Dove's Eye View

Barbara Lubin Taking Medicine to Gaza

Barbara Lubin of the Middle East Children's Alliance has been raising money and bringing medicine to the children of Palestine and Iraq for nearly two decades. I am proud to live in the same bioregion with Ms. Lubin and her organization. She and MECA are now bringing a special emergency shipment of medication to Gaza (I'm not clear on how they are going to get past the Israeli blockade). She writes the following letter. Read it and click through to donate:

"I will be leaving next week to meet our Gaza Director Dr. Mona El-Farra in Egypt to receive five tons of medicine for infants and children that we purchased and had shipped from Holland. We will also purchase emergency supplies from a Palestinian pharmaceutical company in Cairo to help treat the thousands who have been wounded in the horrific Israeli attacks.

"As soon as I return, I will begin working on another shipment of medical aid to Gaza.

"Please make a contribution now for the children of Gaza whose health and lives are at stake.

"While we watch in horror as Israel's bombs kill and maim children in their homes and their schools, we can do something that will truly make a difference.

"Dr. El-Farra, all the people she works with in Gaza, and the thousands of families they serve, join me in asking for your support at this terrible time to help save the lives and health of thousands of children."

Sincerely,
Barbara Lubin
MECA Founder and Director

Not a cakewalk, part 157

The Dove says diplomacy is the only way to go; military solutions will never bring peace or security to anybody. Israel has proven her right over and over again.

Although I espouse dovish sentiments on this blog, I also like the clear-eyed hawkishness of Colonel Patrick Lang, who says:

Sic Semper Tyrannis 2008: "More difficult than anticipated?".

(Israel's action in Gaza) "'More difficult than many people anticipated.' Say what? More difficult than anticipated by IDF General Staff Intelligence? If that is so, then things have really gone to hell in a hand basket in the Qirya. You used to do better work. Maybe it is the politicians who have imposed this "goat rope" on the IDF. Maybe.

"Remember Lebanon in '06. We all really know how well that went for the IDF (irony alert). In the Lebanon case the air power crowd succeeded in persuading the Israeli government that the Lebanese (in general) could be intimidated into accommodating the Likud/neocon/Bush program for Lebanon. That failed in spite of devastating air attacks on civilian infrastructure targets the length and breath of the country. Then, there was a half hearted air/ground effort to destroy Hizbullah's forward positions and rocket firing capability. That proved impossible to do at any price that Israel was willing to pay. The net result was that Hizbullah became an exemplar for every Muslim enemy of Israel, an example of how the IDF can be defeated by brave and well prepared men.

Politically, the ultimate result of '06 was to make Hizbullah, and their Christian allies under General Aoun, the arbiters of events in Lebanon.

"We have now seen the Israelis run through their target list in Gaza. Hamas is still firing at Ashkalon and Beersheba. One wonders just who has who by the testicles in this situation. If the Israelis back away with some sort of unilateral ceasefire, then the '06 judgment of the Muslims on them will be confirmed in many minds."

Leila here: Killing won't solve the problem of rockets on Ashkelon. Killing Palestinian civilians and policemen in an attempt to solve the problem of rockets is a war crime. To bring peace to the area, end the siege of Gaza. Negotiate with the elected representatives of the Palestinians. Abide by UN resolutions. Enforce the rule of law ON BOTH SIDES. Peace will prevail.

If you have a problem with my solution, why are you living in America? We fought a revolution to install a constitution based on the rule of law. No man and no national group or religion is above the rule of law. Without the rule of law, barbarity encroaches and civilization will fall.

Update: Philip Weiss rounds up why military solutions don't work. Read his blog for more.

An American Rabbi Is Done

Young rabbi of a mainstream Jewish congregation in Evanston, Illinois, a rich Chicago suburb. He says this on his blog:
Shalom Rav.

"The news today out of Israel and Gaza makes me just sick to my stomach.

I know, I can already hear the responses: every nation has a responsibility to ensure the safety of its citizens. If the Qassams stopped, Israel wouldn’t be forced to take military action. Hamas also bears responsibility for this tragic situation…

I could answer each and every one of these claims in turn, but I’m ready to stop this perverse game of rhetorical ping-pong. I don’t buy the rationalizations any more. I’m so tired of the apologetics. How on earth will squeezing the life out of Gaza, not to mention bombing the living hell out of it, ensure the safety of Israeli citizens?

