Outrage in Gaza: No More Apologies by Rabbi Brant Rosen

[grassfed]

http://rabbibrant.com/2008/12/28/outrage-in-gaza-no-more-apologies/

The news today out of Israel and Gaza makes me just sick to my stomach.

I know, I can already hear the responses: every nation has a responsibility to ensure the safety of its citizens. If the Qassams stopped, Israel wouldn’t be forced to take military action. Hamas also bears responsibility for this tragic situation…

I could answer each and every one of these claims in turn, but I’m ready to stop this perverse game of rhetorical ping-pong. I don’t buy the rationalizations any more. I’m so tired of the apologetics. How on earth will squeezing the life out of Gaza, not to mention bombing the living hell out of it, ensure the safety of Israeli citizens?

We good liberal Jews are ready to protest oppression and human-rights abuse anywhere in the world, but are all too willing to give Israel a pass. It’s a fascinating double-standard, and one I understand all too well. I understand it because I’ve been just as responsible as anyone else for perpetrating it.

So no more rationalizations. What Israel has been doing to the people of Gaza is an outrage. It has has brought neither safety nor security to the people of Israel and it has wrought nothing but misery and tragedy upon the people of Gaza.

There, I’ve said it. Now what do I do?

(Thank you Rabbi.)

[Hydra]

1. Sanity shouted down, over and over

But we know what that's like here in the US, too.

[elleng]

2. Bravo, Rabbi

.

[midnight]

3. A very thoughtful response to an ongoing problem.

"It has has brought neither safety nor security to the people of Israel and it has wrought nothing but misery and tragedy upon the people of Gaza."

[grassfed]

4. Israel's bombardment of Gaza "war crimes", Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Israel's bombardment of Gaza "bears all the hallmarks of war crimes", Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu said in a statement on Sunday.

"In the context of total aerial supremacy, in which one side in a conflict deploys lethal aircraft against opponents with no means of defending themselves, the bombardment bears all the hallmarks of war crimes."

The attacks, in retaliation for rockets fired by the Palestinians, would not contribute to the security of Israel, he said.

"It is a blight not only on the Middle East, but on the entire world - and particularly world leaders who have consistently failed the people of Palestine and Israel over the past 60 years."

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=3&art_id=nw20081228135838626C247461

[IndianaGreen]

5. Here is tonight's Rachel Maddow show on the Gaza genocide

Here is tonight's Rachel Maddow show on the Gaza genocide

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/#28427276

Interesting comment by Richard Engel about a portion of Baker-Hamilton Report (Iraq Study Group) that proposes an out-of-the-box strategy to resolve the I/P conflict.

[bunnies]

6. Right on, Rabbi.

:applause: