Israel: Trust in the Truth Set Gaza Free
By Diane V. McLoughlin - The McLoughlin Post; Jan. 16, '09
Peace is achievable. The most important element in developing peace with trust is with the
truth. The truth, and if Israelis actually were given the opportunity to contemplate it this
would go a long way, is that Hamas abided by the ceasefire. There were no rockets fired by
Hamas during the ceasefire, and Hamas did its very best to deter splinter groups from firing
at Southern Israel. That they did this in the midst of the eighteen month long military siege,
a siege that continues as I write, is nothing short of stupendous. How many rockets were
fired in July? One. August? Eight. September, one. October, one. November 4 Israel broke
the ceasefire killing six.
In point of fact, Israel reveals something quite alarming about itself and its long-term
intentions in that during the entire time of the ceasefire, even though it became clear that
there were no more rockets in real terms, Israel did not prepare the ground for a more
durable and hopeful situation. Israel girded for all-out military attack against this bereft,
destitute, starving and heavily populated trapped ghetto - the entire time of the ceasefire.
The attack was in planning for many months.
Even now Israel refuses to open the borders to allow the humanitarian aid to get in. But
unlike before, when Gaza had hundreds of tunnels from which to bring in at least some
food, some medicine, some supplies - almost all of those are now gone while the borders
remain shut to their children's cries of hunger, fear and pain.
Solutions, agreements and peace terms have to be built on a solid foundation of truth.
There are people of good will. They are good people. They want what is right. But for some
there is still a reluctance to see. Do not see with eyes that know what should be. See what
is. Israel's leadership demonstrates not a shred of evidence that it has any respect for
Palestinian human life or a wish for peaceful terms. And there are reasons why this is so -
none of them built on moral ground.
Hamas needs to be recognized as the legitimate political leadership of the Palestinian
people. International peace keepers should be brought in to control both sides - the side
that will give peacekeepers the hardest time would remain to be seen.
Control of the media on both sides would have to be taken over, so that the hard work of
humanizing both narratives would be able to begin.
Forcing the implementation of equal rights between parties may well take on dimensions
reminiscent of the American Deep South during the civil rights unrest period of the 50's
and 60's - storm troopers guarding the front doors of the kindergarten to protect children
being integrated against the violent protest of the adults. Because within Israel proper, the
segregation of Arab-Israelis is grim.
I am a stubborn optimist. I believe, and recent human history clearly demonstrates, that it is
possible to defuse the powder keg of human conflict, even in the face of tremendous
suffering and injustice, and make it a thing of the past.
home
By Diane V. McLoughlin - The McLoughlin Post; Jan. 16, '09
Peace is achievable. The most important element in developing peace with trust is with the
truth. The truth, and if Israelis actually were given the opportunity to contemplate it this
would go a long way, is that Hamas abided by the ceasefire. There were no rockets fired by
Hamas during the ceasefire, and Hamas did its very best to deter splinter groups from firing
at Southern Israel. That they did this in the midst of the eighteen month long military siege,
a siege that continues as I write, is nothing short of stupendous. How many rockets were
fired in July? One. August? Eight. September, one. October, one. November 4 Israel broke
the ceasefire killing six.
In point of fact, Israel reveals something quite alarming about itself and its long-term
intentions in that during the entire time of the ceasefire, even though it became clear that
there were no more rockets in real terms, Israel did not prepare the ground for a more
durable and hopeful situation. Israel girded for all-out military attack against this bereft,
destitute, starving and heavily populated trapped ghetto - the entire time of the ceasefire.
The attack was in planning for many months.
Even now Israel refuses to open the borders to allow the humanitarian aid to get in. But
unlike before, when Gaza had hundreds of tunnels from which to bring in at least some
food, some medicine, some supplies - almost all of those are now gone while the borders
remain shut to their children's cries of hunger, fear and pain.
Solutions, agreements and peace terms have to be built on a solid foundation of truth.
There are people of good will. They are good people. They want what is right. But for some
there is still a reluctance to see. Do not see with eyes that know what should be. See what
is. Israel's leadership demonstrates not a shred of evidence that it has any respect for
Palestinian human life or a wish for peaceful terms. And there are reasons why this is so -
none of them built on moral ground.
Hamas needs to be recognized as the legitimate political leadership of the Palestinian
people. International peace keepers should be brought in to control both sides - the side
that will give peacekeepers the hardest time would remain to be seen.
Control of the media on both sides would have to be taken over, so that the hard work of
humanizing both narratives would be able to begin.
Forcing the implementation of equal rights between parties may well take on dimensions
reminiscent of the American Deep South during the civil rights unrest period of the 50's
and 60's - storm troopers guarding the front doors of the kindergarten to protect children
being integrated against the violent protest of the adults. Because within Israel proper, the
segregation of Arab-Israelis is grim.
I am a stubborn optimist. I believe, and recent human history clearly demonstrates, that it is
possible to defuse the powder keg of human conflict, even in the face of tremendous
suffering and injustice, and make it a thing of the past.
home
