Gaza is freed, yet Gaza wages war. That reveals the Palestinians' true agenda
By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER
Israel Invades Gaza. That is in response to an attack from Gaza that killed two Israelis and wounded another, who was kidnapped and brought back to Gaza ...which, in turn, was in response to Israel's targeted killing of terrorist leaders in Gaza...which, in turn, was in response to the indiscriminate shelling of Israeli towns by rockets launched from Gaza.
Of all the conflicts in the world, the one that seems the most tediously and hopelessly endless is the Arab-Israeli dispute, which has been going on in much the same way, it seems, for 60 years. Just about every story you'll see will characterize Israel's invasion of Gaza as a continuation of the cycle of violence.
Cycles are circular. They have no end. They have no beginning. That is why, as tempting as that figure of speech is to use, in this case it is false. It is as false as calling American attacks on Taliban remnants in Afghanistan part of a cycle of violence between the U.S. and al-Qaeda or, as Osama bin Laden would have it, between Islam and the Crusaders going back to 1099. Every party has its grievances--even Hitler had his list when he invaded Poland in 1939--but every conflict has its origin.
What is so remarkable about the current wave of violence in Gaza is that the event at the origin of the "cycle" is not at all historical, but very contemporary. The event is not buried in the mists of history. It occurred less than one year ago. Before the eyes of the whole world, Israel left Gaza. Every Jew, every soldier, every military installation, every remnant of Israeli occupation was uprooted and taken away.
How do the Palestinians respond? What have they done with Gaza, the first Palestinian territory in history to be independent, something neither the Ottomans nor the British nor the Egyptians nor the Jordanians, all of whom ruled Palestinians before the Israelis, ever permitted? On the very day of Israel's final pullout, the Palestinians began firing rockets out of Gaza into Israeli towns on the other side of the border. And remember: those are attacks not on settlers but on civilians in Israel proper, the pre-1967 Israel that the international community recognizes as legitimately part of sovereign Israel, a member state of the U.N. A thousand rockets have fallen since.
For what possible reason? Before the withdrawal, attacks across the border could have been rationalized with the usual Palestinian mantra of occupation, settlements and so on. But what can one say after the withdrawal?
The logic for those continued attacks is to be found in the so-called phase plan adopted in 1974 by the Palestine National Council in Cairo. Realizing that they would never be able to destroy Israel in one fell swoop, the Palestinians adopted a graduated plan to wipe out Israel. First, accept any territory given to them in any part of historic Palestine. Then, use that sanctuary to wage war until Israel is destroyed.
So in 2005 the Palestinians are given Gaza, free of any Jews. Do they begin building the state they say they want, constructing schools and roads and hospitals? No. They launch rockets at civilians and dig a 300-yard tunnel under the border to attack Israeli soldiers and bring back a hostage.
And this time the terrorism is carried out not by some shadowy group that the Palestinian leader can disavow, however disingenuously. This is Hamas in action--the group that was recently elected to lead the Palestinians. At least there is now truth in advertising: a Palestinian government openly committed to terrorism and to the destruction of a member state of the U.N. openly uses terrorism to carry on its war.
That is no cycle. That is an arrow. That is action with a purpose. The action began 59 years ago when the U.N. voted to solve the Palestine conundrum then ruled by Britain by creating a Jewish state and a Palestinian state side by side. The Jews accepted the compromise; the Palestinians rejected it and joined five outside Arab countries in a war to destroy the Jewish state and take all the territory for themselves.
They failed, and Israel survived. That remains, in the Palestinian view, Israel's original sin, the foundational crime for the cycle: Israel's survival. That's the reason for the rockets, for the tunneling, for the kidnapping--and for Israel's current response.
If that history is too ancient, consider the history of the past 12 months. Gaza is free of occupation, yet Gaza wages war. Why? Because this war is not about occupation, but about Israel's very existence. The so-called cycle will continue until the arrow is abandoned and the Palestinians accept a compromise--or until the arrow finds its mark and Israel dies.
Posted by: Frank G ||
07/05/2006 20:35 ||
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#1
The so-called cycle will continue until the arrow is abandoned and the Palestinians accept a compromise--or until the arrow finds its mark and Israel dies. The Palestinians aren't about compromise so that leaves the other alternative for Israel in the Paleo agenda.
#2
But I point out again the flip side to this argument. The Paleos can only do this if the Israelis continue endlessly to not only let them do it, but to encourage them to do it.
Is it masochism or self-hatred that inspires the Israelis to toy with the Paleos? Isn't it insane to pretend that a wolverine can be trained, cajoled, bribed, or "loved" into behaving like a good dog?