We good liberal Jews are ready to protest oppression and human-rights abuse anywhere in the world, but are all too willing to give Israel a pass. It’s a fascinating double-standard, and one I understand all too well. I understand it because I’ve been just as responsible as anyone else for perpetrating it.

So no more rationalizations. What Israel has been doing to the people of Gaza is an outrage. It has has brought neither safety nor security to the people of Israel and it has wrought nothing but misery and tragedy upon the people of Gaza.

There, I’ve said it. Now what do I do?"

Rabbi Brant and any other American who feels as you do - call your Congressional representatives tomorrow. Follow up with a letter. Organize a group of your allies and friends to visit their offices (local or in Washington). You might only meet with an aide, but they will hear of it. Our leaders understand more about Palestine and Israel than they let on, but they won't move to support justice without assurance of political will.

And blessings upon you, Rabbi Brant.

Hat tip Phil Weiss, who is on fire. You must read his blog. He has links and quotes from all kinds of people, most of them Jewish, who are outraged. He thinks the tide is turning.

Philip Weiss Covers Gaza

New York-based journalist Philip Weiss has had his eyes opened about Israel's behavior in the last year or so, and now he is on fire over Gaza. Check Mondoweiss
for pictures of demonstrations in New York, email updates from people in Gaza, and all kinds of news you won't see elsewhere. Like As'ad Abu-Khalil, Weiss is angry. We are all angry.

Rami Khouri on Punishing Gaza

Lebanese Journalist Rami Khouri writes in Agence Global - Article.

It was exactly 40 years ago to the day -- December 28, 1968 -- that Israeli commandos raided Beirut airport and destroyed 13 Lebanese civilian aircraft, in retaliation for a Palestinian attack against an Israeli airliner in Athens. Israel aimed to inflict a revenge punishment so severe that it would shock the Arabs into preventing the Palestinians from fighting Israel.

Today, 40 years and countless attacks and wars later, Israel again uses massive retaliatory and punitive force to pummel the Palestinians of Gaza into submission. Hundreds of Palestinians have died in the first 24 hours of the Israeli attack, and several thousand might die by the time the operation ends. For what purpose, one wonders?

(read the whole article for excellent analysis)

In conclusion, Khouri writes: "Here’s something to ponder as the next 40-year period starts ticking down: The only thing that ever did bring Israelis and Arabs genuine peace was equitable, negotiated peace accords — with Egypt and Jordan — that treated Arabs and Israel as people who must enjoy equal rights to security and stable statehood.

Hat tip to Josh Landis at Syria Comment.

Gaza Round-up, Day 3

Joshua Landis at Syria Comment prints an extensive round-up of Gaza crisis with many links and good analysis.

Greg Mitchell, editor of Editor and Publisher, rounds up Israeli and foreign sources on Gaza. He says the Israeli press criticizes Israel's actions with much more honesty than is permitted in mainstream American papers.

Angry Arab is angry, and can you blame him? I'm angry, too.

Abu Aardvark reports on regional divisions.

Patrick Lang is being unnecessarily flip. If I read him correctly, he's also angry, in his curmudgeonly way. He, too is thinking of Lebanon '06, and doubts it will work for Israel any better than that horrible war did.

Richard Silverstein says resist the Gaza massacre. He is concerned with Jewish response to the crisis, and posts links to groups organizing within the Jewish community.

Diarist Tom J at Daily Kos suggests actions you can take.

Bay Area Women in Black: in solidarity with the people of Palestine, Lebanon - and Israel. These women have been demonstrating against the occupation every week for decades. I saw them in 1999, almost ten years ago.

The Washington Post reports that of the 290 fatalities, 22 were children under the age of sixteen.

A Palestinian child's life is as precious as that of my own child, of your child, of an Israeli child. How can my government encourage this murder?

Jewish Voice for Peace on Gaza attacks

I received this by email:

Jewish Voice for Peace statement on Gaza attacks.

