Moral relativism, political double talk, and a military juggernaut blind to its violence against an occupied people highlight the most recent, tragic conflagration in Israel and Palestine. In justifying Israel’s most brutal and bloody salvo against Gaza in decades – which has so far killed nearly 400 Palestinians and wounded more than 1800 - Israel’s UN ambassador stated that Israel was "rightfully defending itself from continued Hamas rocket attacks within her borders." Furthermore, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert forewarned that the offensive "is liable to continue for some time.”

By affirming Israel’s “right to self defense” and supporting Israel’s contention that the onus is on Hamas to renew the truce, President Bush’s waning administration highlighted its remarkably predictable political incompetence and tone-deaf moral vacancy by squandering yet another precious opportunity to remedy – at least rhetorically – the festering, radioactive sore that is the Palestinian human rights crisis in Gaza and the West Bank. Continuing to spin a broken record, his administration condones Israel’s brazen and repeated violations of international law while simultaneously denying Palestinian human rights, at the precarious risk of destabilizing a hostile and volatile Middle East region.

It goes without saying that this sad reality fails to absolve the illegality of Palestinian violence directed against Israel and her civilians. Hamas’ infractions of international law should be strongly condemned by both the United States and the international community, including Arab countries, many of which espouse reactionary, anti-Semitic rhetoric. But such actions do not justify an escalation into outright war - one in which civilian causalities are almost a certainty due to the density of Gaza - any more than the Israeli blockade of Gaza would justify suicide bombings against Israeli civilians. The answer to a festering conflict is to take steps towards resolution, not spiral the conflict into madness.

President-elect Obama conveniently remains silent on the current hostilities (for now) and has thus deferred to President Bush. Nonetheless, earlier this summer he endorsed Israel's right to defend itself against Qassam rockets by stating, "If someone were sending rockets into my house where my two daughters sleep at night, I would do anything to stop it.” One wonders, however, if President elect Obama’s principles of safety, dignity and self defense apply to Palestinians as well? If Obama and President Bush’s daughters were forced to suspend their emergency hospital operations due to fuel shortages, beg for 300 essential medicines, drink contaminated water that causes malnutrition and anemia in children, eat bread made of animal feed, and renounce electricity because their main power plant was forced to shut down, what would they do?

That hypothesis tragically exists as a reality for Gaza residents, some of the poorest people on Earth, who have survived Israel’s nearly two-month embargo and blockade that followed another two years of frequent and devastating closures. Chris Gunness, a spokesman for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), called the Gaza humanitarian crisis “disastrous” and said the agency has been unable to get needed medical supplies into Gaza for more than a year due to Israel's blockade of border crossings.

At AIPAC’s annual conference last summer, in what devolved into an embarrassing competition of one-upmanship, both President-elect Obama and Senator Hillary Clinton pledged unyielding support for Israel. Obama promised he would “never compromise when it comes to Israel’s security”; meanwhile, Clinton affirmed that “the United States stands with Israel now and forever."

In order to truly act upon his promise of “change,” President-elect Obama needs to quickly revoke Israel’s perennial carte blanche and “get out of international jail” Monopoly card for the sake of ensuring long-term American and Israeli security and eventually winning the “war on terror.” It would bear reminding that the current US policy in Israel and Palestine is one of bin Laden’s main justifications for his global, violent jihad against Americans and sadly remains a highly successful recruitment ploy for al-Qaeda amongst disenfranchised Muslims.

It warrants a mention that the brutality of Israel’s policies towards Palestinians has transcended the bipolar framework of an “Arab vs. Jewish thing” and is now recognized internationally as a shameful example of human rights violations. After visiting Israel, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who opposed apartheid in South Africa, stated he saw “the humiliation of the Palestinians at checkpoints and roadblocks, suffering like us when young white police officers prevented us from moving about.” He offered Israel would “never get true security and safety through oppressing another people.” Commenting on Israel’s policies in Gaza and West Bank, President Jimmy Carter controversially declared that it existed as “a system of apartheid, with two peoples occupying the same land but completely separated from each other, with Israelis totally dominant and suppressing violence by depriving Palestinians of their basic human rights.”

The United States could publicly acknowledge the lopsided and oppressive relationship existing between the nation of Israel and its Palestinian refugees by refusing to implicitly or explicitly endorse and rationalize Israel's latest offensive incursion as simply a "defensive security measure.” Yet, by continuing to vocally defend Israel as the only advocate and partner of peace while perpetually blaming Palestinians as the sole aggressor, the United States recklessly obfuscates the reality of an Israeli blitzkrieg that repeatedly bombards a beleaguered Palestinian refugee population with an inordinately superior and sophisticated military might.

This changed tone, which would reflect fairness and nuance, would also signal to the Muslim world that the US does not blindly and unconditionally endorse Israel’s prejudicial treatment of Palestinian refugees, its building of illegal settlements on West Bank and Gaza lands, its illegal, extra judicial killings and kidnappings, and it’s most recent gratuitous violence unleashed on Gaza civilians.

