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From The Times

January 31, 2008

A barrage against Israel

The critics had another field day yesterday. But their arguments are dishonest

Robin Shepherd

Yesterday's publication of the Winograd report into Israel's prosecution of the 2006 campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon provides a new opportunity for commentators to demonstrate their capacity for sober, balanced analysis. They will note the criticisms directed against Ehud Olmert, Israel's Prime Minister, while lauding the report as a display of democratic accountability unthinkable in any other country in the Middle East. Never failing to see the bigger picture, they will carefully weigh the options faced by a democracy under fire from some of the dangerous people on the planet.

Forget it. Most commentators, of course, will do nothing of the sort. Such is the obsessive desire to beat the Jewish state with any stick available, we should prepare for yet more moral inversion and wilful distortion. To get a sense of the sheer irrationality of the anti-Israeli polemicists, it is worth looking at recents events in Gaza.

Apologists for extremism had long argued that occupation rather than ideology was the “root cause” of terrorism. Terrorism would therefore cease once occupation ended. That argument has now been conclusively defeated. Since Israel withdrew, Palestinian militants have fired more than 4,000 rockets from Gaza at Israeli civilian targets.

Now, there is not a state in the world that could ignore this kind of barrage. So what were the options? One was reoccupation. Another was to carpet-bomb the areas from which the rockets are being fired. Many states would have done both. Israel has done neither.

What has Israel actually done? First, it has built a barrier around Gaza to limit the ability of suicide bombers to kill civilians. Secondly, it makes incursions to target the terrorist infrastructure. Thirdly, it has restricted imports into Gaza to stop bomb-making equipment from getting to the terrorists in aid and food packages. Fourthly, it has applied economic sanctions against the Hamas regime. Israel, in other words, has chosen the strategy least likely to cause heavy loss of life while still exercising its right to self-defence.

The condition of the residents of Gaza is dire. But ultimate blame for this surely rests with Hamas, other militants and the culture of violence in Palestinian society that sustains them. In the absence of all this there would, of course, be no security barrier, no military incursions, no trade restrictions and no sanctions.

In the topsy-turvy world of British and European commentary, however, reasoned argument is cast aside. The frenzied, rhetorical onslaught against the Jewish state is at best intellectually lazy. At worst it forms part of a hateful agenda that shames those who indulge in it.

Robin Shepherd, a senior fellow at Chatham House, is writing a book on European attitudes to Israel

it is unfortunate to again note the desire of an Arab lobby to paint the middle east conflict in stark monotone colours. I would congratulate the Times for running the article 'A constant barrage against Israel' which I feel contains arguments sadly seldom seen in the British Press. I would ask every discerning reader to be careful of being provoked into viewing the classic victim/aggressor stereotype when considering the tragedy of the Israel Palestine struggle. The letter 'Grim reality in Gaza' should be seen in the context of which it was written, that is from a director of a lobby that exists to promote its own point of view on all matters pertaining to the middle east. I note this letter fails to mention points such as the fact that Gaza imports freely 70% of its energy from Israel, that Israel has only clamped down on medicine supplies when said supplies were being sadly taken from the needy and converted in components for Qassams. It also fails to deal with the shocking rise of inter Palestinian factional violence in Gaza, where a government so keen to condemn an aggressor seeks to become another. I indeed concede that is sad to have a Gaza ringed by fences with its airspace and boarders patrolled but is it not sader that when these fences are breeched to bring in much needed civilian supplies Egypt has to act to detain armed fanatics who wish to turn Sinai resorts into bloodbaths.
I would also add that Israel has sucessfully acted in the last year to reduce Gazan civilian casualties dramatically due to tragic military blunders in the past. In this same time frame Palestinian rockets are still launched in random fashion against the civilian population of southern Israel, the low civilian death toll there due largely to poor construction of Qassams on one side and a country with a desire to protect its civilians on the other.
In conclusion I must beg that should we ever be able as a country to in any way to facilitate a peace in this conflicted region, how ever small a part we can play we must be able to appreciate that there are two parts to this problem. Israel can never claim to come out of the occupation hands clean but I would argue strongly that the role a Hamas Gaza plays in this tragedy can not and should never be perceived as a totally innocent victim.

Matt Hayden, Cardiff, Wales

As a sovereign nation, Israel has every right to completely close its border with Gaza and stop all commerce with that terrorist state. At present, Israel supplies Gaza with ~70% of its electricity, while Gazans have the chutzpah to fire rockets on the power plant that supplies them with power! Gaza is not a prison. Gazans are free to travel anywhere in the world. Meanwhile, if an Israeli wanders into an arab neighborhood, he risks being lynched or ambushed. As for the "dire" conditions in Gaza, I have seen photos of some of the expensive racing motorcycles being purchased at the Rafah crossing recently. Clearly there is no poverty there!

Robert, Chicago, USA

Spot on. The mainstream media are by and large incapable of discussing Israel in rational terms, the BBC being one of the worst offenders.

It is quite telling that the BBC has refused to publish the Balen report that it commissioned into anti-Israel bias. I wonder why?

