I do not celebrate the news that Israel launched massive airstrikes against Hamas targets in Gaza on Saturday morning. I do not, however, condemn Israel's actions. They represent Israel's necessary response to terrorist attacks launched from Gaza against Israeli civilians - especially the residents of Sderot and the surrounding area. It would be silly to state that one "supports" the operation. Over 200 dead in the first wave of Israel's strikes precludes anything but sadness and frustration. The terror and damage inflicted on Gaza's civilians is not righteous or deserved. But again, Israel must defend itself. I offer my opinion not because I am an expert in Middle Eastern diplomacy or history. The mission of Hamas, like Hezbollah and the terrorists who struck Mumbai, is rooted in antisemitism - hatred of Jews as Jews - and their mission is not just political or nationalistic. It is racist and anti-Jewish. I am not proud of a single death caused by Israel. But I am proud that Israel represents the hopes of Jewish people for peace, freedom, democracy, and a life free of hate. I am proud that they do whatever they must to protect and advance those ideals.
The following statement, issued by Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Boston (the local Jewish Federation), is one of the best and most clear statements on the situation. I have slightly edited their original statement in order to shorten it:
"Confronted by escalating rocket and mortar attacks against its citizens, Israel had no option other than self-defense against Hamas in Gaza. Hamas is designated as a terrorist organization by the European Union, Canada and the United States. They have fired over 3,000 rockets and mortar bombs into southern Israel, a daily bombardment whose purpose has been to kill and terrify Israeli families.
In recent days, Hamas intensified its attacks on Israeli civilians, firing over 200 rockets and mortar bombs. The attacks targeted Sderot, Ashdod, and Ashkelon, a city of 120,000 people.
Earlier this year, President-elect Barak Obama stated: "If somebody was sending rockets into my house where my two daughters sleep at night, I would do everything to stop that and would expect Israel to do the same thing." While Israeli and Palestinian Authority security forces were successfully working together to ensure a peaceful Christmas celebration in Bethlehem, Hamas fired more than 100 rockets and mortars at Israel's cities and towns. Moreover, as The New York Times reported, the terrorists "increased the range and intensity" of their assault. As a result, more Israeli citizens than ever before face an ongoing, lethal threat.
Most Israeli citizens support peaceful co-existence with Palestinians, but they demand safety and security. Israeli author Amos Oz, a prominent peace activist, wrote in a recent piece entitled "Israel Must Defend Its Citizens" that, "The systematic bombing of the citizens in Israel's towns and cities is a war crime and a crime against humanity."
No country can tolerate such deliberate assaults indefinitely - and Israel has shown extraordinary restraint, publicly calling upon Hamas to stop the attacks and seeking to extend the fragile lull in hostilities that had been in effect for the last six months.
Hamas's disregard for Israeli life is matched by its disregard for the lives of Palestinians in Gaza. Hamas purposely fires its missiles from homes, schools and community centers, confident in the knowledge that when Israel finally acts, Palestinian civilians will also inevitably be harmed. The use of Palestinian civilians as human shields is not only unspeakably cruel, it is a violation of basic human rights.
Israel cares deeply about protecting the lives of civilians, both in Israel and in Gaza. Its efforts this weekend to stop the Hamas attacks represent classic self-defense, undertaken reluctantly by an Israeli nation that longs for peace.
Israel must defend its citizens. A loyal ally of the United States, Israel has rushed to our aid at times of crisis - rushing rescue workers to Nairobi, Kenya, in the wake of the bombing of the U.S. embassy there and sending planeloads of relief supplies to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Now our friend needs our support - our strong backing for its right to defend itself from terrorist attack."
The URJ also issued a statement on the Israeli military operation, read it here.
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