Weather: Hi 4°C / Lo 2°C
Holocaust guilt lets Israel go unchallenged
srael’s response to Hamas rocket attacks is disproportionate, but goes largely unchallenged because of the world’s ongoing collective guilt over the Holocaust, argues John McCarthy
Wednesday, 7 January 2009
Print
Email
Israel's invasion of Gaza comes hard on the heels of its massive air campaign which, it says, is a justified retaliation for the Hamas rocket attacks against southern Israel.
Every rocket or mortar fired from Gaza into Israel is reported to the international media and, at the time of writing, more than 400 had been counted during the week.
Details of the Israeli attacks are harder to find, but last week's report from the United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) states that the Israeli Air Force also dropped 400 bombs, not over seven days, but in just the first few minutes of its opening assault on Gaza. These and hundreds more bombs have killed over 500 Palestinians. The Hamas missiles have caused just four deaths.
The Israeli people expect their government to punish attacks on Israel, and with a general election taking place in just over a month, politicians are keen to show their readiness to do anything to protect Israeli civilians. Ehud Barak, defence minister in the coalition government, has seen his poll ratings — and those of the Labour Party he leads — rise as a result of the campaign against Hamas which he has called "a war to the bitter end".
Yet, after 10 days of military campaign, Hamas will doubtless try to continue firing rockets — and firing them deeper into Israel. And so it appears inevitable that the military campaign will grind on, causing more and more civilian casualties until international pressure for a truce will eventually become loud enough to promote a ceasefire.
And while its disproportionate response does provoke calls for restraint from many international bodies, the Israeli establishment continues to paint itself as the passive underdog under threat. Ehud Barak has described Israel as "a villa in the middle of a jungle"— a place of civilisation surrounded by savage hordes.
I've met many Israelis who see themselves as just that, convinced that the rest of the world does not understand their plight and that the only important issue is to stop the Hamas rockets. Last week's OCHA report may state that Israel's blockade means that food, medical supplies, fresh water and fuel are so severely limited that Gaza is on the brink of a humanitarian disaster, but Israel's foreign minister, Tzipi Livni, denies any such problem. She promotes a widely held view that the suffering of the people in Gaza is their own fault for tolerating Hamas leadership.
Is this intransigence so surprising? We have had 60 years during which the modern state of Israel has never been taken to task for ignoring international criticism. It has ignored, with impunity, countless UN resolutions on the right of return of Palestinian refugees, on ending its occupation of the West Bank and encouraging its civilians to settle in the Occupied Territories, among others.
And why are they not brought to task? The simple fact is that Israel has the most powerful psychological influence to count on — the world's collective guilt over the Holocaust. This means that although the world may sporadically slap Israel's wrists, no one dare go too far, perhaps out of fear of being accused of anti-Semitism or in any way attacking a people who have historically suffered so much. The tragedy is, though, that it is now another people, the Palestinians, who are suffering because of the world's hesitation to offend Israel.
Pro-Israeli sentiment is reinforced by many in the international arena who, privately perhaps, approve Barak's "villa in the jungle" metaphor. To some, Israel represents a foothold of Western values on the edge of the Arab world, which, with the rise of fundamentalist Islam, is perceived as a growing threat. And there is, to me, the very frightening growth of fundamentalist Christian belief — especially in the United States — that, given that the existence of the Israeli state is part of God's plan, it is above criticism. President Bush and other world leaders have stated that if Hamas stopped firing rockets, then peace negotiations could resume. But is there a viable peace process to restart?
The idea is that peace will come with a two-state solution and that Israel will graciously give up occupied territory in the West Bank to create a Palestinian state there and in Gaza.
But there are few signs that the Israeli establishment, fully committed to the Zionist goals of creating Eretz Israel (a Greater Israel that stretches from the Mediterranean Sea to the River Jordan), plans to relinquish very much land at all: 250,000 Israelis already live on the West Bank.
