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Friday January 25, 2008

Rightfully so, Israel has had enough

When the lights went out in Gaza last week, so too did much of the world’s ability to rationally assess the situation there. If ever one needed evidence of a blatant bias against Israel, this is it.

Responding to months of rocket and mortar attacks on vulnerable cities such as Sderot, Israel finally took action and stopped fuel deliveries to Gaza power plants.

Instantly, an outcry went up around the world, condemning Israel’s actions. Images of Palestinians huddled around flickering candles flashed across TV screens. Countless voices decried what they labeled collective punishment on innocent civilians.

The fuel blockade did indeed plunge Gaza into darkness, no doubt inconveniencing its Arab citizens. But we can’t help but wonder how inconvenienced were the citizens of Sderot with the Kassams falling on their homes, at times nearing 50 rockets a day.

That Israel relented five days in, allowing a delivery of fuel and medicine, perhaps says more about Israeli compassion than it does about international pressure.

So the lights went back on for a while. Israeli leaders promised to keep things that way if the rocket attacks cease. Absent that, Israel must respond to terrorism in whatever way it sees fit. In this case, Israel chose a far more humane tactic than military invasion.

As with so many other terrorist attacks on Israeli citizens, we must ask: Where is the world’s outrage? Why does a relentless Palestinian barrage on Israeli civilians barely raise an eyebrow, while Israel’s nonlethal response causes so much beating of chests and gnashing of teeth?

This is a rhetorical question because there is no good answer.

To those in the international community distressed by conditions in Gaza, we say look not to Israel for ultimate solutions. Rather, look to Hamas, the terrorist thugocracy running the show there, to reign in terror on innocent Israelis. Look to them to rule with a modicum of decency and respect for their people.

Of course, they won’t. Those who castigate wicked Israel for oppressing Palestinians do not themselves have the moral fortitude to expect much of their favorite victims. By giving Hamas a pass, they infantilize the Palestinian people, assuming they couldn’t possibly govern themselves in a civil manner.

And so, the lights remain dimmed in Gaza. Stop the rockets, and the lights go back on.

Tragically for them, the Palestinians remain in the dark.

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