As the world responds to the situation in Gaza the evidence of a generation immersed in moral equivalency is disturbing. The doctrine of equivalence denies that a moral hierarchy can be assessed of two sides in a conflict, or in the actions or tactics of the two sides.  In the recent coverage of Gaza, such a doctrine has served to undermine the significant historical context of events, and to remove the moral distinction between the ongoing violence initiated by Gaza terrorists and the military operation being employed by Israel–a sovereign democratic state with a responsibility to defend her citizens.   

 

In a recent editorial appearing in the Democrat and Chronicle entitled  “Obama faces a Mideast test”, the author accused Israel of “a retaliation that was disproportionate to the damage done” and stated that “Israel should be warn that U.S. support is not unconditional, that attacks that kill innocents in the name of security are unacceptable”.(1)  Statements such as these fail to appreciate the complex struggle that Israel faces against radical Islamic terror, specifically the type now being initiated by Hamas and supported by the rogue regimes in Syria and Iran. Statements like this also assume that Israel’s military operation is primarily a retaliatory act rather than a necessary stance for self preservation.

 

If there is an informed discussion to be had about “appropriate use of force” and “innocent victims”, consideration must be given to the following facts: Since Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza in 2005, Palestinians living in Gaza have launched more than 6,400 rockets and mortars into Israel (Since April 16, 2001 there have been over 8,000 rocket and mortar attacks) (2). These attacks have killed 13 civilians, wounded more than 800 and traumatized thousands of others (3).   During 2008, Iran-backed terrorist groups in Gaza have increased its attacks firing more than 3,000 rockets, missiles and mortars at Israeli civilians in the southern Negev region(4).  Recently Hamas and other militants in Gaza have stepped up their weapons production in both quantity and quality.  Previous militants used homemade rockets that could travel 12 miles to terrorize Israeli border communities.  Currently militants are now utilizing weapons manufactured in China and Iran. These new brand of Grad rockets have now extended the reach of Hamas terror further in to Israel placing over 700,000 Israeli citizens (10% of Israel’s population) within firing range. (5) In addition, Israel’s internal security service, the Israel General Security Services, estimates that since the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, more than 130 tons of explosives have been smuggled into the Gaza Strip with 80 tons of these explosives being smuggled into the Gaza Strip this year alone (6).

 

With attention fixed on Gaza, Hamas continues to win international sympathy while fueling and justifying militant anger and support around the world.  Media coverage often fails to mentions that while the Israel Defense Force distributes flyers to the Palestinian populations in Gaza warning civilians to vacate the vicinity of targeted terror cells, Hamas operatives have been hiding in hospitals and mosques, using civilians as human shields (7). In the midst of escalating violence, Israel continues to be committed to providing humanitarian support to Gaza, allowing over 4,000 tons of food and medical supplies to enter the Gaza Strip.  Israel has also authorized several chronically ill and wounded Gazans to enter Israel for treatment. (8)

 

Unfortunately the moral equivalency that plagues Western thought only aids the Hamas in galvanizing international sympathy, etching them closer to the realization of their stated goal – “the creation of an Islamic republic in Palestine that would replace Israel” (as stated in The 1988 Hamas Covenant)  (9). The immediate means to which they aim to achieve this goal (outlined in their covenant) is the escalation of the armed struggle, and ultimately jihad with the participation not only of Palestinian Muslims but of the entire Islamic world. (9)

 

The events in Gaza do indeed present Obama with a defining test: Will this administration maintain the moral clarity and resolve necessary to strengthen our ties to democratic allies while challenging terrorist regimes hostile to our interests?  Or will the pervasive culture of moral equivalence plague the Obama administration, eroding the fabric of our national identity and rendering us impotent in the face of such challenges. As the eyes of the world watch with anticipation, I pray that Obama does not squander this opportunity to preserve America’s unique role as an international leader that promotes the cause of political and economic freedom abroad.  May Obama remain more committed to standing for justice and less concerned about being perceived as being “even-handed”. And may every American citizen continue to pledge their aligned to a nation that remains united under God with liberty and justice for all.

 

 

 

 

(2) Conference call with Ambassador Jeremy Issacharoff  (the Deputy Chief of Mission to Embassy of Israel in Washington, D.C., Jan. 2, 2009.

 

(3)http://www.theisraelproject.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=hsJPK0PIJpH&b=689705&ct=6476363#graph

 

(4) Data relayed to The Israel Project by IDF Spokesman’s Division, Dec 18, 2008; “Hamas fires at Israel, threatening hopes of renewed ceasefire,” The Telegraph (UK), Dec. 24, 2008, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/3933368/Hamas-fires-at-Israel-threatening-hopes-of-renewed-ceasefire.html; “Rocket barrage from Gaza as Hamas ends six-month calm,” Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs Web site, Dec. 24, 2008, http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA

 

(5) H.E. Sallai Meridor Israel’s Ambassador to the United States

Confronting Hamas in Gaza: Israel’s Search for Peace. Tuesday, December 30, 2008

National Press Club, Washington, D.C http://www.theisraelproject.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=hsJPK0PIJpH&b=3587015&content_id={3E349D18-F671-48ED-A0F1-E84921C929DF}&notoc=1

 

(6) Summary of Palestinian Terrorist Activities for 2007 – Statistics and Trends of Palestinian Terror (Hebrew), accessed Jan. 16, 2008, http://www.shabak.gov.il/publications/Pages/sikum2007.aspx

 

(7) Exposed: Hamas used human shields International community blasted Jewish state for ‘aggression’ against civilians, by Aaron Klein  http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=58118

 

(8) Gaza Assault Continues as Israel Rejects Cease-fire with Hamas

      By Amanda Ruggeri – Fri Jan 2, 2:37 http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnews/20090102/ts_usnews/gazaassaultcontinuesasisraelrejectsceasefirewithhamas

 

(9)“Hamas Covenant 1988- The Covenant of the Islamic Resistance Movement”

18 August 1988 http://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/hamas.asp

 

(1) “Obama faces a Mideast test: Transition should be no barrier to response to situation in Gaza” The Democrat and Chronicle: Rochester, NY December 30, 2008