J’Accuse U.S.↔Israel Defense Forces and Hamas↔IRAN
”Had the peoples and the nations known how much harm they brought upon themselves by destroying the Temple of Jerusalem, they would have wept more than the children of Israel” – TALMUD
For Politicians and Generals, young men and women are like “Toy Soldiers,” pawns on war tables and battleground cities.
U.S. your late presence and “quiet diplomacy” offends the dead. You dishonor the victims by disrespecting the living. Your support for Israel constrains your President to no more than a plea for a “ceasefire” demonstrating his weakness as a leader.
ISRAEL, having the U.S. as a powerful ally puts you in a unique position where some hold you guilty by association irrespective of being or not responsible for U.S. foreign policy decisions in the Middle East.
HAMAS, the State of Israel and the World is fully aware of the threat of “destroying a country” by armies or terrorists organizations. As you can see they are also fully prepared.
IRAN, alleged associations with Hamas among other State and non-State actors render you too guilty by association. Will it affect your “peace” accord with the US?
Guilty by Association v Responsibility
Alfred Dreyfus, the 19th century French army officer is said to have been stripped from his uniform his admirable titles. Dreyfus was “falsely accused and twice convicted of treason despite overwhelming evidence that he was innocent.” His crime, it appears, was being Jewish and what is associated with being a Jew. So, few believed him when he pleaded not guilty. But, few protested.
For some, US-Israel Alliance makes American Jews guilty by association and the targets of antisemitism around the world and especially in New York and Los Angeles. Moreover, the fact that the U.S. supports Israel financially and in weaponry augments an already contentious situation. Politicians taking sides, especially Democrats are irresponsible.
Speaking of guilt and responsibility, Germany’s President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, spoke of Germany’s guilt and responsibility stating that “Germany’s responsibility does not expire.” Is there a difference between guilt and responsibility?
In my 2016 paper, Guilt & Responsibility: Voir Dire and U.S. Atonement For The Sins of the Father in Deutschland, I point to a 1973 interview with the former Chancellor of West Germany, Willy Brandt who reportedly made a distinction between guilt and responsibility, “Guilt is something to be imputed to an individual – never to a people or a generation. Responsibility is something else.” I wonder if the fourth Prime Minister of Israel, Golda Meir would have agreed.
Resettling Resettlement Plans?
On the Hammarskjold resettlement plan of Palestinian refugees, Prime Minister Meir is asked if she felt sorry for them. She reportedly replied, “Of course I do. But pity is not responsibility, and the responsibility for the Palestinians isn’t ours, it’s the Arabs.”
Meir is said to have pointed out that as refugees, Jews were “shut up in ghettos, persecuted, exterminated…and they came together again to found a nation…” Yes, and in time Jews’ resilience set the foundation for their homeland, facilitated by US and Britain’s sense of guilt and responsibility. Recalling a 1973 interview of Yasir Arafat, “If you’re so anxious to give a homeland to the Jews, give them yours – You have a lot of land in Europe, in America…we won’t give it up to pay your debts.”
Referring to the Nazi regime under Hitler, Brandt reportedly replied, “I don’t feel guilty myself, and I think it’s neither just nor correct to attribute such a guilt complex to my people or my generation.” But what is just? Certainly not what was done to Jewish refugees; people who for centuries longed for a home, a nation to call their own.
To be fair, some have argued, “But that’s just what the people of Palestine want…to form a nation,” suggesting that a Palestinian state be on the West Bank. But do the people and their leader want the same thing? I point this out in my 2016 paper, Negotiating with Israel: Are Palestine’s Decisions Made For Good of the People or Leaders?
Oslo Accords: Genuine Missed Opportunity
Some Israelis have stated that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not Israel. Unfortunately, since the hectic days of the “Oslo Accords” Netanyahu’s actions have influenced how Israel is perceived today, a Jewish settler. Some western countries, especially in the US continue to see Israel as a “dirty Jew slumlord” no matter whether Germany or others stand next to you. Verstehen Sie?
Reportedly, when Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabinwas assassinated, so was any chance of peace. Yet, it seems to have created an opportunity for the election of Benjamin Netanyahu. And in time an opportunity for the Abraham Accords with other Middle Eastern leaders but a “missed opportunity” for Palestine. Peace deals or business deals?
Israel, how many more decades before you are financially and military stable in your own right? Recall Oriana Fallaci’s 1973 interview with Yasir Arafat:
Fallaci: Are you capable of respecting your enemies?
Arafat: “As fighters, and even as strategists…sometimes, yes.
Fallaci: “Part of the game of war. They’ve also won because they’re brave soldiers.”
