Additional commentary may be found below from the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organzations and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee
By Rabbi Dow Marmur
JERUSALEM–The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have every right, indeed a sacred duty, to defend the borders of their country. The question many of us are asking today is whether this can only be achieved by killing more than sixty Gazans in one day and maiming hundreds. True, had the residents of Gaza been allowed to cross the fence that separates them from Israel, many Israelis would have died and Israeli property would have been destroyed or looted. The question is whether the border can be defended differently.
Dan Bielski, a respected Israeli journalist, believe that it can. Instead of putting perhaps largely inexperienced soldiers there, the IDF should have sent the Border Police. Its soldiers are said to have much more experience, and perhaps maturity, in dealing with incidents of this kind.
Bielski also believes that the IDF should have mined the area inside Israel along the border and make it clear to trespassers that they’d be blown up.
As things have turned out, Hamas, the terrorist organization that rules Gaza, hasn’t been able to penetrate Israel but, despite the loss of so many lives, or perhaps because of it, in the eyes of the world, it has been the victor in the confrontation that has now lasted several weeks and is likely to continue indefinitely. People in many countries seem to be outraged by Israel’s conduct, as are many Israelis. Turkey and South Africa have recalled their ambassadors and measures by others, by no means only diplomatic, may follow.
“Gaza paralyzed me into silence” wrote Donniel Hartman, the president of the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem: “the inhabitants of Gaza have every right and reason to demonstrate against the tragedy which is their life. Not only do they live under unforgiveable and deplorable conditions, no one is taking responsibility either for their predicament or for the path to rectify it.”
That includes Israelis who, as I’ve suggested before, seek diversions, thus perhaps dulling their pain. The political establishment found a diversion in the inauguration of the United States embassy in Jerusalem. The jubilant celebrants seemed to have chosen to be oblivious to what was happening sixty miles down the road in Gaza.
The residents of Tel Aviv found their diversion on Rabin Square by singing and dancing with Netta Barzilai, the Israeli winner of this year’s Eurovision contest. Preparations for next year’s event to take place in Israel are said to have already started, perhaps also as part of the need to think about something else than Gaza. With this another diversion: the main event takes place traditionally on a Saturday; the ultra-Orthodox are already trying to make sure that the Sabbath won’t be desecrated. This means that the event will most likely take place in the more liberal Tel Aviv or Haifa.
There are, therefore, good reasons to heed Hartman’s words: “We do not need to take moral responsibility for the reality which is Gaza, but at the same time we cannot allow our humanity and moral conscience to be so inert as to sit down and drink, not to speak of dancing in our city squares, when we are causing, justifiably or not, death and chaos.”
Being paralyzed into silence may be psychologically understandable, but it’s morally reprehensible. We must speak, nay scream, even if those who should listen refuse to hear. The least we can do is to acknowledge the pain of the victims.
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Rabbi Marmur is spiritual leader emeritus of Holy Blossom Temple in Toronto, Canada. Now a resident of Israel, he may be contacted via dow.marmur@sdjewishworld.com
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) issued the following statement:
Coverage of the recent conflict on the Gaza border often lacks context. For the past seven weeks, Hamas has used “nonviolent protests” to attempt to overrun Israel’s border and kill its civilians, and it is Hamas that bears responsibility for the recent bloodshed. Tragically, innocent people were killed and injured in the violence. Unfortunately, the terrorist group prefers to sacrifice the people of Gaza over pursuing peaceful coexistence with Israel. Hamas’s ongoing terrorism—including the destruction of humanitarian infrastructure—makes clear the terror group does not seek a better life for the people of Gaza.
Hamas bears responsibility for the deaths in Gaza. The Palestinians killed during the riots would be alive today if not for Hamas. In a carefully orchestrated effort, the terrorist group has used the guise of “nonviolent protests” to attack Israeli territory. With Israeli towns only minutes from the fence, Israel must take preventive measures to thwart attacks on its civilian population. It cannot allow those bent on murder to infiltrate its communities. More than 80 percent of those killed have been acknowledged by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad as members of the terrorist groups.