And by the way, Ben Towers, Israel is not in material breach of a single UN resolution. Not one.

Andy Gill, London, UK

Kraft, great synopsis!

jz, atlanta, ga

Thank you for putting forward your honest well balanced views. Other fair reporting can be read via the net at 'honest reporting.com' and Tom Gross's MidEast media watch plus logging in to MEMRI TV. P.S. The plight of the palestinians in camps in Gaza is down to the poor provision by the United National High Commission for Refugees - they run the camps there are no Jews in Gaza - blame should be aimed at where it is due!

Hazel, London, England

Occupation and subjugation of ordinary Palestinians by Zionist state is the root cause of problem in the middle-east no matter how much Mr. Shepherd wants us to believe otherwise. His argument that barrage of rockets did not stop despite Israeli withdrawal from Gaza fools no body as Israel continues to control Gaza through numerous check points, apartheid walls and controlling all its borders. It has turned Gaza into the biggest prison of modern-times by cutting off all links to outside world. In the name of punishing Hamas, it has unleashed collective punishment on the entire population of Gaza. Does Mr. Shepherd seriously consider it end of occupation? Israel can kill any body inside Gaza and get away with the murder by labelling the victim a terrorist who was about to fire a rocket at Israel. Even if those killed are children having a family day out at beach!
He seems all praise for the Zionist state for not resorting to carpet bombing in response to rocket fire, but ignores the â€œslow genocideâ€ of Palestinians at the hand of Israel. It is high time that world realises that Israel is not victim but oppressor in this conflict.

Nadeem Jilani, Manchester, UK

What short memories people have. As I seem to recall, there was a militant group which had representation in the Irish government which did bomb the UK regularly and did kill hundreds of its soldiers and civilians. I don't recall the UK ever destroying Ireland's infrastructure, nor surrounding it with checkpoints, nor cutting off its energy supplies. I don't remember the UK getting much support from the US either.

someone, somewhere,

Thank you for understanding the situation in Gaza, The facts are so clear - and no one is more sorry for the Palestinians and their dreadful plight than the Jewish people, in Israel and elsewhere.
Nina Collins

NIna Collins, LEEDS,

What a sensible article. Well done The Times.

Elana Brumme, London, England

Great article

Craig , Liverpool,

The Poles did not fire rockets into Germany.

William Carey, Schoten 2900, Belgium

Ben Towers: perhaps it is inappropriate to apply the letter of some UN statutes in Israel's case precisely because of the incessant onslaught that it has had to endure from Hamas in Gaza? Perhaps the countries that are "shat on from a great height" pose a far greater threat to the security of the world than democratic Israel? Just a thought.

Jonathan, London, UK

Thank you for this excellent article.

From the Al-Dura and Gaza beach incidents it is clear that the Israelis will be villified whatever they do or don't in these two cases. Europe which has a massive immigrant population is probably concerned not to upset them by supporting the Israelis. Cowards and they will wake up too late as usual.

Peter, London, UK

I do not want Israel to disappear. I grew up with with its David and Goliath struggle to survive, But, Looking back with the wisdom of hindsight, the dispossession of an indigenous majority population by another indigenous minority population was seemingly not such a smart move, though of course quite acceptable for the original mostly European Jewish settlers when colonization was considered a normal activity. What was the expected outcome at the time? it seems to be a deep dark secret that must not be mentioned.
Peter uk

Peter Noott, southampton, uk

J Bracey - very well said. Besides the obvious disparity in the number of victims, and how it was carried out, they are also polar opposites in terms of vindication. The Warsaw Ghetto was as a result of an offensive act of violence by the Germans, whereas the Lebanon bombings was an offensive act carried out by the Israelis in order to defend their northern border from incessive Hezbollah attacks. A completely rediculous comparison.

Michael, London, UK

Udo can't see any difference between pictures of the Warsaw Ghetto and Lebanon. Well the fact is the Germans totally reduced the Ghetto to rubble, they starved, murdered or rounded up every Jewish man, woman and child and carted them off to the gas chambers. The second fact, which hopefully Udo will investigate is the Israelis spent much time in Lebanon leafleting, using loud hailers and even telephoning civilians to avoid terrorist strongholds to which they tried hard to restrict their attacks.

I wonder how Udo would react if the Aboriginess, who have every right to be disgruntled, blasted 4000 rockets into Melbourne. I have no doubt Udo and friends would have little compunction in eradicating such a threat. On reflection it seems this compassionate Aussie and associates have already nearly done so, interestingly enough, without any provocation!

J Bracey, Liverpool, U.K.

I am full of hope, this pre-emptive attack on what is a priori assumed to be the sheer irrationality of Israeli critics, published before any comment on the Winograd report even appears anywhere in the press, betrays a latent sense of guilt on behalf of the author and perhaps a budding conscience. I confess that I often have this obsessive desire but there is no need for a stick to beat Israel with or even any distortion or moral inversion. Israel beats itself up in its war on Lebanon and its justification provides all that. The only success is in vindicating every extremist element in the region.

