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Israeli Reserve Soldiers have been deployed into Gaza.
I've been told by friends that I'm thinking too much about the war. I want to reply that not thinking about it is a privilege which does not extend to large portions of the population: In Israel, I don't think the people of the South are able to concentrate about much other than wait for the siren to go off; in Gaza... well, seeing as they're actually living in a demolition area I doubt they're thinking of much else expect trying to find shelter against Israeli fire; as for the rest of the country (including the West Bank), friends and family - on both sides.
They don't get much rest.
I'm seeing so much belligerency IRL and the interwebs that it makes me kind of sick.
And again, I'm caught up in the discourse of needing to establish the fact of acknowledging the suffering of the people of Sderot and the South (constantly reminding people that my Girlfriend lives in the fucking line of fire!) and that of course Hamas are bad.
Why is this even an issue?
Perhaps because no one wants to acknowledge the fact that for eight years the Israeli government has been using the (working-class, Mizrahi, Jewish) residents of the South to Symbolise National Strength (which I've dubbed the National Erection) and that they are, de facto, human shields as well.
But because they're not used as human shields, one on one... the ethics is less shaky, right?
Not to mention, those "open fields" Qassam rockets fall into?
There are dozens of unrecognised Beduin villages scattered in the areas south of Be're Sheva and between Arad and Dimona. And by unrecognised I mean they get no municipal support from any where, they have no sewage system, they have no proper housing.
This is what happens to certain ethnic minorities in Israel - and the Beduin volunteer in the IDF like the best ofthem us.
Another thing that's easy to forget is that Gaza, in comparison to Israel, is tiny and one of the most densely populated areas in the world.
You know what?
Fine let's not talk about nearly 1000 dead Palestinians in Gaza (who can only blame themselves, of course, for electing a government that's sole propose is to destroy Israel and the world Jewry - let us not forget who put Hamas there, first as a charity service and then as an opposition to the PLO) and thousands more wounded.
It isn't normal for people to live under rocket barrage day in and day out.
It really isn't.
Very likely that there is an entire generation high on PTSD that can't wait 'till the day it gets an M-16 and has a chance to shoot back at the Arabs that destroyed their childhood, adulthood, livelihood etc.
It isn't normal for boys and girls to be trained to work as a police force against a civilian population which isn't even getting the chance at communicating with those who are not wearing a uniform.
It isn't normal to walk around being suspicious of any girl wearing a hijab and any boys and girls who speak Arabic.
It isn't normal that the boys and girls who are now fighting Hamas in Gaza see the destruction that was created so that their movement won't be hindered and that the combat will be easier.
Is it not inhumane to send teenagers to seek and destroy?
Is it not inhumane to call up reservists, people with jobs, families and lives, disrupt them and possibly even end them in an operation which will only create more animosity towards Israel and establish another generation for Hamas to train in firing rockets and/or commit suicide in one big event of defiance.
For what greater defiance is there against an Occupier if it isn't declaring "I will not live like this" and go out in a blaze of glory.
I shake my head at this.
We also glorify the dead soldiers.
Our Memorial Day is a day of mourning, black and white and candles, reading out the names of those boys and girls who gave their lives, willingly, for the protection of this nation state.
The siren sounds and we stand for two minutes of wailing silence.
Woe is it to anyone who doesn't stand during this time.
Even if all we are thinking about is wanting it to be over already.
Are these glorious dead not martyrs also for the cause of Jewish Nationalism?
Are the thousands of bereaved families worth it?
I can only sigh.
I hope the boys and girls and reserve soldiers do not have to stay a long time in Gaza.
I hope the people of Sderot and the rest of the South will not have to endure for much longer
I hope the people of Gaza overcome and survive.
I can only support and hope that the soldiers retain the humanity the IDF system tries to extract and that they leave Gaza as soon as possible.
I can only hope that enough soldiers and reservists say that "No, this is not right".
