generalspeaking

The Humanitarian Mariam

There is no time when Israel must not act with delicacy, bearing in mind that whatever course of action it takes it is certain to raise the ire of the international community which is invested in holding Israel to a standard of behaviour that no other country in the world is expected to honour.

Whether this should be a proud standard to be held high on the basis that Israel itself holds itself to a high standard of social and liberal democratic values with its independent judiciary and its own population of irritable liberal-humanists insisting on kid glove-reactions facing off against bloody-minded terrorists is something else again.

The international community, despite evidence to the contrary, still terms the 9 Turkish thugs aboard the "Gaza aid" flotilla ship Mavi Marmora as 'activists' whom the IDF special marines inexplicably turned fire on. Human rights activists stentoriously charging Israel with the deliberate murder of the 9 Turks intent on committing murder and mayhem under guise of gentle aid-rescue, remain intent on harassing Israel by embarking on further 'Gaza aid missions', to confront and challenge Israel to halt their activities.

Vile mischief, pure and simple, with the most sinister intent in mind. Additionally slandering the reputation of a country engrossed in the necessity of defending itself and its population from continuing violent onslaughts from Arab and Muslim groups dedicated to the task of removing the nation from the geography of the Middle East.

An international community of human-rights activists utterly disinterested in exonerating details, fixated on hounding the Zionists, the Jews for their purported abuses against the defenceless, victimized Palestinians.

As such challenges materialize, they are dealt with fairly carefully, but not even the clever heads at IDF headquarters are capable of visualizing the covert operations and the extent to which ill-wishers of the State will go to convey their contempt for Israel and their undying support for the Palestinian 'refugees'.

Another challenge is on the way, and this one ranks as diabolically clever in its message and the physical personae of its messengers. Would a Jewish army of a Jewish state dare to violently oppose a ship of peace, bearing the name of the mother of Christ? And crewed by women and women only?

We wait with bated breath to witness the next enterprise to be launched by human rights activists in the name of fairness and justice to the Palestinian people. As a 'women-only' vessel is set to challenge Israel's blockade of Gaza. A nun will be aboard, and a woman who is in her later stages of pregnancy; how peaceful and vulnerable, how utterly cherubic in nature the participants, and their mission of mercy.

This time it is Hezbollah that is involved, in one of its supporters co-ordinating the mission.

Women, whose place in Arab societies is that of a despised and subjugated lesser human than males - whose lives are forfeit in 'traditional' tribal and cultural societies which exact the ultimate vengeance of 'honour killings' if a woman fails to defer to her menfolk, and challenges the 'norms' set aside for women in a male-dominated society - taking the place of honour in challenging a country where women are equal to men in every facet of life.

This is the epitome of sanctimony, but those who take part in these adventures are obviously oblivious to the absurdity of their position.

Disinterested as well in the plain truth that ample goods are ferried to Gaza on a daily basis, that the hardships that Gazans face are no different than societies elsewhere in the world that are dominated by a hard-line totalitarian government, as seen in Hamas. Where luxury hotels are in operation, and where luxury goods imported from Israel and Europe are readily available in smart, well-stocked and newly-built shoppers' paradises.

Where people addicted to their refugee status which begets them a financial budget from the international community seem content to continue that way.

Yet here are women, deliberately eschewing conveying with them anything approximating a weapon; not cuticle scissors nor eyebrow tweezers, nor anything other than a willingness to confront and challenge, embarking upon a trip to prove to themselves and to the world at large that Israel will brutally meet their purpose with the intention of turning them back. How utterly heartless, how miserably uncharitable.

Yet given also the performances of past such humanitarian missions bearing desperately needed commodities to the poor Palestinians, the medicines will be outdated and therefore useless, and the medical equipment will be old and decrepit.

These brave and dauntless women are prepared for the worst to occur. Willing to sacrifice the safety of their persons for the greater good of humanity. They have packed among their possessions for the trip blood test equipment: "In case we come under attack from Israel and you need a blood transfusion", one explained helpfully. "We will not even bring cooking knives", she further elaborated proudly.

The plans have been in the works for over a month to embark with the Mariam, the ship bearing the name of the mother of Christ. Both Jews, were they not, Mary and Jesus? Venerated not as Jews, heaven forfend, but as forbears of a brave new religion, a step-son of Judaism. The Mariam will be accompanied by a sister-ship - to be named Mary Magdalene, perforce?

Labels: Anti-Semitism, Human Relations, Israel

posted by Pieface @ Monday, August 09, 2010