The Urgency of Now - Obama Must Act on Gaza

More of the anti-American drivel that flows like backed-up sewage every time there is an outbreak of violence in the Middle East. Here's a novel thought: why don't the people in the Middle East solve their own problems? Why does Barack Obama have to do anything? If the US supplies Israel arms what of it. What does the Arab world give to the Palestinians: party hats and confetti? The author is conveniently silent about the causes of this latest flare-up in violence in Gaza. It’s as if the Israelis one day said to themselves ‘’It is way too quiet around here let’s go bomb Gaza!’’ Until the Palestinians stop being the lackeys of the Arab world they will never have peace and prosperity.

Looks to me the Palestinians have only Hamas to blame. Stop launching rockets into Israel and Israel leaves you alone. Simple. Radical Islam continues to pick a fight with the west and no one calls them on it.

This is for Martin Cummins.

I have no desire or intention of defending Hamas. However, your post "Looks to me the Palestinians have only Hamas to blame. Stop launching rockets into Israel and Israel leaves you alone." Misses a few important points:

1) Israel was putting the entire Gaza region under a massive food and medicine embargo. the UN relief agencies had declared the whole region a massive humanitarian disaster. would you want to live like this?

2) Even before the Hamas rockets, Israel had violated the terms of the treaty by incursions into Gaza.

3) proportionality. does a 100 to 1 ratio of Israeli murder to Palestinain murder make any sense to you?

omid safi
author of the piece

Interesting, Palestine loses lives and their victems...this is a battle that has been going on since Jacob and Esau. Look to scricptures, read through Daniel, John, and Revelations, also Psalms, read Job 38-42, according to the word from the Holy Spirit in Proverbs, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and fools hate knowledge,-people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, fear the God of Israel who neither sleeps nor slumbers, there is no fear of the Lord before the eyes of her enemies. "Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. Even so, you too, when you see these things happening, recognize that He is near, right at the door." Mark 13:28-29 Seek the Lord Jesus while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near, let the people humble themselves before the Lord. There is no way to the Father but through His Son, who is one with the Father. God bless.

This is a response to "Your Name, January 8, 2009 8:42 PM" post.

Thank you for writing. I have to politely disagree with your assessment that "this is a battle that has been going on since Jacob and Esau." I believe that when people point to conflicts "from time immemorial", it is often an excuse to believe that nothing can be done about it. Here is the historical truth: Arabs and Jews have not always hated each other, and they have certainly not always been trying to kill each other. This is a relatively recent conflict, going back to the early parts of 20th century, with the rise of Zionism, Jewish immigration from Europe to Palestine, the colonial support for Jews from Britain and later America, and ultimately the establishing of the state of Israel in 1948 and the forced exile of 750,000 Palestinians who were made homeless overnight, followed by a 40 year occupation of West Bank and Gaza. That is a mouthful, I know, but that is also the historical context that has to be accounted for if you want to understand this conflict.

If you believe human beings come into this world programmed to hate other humans, that is a theological faith, not a doctrinal one. I for one choose to believe that we as human beings are made in the image of a loving creator, who wants us to love one another and live in peace and justice. I invite you to reconsider your statement.

omid safi
(author of the piece)

Mr Safi I will say to you what I said in the column of Rabbi Hirschfield, war is never a solution and we all wait for the time where it will exist no more. But it is amazing to me how humanity always plays the game of victim and blame without accepting the responsibility of our own actions. We don't realize that every cause has an effect that plays continuously unless we accept our faults and blame no other than ourselves. We should accept that we are not a victim since the cause relies in our own actions and not in the actions of others. It's the result of our failure to transform in better human beigns.

Although I feel for the innocent that fall prey as a result of the struggle of evil be it intolerance, ego, power, selfishness, and lack of love for one another as member of the human race, I think that it is time for the Palestinians to examine themselves and their failure to stop Hamas and other violent organizations who are the producer of their own pain. The Palestinians have done nothing when rockets threatened our cities, soldiers were kidnapped, innocent civilians including women and children were murdered.

In response to your belief, at the end, the Universe allows for atrocities to be equal as the scales are weighed. Count the victims in a larger time frame where Israel remained waiting for Peace and it will exceed your numbers. If you sow hate, violence is what you reap. Teach love and peace to your children.

Nevertheless, we as Jews should also examine ourselves if we are acting in accordance to the mandate given to be a light unto the nations. To transcend the pain inflicted upon us, to transform and seek a solution befitting our heritage. I pray for the Palestinians that Hashem ease their pain and heal their wounds but also that their eyes are open to face the truth. I also pray for all Israel to be safe.

Omid.
Its time the Palestinians take responsibility to their life and actions. If they don't want 700 war casualties simply make sure Hamas won't bomb Israel. They have nobody but themselves to blame. The people in Gaza are no victims and they get way too much attention from the world press.

Its sad to see that while you live and work in the US you failed to internalize key concepts of the US system like accountability, hard work and self reliance. Your words are emblematic to the finger pointing and helpnesness culture prevelant in the Arab world.

Professor Safi, to add to what I said above, I understand your outrage at the innocent lives that are being taken in Gaza.

That outrage (which appears to be shared by Muslims all over the world, and by many other people) would have so much more credibility with me if I felt that you were just as outraged by the daily rocket attacks into Israel by Hamas which provoked this mess. Or if there were mass demonstrations by Muslims demanding that Hamas revoke its charter on the grounds that calling for Israel's destruction is evil.

If you are just as outraged by Hamas, I would appreciate it if you would provide links to the blogs or articles you have written prior to the current crisis that condemn Hamas for its evil actions.

I am for a two-state solution, not for a one-state solution. Unless we all decide things must change, we are going to end up with mutually assured destruction, and a "no-state" solution.

check this link out, Israel side also wondering as well:

http://www.zoa.org/sitedocuments/pressrelease_view.asp?pressreleaseID=1548

Gaza is a more complex issue than many are aware of. The link to the following article provides some interesting insights into the Middle East, and in particular to the problem of Iran. As with any op-ed piece the reader must be aware that the writer is painting with relatively broad strokes to provide a general audience with an understanding of his argument.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090109.wcoessay0110/BNStory/specialComment/home

Please, Omid. i appreciate your sense of urgency, but we really do have only one president right now. what could the president-elect possibly say or do that could make a difference. This is a long-simmering fire, one that has many contributors, and a few words from a president-elect is not going to change anything right now. Be real.