Friday, January 2, 2009
The only reason J-Street has a voice is because of the money they have to spend for PR. Even Reform Movement head Rabbi Eric Yoffie can see that when the chips are down they're showing their true colors. If you can get by the hand-wringing, the piece is worth reading: On Gaza, Sense and Centrism
...if some Jewish hawks are devoid of sympathy for Palestinian suffering, not a few Jewish doves have demonstrated an utter lack of empathy for Israel's predicament. J Street, a new Washington lobbying group and a major voice of the dovish pro-Israel community, has spoken out sharply against Israel's actions in Gaza. While it claims to represent the moderate American Jewish majority, in this case it has misread the issues and misjudged the views of American Jews.
It is not easy for me to write these words. I welcomed the founding of J Street and know many of those involved in its leadership. Furthermore, I am a dove myself. I support a two-state solution, believe that military action by Israel should be a last resort and welcome an active American role in promoting peace between Israel and her neighbors. But I know a mistake when I see one, and this time J Street got it very wrong...[snip]
...A second J Street statement was worse by far. It could find no moral difference between the actions of Hamas and other Palestinian militants, who have launched more than 5,000 rockets and mortar shells at Israeli civilians in the past three years, and the long-delayed response of Israel, which finally lost patience and responded to the pleas of its battered citizens in the south. "Neither Israelis nor Palestinians have a monopoly on right or wrong," it said, and it suggested that there was no reason and no way to judge between them: "While there is nothing 'right' in raining rockets on Israeli families or dispatching suicide bombers, there is nothing 'right' in punishing a million and a half already-suffering Gazans for the actions of the extremists among them."
These words are deeply distressing because they are morally deficient, profoundly out of touch with Jewish sentiment and also appallingly naïve. A cease-fire instituted by Hamas would be welcome, and Israel would be quick to respond. A cease-fire imposed on Israel would allow Hamas to escape the consequences of its actions yet again and would lead in short order to the renewal of its campaign of terror. Hamas, it should be noted, is not a government; it is a terrorist gang. And as long as the thugs of Hamas can act with impunity, no Israeli government of the right or the left will agree to a two-state solution or any other kind of peace. Doves take note: To be a dove of influence, you must be a realist, firm in your principles but shorn of all illusions...
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The most shocking poll since last week's one from Rasmussen that said the exact same thing. Apparently polling companies are now sending out regular reminders that American Jews have the collective political acumen of brain damaged gerbils: There are... Read More
Well said, Rabbi Yoffie. Where have all the fair but tough-minded Democrats gone? It seems post-modernism and the moral relativism that goes hand-in-hand with it reigns supreme on that side of the aisle.
So what should the "resort" have been to the thousands of rockets and mortars making life impossible for Israelis living close to the border?
Heh, my quote for #2 disappeared.
believe that military action by Israel should be a last resort
What does this imply
"While there is nothing 'right' in raining rockets on Israeli families or dispatching suicide bombers, there is nothing 'right' in punishing a million and a half already-suffering Gazans for the actions of the extremists among them."
that to assuage the suffering Gazans under the yoke of the "extremists" the Israelis must also suffer?
J Street and its idiots should suffer the stress and tension of living under the threat of rocket and mortar fire.
Anyone who is honestly concerned about Palestinian suffering, and all good people should be concerned, would naturally want to learn the TRUE CAUSES of Palestinian suffering. And Hamas itself is a rather obvious true cause.
My point is that if someone blames Israel for Palestinian suffering, you can know right away that the person is more interested in blaming Israel, and not especially curious about Palestinian suffering.
When it comes to the West Bank, I do blame Israel for some of the Palestinian suffering, although I appreciate Israel's security worries. But when it comes to Gaza, it should be perfectly clear that Hamas, enabled by the Palestinians in Gaza, has created a nightmare existence for Palestinians.
I don't see how anyone can justify Hamas anymore. It's time for people around the world to appreciate that no good comes from the Hamas rockets.