Gaza and Progress

I am a Zionist in the sense that I believe that the state of Israel should exist for the Jewish people. I have many reasons for this, personally, philosophically, and historically, but I wanted to write that I support Israel’s decision to leave Gaza. Israel claimed Gaza, in war, to protect themselves (by creating a buffer zone) against foreign invasion (which was a real threat since they had been attacked by many nations in the 60s and 70s. However, times have changed. Israel’s military advancements in the last 20 years have made it almost unfathomable that a neighboring country would attack. The new dangers are from terrorists who attack Israelis on a daily basic. Every single day bombers are caught with explosives trying to get in Israeli cities. Gaza has become a breeding group for poverty and therefore terrorism. Although, the people in Gaza are Arabs, neighboring Arab counties (some very, very wealthy countries) have made no effort to invest in these people, instead using their suffering to criticize Israel. Gaza has no oil and no good land, but neither does anywhere in Israel. As a separate country, Gaza (and I’m sure it will be renamed Palestine (more on this below) has a chance to improve the lives of its people. And it is the success of the people that lead to cohesiveness in that region. For example, Jordon (whose land was once the majority of Palestine) have good relations with Israel, a good economy (without oil), and civil respect. I do feel bad for the Israeli settlers who have build their homes in Gaza, but the big picture, from a utilitarian stand point, is that the new Palestinians need a better life. I only hope that follow the example of Jordon and not Syria.

Side note: If you were born in East Germany you now consider yourselves German. If you were born in Czechoslovakia, you may now consider yourself Bosnian (or from one of the countries that did not exist when you are born. There are no Soviets anymore. There are no East Germans anymore, but there are Palestinians, even though Palestine is no longer a country. Are there other people that still hold as strong to an national identity when that nation no longer exists? And on a technical note: the Palestinians are not refugees, although it is a semantic. A refugee must be outside their country of origin. They are “internal displaced”, which is just as bad, but it is different. However, words are political and take on a meaning of their own.

Comments

Katie Lipka said…
Isn't a good example of people who held onto an identity without a homeland the Jewish people?
1:33 AM
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