This video is of a demo made up of Refuseniks. It's in Hebrew with English subtitles:
( Soldiers Refuse to Serve in Gaza 2009 )
I've been told by friends that I'm thinking too much about the war. I want to reply that not thinking about it is a privilege which does not extend to large portions of the population: In Israel, I don't think the people of the South are able to concentrate about much other than wait for the siren to go off; in Gaza... well, seeing as they're actually living in a demolition area I doubt they're thinking of much else expect trying to find shelter against Israeli fire; as for the rest of the country (including the West Bank), friends and family - on both sides.
They don't get much rest.
I'm seeing so much belligerency IRL and the interwebs that it makes me kind of sick.
And again, I'm caught up in the discourse of needing to establish the fact of acknowledging the suffering of the people of Sderot and the South (constantly reminding people that my Girlfriend lives in the fucking line of fire!) and that of course Hamas are bad.
Why is this even an issue?
Perhaps because no one wants to acknowledge the fact that for eight years the Israeli government has been using the (working-class, Mizrahi, Jewish) residents of the South to Symbolise National Strength (which I've dubbed the National Erection) and that they are, de facto, human shields as well.
But because they're not used as human shields, one on one... the ethics is less shaky, right?
Not to mention, those "open fields" Qassam rockets fall into?
There are dozens of unrecognised Beduin villages scattered in the areas south of Be're Sheva and between Arad and Dimona. And by unrecognised I mean they get no municipal support from any where, they have no sewage system, they have no proper housing.
This is what happens to certain ethnic minorities in Israel - and the Beduin volunteer in the IDF like the best of
Another thing that's easy to forget is that Gaza, in comparison to Israel, is tiny and one of the most densely populated areas in the world.
You know what?
Fine let's not talk about nearly 1000 dead Palestinians in Gaza (who can only blame themselves, of course, for electing a government that's sole propose is to destroy Israel and the world Jewry - let us not forget who put Hamas there, first as a charity service and then as an opposition to the PLO) and thousands more wounded.
It isn't normal for people to live under rocket barrage day in and day out.
It really isn't.
Very likely that there is an entire generation high on PTSD that can't wait 'till the day it gets an M-16 and has a chance to shoot back at the Arabs that destroyed their childhood, adulthood, livelihood etc.
It isn't normal for boys and girls to be trained to work as a police force against a civilian population which isn't even getting the chance at communicating with those who are not wearing a uniform.
It isn't normal to walk around being suspicious of any girl wearing a hijab and any boys and girls who speak Arabic.
It isn't normal that the boys and girls who are now fighting Hamas in Gaza see the destruction that was created so that their movement won't be hindered and that the combat will be easier.
Is it not inhumane to send teenagers to seek and destroy?
Is it not inhumane to call up reservists, people with jobs, families and lives, disrupt them and possibly even end them in an operation which will only create more animosity towards Israel and establish another generation for Hamas to train in firing rockets and/or commit suicide in one big event of defiance.
For what greater defiance is there against an Occupier if it isn't declaring "I will not live like this" and go out in a blaze of glory.
I shake my head at this.
We also glorify the dead soldiers.
Our Memorial Day is a day of mourning, black and white and candles, reading out the names of those boys and girls who gave their lives, willingly, for the protection of this nation state.
The siren sounds and we stand for two minutes of wailing silence.
Woe is it to anyone who doesn't stand during this time.
Even if all we are thinking about is wanting it to be over already.
Are these glorious dead not martyrs also for the cause of Jewish Nationalism?
Are the thousands of bereaved families worth it?
I can only sigh.
I hope the boys and girls and reserve soldiers do not have to stay a long time in Gaza.
I hope the people of Sderot and the rest of the South will not have to endure for much longer
I hope the people of Gaza overcome and survive.
I can only support and hope that the soldiers retain the humanity the IDF system tries to extract and that they leave Gaza as soon as possible.
I can only hope that enough soldiers and reservists say that "No, this is not right".
This video is of a demo made up of Refuseniks. It's in Hebrew with English subtitles:
( Soldiers Refuse to Serve in Gaza 2009 )