December 28, 2008 Jewish Voice for Peace joins millions around the world, including the 1,000 Israelis who protested in the streets of Tel Aviv this weekend, in condemning ongoing Israeli attacks on Gaza. We call for an immediate end to attacks on all civilians, whether Palestinian or Israeli.
Israel's slow strangulation of Gaza through blockade has caused widespread suffering to the 1.5 million people of Gaza due to lack of food, electricity, water treatment supplies and medical equipment. It is a violation of humanitarian law and has been widely condemned around the world.
In resisting this strangulation, Hamas resumed launching rockets and mortars from Gaza into southern Israel, directly targeting civilians, which is also a war crime. Over the years, these poorly made rockets have been responsible for the deaths of 15 Israelis since 2004.
Every country, Israel included, has the right and obligation to protect its citizens. The recent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza shows that diplomatic agreements are the best protection for civilian life.
Moreover, massive Israeli air strikes have proven an indiscriminate and brutal weapon. In just two days, the known death toll is close to 300, and the attacks are continuing. By targeting the infrastructure of a poor and densely populated area, Israel has ensured widespread civilian casualties among this already suffering and vulnerable population.

JVP also links to the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, which is organizing protests.

Rami Zurayk Reports from South Lebanon

What happens in Gaza reminds the people of South Lebanon of their suffering in the summer of 2006. Rami Zurayk gives us a brief view into the scene on the ground in Lebanon.

My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Gaza and the people of my father's country, who are girding themselves for another onslaught.

A guest poster at Syria Comment lists Five Reasons Why Israel Attacked Gaza.

Another thought this morning: when New York City was ruled by the Mafia, the US Army did not bomb Bensonhurst and Bay Ridge. Mafia supporters lived in great concentration in many neighborhoods of the city. Bombing their homes and shopping centers would have been a monstrous crime. To root out organized crime, the government used police work and the justice system.

Here in Oakland, we don't bomb our poor neighborhoods because some criminals are shooting each other or attacking prosperous citizens in better neighborhoods. Everybody knows that the crime rate goes down when the economy improves and police do more leg work. It's not "cosseting criminals" to address suffering that drives crime. It's also not weak to choose police work over indiscriminate bombing. It's civilized, and it's more effective in creating long-term peace.

Gaza has been under siege, starved of food, fuel and medicine, for months. Is anyone surprised that rockets come out of a concentration camp? Can you really believe that butchering more of the camp's residents will "solve" the rocket attack problems?

From Daily Kos, a diarist claiming to be a Chilean Jew says: enough.

Abuse

From Domestic Violence and Abuse, one of many warning signs of an abuser:

"Denial and blame — Abusers are very good at making excuses for the inexcusable. They will blame their abusive and violent behavior on a bad childhood, a bad day, and even on the victims of their abuse. Your abuser may minimize the abuse or deny that it occurred. He will commonly shift the responsibility onto you: Somehow, his violence and abuse is your fault."

Yes, this is about Israel bombing Gaza. There is no excuse for killing two hundred twenty people. None.

Gaza: more info for American readers

Updated as of Saturday 6 PM Pacific Standard Time:

As usual in the early days of a major crisis involving dead Arab civilians, the US media is busy looking elsewhere or making excuses. If you want more info on the Gaza strike than what the New York Times posts, check

UPDATE Tony Karon wrote this before the bombing but it applies.

Middle East Children's Alliance Call to Action and links here.

Philip Weiss, New York journalist who is outraged

Abu-Aardvark US political scientist, American-born, non-Arab. His delicious links at left provide a useful feed of relevant news.

As'ad Abu-Khalil: the Angry Arab. US political scientist, Lebanese-born.

Juan Cole has not posted yet. Look for his comment later today.

1. Contact the White House to protest the attack and demand an immediate cease-fire. Call 202-456-1111 or send an email to [email protected].

2. Contact the State Department at 202-647-6575.

3. Contact your Representative and Senators in Congress at 202-224-3121.

Today we are all Angry Arabs. 

For the sake of my liver, I am going for a walk. Those of you who believe in prayer, please start now. The rest of you, call your Congresspeople or something. Not that they are in the office.

Here is my Twitter comment:
Friend asks re: Gaza - how can it stop? Via rule of law, diplomacy, US will to justice. Doable. Will it be done? I'm praying.
If US gov't wanted it to stop, it would stop. Diplomacy can work wonders. Lifting the siege too. Rule of law heals many ills.