Over the past week we have observed so many surreal phenomena regarding Israel’s Operation Protective Edge. Some of what we see and hear first hand is incredulous, heart-wrenching, and even miraculous.
It has been said that a fifty year period is needed to appreciate a world event in an historical perspective. Imagine putting yourself in the prism of history, looking towards the events of the past week from either fifty years ago, or from fifty years into the future. Add the broader context of Israel, rising from the ashes of the Holocaust, to fight periodic existential wards and at the same time build a world leading modern economy.
We don’t see it, because we are caught up in the moment. We also don’t see it because, despite having real time access to world events courtesy of the internet, the media runs a narrative that is patently false. So somebody judging the actions of the average Australian responding to images of bombardment on their TV screens could be forgiven for framing their prejudicial view. Not so the observer of history from far and beyond. We ask ourselves “How could decent people allow the Holocaust to occur around them”. Today we can see why. Led by the warped and inept global diplomacy of the United States and the United Nations, and reinforced by the moral impunity of media correspondents, the world has gone more than a little crazy. It has led to constant streaming of vile anti-Semitism on social media, and open expressions of Jew-hatred in the streets of respectable cities, including Perth.
Graffiti sprayed on the wall adjacent to Carmel School on 25 July 2014
Taking our scenario of viewing contemporary events from the lens of far flung time period, imagine what people would observe and conclude? If presented with the picture of thousands of rockets being fired at Israel, that are for the most part either falling harmlessly or being blown out of the sky, would they believe it? Would they understand that the tolerance threshold of Israel that was tested beyond reasonable limits before an untenable situation demanded a military response? What would they think about the billions of dollars of international aid (and associated criticisms of marine border control) with the knowledge that Hamas used their resources to use concrete to build tunnel infrastructure instead of civil infrastructure? When they discover that UN facilities are used to store bombs, that kids textbooks teach jihad, that ambulances courier bombs and bombers, that the media is manipulated, would they perhaps ask themselves why nobody stood up to this and put a stop to it?
Although it is patently clear that all the unfortunate deaths that we see could have been avoided by Hamas simply taking the decision not to attack Israel, one of the dominant feelings is that falsehoods and partial truths in the media are rampant, and are literally life-threatening to Israelis and Jews.
Below is a range of stories, experiences, statements, and some bizarre elements of this conflict that fit the “you can’t make this stuff up” category of moral inversion. It is a random collection of links and examples of what is not being communicated. In Israel itself things are unfortunately slightly more complicated than they appear from the serene and conflict free shores of Perth, some 11,000 kilometres away. However we have a duty to remain informed.
What you may have missed in the past week:
- Israel twice accepted an Egyptian-proposed Gaza cease-fire and Hamas kept firing bombs anyway. Yet the television news (Channel 10) was quite content to report that “both sides have rejected a ceasefire”. Hamas used the ceasefire to murder more of their own people. The US tried to broker a further ceasefire, but the competence of John Kerry is called into question. A further invitation by John Kerry for Israel to commit suicide was declined. Instead the USA progressed an $11 billion arms deal with Qatar, the greatest ally of Hamas. Maybe there is further distrust because the USA is giving $47 million to Gaza at the same time they have ordered a new shipment of missiles from North Korea?
- Hamas sent an explosive laden donkey to blow up Israeli troops. By the time this event was reported in the Australian media we managed to learn that it was Israel who was at fault for blowing up a donkey.
- Civilians and children without access to shelter continued to be used as human shields to “protect” terrorists who indiscriminately fire bombs into Israel while hatred continued to be taught to children. At least Joan Rivers understands what is happening.
- On two occasions last week weapon caches were found in United Nations schools. The UN condemned rockets stored on their premises (and this was even reported in Perth) but the small detail that these rockets were returned to the terrorists for their intended use (to murder Jews) was left out of the coverage. The UN were then caught blatantly lying about IDF actions to remove weapons from schools without harming citizens. It is possible that the UN school in Beit Hanoun was struck by Hamas missiles that killed at least 17 people and injured hundreds, and that for a second time, rockets stored at the facility went “missing”.
- The “fauxtography” continues unabated. Here is an example of BBC footage where supposed victim of Israeli soldiers is carried into an ambulance, and moments later is seen freely walking about. Another of many examples was the fake screenshot of internet news site The Times of Israel. The doctored homepage vent viral on social media, purportedly showing a report of Israel’s airstrikes on the Gaza Strip being screened on a Tel Aviv beach. Prior to the photoshop, the image was of people in Brazil watching world cup soccer.
