For instance, in this case, I believe the underlying questions are:
- Can unilateral moves by Israel lead the way to a different, more peaceful, reality in our region?
- What impact can the international community really have in promoting such a reality, and as a sub-set of this question, how much consideration should Israel give to the international community’s voice on such matters?
- Which culture, language, norms and value systems should be predominant in the process of establishing a strategy for peace (and war) – yours or those of your enemy?
And finally, in direct relation to his most sincere comments to me, I add:
- When is the time to look in the mirror and speak of how to bring peace and when is the time to look directly at your enemy and speak ONLY about war and about how it can and must be won?
I confess that in looking at these complicated questions, I find that I have a strong sense of clarity as to what I think the “right” answers are, and I find it most tempting to address them all here and now. But I think I can provide a sufficient response to my uncle’s comments in the context of the fourth and last question above.
The analogy that comes to mind is that of a magician. In the masterful art of “sleight of hand” and misdirection, the magician’s entire act is reliant on his ability to get us to look in a very certain direction at a very specific time. This is based on our inability to look in two directions at once.
Sadly, this is also true when it comes to international public attention, mass media attention, and tragically, even the attention of dedicated organizations such as the United Nations’ Human Rights Council (which has been high-jacked by rogue states precisely for this reason – as it obsessively focuses on Israel in a way that is designed to ensure that no real or meaningful attention is given to the true violations of human rights systematically committed by these very same rogue states).
In this case:
The magician is: Hamas.
The misdirection is: Hundreds of civilian casualties.
The magic is: How Hamas, despite the atrocities it commits and its public and sincere declaration of war against Israel and western values, is still able to get everyone to look in a different direction: at Israel – with questions about the proportion of Israel’s military responses, the comparative casualty rates, and, of course, the efforts Israel is (or isn’t) making to find a peaceful solution to this terrible situation.
That’s why you don’t hear me speak of what Israel needs to be doing to promote peace. I’m keeping my eyes on the “ball” – on Hamas, and on everything they stand for – and in my blogs and conversations I am trying to make sure that the international community, intellectuals, and self-declared defenders of human rights do the same.