2008/2009 Israeli-Gaza Conflict

Also referred to as: "Operation Cast Lead" by the Israeli government and "Gaza Massacre" by the Arab world. I don't really even know what to say, I'm just driven to say something.

I am passionate about Judaism and I try to stay informed and connected. Plus I was when I was in Israel for the 2007 summer, I met some really great people and have stayed in contact with some.

This conflict feels personal, much more so than any before. And I find that people are asking my opinion and what I know or just starting conversation with me about this.
Honestly, I didn't know very much, I was feeling very unprepared to participate and started looking at lots of sites. Wikipedia, The Jerusalem Post, NY Times, Haaretz, have all been very helpful.

What I found most interesting was my own reaction though. Through these conversations, I realized just how passionate I was, and (no surprise here) what a pro-Israel stance I had. The topic of the conflict came up and I was not prepared to hear another Jew not be pro-Israel. I felt personally offended and hurt. How could they not support? Fervently I tried to throw out facts and make analogies. In quick succession I asked rhetorical question after rhetorical question emphatically.

My pulse races and my hand gestures increase. I try to remember that everyone has the right to their opinions. I find my passion doesn't allow me to be as opened minded though. And I dislike that. This makes me then go back to the facts and really force myself to present them as best I can.


So, without reiterating the facts which can best be found in other sources, what I have found is this. Gaza is the one of the most densely populated places on earth (in the top 20, around 10,000 people/sqkm). The surrounding area of Israel is not as nearly heavily populated--few areas are. This doesn't lessen the attacks on those areas, doesn't diminish the threat. Three of the cities targeted (Sderot, Ashkelon, Netivot) have populations of around 25000; then there is Ashdod, which is the furthest away from Gaza and has over 200,000 inhabitants. When a bomb goes off in a crowded area, more people are hurt. If the opponent only has crowded areas then more people are going to be hurt.
One example which really bothers me is the latest school incident. Israeli forces bombed a school, run by the UN, in Gaza City because they said they were under attack from that point. Dozens of children were killed. Two known Hamas rocket-launchers were also killed at the school. I cannot even put into words the disgust and horror I feel. How many ways this story can be spun and how many of them where Israel looks like a monster. I want to scream that is it Hamas that is the monster. Knowing that the IDF (Israeli Defense Force) was targeting the militant cells, not just random civilian areas. Knowing they would retaliate if put under attack. They chose to enter a school and use it as the rocket-launching grounds. A School! Could there not have been an evacuation first (probably not because that would have alerted Israel where the next attack was to come from)? Was there no better location? And I think the answer is no, there wasn't. Because how heartless Israel looks, by killing innocent children in school, is part of this war.
And it is war. This is not a conflict. This is not some play ground or bar room fight about a difference of opinions. This is a fundamental battle of ideas.

My heart goes out to all involved, directly and indirectly. We are all affected by this. I pray for a swift end and for peace to begin.

[I realize this is a bit scattered and somewhat random. I just needed to put something down while my thoughts try to collect themselves into cohesiveness. I will post again when that happens and maybe even sooner.]