Nadim Shehadi, London,

Hannah - I never said the PA are in charge of Gaza (as you know they're in charge in the West Bank), it's Hamas that are in charge in Gaza, hence when I invoked the analogy of them not recognizing Israel, I was in fact referring to Hamas, whom the Palestinians voted into power (I probably should have referred to them directly). Yes, Israel applies pressure to Gaza, but this is in direct response to the shelling into Sderot by Hamas, amongst other things; they are not occupying it.

Michael, London, UK

Michael - to be an accurate analogy England would also be having to not recognise Ireland as a legitimate state and have kept it occupied, surrounded by soldiers and under attack itself for the last 40 years while at the same time making increasing and illegal land grabs. In which case Ireland might be excused for trying to fight for its freedom. Oh, and it's only Hamas that doesn't recognise Israel, not the PA.

Robin - your point about Israel having "withdrawn" from the Gaza Strip is disingenous. You well know as an expert in your position that Gaza is hardly free, it is effectively one big prison camp being slowly starved to death. It is therefore hardly surprising that the attacks continue. Instead of dishonestly portraying all criticism of Israeli government policies as anti-semitism, you should instead see British urgings for a free Palestinian state as what it truly is, an effort to bring to an end an illegal occupation and end the human suffering that is feeding radicalism

Hannah, London,

Anti Israel comments become anti- Semitic when either Israel is picked out for condemnation when no other state in similar circumstances is or a totally false picture is presented based on lies and half truths. So the question arises why pick on Israel and beat her with a stick in this situation. Only reason - anti-Antisemitism. Q.E.D.

Alan, London,

Good and acurate article.
What did Egypt do to help build a peaceful Gaza state? let them get arms for further combat. What did Egypt do when Israel, finally, after continuing suffering for 7 years of kasams - puts sanctions on Gaza? Try to close the way to Egypt from the people fleeing from Gaza.
What did Israel do after long needed sanctions? after only 1 day of full santions Israel lifted them partially and sent in relief - and to whom? to those trying to kill and destroy the country.
Who else would do that? and their thank you is more kasams. All the condemners - come and live in Sderot. Then talk.

Judith, Jerusalem, Israel

Well stated. Unfortunately the rest of the world does not care and they continue to stay quiet so as not to stop the flow of oil coming out of the region.

RLK - USA

Bob, New York, USA

Israel has equipment at the crossings to detect any weapons in food supplies.

The fact is, Israel is blockading civilian essentials like water filters and medicines.

A relief convoy attempting to deliver "not only five tons of essential foodstuffs - flour, sugar, rice, oil, salt, beans and lentils - but also water distillers" has been blocked from making the delivery. Must be all the grenades hidden in the lentils! See Gush Shalom website for details.

The sanctions are applied not just to the regime but against the civilian population too. The strategy is to put such pressure on civilians that they rise up and boot out the militants in their midst.

Just as in South Lebanon, that strategy will fail. Average Palestinians won't side with Israel against their own.

I don't know what should be done, but some honesty about Israel's actual policy would be good to see.

EmmaZunz, UK,

I've always thought that Israel gets a rough deal from the media. This is a democracy defending itself against a brutal dictatorship, after all. It begs the question: why do so many people in Europe hate it so much despite its predicament? Look forward to the book.

Sheila Jones, Cardiff,

Israel committed acts of aggression against humanity and actual war crimes, the country is no more than a state sponsored, war criminal, terrorist haven. Amnesty will keep telling the truth, while it's apologists continue to brush over war crimes against civilains.

Bravo Hezbullah!

Marcus, London,

Very well articulated Robin. I am in heartfelt agreement with you. Do you think that England would just stand by and let Ireland shell it everyday without any type of response? What if Ireland also didn't recognize England as a legitimate state, and was sworn openly to its destruction? Exactly.

Michael, London, UK

Author - Israel is still in breach of several UN statutes. How do you feel about the fact that they can do this, whereas the states around them are shat on from a great height for any tiny breach? Or am I being anti-semitic?

Ben Towers, Evesham, England

This article is spot on.

Liz, London,

Udo - That is the problem with just looking at pictures. They rarely tell the whole story.

Michael, London, England

The 'bottom line'? More like a line out of the bottom

szenidedatz, London, UK,

I fealt like crying after reading this article - at last someone who can give an honest appraisal of the situation and is prepared to air his views - Heartfelt thanks.

M Jacob, London, England

Udo:

While I don't agree with everything that Israel does, including the scope of their bombing of Lebanon, I will tell you the difference.

Warsaw: Destroyed because it was invaded by a stronger power that had designs on its territory
Beirut: Destroyed because Lebanese attacked a stronger power that had forsworn designs on its territory

Steven Kraft, San Jose, California, USA

Ahhh I love the anti-Semitism laws and the way they are abused to stifle any negative discussion on Israel. I look at pictures of Warsaw Ghettos, I also look at pictures of Beruit city and be buggered if i can see any difference. That's the bottom line

Udo, Melbourne, Australia