perhaps you could heal the wounds. Israel is so powerful in its organizational qualities, its competency in creating and sustaining society and societal resources. I often wonder if Israel unleashed that force upon the people of Gaza, if that would heal them and the wounds between you so well that through love and respect, you could accept the lands given to you by God.

May God bless you and forgive the attackers. I pray it is not the Holy One of Israel's will that Jerusalem be taken by force and hatred.

When it is tribal, when it is built upon fear and a desire for blood, the actions of men are brutal and bring wave upon wave of suffering that crosses from generation to generation.

When at some point, something--usually a terrible tragedy affects both sides and requires both to work together, then is a foundation built that will allow the drums of war to be finally stilled.

Susan, if the UN declared that you had to leave your home with no compensation, and then turned that home over to someone else, would you stand by idly and peacefully protest, or would you defend the home you and your family lived in? Would you have a "Nazi-like hatred" of all of these people who came in and took over the place you called home?

When I listen to people here talk about how they would resist ANYONE kicking them off their lands, or taking their guns from their homes, I hear EXACTLY the same sentiment that comes from these Palestinian people...exactly the same emotion, the same fervor, the same protective instincts.

I also hear it in the voices of Israelis who are interviewed, mourning the loss of their family members. I see the same desire to live safely, free from terror and fear, in homes where it is safe for their children to play in the parks and yards without worry.

What would you do if you were in the position of the Palestinians? Would you sit quietly and do nothing, or would you take up arms and try to take back the home taken from you?

Albert wrote, "For that there must be legitimate leaders on the Palestinian side who are not corrupt. There must be a will to build a real state with real power and real accountability, not a syndicate of the corrupt who care not a damn for their citizens."

It is also the case that there must be legitimate leaders on the ISRAELI side who are not corrupt. There must be a will to build a real state with real power and real accountability, not a syndicate of the corrupt who care not a damn for their citizens in Israel. That would lead to a radical breach with their past; and it would include a committment to begin keeping the many treaties they have signed and then ignored or violated.

Regarding Gaza strip, when Joshua replaced Moses, God continually commanded Israel to drive out the Canaanites, but Israel failed to obey God in several areas. In consequence, Joshua gave a curse,’Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will NO MORE drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.’ Joshua 23:13. God stated his curse again against Israel in Judges 2:20 ‘And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and he said, Because that this people hath transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice; 21 I also will NOT henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died:’ The passage continues and mentions the cities specifically in the Gaza strip. And we find that that Gaza, Ashkelon and that little strip which was once Philistia (Palestina)has never truly been conquered by Israel because of Israel’s ancient unpurged sin. Yet, modern political ‘Israel’ has raised its hand against God’s ancient decree, again, and God will remember it as he is no respecter of nations. Until the end comes, the land is to be shared. The ancient decree has been written, so shall it be done.