By Rabbi Dow Marmur
JERUSALEM –There seem to be many reasons for the recent barrage of some 700 rockets from Gaza into southern Israel that have taken lives on both sides:
*An effort to prevent performers and audiences from abroad to come to the Eurovision contest in Tel Aviv;
*Israel’s Independence Day celebrations which Palestinians tend to mark as their Nakba, the anniversary of their displacement that followed the establishment of the State of Israel:
*Ramadan, the sacred month in the Muslim calendar, a potential period of violence;
*Another attempt to please the Iranian paymasters wanting to punish Israel for its many attacks on Iranian installations in Syria;
*The delay in the arrival of cash from Qatar.
All this also had the unintended consequence for the terrorists who rule Gaza of strengthening the ultra-right forces in the Israeli political system just as they’re engaged in negotiations about the composition of the next government. The rockets from Gaza may have strengthened those who don’t lose sleep over the terrible conditions under which most Gazans live.
Similarly, there’s no evidence that the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah is troubled by the suffering of their kith and kin in Gaza. Over the years there have been many attempts at reconciliation but apparently without success. It may be difficult for Israelis to be concerned about the welfare of Gazans if their own people in the West Bank are not.
Gideon Levy, Ha’aretz’s controversial columnist, described the events of the last few days as the Gaza ghetto uprising. He tends to put the blame on Israel. But it’s difficult to see how Israel can act in favor of Gazans as long as their leaders seem to be passionately committed to giving the Jewish state and its residents along the Gaza border as hard a time as possible.
Every concession that Israel makes seems to be perceived as a sign of weakness and an encouragement to attack it next time with ever greater ferocity. The Israel Defense Forces know how to fight and win wars, but it’s not clear that this fight can ever be won as long as Hamas and Islamic Jihad don’t want peace.
Though there’s now a cease-fire, allegedly brokered by Egypt and the United Nations envoy in the area, nothing much has changed. More clashes are bound to follow for it seems that of late the terrorists have made military progress: their missiles were remarkably effective, even in the face of Israel’s Iron Dome that tried to intercept them; their tunnels seem to protect them; the standing of their leaders has been enhanced by the recent attacks.
Yes, Israel is infinitely stronger than Hamas and Islamic Jihad, even with the military help they get from Iran and the cash that comes from Qatar. But this is a kind of war that military might doesn’t seem to be able to win. Though Israeli planes repeatedly attack military targets in Gaza, the war goes on. We may have a lull today but we don’t know what tomorrow will bring.
Of the little I understand about the situation I find it difficult to share the view of those that Israel alone can resolve the crisis, even though it’s possible that it could do things for the population in Gaza that would give the Gazans a greater stake in keeping the peace instead of allowing themselves to be used as pawns. What seems to be needed is imaginative diplomacy which neither the Gazans nor the Israelis seem to be endowed with.
*
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
Roz and Jery Rothstein, cofounders of StandWithUs issued this statement:
Yesterday we flew into Israel, a country that was once again under attack. For over 24 hours this past weekend, Israeli cities were threatened by non-stop rocket fire from Hamas-run Gaza. Over 600 rockets were fired from Palestinian civilian areas towards Israeli homes, nurseries and facilities. Each rocket constitutes a double war-crime: using Gaza’s citizens as human shields to hide behind, while targeting Israeli citizens.
We are proud to be here, to stand with Israelis during this horrifying time.
It should be clear, however, that this is intolerable – no other country would accept living next door to terrorists who regularly decide to launch rockets at them.
We hope for calm but even if a ceasefire holds, this unacceptable situation must not be allowed to keep repeating itself, and all leaders of good conscience should actively decry and work against Hamas violence and horrific leadership of the people of Gaza.
This week on Yom Hazikaron, Israel’s Remembrance Day, we will pay tribute to Israeli soldiers and fallen victims of terror. We will be thinking about the latest victims of Hamas terrorism and praying for the complete and quick recovery of those who have been injured.
The Israel-American Council issued this statement:
“Once again, our family in Israel is under attack.
This weekend, Hamas and other terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip fired more than 600 rockets into the heart of Israeli communities, striking homes and hospitals, schools and synagogues, and farms and factories.