Arafat: “No! No! No! No they’re not! In hand-to-hand combat, face to face, they’re not even soldiers.”
Arafat: “It’s always the same story with the Israelis. They’re good at attacking with planes because they know we have no planes, with tanks because they know we have no tanks…”
U.S. appears to continue to take on the responsibility and pay its debts to Israel. Air missile strike targeting Major General Qassem Soleimani and Iranian scientists exemplify “killing from a distance” not facing your enemy.
Israeli politicians have apparently made threats against those who question their actions, “extremists will pay the price whether they’re Jewish or Arabs.” But this contradicts your use of “exact force.” Is your intelligence unable to differentiate precisely who?
Israel, what price did you pay in this “asymmetric conflict.” Was the financial cost for the “Iron Dome” and weapons paid in Shekels or Dollars? No problem, President Biden has vowed to replenish it. i24 News reports $3.8 Billion is sent yearly to Israel from the U.S.
US President Joe Biden, “Johnny Come Lateley,” you missed an opportunity. President’s priorities appear to be in the marketing of a US electric car and on the disputed “frozen assets” of Russia. Sir, what is “genuine” about the imminent ceasefire is the smell of death from the blood money on your country’s hands. Iran, ready to deal again?
IRAN, it seems your leaders may have changed but not their ideologies. In Fallaci’s interview, Mohammed Riza Pahlavi reportedly stated “To get things done you need power, and to keep power you shouldn’t have to ask permission or advice from anybody.” Except in the case of Israel, permission and advice continues to come from its allies.
Contracts with the Dead are Never Forgotten!
“One’s commitments to God can be undone by a simple incantation. One’s commitment to man, and certainly to the dead, cannot. Your contracts with the dead, the dead take with them, too late to cancel or modify their terms. They leave you no way out. Formidable players, the dead; they hold you and you are helpless.” – Elie Wiesel, The Oath 1973
Hamas and Israel, you are responsible for the deaths of over 200 Palestinians including dozens of children and Israeli soldiers. Cascading effect will arise across the world where Jews, Arabs or Muslims become unfair targets.
Politicians are quick to utilize or create crises pointing fingers and crying out trigger words (Right of Return, Right to Defend, Occupation, Ethnic Cleansing, Genocide, and Holocaust).
Cycle of Fires and Ceasefires will continue as Palestinian leaders do no act in the interest of their people but that of themselves and Iran. Palestinians, caught “between a rock and hard place” are being forced to make room in the little space they have.
Hamas, you made your point, but so did Israel. No matter how many thousands of rockets you launched, your tactical maneuvers were either superseded by lsrael’s strong counter measures or backed where a considerable number of your rockets hit your own people in Gaza. In spite of the collateral damage, did you meet your objective?
Israel, “never again” applies to the actions of a German dictator. Do not confuse Europe with the Middle East. Given the history that ties you to the Middle East and political agendas, conflicts will arise again and again and again.
U.S. – Israeli Alliance makes American Jews guilty by association and the targets of antisemitism. Unfortunately, as long as the alliance exists as you deal with Iran and other, attacks will continue in your occupied America.
Netanyahu, you were fast at making peace deals shortly before and during the year of the 2020 US election and before your own election. Now, get ready for the US to deal with IRAN.
Mahmoud Abbas, you reportedly deprived your people of an election, an opportunity to make their voices heard. Coincidentally, amidst the people’s criticism Hamas launched its rockets into Jerusalem. Was it your plan to turn the focus on “the enemy”?
Netanyahu, bring Israeli fighters and fallen soldiers home. Will you make a deal with Hamas or will the US not allow you to deal with terrorists? Recall Pahlavi’s words, “To get things done you need power, and to keep power you shouldn’t have to ask permission or advice from anybody.”
Through the power of truth and the written word, the author Émile Zola persevered to unmask the truth in J’Accuse…! Perhaps a modern day Zola too will put forth evidence of the innocent and guilty.
Politicians and Armies took the fight to the people. Victory? Hollow deadly battles do not win wars. Amidst truths and lies, the reality is people are dead.
Survivors and Fighters never forget. They are forever Legends!
“Been looking for the answer
Ever since we were seventeen
You know the truth can be a weapon
To fight this world of ill intentions
A new answer to the same question
How many times will you learn the same lesson?
I think they got it all wrong
Gonna get their attention
What we’re doing here ain’t just scary
For you might never make it out alive
You gotta live without the columbines
Let everybody hear your battle cry
Yeah we’re gonna be legends
From the Song “Legendary” by the American blues rock band Welshly Arms