On the contrary, Israel's road and settlement building programmes continue apace. Israel's policy has always been to build ‘facts on the ground’ while delaying accepting any final borders. Her founding father and first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, summed this up with the phrase "where we plough our last furrow is where we put our border". Ben-Gurion's political heirs are still ploughing. While conceding that a Palestinian state of some sort is necessary to ensure Israel is kept as purely Jewish as possible, they will put off delineating that state until Israel ends up with as much land and as few Palestinians as possible on that land. As Israel continues to create ever more ‘facts on the ground’, the prospects of the Palestinians being offered a reasonable share of what was meant to be their homeland become ever more remote. The Israelis presumably will count on Palestinians becoming so desperate for their own state, amid international weariness and ineffectiveness, that they will achieve their territorial and demographic goals.
One can only hope that President-elect Obama will bring pressure on Israel to change its policies. But that is not a strong hope. How many more times will the world rub its hands in despair and feebly ‘call on all parties to show restraint’ as our television screens show civilians cowering under bombing raids and hospitals unable to treat the wounded?
Yes, Hamas must stop its rocket attacks. But surely, above all, it is time for Israel to be taken to task and charged with recognising the will of the international community.
Post a comment
Limit: 500 characters
View all comments that have been posted about this article
Offensive or abusive comments will be removed and your IP address logged and may be used to prevent further submissions. In submitting a comment to the site, you agree to be bound by BelfastTelegraph.co.uk's Terms of Use.
Posts submitted in UPPERCASE letters will be rejected.
Comments
42 Comments
Unfortunately the balance of power is with supporters of Israel, and hence Israel escapes any real punishment for its crimes. Yes the Israelites did suffer at the hands of the Nazis, but does it give them the right to kill others. They are no less then the Nazis.
Well someday we all have to answer for all our wrongs and so will Israel and it people. I hope they realize and stop their wrongdoings before they have dug themselves into a bottomless pit.
Posted by Falco | 04.02.09, 15:39 GMT
Hamas have launched close to 11,000 rockets into southern Israel in the last few years. A proportionate response to this situation would be that Israel do likewise in Gaza.
Israel has shown restraint over the last 8 years.
Posted by Roy | 26.01.09, 20:03 GMT
WWII-2,000,000 German civilians killed/0 US civilians killed.
Disproportionate war or an excessive use of force?
Europe, your anti-Israel bias news reporting is not compassion for Palestinians, yet a hatred of Jews, yes, anti-.Semitism.
Palestinians are being killed by Hamas, Jordan is on Palestinian land...where is your compassion for the Palestinians on these issues?
Posted by Brenda | 13.01.09, 05:56 GMT
God bless Israel...
From a proud Irish Jew!
Posted by Shayna Goldfarb | 13.01.09, 04:25 GMT
However, they (Israeli) AVOID killing civillians while Hamas AIMS to kill civillians.
It seems that even with a billion dollars of state-of-the-art weapons Israel is doing an very bad job of avoiding killing civilians. You'd almost think it was intentional. As for Hamas, they would do better getting jobs as autoworkers, 300 auto fatalities a year vs. 2 rocket fatalities a year.
Posted by Moshe Dayan | 13.01.09, 03:00 GMT
I think that it's a shame that 60 years after the holocaust Europeans still don't take responsibility for their actions. Israel has the right to exists BUT it would obviously not exist if not for the holocaust.
Unlike countries like Australia, south Africa and America Israel was not a Colonialist country rather it was a shelter for Jews that survived the holocaust. Or maybe even a very fancy refugee camp. I'm sorry that our suffer doesn't look so "good" on the television so that BBC journalists can "sympathize" with us.
It's a shame that Europe and especially UK don't support Israel both politically and militarily and let things deteriorate and only remember to say something when Israel fights back against terror
Posted by Mozes | 12.01.09, 11:21 GMT
The Holocaust was not the main reason for the development of the State of Israel.There was a secular component to the developement of the State of Israel.The Jews were expelled out of England in 1290 for 400 yrs. until Oliver Cromwell allowed them back,France in 1306 and 1394 expelled out of Spain in 1492, Portugal 1497, the Ukraine massacres in the 17th century, between the fifteenth and 1772 Jews were not allowed in Russia and the Russian progroms in the 19th century.If you were read Churchhill's memoirs you would understand why the British government was in favor of a Jewish state (national homeland).Read the history of 1919 treaty after World War I.James Joyce stated they never had a jewish problem because they never let them in. Too bad, the Jews make up 25% of 1% population of the world's population with over 170 noble prize winners.You relish in our intellect, and define the righteous victim.I'll await your critique of Islamic expansionism into Britiain and France.
