Israel and Palestine

It has taken me awhile to become embroiled in such an emotional topic. I have read post after post and have witnessed protest after protest. My conclusion? I am saddened, tired, and reflective. This post is a record of my thoughts and conclusions at this point in the conflict. These views are subject to change based on future events; however, I would feel remiss to not write about something that may envelop our lives for the foreseeable future (depending on whether or not this war broadens). First, a few disclaimers:

1. Hamas is a terrorist organization which should not be encouraged, supported, or reasoned with.

2. I am slightly biased towards Israel in this conflict.

3. I am against civilian casualties and believe that they should be avoided at all costs.

4. Moral equivalency between Hamas and Israel should not be pursued. There is a major difference between acts of terrorism and collateral damage during wartime (especially when civilians are being asked to remain in active conflict zones).

With those pieces out of the way I will provide my overall take on the conflict, along with where I think this conflict may be going.

The Israeli-Palestine conflict should not be viewed from the context of the last 50-60 years. Division in this region has extended thousands of years into the past with this land changing hands multiple times due to conquest. I find it frustrating that America (broadly) has a difficult time viewing conflicts and populations from a long-term historical perspective. Many Americans are already forgetting the impact of Pearl Harbor on American life let alone a conflict across an ocean which involves populations we do not always understand.

This leads me to my first point.

Find time to do some historical research into these ethnic groups and their ties to this strip of land in the Middle East. Do not let your opinions be formed by pundits, media junkies, or which group is protesting the loudest. If anything, let this post be a starting place for further research and analysis. There is plenty to learn and understand. In fact, entire books have been written on the history of the Palestinian and Jewish people. Take time to investigate further and realize that not all Palestinians may not be tied to Hamas. Alternatively, take time to realize that the Jewish people’s ties to an Israeli state did not start post-WWII but in fact extended thousands of years into the past.

Secondly, there has been plenty of support for the terrorist actions put forth by Hamas over these last few weeks. Black Lives Matter (BLM) Chicago posted a pro-Palestine logo which used the paragliders Hamas used to murder hundred’s of teenagers at a music festival. Australian protestors were also taped shouting ‘gas the Jews’ in front of the Sydney Opera House. These blatant acts of antisemitism are horrifying to see in the 21st century and they are inexcusable.

I do sympathize with those who are attempting to promote safety and humanitarian aid for the Palestinian people. They have been pawns in the hands of Hamas for decades, and they have been unable to access acceptable living conditions under both Israeli and Hamas rule since 1967 (Note: many would argue that this issue is complex since Israel and Egypt control the border of the Gaza Strip. This is argued to prevent terrorist attacks from occurring against either country. Yet, there is significant humanitarian repercussions for this decision. On the other hand, Hamas has used humanitarian aid and resources to support their terrorist operations instead of building up the Gaza Strip’s infrastructure). However, I find it impossible for the Palestinian people and Israel to come to any agreement as long as Hamas is in charge of Gaza (Gaza’s constitution explicitly calls for the elimination of Israel).

This brings me to my third point. I have not read a single article that provides an actual solution to this conflict. Yes, I have seen pundits call for a two-state solution or talks with Hamas and the Palestinian Authority (which is all but impossible at this point). I have also seen political leaders advocate for an immediate ceasefire (which seems highly unlikely due to the immense pain experienced by many Israeli families). I have also seen calls for Israel to stop bombing Hamas targets because of civilian casualties without providing an appropriate alternative for Israel to pursue. Article after article just regurgitates solutions that have been in vogue (but have not worked) since I was an infant.

Ultimately, a clear-cut, textbook solution seems off the table due to the Hamas terrorist attack. Which may have been their point all along. The last few years have been positive for Israel and other Arab states. The Abraham Accords normalized economic and political relations between Israel and many Arab Gulf States. Israel was also on the cusp of signing a deal with Saudi Arabia to normalize economic and diplomatic relations (this has now been tabled). These moves would have continued to solidify Israel’s influence in the Middle East and further legitimize its presence.

