Say It Isn't So
Any time news comes out of Israel that a disaster of one kind or another has been visited upon the country and its people my heart sinks. A mantra goes through my mind: "say it isn't so". But, invariably, it is so. So much suffering, so much fear, so much agony, so much hope. The future is still there. There is always hope.This time I am thinking: "have a care". This time my heart sank when news of an aerial bombardment by the Israeli Defence Forces on a Gaza beach resulted in the death of seven members of a Palestinian family doing what families everywhere look forward to, enjoying a day at the beach. Regrets, heartfelt regrets were issued and official recognition that a dreadful accident must have occurred. A commission would be struck, an investigation undertaken. Several days later I felt oh so much better because initial news broke that this little tragedy might not have been caused by the IDF, after all.
Balm to my soul. Jews know better than to take innocent lives, than to cause the cessation of life, and to treat such incidents lightly. This much is certainly true. But of course, Jews are no different than anyone else. Like any other human being we would far rather point a certain finger of responsibility elsewhere. And elsewhere in this instance was to blame Hamas terrorists for planting mines on the beach for the purpose of keeping JDF forces on alert, and far away.
Shame, shame on us. Shame on humanity. For all the dreadful things we are capable of visiting upon one another. Shame on all of us for our all-too-human reluctance to accept responsibility for the havoc we create, intentionally or not. Have a care, poor little human beings, limited by being mere humans, lest you damage yourselves beyond redemption.
Where I desperately desired to believe the escapist fiction of denial and non-blame, I fear in this very instance I cannot. An independent commision could certainly discern where fault lies and place it squarely where it belongs. Needless to say, a Jew like myself would like to believe that an Israeli investigation would be beyond reproach, and certainly that is the way I felt. Now, I feel let down, disappointed, unable to believe what Israel's investigation asserts.
On the one hand, the distasteful assertions of Hamas spokespeople given to overblown rhetoric goes against the grain of belief. In this instance, however, Israel's denial must be further explained. It makes no sense whatever that a mine would have been planted on a beach heavily used by area civilians for recreation. The military analyst with Human Rights Watch pointed out that the injuries suffered by those who survived the blast occurred in the head and torso, not consistent with the blast of a land mine.
Now, several days later, another missile strike in Gaza, targetting terrorists ferrying rockets. All very well and good, and likely explicable by the very fact that men such as these are responsible for the ongoing rocket attacks against Israeli targets. A second missile following the first caught and killed civilians, including children and several medical workers, and also wounding 30 additional people. This is a dreadful toll.
Israel, I weep for you. This is survival determination. This is a total tragedy, that this country feels the need to subject itself to the status of knowing murder to ensure survival.
O Israel. Have a care.
posted by Pieface @ Wednesday, June 14, 2006
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