Gaza

  As events Gaza continue to shake-up the world, I am reminded of something the prophets of ancient Israel warned against: "Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore" (Isaiah)... "Lest I (God) will give you over to ruin and your people to derision; you will bear the scorn of nations" (Micah). The prophets embraced a peaceful concern for all humanity, predicting that all nations would someday come to the God of Israel if it remained peaceful and socially just.

 I understand the intense feelings of retribution the people of Israel have suffered in the past month. Aggression is usually merited in cases of mass terrorism, which is why the US invasion of Afghanistan was globally applauded but not the 2003 invasion of Iraq. The difference is that the US attacked terrorist sites away from civilian populations, in the mountains. Israel is unfortunately acting with little regard for human life, innocent or not. They are dangerously approaching the line of engaging in war crimes. Israel must be careful and calculated if she wants the continued support of nations. Israel must remember the words of her prophets, written at a time when she was threatened by multiple empires.

 Babylonians, Chaldeans, Persians, Romans, the list goes on. Each had a turn dismantling her cities for their sins, so it is thought. Gaza is not a world empire, but Israel is surrounded by powerful states who would see the prophecy through, especially without the support of global powers like the US. It isn't a stretch for the Palestinians to appeal to their neighbors as religious and racial brothers, to take up arms against their aggressors. We've seen that story played out too many times before.

 One thing we can't lose sight of is that Gaza was the initial aggressor. This isn't like Ukraine, who got invaded by Russia for no other reason than existing. Israel is right to defend herself, and free the hostages. But this cannot be done at the expense of a humanitarian crisis. By demonstrating restraint, Israel could remind the world how resilient of Jewish people are in the face of aggression. Like they've been doing for millennia, they could roll with the punches, turning their enemies' actions against them by not responding, by letting the evil wash over them like baptismal water. It is only in hindsight that the pogroms, the Nazi extermination, the forced diasporas, and the Inquisition are seen as cowardly acts, handled well by the Jews who refused to fight back. Modern Israel is not following in its father's footsteps, and for that she may pray the price.