It’s not always all about us

It’s been a while since I posted, in part because I have been so horrified by how post-7th October has unfolded.

According to The Lancet, a conservative estimate for the number of dead in Gaza would be 38,000, with the norm being that actual numbers of deaths discovered when fighting stops is likely to go up by 10,000, before further deaths and anyone else dying of starvation are added in, or indeed the number of injured currently pushing 100,000. This in retaliation for the death and kidnapping of up to 1500 Israeli’s. That is close to 100 Palestinians maimed or killed for every Israeli. As a Jew, and one who is descended from numerous famous Rabbis and community leaders recorded back to the 9th century, I must say to you, this is disproportionate, brutal, demeaning and antithetical to Judaism, and it has got to stop. If it doesn’t Israel will lose the sympathy, not only of many foreign nations, but of a large number of Jews.

Reading most Israeli press, what I see is a widespread conviction that Israeli Jews are the victims here. Newsflash, it is not always all about us.

It is not the case that we were minding our own business when Hamas militants shockingly attacked. My deepest sympathies to those who lost loved ones, but there was as is always the case in any situation, a context.

Gaza had been blockaded for a number of years, by us. Settlers have been and continue to rampage around the West Bank, Jerusalem and the Temple Mount in increasing numbers, killing hundreds. And that’s before you look at the demographics leading up to the founding of the State of Israel, where between 1917 and 1947 the population went from 10% Jewish to almost 50% Jewish. Much happened to effect such a marked demographic shift.

I’m going to say it again, this is not all about us. Other people have a right to exist. Indeed, our Torah tells us this over and over. We’re asked to treat others well.

We were here first I hear. If you look at the archaeology you will find that even during the 100-odd years of ancient Israelite rule, there were still Philistine and other city states in Canaan, a large one, ironically by Gaza.

They attacked first I hear. Not true. See demographic point above.

They’ve always foiled peace you say? Which brings me to what I originally intended to write about today – Israelis and peace talks. Accessible documents show that David Ben-Gurion rebuffed peace overtures by his Arab neighbors on numerous occasions. And here’s another fun fact, although many have lived in the Holy Land well documented (or proven through DNA) for hundreds if not thousands of years, not a single Palestinian was invited to any kind of peace table until the Madrid Peace Conference of 1991.

The Israeli PM has often said we have no partner for peace. Well, clearly not if we rebuff neighbors and do not even invite the people with whom our country most needs to broker peace to talks until 43 years after Israel was founded.

I will leave it there for now, saying, as ever, that as someone who has been commended for stellar research over and over, I weep at the lack of rigor, curiosity and understanding of history displayed by so many people in print.

To my fellow Jews I say again, it is not all about us. Have a long hard honest look at the facts, then express opinions, and remember that some facts like an approaching figure of 100 dead/maimed Palestinians for every dead Israeli will still be there in the cold light of day.