Finally, the loss of innocent Palestinian life in relation to Israeli life should not merely be treated as tragic, but necessary, “collateral damage.” Both need to be afforded dignity and value as human beings, who are neither favored nor condemned for sake of advancing narrow-minded foreign policy initiatives and strengthening expedient political alliances.

(Photo courtesy of cactusbones via flickr under a Creative Commons license).

There is a war going on in Palestine. It's been going on for a very long time, but mostly its been going on in its present form for about 70 years. A WAR. Discussions about improved safety for civilians, preventing rocket attacks, ending settlements, providing food aid, placating neighbouring countries etc. These are all terms of WAR. They do not end the war, they only change the substance of the WAR.

This is depressing; its gone on for so long it makes me wonder why should I care anymore. Caring implies a desire for its end, yet the elites on both sides seem to not want it to end, so why should I care anymore??

>>> This is depressing; its gone on for so long it makes me wonder why should I care anymore. Caring implies a desire for its end, yet the elites on both sides seem to not want it to end, so why should I care anymore??

You should care because you should care. Because concern for peace is an act of conscience, and that is non-negotiable. Because one day when dirt is going to be shovelled over our bodies and we will be asked what we were capable of changing and what did we change, that day we can have an answer we can give without equivocation. If we lack the framework and capacity to make change, that doesn't mean we shouldn't care. The Palestinians have far less than we do, and all they ever ask from the international community is that we care.

Elites on both sides don't seem to want it to end? ... I think that's unlikely. People want it to end but the terms are just not very mutual.

Besides, Americans can do more for the Palestinian cause than anyone else in the world. Its their government that legitimises the occupation. Its their government that helps Israel legitimise a racist state. Its their government that blames Hamas for rocket attacks and encourages separatism between Fatah and Hamas. Its American arms companies that make money from the violence. If Americans can't influence their own government (the trump card in Israels deck), how can they expect the Palestinians to effect a change in policy on their side? Americans are economically and politically free, whilst Palestinians still need an Israeli stamp of approcal on their elections.

I'm not so sure the US is the trump card. I think the relationship is inverted now, with the Israelis on top. Anyway, our financial support per capita of Israeli citizens is at is lowest relative level ever. They pretty much stand on their own now and only need us in the event of a regional mass war. Anyway, Israel won its independence and the 1967 war without US backing; indeed the US was indifferent and even hostile to the seemingly Socialist Jewish state in 1948, yet they still won.

>Israel won its independence and the 1967 war without US backing; indeed the US was indifferent and even hostile to the seemingly Socialist Jewish state in 1948, yet they still won.<

Bull. the US hostile towards Israel? That will be the day. The US was the FIRST nation to recognize Israel, and has aided it continuously non-stop even during the worst of its failures experimenting with socialism.

Obama said - "If someone were sending rockets into my house where my two daughters sleep at night, I would do anything to stop it.”

I would like to ask the President-elect - "Would you do anything if your land and your house were robbed and your family including your neighbors were slaughtered?"

The Palestinians never gave away their land to the Zionists. What gave the UN the right to giveaway someone else's land to intruders and claimed independence?

I don't see any HOPE or CHANGE from Obama if that is his opinion.

peace upon you my friends all over there..
actually i'm just 18 and i'm malaysian, what i'm trying to say is just to express my unsatisfying to all of muslim people all over the world. why we as a big community cannot together to against the enemy of our religion. WHY our leader are to selfish don'want to help the other contry that are in trouble.
don't they know that the day after that they will be asked about their responsibilty towards their relative(muslim)????
actually if we together combine we can easily concur the world,,,
we will never be looked down!!!!
people will respect our right...
our dignity will never be play!

the first step that we should take is by be unite & together

remember unite we stand,

even though the war in Palestin was prolong for a long time, it never occured to me to stop eating KFCs,Mcds, and other popular chains of fastfood worldwide even my mom and dad never get tired asking us to..
yes of course i pitied the palestinian..
There is no logical reason for israel or anyone to invade our home and even trying to kick us out!
i've recently watch a talk program in our national tv discussing about this current issue, and suddenly,maybe because i'm older and wiser, i'm finally decided not to consumed these funding sources of ISRAEL anymore..and luckily i'm not drinking COLAS and i won't start now!
It's the right time to start, as the US economy is already suffering and this is the least that i can do as an individual Muslim and hoping for bilions of us can do it together and give them the impact!

'WE ARE STRONG IF WE UNITE'

The Israeli, Palestinian & Hezbollah War Manuals:

1) Do something stupid like build a house on someone else's land or suicide bomb a pizza shop or do a cross-border kidnapping;
2) Expose your civilians to attack to gain worldwide sympathy;
3) Profit!!

>>> Anyway, Israel won its independence and the 1967 war without US backing; indeed the US was indifferent and even hostile to the seemingly Socialist Jewish state in 1948, yet they still won.

