Israel isn’t Perfection
Remember that time that an American criticized Israel? No, neither do I because it almost never happens. When Israel is criticized in America, its usually either by a anti-Semitic KKK white supremacist or anyone else who may be labeled as such. So watch what you say!
I support Israel in the sense that I want everyone to get along. And I care, I really do. However, I don’t understand this blind allegiance to the nation-state. Here, Jon Stewart refers to it as the “…möbius strip of issues. There’s only one side.”
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | M – Th 11p / 10c | |||
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Just by Stewart stating this, he’s labeled such things as “Anti-Israel” (as seen in this Google search). When Americans criticize their own country, many will consistently argue that its patriotic, no matter what the Evangelical nutjobs say. According to many in the far right, though, American cannot even be criticized and apparently not Israel either. So, that’s the line their drawing? OK, how about this? No one country should be deemed as untouchable? We should be free to criticize, which is only an attempt to make an improvement or two.
Something about this blind allegiance that states everything Israel does is wonderful, anything else any other country in the area does is despicable seems a little close-minded- not to allow a stitch of criticism. That is not to say that Islamic countries have not cause their harms because they sure have! Yet, I’m not going to start a debate on who does what to whom how many times and when. I will state; however, that Israel is not perfect, just like no one is. And they’ve potentially done something not commendable in any way: used human beings (including children) as shields. What? Really? No, only in Islam. According to the BBC:
United Nations investigators have accused the Israeli army of using an 11-year-old boy as a human shield during its recent Gaza offensive.
Their report says troops ordered the boy to walk in front of them for several hours under fire, entering buildings and opening suspect packages.
It’s only under investigation as of now. Nonetheless, I’m offended that anyone in any culture would ever think using children or fully grown adults as shields. I’m not even sure how this makes me feel. I’m confounded, to say the least.
Israel denies these allegations:
Israel has denied the charges, saying morals are “paramount” in its army.
Israel’s ambassador to the UN criticised the report as “unable or perhaps unwilling” to address attacks against its civilians by Palestinian militants.
The lead investigator, Sri Lankan lawyer Radhika Coomaraswamy, said the incident with the boy in the Gaza neighbourhood of Tel al-Hawa on 15 January was a violation of Israeli and international law.
The very last paragraph sends chills down my spine:
The dead including some 440 children, 110 women, and dozens of elderly people. Israel has blamed Hamas for using civilians as human shields, which Hamas has denied.
If this report turns out to be true, then dare I say, Israel isn’t much better than most Americans would have you believe.
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It does seem like any criticism of the Israeli policy is considered anti-Israel.
Considering the amount of money the U.S. invests in subsidies, we should be outraged at the use of OUR tax dollars to fund a holy war.