Israel is not the side that made child death a war strategy. We are the ones trying to stop it, while the world ties our hands and lectures us on the perversion of “morality.”
It shocks me that there are Jews--Israeli Jews!--who would say such lies. I can't think of why they want to hurt themselves and Israel in the process. Why, oh, why?
Wow! Thank you! I’ve been seething and so incredibly saddened that a fellow Jew, Israeli, politician, would dare accuse the IDF of such an outrageous lie. As a mother, I’ve been thinking of all the mothers who have sent their children off to serve, every member of IDF are our children, how dare Yair have Golan (and others!)!!!! Thank you for eloquently and factually combatting these lies.
One could dig, and dig, and dig for the answers to your question Dana - and find they are myriad. But, keep digging; keep pushing the purported logic and rationalizations, and what will one find?
Many, if not most, of the claimed or proposed answers will be proven to be irrational and illogical; lacking any real explanatory power and incapable of holding up to in-depth scrutiny.
Now, take whatever is left and keep peeling away the layers; keep challenging the claims, pushing the logic, examining any supporting ‘evidence’ in a search for the ‘root cause’. And, assuming one is unflinching in commitment to finding and acknowledging the truth, what will you find?
That ‘the fault’ is the flaws, propensities, and resulting vulnerabilities of fallen human nature. In other words, our inherited nature due to ‘Original Sin’.
As a ‘Bible-believing’ Christian (Zionist), I see the Word of G-d to be both Tanakh and Brit Hadasha, but one could restrict the source to Tanakh and see that Truth revealed in a number of ways.
Admittedly, those can be, and often are, ‘explained away’ by others - including ‘religious authorities’. But, assuming my claim is correct, where does that leave us?
For most of modern history, as well as the present day, the idea is that societal structures and constructs can be altered to remedy mankind’s flaws. This explains, for example, the persisting appeal of Socialism and Communism.
But, the only true ‘cure’ for the flaws and vulnerabilities of fallen human nature, is to receive a new and different nature in its place. Only the one Who created mankind (and everything else) can accomplish that miracle - and He has made it clear that this is precisely what He is working towards, and will accomplish.
Ezekiel 36:25-28 (Tanakh)
25 I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean: I will cleanse you from all your uncleanness and from all your fetishes. 26 And I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit into you: I will remove the heart of stone from your body and give you a heart of flesh; 27 and I will put My spirit into you. Thus I will cause you to follow My laws and faithfully to observe My rules. 28 Then you shall dwell in the land which I gave to your fathers, and you shall be My people and I will be your God.
One day, and that not far off in my view, ALL of G-d’s promises will be fulfilled; in and to the Chosen People, as well as the rest of mankind.
In all that we see happening in our world today, a great deal of which is tragic or extremely troubling, we are witnesses to the unfolding process through which Biblical prophecies made thousands of years ago are moving toward fulfillment.
And, for those with eyes to see, and ears to hear, the call is to turn from our ways, to the true and living G-d; to realize we need to be ‘saved’ from ourselves and ‘re-born’. To be cleansed from our sins and given a new heart, as well as the power to live according to its dictates.
If all that is true, ‘The Question of the Ages’ is how that comes about. And I submit the answer is to be found within the Hebrew Bible, and most clearly revealed in the Brit Hadasha; it is through the Jewish Messiah, whom we Christians recognize as Yeshua of Nazareth.
There have unfortunately been Israeli atrocities. There appears to be two different armies in Israel. One lawful and some branches unlawful.
There's no excuse for an aid truck, that let people know its route to going down a civilian corridor to be attacked and all of it people killed. Image that was your family.
Not having a good system to communicate harms us. To not follow the guidelines we set up harms us. To continually shoot up aid trucks, ambulances etc just feeds those who hate us.
. Most who make these mistakes are given a slap on the wrist.
Israel needs an active, non reactionary pr team to communicate with the media. To shape the narrative with a new vision. A new prime minister would help
That is why it is called a warzone. If one enters a warzone his chances of getting killed increase significantly. Aid truck driver knew it was a warzone.
IDF has never killed a civilian on purpose (unlike Muslim terrorists). Mistakes happen.
One of the more striking limitations among many self-described progressives is their persistent tendency to conceive of moral involvement and vulnerability to harm solely in terms of isolated individuals. This reflects a narrow, rights-based ethical framework in which only culpable persons may be harmed, and any broader attribution of moral responsibility is dismissed as unjust. Such a view fails to grasp that war is not merely a matter of individual actors, but a confrontation between collective entities. It gives rise to forms of collective moral identification—manifested in pride, shame, and responsibility—where association, not just personal conduct, shapes one's moral standing.