That being said, I think the United States has changed more since the 60's than Israel has and the question that begs an answer is ... why? Past Ambivalence/hostility doesn't negate their participation in the conflict for the past 30 years. Also, American ambivalence towards a nation doesn't mean anything about its influence on that nation. Americans are ambivalent to most of the nations that benefit or suffer at their hand.

What I'm finding interesting recently is Israels role in the Georgian conflict. Israel has even learnt to sell their military ability (though rather unsuccessfully).

>>> The Israeli, Palestinian & Hezbollah War Manuals:

Surprisingly, Hamas doesn't seem to be very business savvy. However Hezbullah have made political, military and social gains that compare admirably with their Jewish counterparts in Israel. I suppose its because they do not live under occupation.

>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel-United_States_relations#State_recognition_and_early_relationship<

Nice try but no cigar, gumby. Wikipedia(aka disinfopedia) is the last to look for info on the Arab-"israeli" conflict. Given the history of vandalism and controversy on the subject on the site, its useless. Use a history book.
Despite all the superficial talk and gestures, the US has never backed away from supporting Israel in every way possible. There was a brief delay of a $10 billion grant back in mid 1991 which by Bush Sr. He was called a virulent Jew hater by the usual suspects for that. 3 or 4 months later he paid up.
A clear case of the tail wagging the dog.

being helpless is very tiring.. doing nothing instead of something that truly helps..we're free to give comment, criticize but e truth is we're never in their shoes..a relieve or a sad thing?? its depends.. true Muslims believe in defending their own country & religion is an act of 'syahid'..few Muslims have the chance but I believe the Palestinian do..:)

>>> Nice try but no cigar, gumby. Wikipedia(aka disinfopedia) is the last to look for info on the Arab-"israeli" conflict. Given the history of vandalism and controversy on the subject on the site, its useless.

Can't you make changes/contributions to the site using assertions in history books?

Western civilization is mostly based on old pagan culture - from morality to religious and ehnic racism. History is full of cases of western dehumanization and genocide of other peoples based on colour and faith - from Nazarene Christians to Americana Natives’ Holocaust; from women being Devil to Jews murdering Christian kids for religious rituals - from Black slavery to sex slavery, and from colonization of non-white countries to war on Muslim world for Israel.

All Zionist leaders, whether Jewish or Christian, were product of western cultural and colonial landscape. They inherited the pagan racism and hatred not only toward non-Judeo-Christians, but also their fellow Jews and Christians, who dared not to agree with their criminal ideology. These people were called “Self-hating Jews” or “Anti-Semites”. Western mass-media being in the hands of Zionist Jews - it’s become very conveient to silence the voices against Zionism, Israel and Jewish agenda of the future world under their absolute domination.

Most people have been made to believe that Nazis were the master of propaganda lies, however, the fact is - the Zionists learned those techniques during their collaboration with Nazis and later refined those techniques. One just has to have a look at Israel’s Hasbara Handbook to find out how the Zionists have succeeded silenced most of their western critics. The book lists seven basic propaganda devices - Which are : Name Calling; Glittering Generality; Transfer; Testimonial; Plain Folks; Fear, and Bandwagon. Hasbara is a Hebrew word, which means “explanation”!!

http://rehmat1.wordpress.com/2009/01/11/understanding-zionists-nature/

Watch out, Rehmat! We Muslims have our own dark history with pplenty of mistakes as well, else Allah would not have allowed us to decline so far...

Are you saying OmarG that USrael is blessed because they're Allah's favourites??

Read the entire post and come-up with some rational answers - instead of pretending to be a comedian!!

Your binary view of the world is unworkable: just because we've lost favor in Allah's eyes apparently, does not mean He now favors Israel. Read the Quran instead of being a commedian when He says that he elevates and sometimes replaces some peoples over others and checks some agressors with other peoples.

So, your focus on the sins of others may give you some kind of cathartic comfort, however, ignoring our very own roles in our downtroddenness will do nothing to fix it. Enjoy!

Holy Qur'an never promised Allah's blessing to some country which sells 5,000 White Christian women for sex slavery or the people, who monopolize almost world's every crime - from drugs to pornography.

It's time for you to take-off your Muslim facade and have the courage to show your true face - A Zionazi Jew.

>Can't you make changes/contributions to the site using assertions in history books?<

That's how you tell the boys apart from the men. I wasn't talking about "history books" but the history of vandalism and censorship on Wikipedia regarding the Middle East by Zionist Jews. There's a new group called the JIDF(Jewish Internet Defense Force)formed specifically to silence criticism of Zionism on YouTube and other internet video sites. They've managed to dozens of accounts(Muslim and non-Muslim) suspended with hundreds of videos deleted in their organized flagging campaigns.
Don't believe me? See for yourself :

http://www.thejidf.org/

and what this non-Muslim got for his troubles :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgIODD8u43c&feature=channel_page

>It's time for you to take-off your Muslim facade and have the courage to show your true face - A Zionazi Jew.<

Asalamu Aliakum Rehmat,
OmarG is not a Zionazi Jew. He's a white neocon. BTW nice blog.