OpEdNews - Page 3 of Article: Israel, Palestine, and a Personal Conflict

One has to wonder how much of the ongoing Israeli policies is a mirror of U.S. interests, and how much is actually Israel's.

But here I am with a history and experience of Judaism that screams out at the wrongness - on every level - of what is happening in Gaza ... and what is happening between Israel and Palestinians.

I firmly believe that Israel, or any nation, has the right to provide for the security of its population. However, that right does not extend to the level of the actions taken by Israel in Gaza (or other Palestinian territories). It does not extend to the United States preemptive invasion of either Afghanistan or Iraq either. Such an overwhelming show of force and delivery of destruction does not bring peace - it fans the flames of hatred and reaction. Peace does not come from the total suppression of the opposition - or of a people. Peace is not simply the cessation of war. Peace ultimately comes through the creation of social and political justice where all sit down at the table - if not in friendship at least respect and dialog.

Israel will not achieve security by its activities in Gaza- even if it achieves some of its supporters' wishes of total genocide of all those within Gaza or all Palestinians. It will spawn a reaction from others in the region. Israel will be more of a target. Jews across the globe will be targets. And Muslims across the world will be targets.

The invasion of Gaza must stop, but my hopes for it doing so before George Bush leaves office are low. The timing of this activity was clearly a "make hay while the sun shines" plan. I am not even sure that it will end with Obama taking office as the first shipment of U.S. munitions through Greece was slated to arrive no later than January 25th (five days after the inauguration). The "fix" seems to be in, and Israel has been given far more than tacit U.S. approval for its "shock and awe" campaign in Gaza.

Meanwhile a civilian population is under attack with the bloody consequences of that, and the necessities of daily life (food, water. heat, sewage treatment, medical care ...) continues to become increasingly scarce. Security and peace does not lie in this direction.

One of the most profound (for me) things that I learned in studying Hebrew at Temple Sinai was that Shalom (the common Hebrew greeting and parting meaning "peace") comes from the root word "shalam" which means wholeness (or making whole as with restitution for injury). For me this came to encapsulate a truth I believe in - there is no peace without wholeness and there is no wholeness without peace. My understanding is that the Arabic "salaam" is virtually an equivalent word and concept.

So in both Hebrew and Arabic we have embedded the necessary relationship between peace and wholeness. It is only in English that we quibble over the meaning of, and requirements for, "peace." We would all do well to embrace peace and wholeness.

Shalom ... Salaam.

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Video Clip from DemocracyNow report Pro-Israel Supporters Praise Gaza Assault as Justified Despite Mounting Civilian Death Toll

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