These are not peaceful protests. While some in Gaza seek to peacefully assemble, Hamas and other terrorists have instigated these demonstrations to violently attack Israel. On May 14, Israel discovered at least 10 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) at the Israel-Gaza fence. In one attack, eight armed terrorists hurled pipe bombs and grenades at soldiers stationed along the border. Gazans have launched dozens of incendiary devices into Israel to set ablaze its fields and communities. A Hamas guide posted online included maps to Israeli communities and the following instruction: “Bring a knife, a dagger or a gun. …keep it under your clothes…kidnap Israeli civilians and transfer them immediately to Hamas.”
Hamas’s goal is Israel’s destruction. Hamas leaders have made clear that their goal is not peaceful change, but rather the destruction of the Jewish state. “Palestine and Jerusalem belong to us… We will break the walls of the blockade, remove the occupation entity and return to all of Palestine,” said Ismail Haniyeh, Chairman of Hamas Political Bureau in an April 9 speech.
Left: Rioters fire on Israeli forces, using Molotov cocktails and other incendiary devices.
Right: Hamas social media encourages Gaza’s citizens to violently attack Israel.
This is not about the location of the U.S. embassy. The events in Gaza have little to do with the opening of the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem. Demonstrations in Gaza began seven weeks ago under the banner of the “March of Return”—a euphemism for the destruction of Israel. The violence has only peaked on the anniversary of Israel’s Declaration of Independence, as those involved demonstrate their continued objection to Israel’s existence. In Jerusalem and the West Bank, there have been few protests, little violence, and no deaths. Even the Palestinian Authority acknowledges Hamas’s cynical goals. On April 6, a senior advisor to the Palestinian Authority president said, “Hamas is deliberately sending Gazan civilians to their deaths to grab good headlines.”
Hamas has destroyed Gazan humanitarian infrastructure. On several occasions, rioters have attacked the Kerem Shalom crossing with Israel—the sole transit point for humanitarian goods from Israel to Gaza. The damage to the crossing infrastructure has resulted in the reduced flow of aid to the people of Gaza. Rioters have also attacked other civilian infrastructure, including a gas pipeline.
Israel and America are continuing to work to improve Gaza’s humanitarian situation. Despite ongoing violence and destruction of crossing-point infrastructure, Israel continues to transfer humanitarian aid and building materials to Gaza. In the last year, Israel has taken concrete steps to improve Palestinian lives in Gaza, including projects to improve water, sanitation, electricity, communications and more. The United States also continues to provide significant funding for humanitarian aid and projects in Gaza. Earlier this spring, the Trump administration hosted a conference to explore solutions to the humanitarian and economic conditions in the Gaza Strip—the event was attended by representatives from 20 countries, including Israel and multiple Arab nations.
The United States should continue to support Israel’s right to defend itself. The United States should continue to support Israel’s right to defend itself and protect its borders. As White House Spokesperson Raj Shah said on May 14: “The responsibility for these tragic deaths rests squarely with Hamas. Hamas is intentionally and cynically provoking this response. And as the Secretary of State said, Israel has the right to defend itself.” Further, the United States should continue to increase sanctions on Hamas, and press the terrorist group to disarm, accept Israel’s right to exist, and end the use of human shields.
From the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations: Leaders of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations pointed to public claims by senior Hamas officials that more than 80% of the Palestinian fatalities in Gaza on Monday were trained terror operatives, as clear evidence that Hamas was using the demonstrations at the border with Israel to camouflage its planned military operation to breach the border fence and perpetrate attacks inside Israel.
Stephen M. Greenberg, Chairman and Malcolm Hoenlein, Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, said, “The claims by senior Hamas officials in televised interviews that the overwhelming majority of those killed by military fire were trained fighters whose mission was to cross the border and carry out attacks on Israeli soil conclusively show that the goal of the demonstrations in Gaza was to provide cover for a military operation to breach the border with Israel and carry out attacks in Israel.
The deaths and injuries to innocent Palestinian civilians in Gaza, who are directed and encouraged by Hamas, are regrettable, but the responsibility clearly rests with those organizing and mobilizing these riots and using human shields to raise the casualty numbers. The Israeli military is acting to minimize these casualties under battlefield conditions. But the boasts by senior Hamas officials make it clear that Hamas was using the demonstrations as a tactic to conceal its assault on Israel’s sovereignty.
As with every nation in the world, Israel is justified in responding militarily to attempts to violently invade its territory and threaten the lives and security of its citizens.”