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J Street: You are wrong! Israel should NOT change its tactics when the conflict resumes. [1]
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Date: 2023-11-30
Today I received an email from the lobbying firm J Street, which said in part: AS HUMANITARIAN PAUSE NEARS END, US MUST DEMAND CHANGE IN ISRAELI TACTICS.
I normally support the work of J Street. Typically their positions are more level headed and balanced than those of AIPAC. But I disagree vehemently with putting pressure on Israel to “lighten” its response, or change tactics against Hamas which so far have produced positive results, including the release of more than 100 hostages — while severely damaging Hamas’ capabilities in Northern Gaza.
Let’s be clear, Benjamin Netanyahu is an idiot whose obsession with power led to October 7th. But now is not the time to let up. This is a WAR, which Hamas started. The Gazan people are the unfortunate victims, but that’s on the terrorists who’ve ruled them for nearly 20 years. “War is hell” — said General William Tecumseh Sherman as he tore a path to the sea, destroying Atlanta and the Confederacy’s will and ability to fight back. Sherman’s brutality accelerated the Union’s victory and demise of slavery.
Hamas knows no boundaries. Anything less than its extinction will mean Israel's very existence is threatened. Yes. Israel's campaign has been ruthless, but what do you expect when the enemy: uses human shields to protect its so-called “soldiers”
builds command centers under hospitals
takes over whole wings of hospitals for their own use
uses ambulances to move about undetected
stores weapons and fires rockets from schools
steals fuel and food meant for civilians
murders women, children and elderly in their own beds in cold blood
captures and holds civilian citizens of many countries in underground dungeons and cages Each of those actions violates international law. And Israel is supposed to sit on its hands?
I'm sorry for the civilians of Gaza, but they have tolerated Hamas for nearly two decades:
They’ve allowed precious aid to be diverted to a war machine.
They've allowed Hamas to use them as human shields as rockets are fired at Israel.
They've been sitting ducks for failed rocket launches that fall short - while attempting to blame Israel.
They've ignored Israeli calls to evacuate buildings and neighborhoods where Israel’s sworn enemies are embedded.
They've parroted worn out talking points about things like Gaza being an "open air prison" (yeah the type of "prison" that has beach resorts, schools, and has many visitors - like the dozens of Americans stuck there after Oct. 7th until they could evacuate).
Most of all, they've refused to accept publicly Israel's right to exist, gleefully chanting " . . . from the River to the Sea" — the dog whistle for the annihilation of Israel. They've turned their backs on multiple offers of land for peace - instead starting wars that, each time, leave them with less and less - and more and more suffering. Look at the boundaries of a proposed Palestinian state - from 1948 to today. After each conflict, the amount of land for “Palestine” shrinks.
Furthermore, and this is VERY important - the brutality of Israel's response is the ONLY thing preventing Hezbollah and Iran from escalating their involvement. They see utter destruction and calculate - properly - that the cost to themselves and their societies is not worth an all out war with Israel.
Throughout history Jews have been attacked, threatened and killed for just being Jewish. I don’t think either Nazis nor Hamas worried too much about “international law” as they tried to exterminate Jews. Never again means never again.
If the "civilized world" wants the carnage to stop, they should call for:
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