Hamas has strategically goaded Israel into a Catch-22 situation. Do nothing and Israel will appear weak to Syria, Lebanon, and Iran. Do something and Israel will impede its own ability to normalize relationships with the Arab world. There are no good options after last weeks events, and that breaks my heart on a number of levels.

It breaks my heart to see Israeli families live in fear of being wiped off the map. It also breaks my heart to know that 2.2 million Palestinians (half of which are under 19) will be forced to endure, what may be, the worst humanitarian crisis of our lifetime.

So… what do we do? Below, I will list a few ways we, as Americans, can think about this crisis moving forward.

1. Advocate and donate to humanitarian agencies who are going to support the lives of those facing this crisis (both Palestinian and Israeli).

2. Encourage our politicians to avoid encouraging an escalation of this crisis (some American Senators are already calling for war with Iran)

3. Avoid acting as a quaterback for solutions when there truthfully are none right now.

4. Seek to love the Israeli’s and Palestinian’s who live in your neighborhoods. These individuals are not Hamas nor are they are out to destroy all Palestinians. They are human beings with hopes, dreams, and aspirations.

Finally, I will provide my thoughts as to where this conflict could be heading in the near future.

Option 1 (Full-Scale Invasion of the Gaza Strip by Israel):

This appears to be the most likely option at this point. Hamas infrastructure and planning would make this scenario a nightmare for Israel (at least on paper). This would be door-to-door tunnel-to-tunnel fighting akin to the US invasion of Iwo Jima. Israel may be able to methodically remove Hamas quickly; however, there is a chance that this turns into a years-long insurgency campaign which would tie down Israeli troops and assets. There is also a small chance that Israel actually loses significant personnel and military hardware. This may lead to a weakened Israel who may need to resort to more extreme methods to avoid invasion.

This also has the greatest likelihood of bringing in Lebanon and Syria into this conflict and inciting violent extremism in the West Bank. The United States would also heavily fund Israeli military operations for the foreseeable future.

Option 2 (Large-Scale Bombing Campaign of Gaza):

This option would involve a massive month’s long campaign to turn the Gaza Strip into a parking lot. The humanitarian implications of this would be severe due to the inability (at this point) for Palestinian civilians to escape into Egypt. Food, water, and shelter would be destroyed and massive civilian casualties would be expected. This may destroy Israel’s reputation on the world stage and lead to loosened relationships with its Arab neighbors. Yet, this option would prevent Israeli casualties and conserve Israel’s capability to adjust to threats on its northern or eastern borders.

Option 3 (Full Scale War in the Middle East):

This option is unlikely at this point; however, it is not out of the question to see Iran involving itself in this conflict alongside an American president who would want to involve American military assets. This is a nightmare scenario which should be avoided at all costs due to the potential for global escalation.

Option 4 (Ceasefire and Instability):

This option would involve external actors getting Israel, Hamas, and the Palestinian Authority to the negotiating table. The status quo would be maintained and Israel would most likely intensify its lockdown of the border with the Gaza Strip. One would also see renewed efforts by Israel to push Palestinian’s out of the West Bank due to security concerns. Unfortunately, this would also lead to increasingly radicalized populations in Gaza and the West Bank. One might expect further terrorist attacks and regional instability.

As you can see none of these options are ideal or favorable for any parties involved. We need to understand this conflict is not going away with kind words or signed pieces of paper. This is a blood feud that has lasted for thousands of years of history without any sign of peace. Our first responsibility should be to acknowledge this reality and operate accordingly. Our second responsibility is to support ways to save as many lives as possible during this crisis.

I wish there was more to offer you as a commentator on world events. However, I find it dishonest to provide you with an easy solution or a chance to ignore the plight of civilians. Instead, I hope this calls you to reflect upon the brokenness of the human condition and the reality that not every situation can be fixed. I hope this article made you think and desire to study these topics further.