It is a wolverine, even if you truly, hopelessly wish that it behaves like a dog. And Paleos are Paleos. They cannot be made to act in a civilized manner, though offered the chance for the 998th time.
So you create a condition where they behave themselves or cease to be. If all they care about is land, then for each offense, take away some of their land adjacent to Israel, extend the wall around it, and keep it in trust, but fallow. Let no one, not Paleos or Jews set foot on it; but let it be known that it is permanently now and forever part of Israel.
If they keep fighting, then eventually there will be no Paleo lands left in the whole nation. As a people they immigrate to Lebanon or Egypt or Jordan. The West Bank and the Gaza Strip cease to be.
Enough now with this turning the other cheek! Its our duty to protect ourselves. Thus spoke Monsignor Velasio De Paolis, secretary of the Vaticans supreme court, referring to Muslims. Explaining his apparent rejection of Jesus admonition to his followers to turn the other cheek, De Paolis noted that The West has had relations with the Arab countries for half a century and has not been able to get the slightest concession on human rights.
De Paolis is hardly alone in his thinking; indeed, the Catholic Church is undergoing a dramatic shift from a decades-old policy to protect Catholics living under Muslim rule. The old methods of quiet diplomacy and muted appeasement have clearly failed. The estimated 40 million Christians in Dar al-Islam, notes the Barnabas Funds Patrick Sookhdeo, increasingly find themselves an embattled minority facing economic decline, dwindling rights, and physical jeopardy. Most of them, he goes on, are despised and distrusted second-class citizens, facing discrimination in education, jobs, and the courts.
These harsh circumstances are causing Christians to flee their ancestral lands for the Wests more hospitable environment. Consequently, Christian populations of the Muslim world are in a free-fall. Two small but evocative instances of this pattern: for the first time in nearly two millennia, Nazareth and Bethlehem no longer have Christian majorities.
This reality of oppression and decline stands in dramatic contrast to the surging Muslim minority of the West. Although numbering fewer than 20 million and made up mostly of immigrants and their offspring, it is an increasingly established and vocal minority, granted extensive rights and protections even as it wins new legal, cultural, and political prerogatives.
This widening disparity has caught the attention of the Roman Catholic Church, which for the first time is pointing to radical Islam, rather than the actions of Israel, as the central problem facing Christians living with Muslims.
Rumblings of this could be heard already in John Paul IIs time. For example, Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, the Vatican equivalent of foreign minister, noted in late 2003 that There are too many majority Muslim countries where non-Muslims are second-class citizens. Tauran pushed for reciprocity: Just as Muslims can build their houses of prayer anywhere in the world, the faithful of other religions should be able to do so as well.
Catholic demands for reciprocity have grown, especially since the accession of Pope Benedict XVI in April 2005, for whom Islam is a central concern. In February, the pope emphasized the need to respect the convictions and religious practices of others so that, in a reciprocal manner, the exercise of freely-chosen religion is truly assured to all. In May, he again stressed the need for reciprocity: Christians must love immigrants and Muslims must treat well the Christians among them.
Lower-ranking clerics, as usual, are more outspoken. Islams radicalization is the principal cause of the Christian exodus, asserts Monsignor Philippe Brizard, director general of Oeuvre dOrient, a French organization focused on Middle Eastern Christians. Bishop Rino Fisichella, rector of the Lateran University in Rome, advises the Church to drop its diplomatic silence and instead put pressure on international organizations to make the societies and states in majority Muslim countries face up to their responsibilities.
The Danish cartoons crisis offered a typical example of Catholic disillusionment. Church leaders initially criticized the publication of the Muhammad cartoons. But when Muslims responded by murdering Catholic priests in Turkey and Nigeria, not to speak of scores of Christians killed during five days of riots in Nigeria, the Church responded with warnings to Muslims. If we tell our people they have no right to offend, we have to tell the others they have no right to destroy us, said Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the Vaticans Secretary of State. We must always stress our demand for reciprocity in political contacts with authorities in Islamic countries and, even more, in cultural contacts, added Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo, its foreign minister.
Obtaining the same rights for Christians in Islamdom that Muslims enjoy in Christendom has become the key to the Vaticans diplomacy toward Muslims. This balanced, serious approach marks a profound improvement in understanding that could have implications well beyond the Church, given how many lay politicians heed its leadership in interfaith matters. Should Western states also promote the principle of reciprocity, the results should indeed be interesting.
