Yesterday, I received a body-blow to my soul watching DemocracyNow. A reporter (Max Blumenthal) was covering a pro-Israel rally in New York (see clip at end of article). Below are some of the quotes from folks at the rally:
So for these supporters of Israel's continued attacks on Gaza, the total elimination of the people in Gaza is not only OK, it is "God's" wrath (on the wings of Israel's - largely U.S. supplied - missiles and munitions).
When does a holocaust justify another holocaust? What does "Never Again" mean? When is genocide ever acceptable? And when do holocausts and genocide ever lead to "peace?"
How does the creation of Palestinian ghettos with Israeli military on the walls become disconnected from Jewish ghettos with Nazi military on the walls? How does shooting and bombing of Palestinians inside these ghettos distinguish itself from the "rat hunts" of the Nazi's? How does the destruction and confiscation of Palestinian lands and property distinguish itself from what happened to Jews across Europe? How does the passports and checkpoints and endless lines to move from one place to another that is experienced by Palestinians vary from the atrocity of control and cruelty that was enacted on the Jews?
The similarities are so striking that the comparison becomes deja vu. The heart of mitvah is lost in the self-righteous rationalizations and legitimations that are put forward. It is a double assault on one's spirit and conscience that the U.S. government continues to support (covertly and overtly) the most egregious actions of Israel. This as recent as the votes of support this week in both the House and the Senate of the United States.
On Wednesday (1/14/09) I heard on the evening news that Israel likely had hundreds of missiles left to continue the bombing of Gaza. It implicitly raised the issue of how much of a munitions (and missile) stockpile lies within the Israeli arsenal. It was an interesting point to make even in passing - though as usual incomplete.
Reuters reported on January 9th that the "U.S. seeks ship to move arms to Israel." According to that report, the U.S. Military Sealift Command was seeking private contract charters in Greece to move 3,000 tons of munitions to Israel. It was also reported that such charters are rare. Why the private charter? Surely the U.S. has gotten the munitions (3,000 tons of them) as far as Greece. Why not just deliver them to an Israeli port? Regardless, clearly such a shipment is meant to refill Israel's arsenal. Currently there is a hitch in transporting the shipments through Greece, but I have little doubt that they will eventually make their destination.
MAX BLUMENTHAL: So how many civilian casualties would it take before you questioned the attack?
ISRAEL SUPPORTER 3: There is not a number involved.
ISRAEL SUPPORTER 4: Nothing good is going to come out of it, unless they keep fighting all the way with this 'til they wipe them all out.MAX BLUMENTHAL: Wipe them all out?
ISRAEL SUPPORTER 4: Yeah, they got to go strong with this.
ISRAEL SUPPORTER 5: There's only one way to deal with a cancer. You burn it out or you remove it. And when people don't want to talk and just want to destroy you and not allow you to live, there's only one thing you can do.
ISRAEL SUPPORTER 2: They are forcing us to kill their children to defend our children.
...
ISRAEL SUPPORTER 14: The reason why more Israelis haven't been killed or wounded is sheerly by the grace of God, because God has been performing just miracle after miracle. Those who are dying are suffering God's wrath, but--but we also believe that when the Angel of Death comes out, he takes everyone in his path.
So for these supporters of Israel's continued attacks on Gaza, the total elimination of the people in Gaza is not only OK, it is "God's" wrath (on the wings of Israel's - largely U.S. supplied - missiles and munitions).
When does a holocaust justify another holocaust? What does "Never Again" mean? When is genocide ever acceptable? And when do holocausts and genocide ever lead to "peace?"
How does the creation of Palestinian ghettos with Israeli military on the walls become disconnected from Jewish ghettos with Nazi military on the walls? How does shooting and bombing of Palestinians inside these ghettos distinguish itself from the "rat hunts" of the Nazi's? How does the destruction and confiscation of Palestinian lands and property distinguish itself from what happened to Jews across Europe? How does the passports and checkpoints and endless lines to move from one place to another that is experienced by Palestinians vary from the atrocity of control and cruelty that was enacted on the Jews?
The similarities are so striking that the comparison becomes deja vu. The heart of mitvah is lost in the self-righteous rationalizations and legitimations that are put forward. It is a double assault on one's spirit and conscience that the U.S. government continues to support (covertly and overtly) the most egregious actions of Israel. This as recent as the votes of support this week in both the House and the Senate of the United States.
On Wednesday (1/14/09) I heard on the evening news that Israel likely had hundreds of missiles left to continue the bombing of Gaza. It implicitly raised the issue of how much of a munitions (and missile) stockpile lies within the Israeli arsenal. It was an interesting point to make even in passing - though as usual incomplete.
Reuters reported on January 9th that the "U.S. seeks ship to move arms to Israel." According to that report, the U.S. Military Sealift Command was seeking private contract charters in Greece to move 3,000 tons of munitions to Israel. It was also reported that such charters are rare. Why the private charter? Surely the U.S. has gotten the munitions (3,000 tons of them) as far as Greece. Why not just deliver them to an Israeli port? Regardless, clearly such a shipment is meant to refill Israel's arsenal. Currently there is a hitch in transporting the shipments through Greece, but I have little doubt that they will eventually make their destination.
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