The Plenitude and Catastrophe of War

The IDF continues to search for hidden terror tunnels in the Gaza Strip, used by Hamas to carry out attacks on Israelis. 20th July. Source

If there is one thing that we have learned in the past 15 days is that there is one infallibility which cannot be denied: war is hell. This statement of course uttered amid the complexity of the situation between Gaza and Israel, really makes it meaningless. All things being equal, despite my support for Israel and its ultimate right to defend itself, war and destruction is rarely justified as it is children who suffer regardless of the fact that they are Jewish or Arab.

Yet the veracity of this statement is already well known by all who have lived in Israel, and along the calamity of human history. The death of nearly 30 Israelis and over 600 Palestinians has made it clear that the two state solution is in fact no solution in the eyes and minds of many on both sides. Yet, unfortunately, like a great deal of many things in all practicality at this very moment it is the best thing we have. Or is it?

As international support remains constant for Israel, yet increasing steadily for the Palestinian cause, this polarity effective by the natural whims of people’s lack of understanding of the human plight, is what makes this war so catastrophic. It is the complexity of the situation that makes it so horrid. Israel has an undeniable right to defend itself as any nation under attack, yet the casualties on both sides sometimes makes the idea of war unbearable. In fact it might be just emotion, but seeing both a Jewish and Palestinian mother crying over dead sons and daughters is something frightful.

There is an insistent dilemma that envelops a great deal of many people. Although one believes in Israel’s cause, understands its needs, and of course right to exist free from rocket fire, after seeing so much destruction it does create a moral complication. The truth is that believing in peace is not anti-Israel as many would believe but rather pro-humanism. I am not here to talk about justification, rights or even faults. The senseless death of someone’s child regardless of ethnicity, is a hard thing to understand. Perhaps many people are put in a dilemma just as Israel itself- to defend itself while knowing that civilian casualties are inevitable because of Hamas tactics.

My PM, Stephen Harper, has reiterated Canada’s loyal support of Israel and it’s cause a few days ago in a message to Israel and its people, only to keep in line of his promise of continual friendship with Israel in his speech in front the Knesset early in 2014. There are a great deal of many things which I do not agree with Stephen Harper on, yet I fully agree with him on Israel. I support Israel for the most obvious reason, yet as most Canadians, I also believe in peace. One which granted Israel cannot achieve when dealing with a situation like that found Gaza, but one that we can continue to hope for.

Am Yisrael Chai.