A Simple Solution to the Blockade of Gaza
Read More About: Israel, Politics, Terrorism, War,
I think we can all agree that the people of Gaza need food and medicine. I think that we can all agree that Israel has to make sure that she is not a patsy for terrorists wanting to exploit that situation. So let’s have the US government oversee an arrangement whereby anyone wishing to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza — in whatever volume it can muster — agrees to land their aircraft, dock their ships, and/or pass through checkpoints designated and maintained by the Israeli government for the purpose of inspecting the contents of this aid. In addition, the Israelis agree to check the contents in an expedited manner — within 24-36 hours — and allow all humanitarian aid to enter Gaza immediately.
Agreed?
Which puts us in the position of tacitly facilitating the blockade. Face it. There will be no de-escalation as long as Likud’s hardliners stay in control, and Israel will be less secure unless Likud’s hardliners stay in charge.
This thing was a complete tactical cock-up, and a no-win situation for Bibi strategically. He’s really got no choice but to tell the world to Cheney OFF.
I think the offer of a US facilitated blockade is a generous one — to those who have nothing to gain from Hamas being in power. There are a lot of bad actors waiting to rain crap down on Israel from Gaza and who care nothing for the people they “represent.” So let the US facilitate the blockade and let through all the humanitarian aid that the world can send.
Well, seeing as it’s an illegal occupation being enforced by an illegal act of war (a blockade) our failure to condemn the current Israeli government while Netanyahu goes out of his way to alienate what few friends Israel has in the world is about as much “support” as he deserves. Bad actors and institutionalizing a terrorist organization are a symptom of Likud’s heavy-handedness — now an never ending spiral of retribution on both sides, cause becoming effect ad nauseum.
Face it, the protesters won this round, accomplished their mission of focusing world attention on the situation and gained sympathy for their cause.
I know there are hundreds of ways to differentiate the following thought experiment — morally, legally, politically — but what kind of outcry would we hear from the likes of Krauthammer et al. if Washington “quarantined” Arizona, partitioning it off from the rest of the planet lest their extremists ways dilute cultural and political demographics of the rest of the country? IJS
You and I agree on the big picture here — read my most recent post today.
israel: Miracle in synagogue: Grad fails to explode!
Yeshiva students praying at Ashdod shul say prayer had saved their lives after rocket hits structure, fails to explode.
While 10 people were injured after a Grad rocket hit an Ashdod yeshiva’s courtyard, a much bigger disaster was averted just several blocks away. A rocket which landed near a synagogue where several worshippers prayed failed to explode on Friday.
“No doubt our prayers saved us,” one of the yeshiva students said. The synagogue was eventually demolished as security forces worked to clear the rocket parts. “This was a miracle,” another yeshiva student said.