The situation, any situation for that matter, in Israel is a complicated.  There are many that I deal with on a semi-regular basis, some good, some bad.  The “situation” that most people outside of Israel think about is the Palistinian conflict.  I don’t have an opinion.  I only want peace.

I think it’s horrible to that students have to go pick olives for Palistinians in the West Bank because the gov’t won’t protect them from right-wing settlers who throw stones at them.  I think it’s horrible that people blow themselves(and many others) up out of hatred and to instill fear.  I think it’s awful that it can take a Palistian three hours to drive ten miles because of a checkpoint.  I think it’s awful that people shoot rockets over a fence to make a statement (and promote violence).

None of this makes it OK for Isreal to fuel the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, regardless of who is in power.  People must eat, people must drink, people must live.  A government has responsibilities, especially the government of the Jewish homeland.  Not just to Jews, but to the rest of the world, especially its neighbors who are in need.  All of the statements in the above paragraph make me quite literally sick to my stomach.  I live in a very peaceful place where I interact with people who love life of all races, creeds, and ages.  Yet not ten miles away, there are atrocities being committed by people on both sides of the [literal] fence.

“If I am not for myself, who will be for me?  And if I am only for myself, what am I?     And if not now, when?” – R. Hillel

‘Israel to begin Gaza power cuts after court approval this week’ | Jerusalem Post