Berl Falbaum
We’ll begin with an unfair, unjust and ugly truth: Once again, the world is condemning Israel for the war in Gaza, while ignoring other disasters, some much worse, around the globe.
Not only does the world give Hamas a pass -- the war would be over immediately if the terrorist organization laid down its arms -- but it expresses little anger or concern over other global humanitarian crises.
Here are just a few facts as reported by various sources:
--In the Sudan, conflict has produced “one of the worst humanitarian nightmares in recent years,” says the U.N. Three million children have been displaced, more than the entire population in Gaza. More than 70,000 are facing malnutrition.
--Nearly seven million people have been displaced in the Democratic Republic of Congo, amid accusations of mass killings.
--In Yemen, 250,000 have died in conflicts with 20 million needing assistance.
--In the Central African Republic, nearly 6 percent of the total population, it is estimated, died in 2022.
In Ukraine -- remember Ukraine? -- Russia is executing thousands of civilians and has abducted ten of thousands of children.
London’s International Institute for Strategic Studies states in its latest study there were 183 conflicts in the world in 2023.
This hypocrisy, of course, is not new. Since its founding in 1948, Israel has been the victim of a double-standard, fighting several wars initiated by neighboring Arabs states determined to destroy the Jewish state and has been the victim of countless terrorist attacks.
Regrettably, little can be done to change that reality -- as unfair as that may be.
It is futile for Israel and its supporters to argue that civilians die in all wars, indeed, generally in greater numbers than those in the military. Yes, the Allies deliberately leveled several German and Japanese cities, killing tens of thousands in World War II, and two million died in Vietnam. Do we need mention the two A-bombs?
But yelling “hypocrisy,” “unfair,” or “Hamas uses civilians as shields,” while all true, is a waste of political energy, and does nothing to quell the critics’ voices. Worse, arguing that others have committed humanitarian disasters as well does not alleviate guilt, it exacerbates it. We don’t accept the “Johnnie did it too” excuse from our children. And, as Jews, we have always put a premium on human life, even the lives of our enemies.
I have written about the world’s hypocrisy in previous columns, but the debate over Gaza must be broader and more encompassing; it cannot just end there.
Not only has Israel failed in effectively refuting unjust charges, but it has given fodder to critics with fiery, insensitive and inciteful language.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government have inflamed the political rhetoric and hatred directed at Israel.
They have brazenly ignored the plight of Gazans and used provocative language in pledging to continue its miliary operations, the critics be damned.
Israel’s uncompromising stance has put undue pressure on President Biden, Israel’s important, prominent and invaluably ally. Indeed, Biden has endangered his reelection with his support of Israel.
A display of diplomacy and expression of sympathy for the loss of civilian lives surely would have been welcomed by some, particularly those who understand Israel’s conundrum but find themselves politically pressured to join the unending chorus of criticism aimed at Israel.
As a result, Israel is becoming more isolated daily and eventually may pay a price in cancelled economic pacts, strained relationships with allies, loss of vital intelligence gathering with other countries, impairment of partnerships in dealing with Iran and its proxies and other serious repercussions.
It could have much different if, for instance, Netanyahu had addressed the world, and Gazans in particular, with understanding along the following lines:
“We grieve the death of innocent civilians. It is heartbreaking and gut-wrenching. We did not choose this war. Indeed, thousands of Gazans crossed the border daily to work in Israel; we had programs to take sick civilians to our hospitals.
We had hoped that when we left Gaza in 2005, we could live side-by-side in peace.
“We hoped that Hamas would use the billions of dollars it received in aid to build an infrastructure that would improve the lives of Gazans with educational, medical, and other vital services. Instead, it built tunnels in preparation of this conflict.
“Hamas chose war on October 7 with a savage attack and butchery that was unimaginable. There was no war October 6 and there doesn’t have to be a war tomorrow. All Hamas had to do is lay down its arms.
“It was another Israeli prime minister, Golda Meir, who said, ‘We can forgive [you] for killing our children. But we cannot forgive [you] for forcing us to kill your children.’
“To the Gazans I say, Israel prays this war will end soon, and we will do what we can to restore Gaza and pledge to help you rebuild your lives.”
If Netanyahu had only displayed more statesmanship and did not cater to the baser instincts of some of his ministers and his far-right constituency. And he could have -- nay, should have -- provided much needed humanitarian aid for civilians.
Netanyahu’s political opportunism has cost Israel dearly. As New York Times Columnist Thomas L. Friedman observed:
“I am seeing an increasingly rapid erosion of Israel’s standing among friendly nations -- a level of acceptance and legitimacy that was painstakingly built over decades.”