- Israel gets accused of the ethnic cleansing of Gaza by the media. Nothing could be further from the truth, especially regarding the allegation of genocide or the UN inflation of casualty numbers. Jonathan Messing makes an interesting point about the real ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. He notes that the Yarmouk refugee camp once had a population of 180,000 which today is only 20,000. These refugees are suffering. The only problem is that the camp is in Syria and not Israel. Similarly the ISIS invasion of northern Iraq has led to the complete elimination of the Syrian population, and even worse, the women of the region are subject to physical abuse and forced genital mutilation. Many questions are being asked about why the media is full of rebuke for Israel’s incursion in Gaza, but there is very little coverage about what occurs in Syria and elsewhere. As described by my friend Gary “Meanwhile, back in the real world of history, Syria suffers its bloodiest 48 hours in its civil war, over 700 dead, and Islamic Republic begins to encroach on the teetering Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. For the first time in 2000 years, Mosul is without Christians after forced conversion or expulsion is completed. All flight activity normal, however, for all airlines. Not a motion in the UN. Barely a word in the global media. History will not be kind to any of our generation.”
- Countless media articles have direct commentary and readers comments that accuse Israel of being like the Nazi’s (articles that are not linked in order not to give the satisfaction to their authors). They then pre-empt any response by noting that somebody is bound to call them anti-Semitic (which apparently they are not). It should seem obvious, but as Douglas Murray notes, “there is no “Holocaust” in Gaza. Anybody can see there is no similarity between the organized and systematic murder of 6 million Jews by the Nazis and the precision targeting of Hamas rocket sites.” In particular, the allegation that Israel uses disproportionate force is a misreading of the international rules of proportionality in armed conflict, which are intended to regulate the extent of force needed in relation to the military challenge anticipated.
- The Hamas leadership are in Qatar, far away from the devastation they have brought upon their people. All the while they have accumulated massive wealth through corruption and theft of aid. It’s not just Gaza and Hamas. The family of the Palestinian President have fled to Jordan.
- Hamas has spent millions on building tunnels and obtaining Iranian rockets. They have used cement and electricity supplied by Israel to advance their terrorist infrastructure. When it comes to electricity they have both stolen and bombed their own sources of supply, yet still blame Israel for power shortages. Money supplied by the “Enlightened Western World “has gone to bombs and guns instead of building an economy and the infrastructure to support it. As described by Aharon Lapidot “Hamas has built a monster of death and destruction aimed at us. The billions of dollars in humanitarian aid, tens of thousands of tons of concrete and construction materials, the electricity and water that Israel has supplied to Gaza for years – have been used to build these tunnels, which are intended to kill as many Israelis as possible.” Also of help to Hamas were Israeli and international human rights organisations, which constantly pressured Israel to allow the entry of cement and iron into Gaza for purposes of civilian construction. In reality, these materials mainly went into building the attack-tunnel network, instead of houses for the Palestinians.
From a social media feed the following was posted: “From the 48 Hamas prisoners that have been captured, the intelligence have been interrogating them and the most terrifying, and horrific picture is being built. They are being investigated about the many tunnels that have been found and dug under many kibbutzim that surround Gaza. The most terrifying detail is being uncovered that Hamas had a plan to attack all the settlements and kibbutzim in the area this year on Rosh Hashanah with an invasion of over 200 terrorists into almost all the settlements in the area. The tunnels went under the kibbutzim under the kindergartens and dining rooms and other areas within the kibbutz perimeters. They planned to occupy the whole area and kill as many Israeli as possible. This could have been the worst terror attack in the history of terrorism. Thousands of people, including women and children would have been slaughtered in this planned attack. I think now we start to understand how dangerous these tunnels really are. They all have to be destroyed and we cannot leave even one undetected or unattended to. These tunnels are more dangerous than any rocket or any other weapon.” A full roundup of intelligence on the Hamas tunnels and planned mega-attacks is available from Israel Matzav.
- Some interesting analysis was proposed by Richard Littlejohn, who postulates the potential reaction to an airstrike tragedy in Israel, G-d forbid. Also Major General Yaacov Amidror also talks about the future options facing Israel.
To end on a more heartening note, the unity and hope of the Jewish people has never been stronger, and the spirit of Israel is unbreakable. Sgt Sean Carmeli was killed by Hamas terrorists defending Israel. As he was an immigrant to Israel and had no local family, some 20,000 people instantly became his relatives and turned up to his funeral to pay their respects. What other nation in the world would spontaneously pay such a tribute to one of their fallen servicemen? It was also noted that in the past week more people have made Aliyah (immigrated to Israel) from the Jewish diaspora than the number of missiles fired into Israel by Hamas.
Communities around the world have been sending messages of support, supplies and funds to Israel. The Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey has received notice from EL AL requesting that all collections be stopped because the overwhelming response had outpaced the airlines ability to handle the good will.
In Perth a local community Rabbi has facilitated the collection and dispatch of donated supplies for soldiers and their families. The response was overwhelming and further collections have gathered pace.
A picture of donated goods from Perth to Israel.
Israel will win this war. At what cost we do not know, and the cost of every person’s trauma, discomfort, and in every instance the loss of any life is a cost too high. What we need more than anything now is context, so that the truthful information about what is occurring, and why it is occurring, is accessible to all. There are many who are need to move beyond their bigoted Jew hatred. Our media need to be called to task, and our leaders need to remain strong and steadfast.