Read other letters about this article

• Tuesday, January 6, 2009 01:20 PM

  It is my understanding that between July, the

  beginning of the cease fire, and November, Palestinian extremists lobbed a few homemade rockets into the border regions of Israel. No causalities resulted. In the history of uneasy cease fires there are always or nearly always minor provocations perpetuated. This rocket fire could have been classified as such and Israel had a choice. It could have ignored the provocation and held to the larger cease fire. But Israel did not.

  In November Israel sent tanks and bulldozers into South Gaza, tearing up agricultural fields and engaging in gun fights with Gazan defenders. Then Israel also reinsitituted the blockade and tightened it, thus breaking one of the major agreements for the cease fire. If the minor provocation of the non-lethal rocket attacks was meant by Palestinian extremists to break the larger cease fire by goading the Israelis, it worked beautifully.

  If the Israeli action in November was meant to stop the rocket attacks, it failed miserably, because Palestinian extremists lobbed more rockets and this time killed four Israelis. And Israel has responded by bombing Gaza and filling 500 Palestianian among them children. Is anyone so blind that they can't see how stupid that is? In both cases there was a decision made, there was a choice and yet both times the decision was taken that only leads to more hatred and more killing.

  I don't see much virtue in either side at this point. And I see no virtue in supporting either side with our arms or money.

  —T. Gray Read T. Gray's other letters
  Permalink
  Flag
  Click "Submit Flag" if you feel this post is inappropriate. Explain why below if you wish.

  Cancel