Posted by: Steve ||
07/05/2006 10:06 ||
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#1
The God of Israel is a jealous god. He says so in his ten commandments. Christ preaches tolerance but one only need look at the old testament to see what God the Father is capable of. It is a grave misunderstanding to think that Christians tolerance is a weakness. It is a strength. Every opportunity is given to forgive the enemy. Our enemy has no desire for redemption, thus forgiveness is not what's at play here. I'm sad because I can see that a major war is inevitable.
#2
I've prayed for my enemies, my Catholci faith says I shoudl do so. But that didn't stop me from putting a bullet into his head or calling in an airtrike or artillery back in the day, because the situation was just and right.
Muslims are sadly mistaken if they think Christians are docile. They obviously have not met the Irish. They may think they want to wake a second crusade, but God have mercy on them if they do - because we will have no mercy in us if they provoke us to such extremes.
Part of the problem is that when a Hajji thinks of a christian, he pictures one of the tame, beaten down varieties native to his land. We do not fit the template. We are different enough that labeling us christian causes severe cognitive dissonance.
Whe a Hajji tries to make us fit the template, he gets his head handed to him. The other Hajjis observe this. More dissonance, followed by frightened seething ensues. Don't forget tht they are weak on the whole Cause-Effect thing. And pitifully ignorant of both their own and other's history.
I wonder if the fools in the vatican will dig out some olde tyme Church Millitant(tm), and remind themselves and the world that we too are (or should be, at least) an expansionist faith that is willing to bring the world into it's fold. At gunpoint, if others insist on making it a physical as opposed to a spiritual/intelectual contest. Turn the other cheek (to verbal and symbolic provocations and insults) is one thing, lie down and die (when physicaly attacked) is another.
The treasonous secular left, is broadly similar in outline to Hajji. Particularly WRT their ignorance of the outside world. It explains why the moonbats and the Islamonutz align so well.
Should Western states also promote the principle of reciprocity, the results should indeed be interesting.
As soon as the political leaders of the west get over their inordianate fear of oil embargos, this will be a natural weapon to beat the tyrants over the head politicaly and diplomaticly with. Fat chance of that happening.
Posted by: N guard ||
07/05/2006 11:34 Comments ||
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I'm Baaaack! Them Islamists need to look a little deeper in the Qur'an, viz.
Say ye: "We believe in God, and the revelation given to us, and to Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob, and all the Tribes, and that given to Moses and Jesus, and that given to [all] Prophets from their Lord. We make no difference between one and another of them, and we bow to God [In Islam]"
Posted by: Frank G ||
07/05/2006 12:12 Comments ||
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#6
I'll believe it when I see it. Like the rest of the potical entities they pile on Israel because it seems the easier action. This is another reason for the pro-Israel Evangelical Movement who brave trips to the Holy Land for their faith.
But the Catholic Church is dynamic and capable of change and growth.
Kasur: The Sharing Life Ministry Pakistan team rushed to a small village in Kasur on information of killing and demolishing home of one Christian family.
Mansha Masih son of Izhaq Masih his father and two brothers were living at village Gadi Wind district Kasur from their forefathers. They are poor laborer and hardly meet their needs. Mansha and his brothers are married.
A Muslim fellow named as Nazar Mohammad son of Murly Khan claimed that the house in which they were living is his property; litigation is pending with the courts. Nazar Mohammad is a businessman and has strong terms with police officers and political leaders.
According to Mansha Masih, Nazar Mohammad made fake documents of the disputed property with the help of Patwari (record keeper of lands).
One of SLMP team members asked Mansha Masih that how long they are living for. Mansha replied, We are living in the house from our forefathers, Now about 40 years later Nazar Mohammad claimed that the land of the house belongs to him.
On the day of occurrence Mansha, his father and brothers were at their work place while Manshas wife named as Arshad Bibi was present at the house with her daughter aged 2 years and a son about 40 days. Nazar Mohammad came there along with some vagabonds armed with deadly weapons, some policemen and started beating Manshas wife Arshad Bibi and throwing the households out in the street and bulldozed the house.
Manshas 40 days son was lying in the bed. When Nazar Mohammad etc were throwing the households out in the street they also threw bed with. 40 days old baby son of Mansha received injury on his chest and got expired. When police saw the dead body of Manshas son they fled away from the spot.
Mansha and his brothers were informed later about the occurrence, they rushed the house and saw the house was demolished and households were scattered in the streets while Arshad Bibi was weeping on the dead body of her son
#10
This is beginning to happen in many of the protestant churches, as well. Very "devout" Bush followers for the WoT in the Southern Baptist org. Of course, even the church has its LLL moonbats, like the Methodist groups calling for pulling all funding of the JOOOOOOS in Israel, etc.