Posted by sabra56 | 11.01.09, 22:23 GMT
It has amazed me that there has been nothing said for months even years about Hamas firing rockets into Israel, but as soon as Israel retaliates the rest of the world suddenly has voice.
Everyone agrees that this terrible war needs to be ended quickly as enough people have died. However, when Israel withdrew from the Gaza strip did Hamas come out and use their money to build an infrastructure for Palestinian people in the Gaza strip? No it did not. Instead it used its people as shields to move closer to target Israel with daily rocket attacks, and the rest of the world stayed silent while they were doing it.
If rockets were continually being fired into a part of Northern Ireland, where people had to take cover at the sound of a siren (reminiscent of World War II), would we accept that or would we want our Government to take action. Israel has the right to protect its people.
In relation to ownership of land and who has the right to be there, how far back do you want to go?
Posted by Helen | 11.01.09, 15:19 GMT
Just one last point Hamas are very quick to quote the Quran to us in their charter. Maybe they need to remember you Reap what you Sow. They Sow violence Murder and Fear.
Terry
Posted by Terry McCorran | 10.01.09, 17:02 GMT
While all deaths in this war is sad. It must be remembered that for many years now almost 800.000 Israeli people live in fear of death and injury every day. What did all the so called concerned celebs do about it nothing. Hamas won the Election through fear many people who live in Gaza live in fear of Hamas every day. How anyone for one minute can think Gaza should be ruled by Hamas who kill and threaten their own people. They controll who gets medical aid and who gets fed if you are not seen to support hamas you suffer. What do all the celebs do when Muslim Kills Muslim? It appears it becomes a problem to celebs when Israel do it in defence of their own people. Hamas fight a bitter war with the Muslims of the west bank because they want peace with Israel so do the celebs support hamas in this war? on other Muslims or is it just the war on Israel they support?
Terry McCorran
Posted by Terry McCorran | 10.01.09, 16:42 GMT
I am always amazed when I read articles that totally forget that the Hamas has been firing rockets on Israel in the past eight years with little to no Israeli response. Making life in southern Isreal like a russian roulette - you can wake up in the morning but at every siren heard you have between 15 - 60 seconds to find a bomb shelter and if not this may be your last day
What should any country do when over 20% of its population is endangered by daily rocket shooting to its UN recognized borders?
Wait until 100% of its population is in danger?
The answer is that the country and the world has the responsibility to make sure that no militants endanger lives of its civilians. Hence, the plight of the Israeli's is just and essential. not just for Israel but for the entire world.
Posted by A worried citizen of the world | 09.01.09, 16:50 GMT
I can see why Irish Republicans can have empathy with the Palestinian cause. After all in their eyes they were once in a similar position. For Loyalists to blindly therefore support the disgusting and barbaric Israeli cause is riddiculous and simplistic. Israel does not occupy the small strip of Gaza anymore however it does control the air land and sea of the place. As for the atrosities of Hamas what about Israel. It has the intelligence to pin point a bomb exactly on the home of a leader of Hamas yet bombs a UN controlled school ( they said at the time they were fired on from the school which turns out to be untrue now). The Jews were a minority in Palestine before Israel was created. It is like a very violent old South Africa and maybe the guilt of the holcaust and powerful America's need for a strategic ally in Arab land and south of Russia has let it run. I suggest Mo that you put yourself in the Palestinian position.
Posted by soarer | 09.01.09, 09:55 GMT
Israel retaliation is not only for the 400 during this operation but for the thousands shelled on southern Israel for the last 7 years.
There is no blockade by Israel of humanitarian means – we stop the fighting for few hours in the last days to allow the various organizations to supply the means. Why the blockade by Hamas was not mentioned? Why the Hamas gaining control on part of the shipments and stilling them from the rest of the population was not mentioned?
Part of the world hesitates to offend Israel not because of the holocaust. They understand that Israel is implementing it's right and duty as a responsible country. Would Britain, USA, France, Spain, Venezuela allow rockets on their cities on daily basis for years ?