Citizens, like children in relation to their parents, inevitably bear some of the consequences of their leaders' decisions. If we adopt a thicker conception of reciprocity—one in which the respect for individual rights, including the right to life, is contingent on the reciprocal recognition of those same rights—then that moral standing can be diminished or forfeited when a population fails to uphold it. When civilians cheer the murder of innocents, as many did in the Gaza Strip, they forfeit or at the very least undermine their moral claim to be shielded from harm. In such cases, it becomes harder to insist that the opposing side must afford their lives greater value than they themselves were willing to accord the lives of others. This does not erase all ethical constraints, but it does shift the calculus of proportionality and may justify greater moral latitude in the actions of the Israel Defense Forces. Many commentators appear unwilling—or unable—to acknowledge this.
Germans , Austrians were euphoric over their 'dear leader.' And enjoyed the spectacle of Jews being humiliated in myriad ways in public. So how many of their babies were killed in Allied bombing? I'll ask UN Rapoteur Francesca Albanese for her always valued opinion.
That we have to plead our (Jews’/Israelis’) case, again, still, at this moment in history, is infuriating. Luckily, we have you, Joshua, writing with such incisive, fearless clarity. Am Israel Chai! ✊🏽
Brilliant, poignant, as usual. You clearly state the facts and the truth. "They have to be carefully taught..." (South Pacific). We can only hope that the Israeli government learns how to speak like this. But where are they? At least, where is someone to replace military spokesman Hagari? They need you. I will be forwarding this to my many liberal friends who just don't get it and are sucked in by the KGB trained Pallywood propagandists and become part of the "useful idiots". Thank you Joshua.
Great article, Joshua. Gets to root of the problem - a society in part endoctrinated to hate and kill Jews/Israelis. A subject I covered a short while back in 'Suffer the Children' (linked below).
'Palestinian...future depends not just on Israel laying down its arms. It depends on Palestinian society laying down its hate." Those are the words that need to be spoken at the UN.
As always a brillant article Joshua, if only these " Palestinians " would learn to love " your neighbor like yourself " instead of hating and teaching their children to hate us......LIFE would be so much better for everyone.....Am Israel Chai
It shocks me that there are Jews--Israeli Jews!--who would say such lies. I can't think of why they want to hurt themselves and Israel in the process. Why, oh, why?
Wow! Thank you! I’ve been seething and so incredibly saddened that a fellow Jew, Israeli, politician, would dare accuse the IDF of such an outrageous lie. As a mother, I’ve been thinking of all the mothers who have sent their children off to serve, every member of IDF are our children, how dare Yair have Golan (and others!)!!!! Thank you for eloquently and factually combatting these lies.
One could dig, and dig, and dig for the answers to your question Dana - and find they are myriad. But, keep digging; keep pushing the purported logic and rationalizations, and what will one find?
Many, if not most, of the claimed or proposed answers will be proven to be irrational and illogical; lacking any real explanatory power and incapable of holding up to in-depth scrutiny.
Now, take whatever is left and keep peeling away the layers; keep challenging the claims, pushing the logic, examining any supporting ‘evidence’ in a search for the ‘root cause’. And, assuming one is unflinching in commitment to finding and acknowledging the truth, what will you find?
That ‘the fault’ is the flaws, propensities, and resulting vulnerabilities of fallen human nature. In other words, our inherited nature due to ‘Original Sin’.
As a ‘Bible-believing’ Christian (Zionist), I see the Word of G-d to be both Tanakh and Brit Hadasha, but one could restrict the source to Tanakh and see that Truth revealed in a number of ways.
Admittedly, those can be, and often are, ‘explained away’ by others - including ‘religious authorities’. But, assuming my claim is correct, where does that leave us?
For most of modern history, as well as the present day, the idea is that societal structures and constructs can be altered to remedy mankind’s flaws. This explains, for example, the persisting appeal of Socialism and Communism.
But, the only true ‘cure’ for the flaws and vulnerabilities of fallen human nature, is to receive a new and different nature in its place. Only the one Who created mankind (and everything else) can accomplish that miracle - and He has made it clear that this is precisely what He is working towards, and will accomplish.
Ezekiel 36:25-28 (Tanakh)
25 I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean: I will cleanse you from all your uncleanness and from all your fetishes. 26 And I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit into you: I will remove the heart of stone from your body and give you a heart of flesh; 27 and I will put My spirit into you. Thus I will cause you to follow My laws and faithfully to observe My rules. 28 Then you shall dwell in the land which I gave to your fathers, and you shall be My people and I will be your God.
One day, and that not far off in my view, ALL of G-d’s promises will be fulfilled; in and to the Chosen People, as well as the rest of mankind.
In all that we see happening in our world today, a great deal of which is tragic or extremely troubling, we are witnesses to the unfolding process through which Biblical prophecies made thousands of years ago are moving toward fulfillment.
And, for those with eyes to see, and ears to hear, the call is to turn from our ways, to the true and living G-d; to realize we need to be ‘saved’ from ourselves and ‘re-born’. To be cleansed from our sins and given a new heart, as well as the power to live according to its dictates.
If all that is true, ‘The Question of the Ages’ is how that comes about. And I submit the answer is to be found within the Hebrew Bible, and most clearly revealed in the Brit Hadasha; it is through the Jewish Messiah, whom we Christians recognize as Yeshua of Nazareth.
