A Vision

 

Blue ribbons as a reminder of the hostages

Spoiler alert 

In a departure from my usual Photo-blog format, this time I’m compelled to pen a post that is more ‘blog’ and less ‘Photo’. No worries if you prefer to skip this one and not consider my point of view, just read no further. I hope you’ll come back for the next posting.

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From the River to the Sea, Palestine Could be Free

When pro-Palestinian protesters gather and show their colors, you’ll always find me on the opposite side of the street with a Stand With Israel group.  

March for Israel - Washington DC November 14, 2023
more than a quarter million supporters came to DC that day

When the pro-Palestinians begin chanting ‘From the River to the Sea Palestine Will be Free’, surprisingly we do share common ground, albeit with one important stipulation - Hamas must first be defanged and its ideology expunged from the territory. Only then can two critical goals be achieved: 

• Opening a pathway for a responsible governing body to step in and join with Israeli counterparts in pursuit of the elusive Two State Solution.
• Restore a sense of security for Israelis to heal their psychological wounds after the worst slaughter of Jews since the Holocaust. 

For context: since 2007 when Hamas staged a coup violently ousting the democratically elected governance of Gaza by the Palestinian Authority, it focused on its sole mission, the destruction of Israel. Such a modus operandi was incompatible with creation of a future Palestinian State peacefully coexisting alongside Israel. In the ensuing years Hamas continued doing what it does best: launching rockets indiscriminately into Israel and staging periodic cross border attacks and kidnappings. It did not work to establish institutions to administer the civil society under its control. Additionally, it siphoned funds the international community poured into Gaza intended for assembling infrastructure. It used those funds to build and fortify underground tunnels, literally creating a subterranean city. Despite whatever deprivations the Egyptian-Israeli blockade may have presented, Hamas managed to amass stockpiles of weapons of war and sufficient fuel and food to withstand a lengthy siege. That cache was withheld from Gazans as they struggled for supplies after Israel launched its post-October 7th counterattack.

Looking ahead: 

When all hostages Hamas grabbed during that barbaric October attack are returned to their families, the IDF must complete its mission to destroy  Hamas. 

Perhaps then will Palestinians, in conjunction with their brethren in neighboring Arab lands, be enabled to elect new leaders ‘of the people and for the people’ and adopt a new mission statement - building a state peacefully living alongside Israel. At that point, ‘from the river to the sea, Palestine could really be free’.

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Empty Seats

 

Friday evenings before the Sabbath, Jewish families traditionally gather for a special meal. With everyone seated at the table, the blessing over wine is recited, a sip is taken followed by savoring a chunk of challah dipped in salt. Homes instantly become infused with a special warmth and sweetness. In Israel last month as meals ended, three to four thousand young adults throughout the country left their seats and headed out for the much anticipated Super Nova Music Festival in southern Israel. The festival grounds were at a stunning natural location full of trees near Kibbutz Re’im situated about three miles from the border with Gaza. It was to be a joyous night and day of music and dancing. 

It wasn’t. 

As the sun rose in the eastern sky the unimaginable became reality. More than 1,000 Hamas attackers clad in body armor carrying AK-47 assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades were storming the festival grounds and nearby kibbutzim. 

They came on trucks, motorcycles, and paragliders. 

They blocked the exit roads and went house to house.

They hunted. They raped. They slaughtered. They kidnapped.

By the time the orgiastic pogrom ended, over 1300 Israelis had been murdered and more than 200 men and women, some US citizens, and children as young as 9 months were kidnapped and taken back into the tunnels under Gaza. For Hamas, these hostages would be used as human shields in the inevitable Israeli retaliation.  

As Israel continues its mission to destroy Hamas’ ability to ever strike Israeli citizens again, the entire Gaza Strip has become a war zone and conditions have deteriorated. As expected, a dozen United Nations agencies have repeatedly called for an immediate ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid into the Strip. 

But where is the expression of outrage at the crimes Hamas perpetrated? 

Where are the UN resolutions of condemnation?

And where are the calls for immediate humanitarian release of the hostages?

The silence is deafening.

Next Friday as families once again gather for their Shabbat meal, there will be many empty places at the table, too many. 

The captives need to return to their seats. 

They must not be forgotten. 

Am I the enemy?

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Visit my web site anytime to view other blog-posts, Galleries of photos, and Photo-essays.

Then kindly share on social media. Thank you.