Bella Voce

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Yes, "bellevoce" does not match the title of my blog. This near-Italian username stems from a play on words of my childhood nickname of Elle in combination with the Italian translation of "beautiful voice (bella voce)." My mother coined this name for my first email address and I have come to love it for its root in my Italian heritage and remembrance of my childhood.

Monday, January 19, 2009

When my brother said that Gaza deserved what the Israelis were doing to them and denied that it was a war, I said:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7838618.stm

Read this above. Now, I'll admit that Hamas is quite ridiculous at times and has indeed carried out attacks against Israel which is unacceptable. However, the Israeli response was uncalled for. Did you know that Gaza has been blockaded for 18 months with very limited fuel or humanitarian aid allowed in? The only weapons they have are snuck in and are usually homemade. Israel on the other hand has one of the largest and most technologically advanced militaries in the world.  

The final death toll? Over 1300 Palestinians and 13 Israelis, and no, I did not type that incorrectly. Over 100 times more Palestinians died than Israelis. Here's my citation for that source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/20/gaza-israel-samouni-family

Just ask yourself, is that fair? Is that what we call Justice? To overkill that many people in response to homemade bombs? If this were in any other country, how would you feel? What if over 1300 Israelis died versus 13 Germans? Would that change your point of view?

Think about it.


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1 Comments:

Blogger Idhrendur said...

If Israel's goal ahd been to kill merely in retaliation for the rocket attacks, you would be right.

Israel's response was a military action with specific goals, which they claim they achieved. And Israel has a philosophy of not holding back in a fight. Just compare Krav Maga to any other martial art. That, plus the fact that the fighting was in an urban area, is the reason for the death toll.

Now we need research to find out if many of Israel's targets really had weapons. Especially that school. If so, I don't see how Israel had much choice but to hit those targets. If not, then Israle has a lot to answer for.

As for your rhetorical questions, it all depends on the circumstances. If Israel had made attacks against Germany resulting in 13 German deaths, and the necessary German military responce to stop those attacks led to 1300 Israeli deaths, then I would have no problem with those circumstances.

The lesson I see in this is: when all you have is improvised weapons, don't provoke a military responce into your own territory. Especially when all you have to do is agree to continue an existing cease-fire. Oh, and stick to the terms of said cease-fire.

January 20, 2009 2:24 PM  

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