On Monday, May 31, 2010, as Memorial Day ceremonies were being conducted across the United States, an event was taking place approximately a few thousand miles across the globe in the waters off of a small country called Israel. For some time now, Israel has committed its navy to a blockade of vessels attempting to make their way into the Gaza Strip claiming to have humanitarian aid to be delivered to the Palestinian people who live in the Gaza and who are also under the auspices of the leadership of the Hamas which is a terrorist organization which is chartered to see to the destruction of the State of Israel.
When a Pro-Palestinian seafaring vessel attempted to run the blockade, the Israeli navy asked for it to stop and to enter the Port of Asdod to be inspected for weapons and other equipment that would not fall under the title of humanitarian aid. The captain of the vessel said that he would not, so the Israeli's sent a crack Navy Seal team in to board the vessel by helicopter. What transpired during this "raid" or "operation" is not fully clear, but the video that is being show around the world seems to be pretty clear to me. It shows the Israeli commando's repelling out of the helicopter with their weapons slung over their shoulders. It did not appear whatsoever that the "activists" aboard the vessel were fired upon until after they began to attack the commando's with iron and metal rods and chairs.
Once the operation seemed to be under control, there were ten dead activist's and four seriously wounded Israeli Commandos. It is somewhat clear that the Israeli's attempted to handle the situation peacefully, but the vessels attempting to run the blockade appeared to have something to hide.
I am writing this Blog with an open mind. First, I will say that throughout history, when it came to military operations, not all are going to go according to plan. The Israeli military is always rehearsing operations such as these and sometimes they will not go according to plan. However, again, looking at the video, it appears that the soldiers only used their weapons when they came under attack, not when they were repelling down the ropes from the helicopters.
I am one who has had the great opportunity to live in the State of Israel for nearly three years. I was a tourist my first time around and then I was a student in the High School in Israel program. I had the opportunity to see how great Israel is and how rich the history of the country is. I am not speaking just from the biblical sense but in plain history.
Today, on talk shows across the United States, people were both defending Israel's actions and criticizing and condemning what Israel did. On the side of the defense of Israel, Conservative talk show hosts were heard saying that Israel has a right to defend itself due to the fact that it is at a constant state of war with nearly five, if not more enemy countries that border the state. At the same time, within the confines of the State of Israel, Hamas militants fire scud rockets and more, and I mean hundreds if not thousands, at Israeli cities and towns.
I remember back in the early 1980s when I lived in bomb shelters for days at a time because of the rockets landing on these same cities and towns that I speak of. It is not pleasant to live like this, under the gun on a daily basis, but at least we knew we were safe.
For those criticizing Israel for its actions, all that they can come up with is the fact that today's rhetoric is all pro-Israel. Well, I beg to differ. The rhetoric and the news broadcasts are always ready and willing to show what they feel are terrible offenses committed by the Israeli military instead of telling and showing the real story.
I also heard that the United States over the years has given Israel plenty of aid and financial assistance. Well, this is true. At the same time, Israel has given back each and every time. Here are a couple of examples: Israel has some of the greatest medical institutions in the world. The hospitals are called the Hadassah Hospitals. Not only do they treat Israeli's, but they treat Arabs and those who are committed to the destruction of the State of Israel as well. How do I know this? I have seen it first hand.
Israel and the United States also have open trade secret agreements. Whenever something seems to be amiss in the Middle East, Israel is right there to discuss what they know with the United States. Here is an example: In late July 1990, Israel warned the United States that Iraq was massing its military on the border of Kuwait and that they were going to invade on the first of August. For some reason, the United States wanted to believe the Iraqi's position and that they were only performing war games. Lo and behold, the Iraqi army did invade Kuwait and we all know what happened after that.
Here is another bit of information that I would like to share: There has been great cooperation and training between Israeli law enforcement personnel and U.S. law enforcement personnel.
These examples only proves that Israel is the greatest ally the U.S. has in the region and I personally challenge the Obama Administration to please find out the facts before they go off to condemn the greatest ally that we have in the world. I am having a real hard time trying to understand our current president's position on the issues that face this great nation of ours and I feel that it is time to educate him, his administration and let it trickle down to those who only are quick to blame before they have all of the answers. With a bit of education, the answers come much easier.
Finally, I want to say this: Back in 1987 or 1988, while I lived in Washington, D.C. after graduating from The American University, I happened to be invited by a friend to dinner after work. What I was not expecting was that there was going to be a third guest. When we were introduced, I found it almost horrifying that I was going to be sitting face-to-face with a sworn enemy of mine, this country's and Israel's as well. He was introduced actually as a former member of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), the long standing terrorist organization led by the late Yasser Arafat.
What I found interesting during this dinner and conversation was that this gentleman was no longer a member of the PLO. He told me that he could not continue to be a part of it because he did not believe that it was right to simply kill and mutilate innocent children and even babies as they were not developed enough to understand the conflict between our two peoples. The conversation was cordial and friendly and we left shaking hands and even giving each other a hug.
One last thing, in Israel, there are citizens of the state who are not Jewish, but what are known as Israeli Arabs (Druze). They are citizens and they serve in the Israeli army and air force. They are loyal to the State of Israel and do not want any part of the its destruction.
I challenge those who do not have an open mind to research what Israel has offered and still has to offer the world as well as the United States. I challenge these people to become educated and know why there is such a conflict between the Israeli's, its Arab neighbors and the Palestinian people.
Thank you and God Bless!
References:
http://www.mideastweb.org/hamas.htm
The principles of the Hamas are stated in their Covenant or Charter, given in full below. Following are highlights.
"Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it." (The Martyr, Imam Hassan al-Banna, of blessed memory).
"The Islamic Resistance Movement believes that the land of Palestine is an Islamic Waqf consecrated for future Muslim generations until Judgement Day. It, or any part of it, should not be squandered: it, or any part of it, should not be given up. "
"There is no solution for the Palestinian question except through Jihad. Initiatives, proposals and international conferences are all a waste of time and vain endeavors."
"After Palestine, the Zionists aspire to expand from the Nile to the Euphrates. When they will have digested the region they overtook, they will aspire to further expansion, and so on. Their plan is embodied in the "Protocols of the Elders of Zion", and their present conduct is the best proof of what we are saying."
To conclude, it is time to recognize all people's of all nations and that we find a way to live in peace. Israel for one has given up so much to only find itself on the wrong side of world public opinion each and every time.
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