We've kept the blog apolitical up until now, but the recent events in Israel and the Gaza Strip and the reaction in Germany moved us to write something on our blog.
About 8,500 people rallied in Berlin's Alexanderplatz yesterday to demonstrate against Israel. Many of them were members of the large Turkish and Arab communities here. Others were native Germans. The photo above was taken by Joao Paglione at another protest in the city.
From the outset, we want to say this: Israel does not always do everything right. Like any multi-ethnic and multi-religious democracy, it makes mistakes. However, when people in Europe and other places take to the streets to protest against the Jewish State and in favor of the people in Gaza led by Hamas, they are wrong.
Let us explain why.
Hamas was founded in 1987 with the express intention of destroying Israel and replacing it with an Islamic state (see www.nytimes.com/2006/02/27/international/middleeast/27mideast.html?ex=1298696400&en=25164615c0b5f11c&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss). If you have any doubts about this, go online and look at the Hamas logo. At the top, you will see the entire outline of Israel -including Tel Aviv and other places that are internationally recognized as part of the Jewish State. Hamas, past or present, does not intend to negotiate peace with Israel.
Therefore, when Hamas won parliamentary elections in Gaza in 2006 following the withdrawal of Israeli forces, it meant that the people of Gaza were supporting a platform that vocally called for the annihilation of a UN member state. There has been no pressure by people in Gaza to urge its government to renounce violence or engage in negotiations. Indeed, the US, EU and others still consider Hamas a terrorist organization.
Based on historical experience with Hamas (suicide bombings and rocket attacks), Israel initiated a blockade of the Gaza coastline and sealed its borders. This action was meant to stem the flow of weapons being used by Hamas against Israeli civilians. This action was never completely successful and attacks continue today. The fact that the international community is urging a cease-fire against Hamas is shameful.
The loss of innocent lives is always tragic. Images of destroyed homes and schools pains us all. But let us not quickly forget or deliberately ignore how we got to this point. An offensive against Hamas and its infrastructure is necessary and justified. When considering this conflict, please remember to reflect upon it within its appropriate historical context. And to all those who rallied at Alexanderplatz - you are not helping the cause of peace in the Middle East, you are destroying it.
2 comments:
very well expressed.
Since your blog is not comercial, I do not mind you using my photo. I would appreciate the photo linking to the original Flickr page and not to a downloadable version of the file.
Thank you, the Photographer
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