I, for one, am with you, OS. As a Christian, yes I will pray for them, and even try to explain my faith to them in order to convert them. However, I draw the line at lying down in fear for my family, my country or my God. They only need to read the history of their ancestors vs. the God of Abraham in the O.T. to see what He is truly capable of, through His people.
Posted by: BA ||
07/05/2006 13:37 Comments ||
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#11
Wait till Subsaharan African Christianity comes fully into its own.
At that time, the leadership of the various Christian communities will no longer be in the hands of Western elites with an appeasement habit.
It will be in the hands of people who have no illusions about Islam and no inclination to "make nice."
Islam will reap such a whirlwind that our current conduct of the GWOT will be the subject of Muslim nostalgia for the good old days.
#12
Also Jesus said "turn YOUR other cheek". He never told you had to let the bad guy rape or kill another person.
Also the only people he speaks about as beyond pardon is "those who scandalize the little ones". And I think a guy who has sex with a nine year old girl fits the description.
#17
The muslim hard boyz think about a billion or so pissed off muslims are a force to be reckoned with. phef. problem is the muslims don't recall the last time a bunch of hard core catholics had a say in the out come of the defense of western civiliation. the muzzies might want to brush up on history as taught (truthfully) by western civ. muzzies are in for a rude awakening. butchery was taught to catholics by the muzzies. later the catholics perfected the art/science of butchery as taught by sub human muzzies. setting aside the notion that catholics should turn the other cheek, muzzies will rue the day the catholics were allowed to survive anywhere in the so-called muslim world. mark my words well. muzzies will truly be a tiny minority before the next fifty years passes. how many divisions does the pope have he asked? the muzzies are about to find out the hard way...
Posted by: Mark Z ||
07/05/2006 19:05 Comments ||
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#18
I'm glad you came back safe and sound, Bodyguard. I look forward to hearing your thoughts and adventures.
I fly atop the world's tallest buildings.
I stand watch in America's halls of justice.
I stand side by side with the Maple Leaf on the worlds longest undefended border.
I fly majestically over institutions of learning.
I stand guard with power in the world.
Look up and see me.
I stand for peace, honor, truth and justice.
I stand for freedom.
I am confident.
I am arrogant.
I am proud.
When I am flown with my fellow banners,
my head is a little higher,
my colors a little truer.
I bow to no one!
I am recognized all over the world.
I am honored - I am saluted.
I am loved - I am revered.
I am respected -- and I am feared.
I have fought in every battle of every war for more then 200 years. I was flown at Valley Forge, Gettysburg, Shiloh and Appomattox. I was there at San Juan Hill, the trenches of France, in the Argonne Forest, Anzio, Rome and the beaches of Normandy, Guam. Okinawa, Korea and KheSan, Saigon Vietnam.
Know me,
I was there.
I led my troops, I was dirty, battle worn and tired,
but my soldiers cheered me, And I was proud.
I have been burned, torn and trampled on the streets of countries I have helped set free. It does not hurt,
for I am invincible.
I have been soiled upon, burned, torn and trampled on the streets of my country. And when it's by those whom I've served in battle -- it hurts.
But I shall overcome -- for I am strong.
I have slipped the bonds of Earth and stood watch over the uncharted frontiers of space from my vantage point on the moon.
I have borne silent witness to all
of America's finest hours...
#1
It's interesting. No comments in 23 hours and 15 minutes.
No "colored bit of cloth" halfwit brain farts by your one-trick pony pet farce.
No "Yes, it stands for something and, as such, should be protected and defended." sentiments.
Just "we'll know the idjits when they burn it" comments on the other thread. Yeah, they're "idjits", and less. Far less. So is the laughable notion that everything is fair game with "free speech" - you all know, if you have any honesty or respect for honesty, there are many things which supersede this very modern change. Another loss for America and another win for PC constitutional progressivism.
I guess "Old Glory", in the name of touchy-feely, has simply died for most people who happen to reside in this land, by luck or whatever. Must be luck, primarily.
How sad.
The "free speech" thing is a two-edged sword.
You've proven it can kill concepts much greater than any single man. Concepts once courageously believed worth dying for. Literally.
Killed this fine post.
It can even kill dreams.
In fact, it's doing so every day. You often decry the Tranzi socialist assholes of Hollywood for precisely this incessant drumbeat of lost hope, intentional erosion of faith in institutions, endlessly defaming good people in broad swaths, endlessly suborning loyalty and destroying values, and the mountains of pure lies and fantasy.
Move over Widow Jones, Freddy Phelps has the "right" to stab you in the heart at the peak moment of your grief.
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trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
Gaza is freed, yet Gaza wages war. That reveals the Palestinians' true agenda
I fly atop the world's tallest buildings.