Now the question becomes: Can that acceptance and legitimacy be restored?
—————
Berl Falbaum is a veteran political journalist and author.
Not only does the world give Hamas a pass -- the war would be over immediately if the terrorist organization laid down its arms -- but it expresses little anger or concern over other global humanitarian crises.
Here are just a few facts as reported by various sources:
--In the Sudan, conflict has produced “one of the worst humanitarian nightmares in recent years,” says the U.N. Three million children have been displaced, more than the entire population in Gaza. More than 70,000 are facing malnutrition.
--Nearly seven million people have been displaced in the Democratic Republic of Congo, amid accusations of mass killings.
--In Yemen, 250,000 have died in conflicts with 20 million needing assistance.
--In the Central African Republic, nearly 6 percent of the total population, it is estimated, died in 2022.
In Ukraine -- remember Ukraine? -- Russia is executing thousands of civilians and has abducted ten of thousands of children.
London’s International Institute for Strategic Studies states in its latest study there were 183 conflicts in the world in 2023.
This hypocrisy, of course, is not new. Since its founding in 1948, Israel has been the victim of a double-standard, fighting several wars initiated by neighboring Arabs states determined to destroy the Jewish state and has been the victim of countless terrorist attacks.
Regrettably, little can be done to change that reality -- as unfair as that may be.
It is futile for Israel and its supporters to argue that civilians die in all wars, indeed, generally in greater numbers than those in the military. Yes, the Allies deliberately leveled several German and Japanese cities, killing tens of thousands in World War II, and two million died in Vietnam. Do we need mention the two A-bombs?
But yelling “hypocrisy,” “unfair,” or “Hamas uses civilians as shields,” while all true, is a waste of political energy, and does nothing to quell the critics’ voices. Worse, arguing that others have committed humanitarian disasters as well does not alleviate guilt, it exacerbates it. We don’t accept the “Johnnie did it too” excuse from our children. And, as Jews, we have always put a premium on human life, even the lives of our enemies.
I have written about the world’s hypocrisy in previous columns, but the debate over Gaza must be broader and more encompassing; it cannot just end there.
Not only has Israel failed in effectively refuting unjust charges, but it has given fodder to critics with fiery, insensitive and inciteful language.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government have inflamed the political rhetoric and hatred directed at Israel.
They have brazenly ignored the plight of Gazans and used provocative language in pledging to continue its miliary operations, the critics be damned.
Israel’s uncompromising stance has put undue pressure on President Biden, Israel’s important, prominent and invaluably ally. Indeed, Biden has endangered his reelection with his support of Israel.
A display of diplomacy and expression of sympathy for the loss of civilian lives surely would have been welcomed by some, particularly those who understand Israel’s conundrum but find themselves politically pressured to join the unending chorus of criticism aimed at Israel.
As a result, Israel is becoming more isolated daily and eventually may pay a price in cancelled economic pacts, strained relationships with allies, loss of vital intelligence gathering with other countries, impairment of partnerships in dealing with Iran and its proxies and other serious repercussions.
It could have much different if, for instance, Netanyahu had addressed the world, and Gazans in particular, with understanding along the following lines:
“We grieve the death of innocent civilians. It is heartbreaking and gut-wrenching. We did not choose this war. Indeed, thousands of Gazans crossed the border daily to work in Israel; we had programs to take sick civilians to our hospitals.
We had hoped that when we left Gaza in 2005, we could live side-by-side in peace.
“We hoped that Hamas would use the billions of dollars it received in aid to build an infrastructure that would improve the lives of Gazans with educational, medical, and other vital services. Instead, it built tunnels in preparation of this conflict.
“Hamas chose war on October 7 with a savage attack and butchery that was unimaginable. There was no war October 6 and there doesn’t have to be a war tomorrow. All Hamas had to do is lay down its arms.
“It was another Israeli prime minister, Golda Meir, who said, ‘We can forgive [you] for killing our children. But we cannot forgive [you] for forcing us to kill your children.’
“To the Gazans I say, Israel prays this war will end soon, and we will do what we can to restore Gaza and pledge to help you rebuild your lives.”
If Netanyahu had only displayed more statesmanship and did not cater to the baser instincts of some of his ministers and his far-right constituency. And he could have -- nay, should have -- provided much needed humanitarian aid for civilians.
Netanyahu’s political opportunism has cost Israel dearly. As New York Times Columnist Thomas L. Friedman observed:
“I am seeing an increasingly rapid erosion of Israel’s standing among friendly nations -- a level of acceptance and legitimacy that was painstakingly built over decades.”
Now the question becomes: Can that acceptance and legitimacy be restored?
—————
Berl Falbaum is a veteran political journalist and author.
