Everyone everywhere should be supporting Israel against Hamas, Hezbollah and Hamas' supporter and ally, Iran, who keep promising "to wipe Israel off the map." Why shouldn't Israel respond after 10,000 rocket attacks from Gaza into Israel since the 2005 withdrawal? Israel must act to protect her citizens in the south. There are legitimate rights of self defense on this planet; when someone lobs rockets at you, you have the right to defend yourself. The U.S. would retaliate if Mexico or Canada shot rockets and missiles over our borders.
Israel has learned "shock and awe" from our U.S. armed forces, and just like the U.S., Israel is trying to pinpoint bombings, known as "strategic maneuvers," to minimize civilian casualties.
The fanatical Hamas, which tore up the six-month, Egypt-brokered peace understanding, needs to be cut off at the source. That's what Israel is trying to do — destroy the infrastructure of the military might of Hamas, not to harm innocent civilians. However, Hamas clearly targets innocent Israeli civilians to promote fear and provoke a response.
This past weekend's offensive was exactly what Hamas wanted. By deliberately refusing to honor and abide by the understanding negotiated by Egypt, they caused a conflict that Israel did not seek.
Hamas ignited a rocket barrage into Israel on Christmas Day, thoroughly terrifying many Christians on their way to Bethlehem. Israel only responded. The goal for Israel is a new security environment that will mean her citizens don't have to live in fear, nor suffer nightmares and trauma.
Israel's pinpointed strikes have been effective, yet Hamas remains strong and lethal. I don't believe that most people here understand why it is in the interests of the Palestinian people for Hamas to shoot rockets and missiles into Israel: the result is that Israel eventually has to retaliate. Even Arab leaders have pointed at Hamas as the instigator, who doesn't care about its own or Israel's civilian population.
There is propaganda interest to highlight civilian injuries in Gaza. Watch the news: people are encouraging reporters to photograph and videotape injured and dying people.
Can you see that happening here? Why, our medics and EMS would send TV news crews scurrying out of the way so that the injured could get immediate treatment. I don't believe every news report from Gaza because it is to the advantage of Hamas to create worldwide sympathy as the underdog.
In the West Bank, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas is reported to have begged Hamas to continue honoring the peace understanding before it expired. Under his leadership, Palestinians' lives have improved. Unemployment is down, tourism to Bethlehem is up, the quality of life is better.
Abbas is bringing in law and order to Hebron, Tulkarm and Jenin; he is doing everything possible to bring about nation-building. Iran supports Hamas. Iran that shakes its fists at the Western world, burning our flag along with Israel's flag. "Hamas members are trained, guided and funded by Iran," said Sallai Meridor, Israel ambassador to the U.S., in a press conference I attended electronically.
"The long-range missiles are made in Iran."
Israel has peace with Egypt and with Jordan, but neither of those countries wants Palestinians to come into their country.
"There has to be a new security environment for the Israeli people living in the south. A new reality must be created that will eliminate the terror," Mark Regev, media advisor to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, said to me and other members of the press in a conference call from Jerusalem Monday.
Israel has long wanted negotiations and talks with her neighbors, but like the U.S., Great Britain, and the U.N., Israel will not negotiate with a terrorist organization, i.e. Hamas and Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, al Qaida, and the Taliban. Just think: al Qaida and the Taliban are supporting Hamas. Does that tell you something?
Yes, it was time — time for Israel to respond with force, and time for everyone in the Arab world to wake up and accept the State of Israel as a sovereign nation and then work toward a higher standard of living for their own citizens. It is time to end this war against Israel and the Jews. I don't expect them to become Zionists — that's for me. But they need to face facts and spend their oil money and strength on bettering the lives of the Palestinians, not killing Israelis.
Leah F. Chase is a freelance journalist living in Charleston. She recently returned from her fourth trip to Israel this year.
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