Pro Israel, Pro Earth

Despite, or maybe because of, four years of activism at my alma mater where, it seemed, you couldn't get me to shut up about Israel, for the last while I've been much more reluctant, especially in this space, to vocalize my opinions about the State. Not because I don't care, and not because I lack opinions. Not because I don't spend hours each day following the news and reading Op-Eds.

But, mostly, I reached a point of being jaded. I was fed up with arguing, fed up with defending what I knew to be true. And, more than that, I was fed up with the situation. I came to a realization that it's not going away for a very, very long time.

And so, despite years of rallying the lone voice of pro-Israel, liberal support, despite months in the state itself protesting on the streets of Jerusalem and in front of the Knesset for a hard decision that had to be made about Gaza, despite public speaking and photo-ops and letters to the editor that fill a drawer, my voice on the subject faded to but a whisper.

I guess, subconsciously, I began to pretend that everyone shared my view. I knew better. Not everyone, especially them religious amongst us, is willing to see the Jews relinquish control over some of the most important Jewish sites in the world, to see to the evacuation of 200,000 people in the name of something that might, I repeat, might, bring peace. People differ in opinion. They don't like the wall that I like. They like the settlements that I don't.

Fine.

But sometimes there's news that strikes me as just so ridiculous, so absurd, that I can think of nothing else to do but yell at the top of my lungs. Come on!

It appears that, finally, the Olmert government has decided to do something tangible about the fact that rockets continue to fly across the border between Israel and Gaza. This has been going on for years. The only thing that has ever been done in response is either military incursions that have resulted in dead bodies and angry terrorists, or limited border closures that resulted in no dead bodies, but angry terrorists, starving people, and an angry public opinion.

Fine, despite the clear moral right, Israel should not respond militarily to these rockets - it's just not possible to accomplish anything. And full blockades of all Gaza's imports is an unnecessary form of collective punishment. It may make you feel good, but that's about it.

So here comes the latest idea that, really, just makes you (well, me) feel good, but actually seems to make sense. Block off the oil.

You could argue (and I believe, should) that Israel has an ethical obligation to do all it can to ensure that Gazans are fed and have water to drink - they are people, and Israel is, relatively, rich.

But there is no moral obligation on Israel's part to make life in Gaza easy. And that's just what this does.

No end to rockets? Fine. Walk to school.

It's certainly not collective punishment - no country has a legal responsibility to let goods pass through its borders! That is a gift, one which will no longer be giving.

And, most importantly of all, this is a time of focussed attention on global warming. Oil leads to carbon dioxide and carbon dioxide leads to global heating.

So, I say, let's take one from the Gazan notebook and stop using petroleum. The Earth, and God, and certainly our children, will thank us for it later.

Comments

[Josh]

Although I may disagree with your political statements especially towards l'hitnakut, I may be missing something in your thought. When you cut oil to Aza, the people can't only not go to school, the farmers can't move their goods causing even greater poverty and starvation, and the Religious Israelis who are opting to buy from Palestinian farmers due to the Shmita year are going to have an even harder time and drive those proces up even further. Although I completely agree that something should be done about Aza, I'm not entirely sure this is the right thing and as far as greening the Earth goes, this is not even a drop in the bucket for Israel. They invented Drip Irrigation systems, they should be working on getting us off oil, not keeping it away from the arabs, let them drink their oil while we drive our Eco-friendly cars

[MNS]

I have to disagree with you, David, but not completely. While I absolutely share your outrage towards those who incessantly fire rockets into Israel, I am hesitant to say that cutting off all oil to Gaza is the correct method in handling this. Israel is frustrated, and rightly so, but oppression does not end violence, it only fuels the voice and conviction of Israel's enemies and critics.
Second: global warming is an incredibly pressing issue, I will be the first to recognize that. However, I don't think it right to legitimize cutting oil off from Gaza with the argument that it is better for the environment. Reducing the amount of oil we (ALL) use and creating eco-friendly alternatives are great ways to fight global warming. Cutting oil off to thousands of people, I feel, is not.
This fight seems impossible, at times, because it feels that there is no solution which will not send the red flags of humanitarian organizations flying into Jerusalem, but we must find that solution. We can't settle for less.

[zach]

David, I happen to agree with you.

First of all, I don't understand why people seem to be obsessing about your minor (and somewhat sarcastic comment) about the environmental benefits of this venture - that was not at all your point.

However, I do agree that what we provide for them is truly a gift. If the Palestinian leadership and people cannot get their act together, why should we provide them with such a gift?

In response to Mark: oppression does not end violence. However, ending oppression will end violent retaliation. If Palestinians wish to see an end to violence, they must quit oppressing Israel and its citizens with their egregious acts of war.

I hope that they will realize the consequences that follow their actions. I hope they choose to end violent means of action, in support of peaceful negotiation.

I hope they join us on the other side of the table.

[BZ]

"First of all, I don't understand why people seem to be obsessing about your minor (and somewhat sarcastic comment) about the environmental benefits of this venture - that was not at all your point."

It was in the subject line.

[Jesse]

Ouch, BZ, you hit Zach with that one.

There is a comment that some Joe Schmoe submitted to some ha'aretz article from a year ago that I hold dear to me and I find helps inform my entire perspective of the matzav.

It went something like this:

"The Torah says that Abraham and Sarah's decedents will inherit the land, but it odes not tell us what to do with it. Wise beneficiaries will use an inheritance wisely... the book of Deuteronomy says 'Lo bashamayim hi' - it is not in the heavens that we derive authority. God gave authority and wisdom and patience to us. Now let us use it."

This beautiful midrash has much to teach us. Much more than a comment on a blog will allow. But in short here's my question - is it a show of divinely bestowed authority and wisdom and patience to dangle canisters of oil over the heads of ordinary Gazans, while graciously letting them drink from our hands?

Contrary to the rhetoric of the anti-Israel crowd, the Gazans don't live in some sort of hamster cage. Or at least that's what we insist on. I think. Right?