Most of the Israelis share the idea that peace will come with a two-state solution and that Israel will graciously give up occupied territory in the West Bank to create a Palestinian state there and in Gaza and the Pa
Posted by Meni Ginzburg | 09.01.09, 08:53 GMT
Moshe Buhboot, most of the British loyalists support Israel, indeed the loyalist/Protestant community is probably the one community in Europe that would in number have more people supporting Israel than the Palestinians. It is the Irish Republicans that support the Palestinians and support their terrorism. They have even graffitied the walls of their areas in the past with such peaceful messages such as "We support the suicide bombers" and have painted elaborate murals showcasing their "brothers in arms" status with the PLO. Many Loyalist areas in Belfast have flown the Israeli flag in solidarity, something that I doubt has happened in any other city outside of Israel.
Do not believe that the British media is representative of the people, because in most instances, it is not.
Posted by James H | 09.01.09, 07:25 GMT
What would you do if a terrorist were shooting at your child while protecting himself with his child? It is unfortunate that Hamas has chosen this path, but Israel can only be lauded for avoiding the killing of more civillians. With their firepower, they could have killed thousands by now and been sure of getting those responsible. However, they AVOID killing civillians while Hamas AIMS to kill civillians.
Put yourself in Israel's position and ask yourself what YOU would do.
Posted by Mo | 09.01.09, 06:26 GMT
The fear of being called an anti-semite...oeh, now that is something one should really fear, how scary is that? what are the repercussions? run for cover when sirens go off?
Posted by mata hari | 08.01.09, 23:53 GMT
Since Israel does not occupy Gaza anymore, there is no excuse for Hamas attacks. No soverign country would agree to suffer bomb attacks for such a long time without response. One shold ask himself why does the Hamas provoke violence instead of trying to protect, take care and give some prosperity to its population and who are the nations that support such devastating acticities of the Hamas. Not everything is associated with the holocaust and not everthing is Israel's guilt. There is another side to this equation that surprisingly people are happy to forget.
Posted by Calderon | 08.01.09, 16:31 GMT
Soarer,
Illegal state? says who? Jews are original inhabitants of Israel (or Palestine as you like to call it) and always lived in Israel! There is no other nation who can claim that they actually held a sovereign country here! Romans, Persians, Arabs, Turks and Egyptians are all occupiers!
Can you name the first Palestinian king or leader and when did he rules in Israel? When Jesus walked in Jerusalem he didn't saw masques - he saw synagogues and Jews
The first time local Arabs formed as a people was in the 60' and 70' - way after Israel was established. Now, it could be that you deny the right of Jews to have a country - I don't blame you.. there are some many anti-smites out there - you could be just one of them - and I feel sorry for you.
I guess you are English from the"United Kingdom" - how many land did you still? how many Islands as far as 3,000 miles you still occupy? What gives you the right to exist?
Moshe
Proud Israeli Jew!
Posted by Moshe Buhboot | 08.01.09, 15:53 GMT
Soarer - obviously you don't know history, you never read books and you are very ignorant.
take a look at all accounts of travelers in the 19th century in israel and the area and you will see that the population was very small outside of cities and in the cities at least 60% were Jews.
So even taking out of the equation the Jewish claim to the land from 2000 years ago the more modern situation is that we have a better calim than the Arabs. most "Palastinians" are immigrants which came AFTER the jews managed economic success in a land that was a desert in the 19th century.
you additional comment on Muslims and terror also sown you are unschooled, the problems between the west and the arabs started before israel - when the colonial powers (france and UK) were rebelled against by the arabs in lebanon and when anti colonial feelings erupted because of the suez canal. you obviously don't realise that one of the 5 muslim laws is to go on a holy war against infidels and kill them !!
Posted by icyi | 08.01.09, 15:43 GMT
Israel IS under attack we have had at least 6 wars, we have been once bombed with rockets from Iraq when we were not even involved. you have no idea what you are talking about. Israel is handling the Palestinian issue with greater care and humanity than any western country in similar conditions. prior to bombings leaflets are dropped to warn palestinian civilians.
Israel has a right to place settlements on all it's land . the Palestinians and the Arabs started all the wars and have complained when loosing - we are fighting for our lives.
Israel does take little account of international criticism - how can we take it seriously when its bias and subjective .
israel MUST take care of itself no one else will
Posted by icyi | 08.01.09, 15:32 GMT
42 Comments