Four Israeli civilians have been murdered in these horrific attacks. Dozens have been injured. Instead of going to school, children across Southern Israel spent today in bomb shelters.
No people should have to live under such a threat.
America and Israel — bonded together by shared values and shared interests — stand united in the face of terrorism. As our government and others around the world have made clear, Israel has every right to defend itself from terrorists who seek its destruction.
In this difficult moment, the Israeli-American Council stands with our brothers and sisters in Israel – and with the IDF now acting against the terrorists that target men, women, and children.
Join us in standing up for Israel’s right to defend itself by downloading our Act.Il app, which is now mobilizing our community around the world.
The IAC will continue to monitor the situation and rally our community to support our Israeli family at this time of need.
Tonight our thoughts and prayers are with Israel. May the injured have a full and quick recovery. May the memory of the fallen be a blessing.”
The Republican Jewish Coalition issued this statement:
Earlier today, Executive Director Matt Brooks and a delegation of RJC Board Members arrived in Israel on a mission of solidarity with the Israeli people. Hamas terrorists in Gaza spent the weekend bombarding innocent Israeli citizens with rocket fire, killing four Israelis and injuring more. In this difficult time, the RJC is proud to bring the people of Israel a message of hope and unity from President Trump and the American people. Matt Brooks released the following statement:
The Republican Jewish Coalition is here in Israel on a mission of solidarity. We bring not only the support of the RJC but also the assurance of President Trump’s commitment to stand with Israel. We are emboldened by the President and Vice President’s unequivocal statements of support for Israel as it defends itself from terrorist rocket fire. Being on the ground in Israel, we can see that the Israeli people are deeply comforted by the Trump Administration’s resolve. This is why President Trump is known the world over as the most pro-Israel President of all time.
President Trump is right to appeal to the people of Gaza, noting that Hamas’s actions will only bring more destruction and heartache to Gaza. This is a fight against a brutal terrorist regime, one that Gazans must stand against. The President and the Israeli government are committed to finding a peaceful solution. Now, they just need someone with whom they can make peace. We all pray that the people of Gaza will seize this opportunity to make a better life for themselves and the region.
Americans for Peace Now issued this statement:
Americans for Peace Now (APN) welcomes the ceasefire reached between Israel and Hamas, while recognizing that it will provide only a lull between flareups. Security and stability for Israelis and Palestinians depend on a political settlement for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
APN strongly condemns the barrage of some 700 rockets launched by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad from the Gaza Strip at civilian communities in southern Israel. We stand with our Israeli brothers and sisters.
We send our condolences to the families of innocent civilians killed in this round of violence and wish fast and full recovery to the injured.
APN defends the right, and indeed responsibility, of the Israeli government to defend its citizens against terrorism. At the same time, we recognize that the seemingly endless cycle of relative quiet, punctuated by deadly spasms of violence, all while Gaza suffers a severe humanitarian crisis under closures imposed by Israel and Egypt, will never bring peace and safety for Israelis or Palestinians.
The Israeli government’s failure to act proactively and holistically to advance a political resolution to Israel’s conflict with the Palestinians is unacceptable.
Prime Minister Netanyahu does not hide the fact that his strategy is to divide Palestinians and prevent the emergence of an independent Palestinian state. In effect, the Israeli right wing’s commitment to maintaining Israeli control over the West Bank comes at the expense of the civilians of southern Israel.
Tomorrow, on Yom HaZikaron (Memorial Day), Israelis will mourn the 23,700 fallen soldiers and victims of terrorism since Israel’s establishment. As our Israeli sister-organization Shalom Achshav (Peace Now) today pointed out, “Israeli citizens deserve a courageous government that will deliver a conflict-ending agreement: a two-state solution,” a sovereign Israel and a sovereign Palestine, living side by side in peace and security.
Tragically, the Trump administration, through disastrous self-defeating policies, is a part of the problem. Rather than striving to help resolve the conflict, the administration in the past two years has denied itself the credibility to play a constructive role in improving Israeli-Palestinian relations and brokering peace. With its soon-to-be-published “peace plan” that apparently shuns the two-state solution and focuses on economic painkillers rather than on comprehensive conflict resolution, the Trump administration will further perpetuate the conflict.