On Gaza and Jerusalem: The End of an Unsustainable Status Quo?
Posted on March 23, 2011 by
Rabbi Brant Rosen| 2 Comments
Like many, my heart just sank when I heard about the bus station bombing in
Jerusalem today. Over the past two weeks we’ve witnessed the tragic, needless
deaths of too many Palestinians and Israelis.
On this point I am in full agreement with MJ Rosenberg, who wrote today (in a
post I strongly encourage you to read):
One thing is clear. Making reference to acts of violence
by one side without reference to those inflicted by the other only
perpetuates one side’s feelings of victimhood, reinforcing the sense of
grief and grievance that leads to more violence.
Since I heard the news, I’ve been hoping and praying all day long
that we aren’t witnessing the onset of a violent Third Intifada. I can
only imagine what such a war might mean, not only for Israelis and
Palestinians, but for the entire Middle East, which is several notches
beyond tinderbox status already.
As yet, no one has claimed responsibility for the Jerusalem bombing and
according to Ha’aretz, police don’t believe it was connected to the increase in
rocket fire out of Gaza. Elsewhere in Ha’aretz,
military analysts Amos Harel and
Avi Issacharoff suggested that neither Israel nor Hamas want the Gaza
confrontation to escalate into large-scale clashes. I can only hope
their analysis is correct. (As I write, there are already reports that Israeli
aircraft have struck at several targets, including a power station in Gaza
City.)
Regardless of what happens in this latest round, it is clear that
Israel is reaching the end of an unsustainable status quo. It was always
a given that the current balance would not hold indefinitely. And now
there are even larger, revolutionary changes occurring in the Middle
East – whatever happens, Israel will certainly not be immune from this
unprecedented upheaval.
Again from MJ Rosenberg:
Although Egypt still observes the terms of its treaty
with Israel, that could change at any time. The Jordanian regime is
shaky. Hezbollah now controls Lebanon. Syria grows ever closer to Iran.
And Turkey, once Israel’s staunch ally, is so disgusted by Israel’s
Gaza policy that it is a distant friend, at best. Even the Europeans
are turning, with not even France, Germany, or the United Kingdom
joining the United States in opposing a Security Council Resolution on
West Bank settlements.
Israel’s best chance of surviving these dramatic changes is by
resolving the conflict with the Palestinians. In fact, it is Israel’s
only chance.
As he correctly concludes:
President Obama is the one person who can turn this
situation around. History will not forgive him if, in the name of
political expediency, he looks away.
http://rabbibrant.com/2011/03/23/on-gaza-and-jerusalem-the-end-of-an-unsustainable-status-quo/
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