I’ve just finished reading an interesting post at BlogHer, which includes links to a number of blogs written by women who either live in, or come from Israel, Palestine and Lebanon. All are worth a look if you want to learn more about the different perspectives of the people involved in the current Middle East crisis.
Speaking of which – the British government have finally started the evacuation of UK nationals, I’m sure that for most it isn’t a moment too soon. Quite what will happen to the people left behind, who have nowhere else to go, is anyones guess. I find it hard to comprehend what the Israeli government hope to achieve, while I can understand their desire to have the kidnapped soldiers returned, a constant bombardment of innocent people is not going to make that happen any time soon. At the time of writing 230 people have been killed in Lebanon (mostly civilians) and 25 in Israel. All for the sake of two people. I genuinely sympathise with the families of the missing soldiers, but I still think that the actions of their government are counter-productive, and illegal.
As we all know, Israel have both the political and financial backing of the US government., and with this backing comes a measure of protection. This is fortunate for them, because most other countries would be labelled as ‘rogue states’ if they emulated their actions.
I realise the paragraphs above may have upset some people who view the situation differently. Such people are welcome to leave a comment, but don’t expect me to agree with you..
Technorati Tags: israel_lebanon, middle_east_crisis, us_government_policy_israel, uk_nationals_evacuated
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Kate
Mum, blogger and editor based in the north of England; interests include fog knitting, cat herding and jelly juggling. If you want to get in touch for any reason you can find me on Twitter, LinkedIn or drop me a line via the contact page on my portfolio. Alternatively, you can follow this blog via it's Facebook page, or subscribe to the feed.
Jack Yan
I agree with you Kate, and have posted to that end over the past couple of days. It’s not necessarily the “popular” view, given that so much of the Internet is US-dominated, but nonetheless it is important to be true to ourselves and say what we feel.
Thanks *(asterisk) You are right, it does seem to be a minority view, online at least.
At least we do have an opportunity to express a different view, I don’t suppose it will make much difference to the die hard fanatics, but it might make more moderate people think.
I have the deepest sympathy with the families of the Israeli soldiers but I’m afraid that the actions of their government are more likely to get them killed all the quicker.
Without wishing to sound too pessimistic, I don’t think any lasting peace will break out in the middle-east in my daughter’s lifetime. Hatred has become too deeply ingrained and political positions too deeply intrenched. I don’t see a happy ending at all.
Steg, I can’t see any end to the problems there either. People seem to be so entrenched in such incompatible viewpoints, it doesn’t seem possible for peace to break out. Even when a country does settle down and become stable, someone will come along and stir things up to further their own agenda.
In response to what steg said. Who actually knows if their alive? Also anybody aware of the gaza situation. It seems to me that the only way that the problems betweeen Israel and hamas, hizbollhah etc will end is if one decides to take the higher ground and stop their monkey business. Any predictions on the likelihood of that?
Pippa – If you consider the widespread bombing there is a chance that they (the soldiers) have died in an Israeli strike. Not that the Israeli government would ever admit that.
I can’t see any side taking the high ground and behaving like mature adults in the near, or distant future. It’s sad to think of how many more generations will have their lives blighted by all this turmoil and unrest.
Kate you are right about pammy A. Even Tommy Lee looks like a better prospect than Kid rock and that is saying something. BTW have just posted a load of spitting image and blackadder stuff which I thought would brighten up peoples days a bit.
I fear the only thing the Isreali’s are doing, is creating yet another generation of young people who are going to be willing martyrs (on both sides). Standing in the distance watching this unfold and seeing the viewpoint of both sides, there is no way out. Isn’t religion wonderful!
Very well said!
Pippa – At least Tommy Lee had a proper name. Imagine becoming Mrs Rock, how very silly LOL
St Jude – Oh yes, religion is wonderful, it’s all about peace you know.
Thanks Ally!
I agree with your opinion, Kate, as well as those of your readers and commenters—every human is entitled to their opinions.
As you well know, I am no lover of Bush or war—quite frankly, I am ashamed to say I am American because it almost automatically includes me as a warmonger.
Israel, however, is a different story. Their agression, if you will, is not about two or three captured soldiers; it is about survival of the nation itself.
Iran has vowed publicly to wipe Israel off the map, which is not on any map in the Middle East: it is called Palestine.
Hezbollah is a fundamentalist Shiite terrorist group funded by Iran and Syria. Hezbollah is also a “political party” in the Lebanese government, and the reason why the Lebanese army is doing nothing.
Hamas is a fundamentalist Sunni terrorist group funded by Iran. It is the “political party” in power in Palestine.
Terrorists, which the English have already felt the wrath of, care nothing about innocent life. Their mission is to destroy infidels in the name of God. Quite often they are called suicide bombers, which to me validates their claim to martydom; truly, they are homicide bombers, which in recent months have stepped up activity in Israel and other countries.
Hezbollah, Hamas, Syria, and Iran have been “baiting” Israel for some time; the capture of Israel soldiers was the boilover point, not the sole reason for Israel’s retailiation.
I do not condone the slaughter of innocent people any more than anyone else. I can, however, understand Israel’s motive: “It is either them or us, and we choose us.”
I think any nation would choose the same.
Charlie – Yes, I can see your point, and I’m sure the Israeli goverment think they are doing what is best for Israel, but all they will achieve is to store even more trouble up for the future. You can’t bomb an ideology.
Britain may have been attacked by terrorists who called themselves Islamic this time, but in the past we had other terrorists, in the shape of the IRA. If the UK government had retaliated against them by bombing Dublin and Belfast bombs would still be going off in pubs, trains and shopping centres now, but they aren’t because cooler heads prevailed – and some of those cooler heads are members of parliament who are also classed as terrorists.
The same is true in France and Spain, who have their problems with ETA.
After the 1917 uprising (which wasn’t widely supported)the British did shell Dublin, killing many civilians who had not supported the rebellion, and support for the IRA rose enormously. This led to the 1922 uprising which resulted in independence for most of the country.
I do sympathise with the ordinary people in Israel, but I can’t accept that what their government is doing is correct. It is enormously disproportionate, illegal and counter-productive.
They need to take the high ground and involve themselves in dialogue with moderates and to show that they distinguish between terrorists and ordinary people. By retaliating in this way they make themselves as bad as Hezbollah.
BTW – This is the first time we have disagreed about something, usualy we agree at least on most points of an issue. Also, I have noticed over the last few days, the people who support the actions of Israel tend to come from your side of the pond, but Europeans tend to be anti. It makes you realise that we do have very different perspectives on things sometimes.