Am Israel Chai!
I hope that you pasted that in.
Actually, it’s the fruit of single finger typing!🤪
https://archive.is/20230812222347/https://www.haaretz.com/2009-01-01/ty-article/the-jew-flu-the-strange-illness-of-jewish-anti-semitism/0000017f-dedf-d856-a37f-ffdf366f0000
an interesting read
indeed it was!
People who speak about Israeli atrocities are either ignorant or malicious or both.
There have unfortunately been Israeli atrocities. There appears to be two different armies in Israel. One lawful and some branches unlawful.
There's no excuse for an aid truck, that let people know its route to going down a civilian corridor to be attacked and all of it people killed. Image that was your family.
Not having a good system to communicate harms us. To not follow the guidelines we set up harms us. To continually shoot up aid trucks, ambulances etc just feeds those who hate us.
. Most who make these mistakes are given a slap on the wrist.
Israel needs an active, non reactionary pr team to communicate with the media. To shape the narrative with a new vision. A new prime minister would help
That is why it is called a warzone. If one enters a warzone his chances of getting killed increase significantly. Aid truck driver knew it was a warzone.
IDF has never killed a civilian on purpose (unlike Muslim terrorists). Mistakes happen.
So precise, so clear, so important, so useful! Thank you Josh! You are a modern-day prophet.
One of the more striking limitations among many self-described progressives is their persistent tendency to conceive of moral involvement and vulnerability to harm solely in terms of isolated individuals. This reflects a narrow, rights-based ethical framework in which only culpable persons may be harmed, and any broader attribution of moral responsibility is dismissed as unjust. Such a view fails to grasp that war is not merely a matter of individual actors, but a confrontation between collective entities. It gives rise to forms of collective moral identification—manifested in pride, shame, and responsibility—where association, not just personal conduct, shapes one's moral standing.
Citizens, like children in relation to their parents, inevitably bear some of the consequences of their leaders' decisions. If we adopt a thicker conception of reciprocity—one in which the respect for individual rights, including the right to life, is contingent on the reciprocal recognition of those same rights—then that moral standing can be diminished or forfeited when a population fails to uphold it. When civilians cheer the murder of innocents, as many did in the Gaza Strip, they forfeit or at the very least undermine their moral claim to be shielded from harm. In such cases, it becomes harder to insist that the opposing side must afford their lives greater value than they themselves were willing to accord the lives of others. This does not erase all ethical constraints, but it does shift the calculus of proportionality and may justify greater moral latitude in the actions of the Israel Defense Forces. Many commentators appear unwilling—or unable—to acknowledge this.
So spot on — I’m with you 100%
brilliant analysis!
You nailed it, couldn’t agree more!
Germans , Austrians were euphoric over their 'dear leader.' And enjoyed the spectacle of Jews being humiliated in myriad ways in public. So how many of their babies were killed in Allied bombing? I'll ask UN Rapoteur Francesca Albanese for her always valued opinion.
Why not stop using the term Palestinian now? Only someone born in British Mandate can use the term. Let all authors and readers stop using it now.
Just plain old Arabs
Gazan Arabs, Arab residents of Judea and Samaria.
That we have to plead our (Jews’/Israelis’) case, again, still, at this moment in history, is infuriating. Luckily, we have you, Joshua, writing with such incisive, fearless clarity. Am Israel Chai! ✊🏽
Thank you for this. It's heartbreaking that so many cannot see the truth of this
Brilliant, poignant, as usual. You clearly state the facts and the truth. "They have to be carefully taught..." (South Pacific). We can only hope that the Israeli government learns how to speak like this. But where are they? At least, where is someone to replace military spokesman Hagari? They need you. I will be forwarding this to my many liberal friends who just don't get it and are sucked in by the KGB trained Pallywood propagandists and become part of the "useful idiots". Thank you Joshua.
Thank you Joshua . I needed to read this . So many Jews swallowing this heinous blood libel .
I wonder, Joshua, if your American friend has questioned why much of the world isn't at all concerned about dead Jewish children.
Death to our enemies!
Great article, Joshua. Gets to root of the problem - a society in part endoctrinated to hate and kill Jews/Israelis. A subject I covered a short while back in 'Suffer the Children' (linked below).
https://scribejohn.substack.com/p/suffer-the-children
'Palestinian...future depends not just on Israel laying down its arms. It depends on Palestinian society laying down its hate." Those are the words that need to be spoken at the UN.
As always a brillant article Joshua, if only these " Palestinians " would learn to love " your neighbor like yourself " instead of hating and teaching their children to hate us......LIFE would be so much better for everyone.....Am Israel Chai
meanwhile Russia sends explosive packed drones into homes schools hospitals busses and NOBODY bats an eye
it feels more and more that Gaza is just a horrible smokescreen and once again Israel is scapegoated while the real crimes proceed unfettered
honestly I would not be surprised if there was a connection
This general should be fired forthwith