In Defense of Israel

By Matt Turnbull

Regardless of how Israel first came into being as a nation and which groups were displaced at that time, the fact remains that it is now its own country.  As such, it has the same rights as any nation to protect its own interests, citizens, and territory.  And over years of conflict and crisis it has been relentlessly attacked by surrounding nations, each with the stated agenda to wipe out Israel and all of its inhabitants. 

The Palestinian people have been party to these attacks on Israel, allegedly with munitions delivered via underground tunnels.  Even after ceasefires have been called, even with encouragement by international peacekeepers to forge a path to peace, even during and after the Gaza offensive – following which Hamas declared victory – the attacks have not stopped.  They range from rocket and mortar attacks on nearby Israeli towns, sometimes up to 46 km away, to rock throwing at border guards and police. [1][2] There is a culture of hostility towards Israel and the cause has been taken up by Palestinian youth.

This prevailing hostility is understandable: historical reasons, religious differences, mistreatment by Israeli police, and lack of basic supplies are among the factors contributing to this attitude.  How widespread and prevalent it is amongst the entire Palestinian populace is difficult to perceive, but the actions of the few are the most important.

Whatever the motivation, this hostility is completely non-conducive to dialogue.  Israel has no incentive to provide aid to their aggressors.  The escalating cycle of animosity could potentially go on indefinitely, with each side continuing to become more aggressive and irresponsible – the difference is that Israel has the means to keep it up indefinitely. 

Israel holds all the cards: it controls the crossings, the necessities of life, greatly superior force, and therefore the means to peace.  When it comes down to a long-term slugging match the conflict is entirely one-sided.  But cooperation can lead to improved infrastructure, greater mobility, and more lenient regulation on materials allowed in and out of the strip.  Currently, Israel denies many materials entry, on the basis that they could possibly be used to build weaponry. [3][4] This reasoning has not yet been shown to be flawed.

Of course Gaza shouldn’t be deprived of basic needs in order to calm belligerence; the argument can be made that this only exacerbates anti-Israel sentiment.  But these hostile sentiments are precisely what deter Israel from providing aid to the region.  Why supply a population that despises and attacks them?  There is a terrible cycle where Israel refuses aid, making Palestinians more hostile because of major shortages, leading Israel to refuse further aid for fear of its use as military materiel.   

Aid to Gaza is linked to the level of security perceived by Israel. [5] According to the UN, the level of goods entering Gaza decreased after the Hamas takeover, increased after the July 2008 truce was instated, decreased to minimum levels once the truce was broken in November, and increased again after the Israeli military operation in January 2009. [6] Israel is only willing to supply Gaza when it feels secure, and sure that Hamas will not divert aid for its own use.

Although it’s possible that the reduction of violent resistance in Gaza would not correspond to reduced aggression and abuses by Israeli forces, it’s far less likely that the Israeli response will become more lenient of its own accord – that is to say, it’s possible the situation won’t improve if Palestinian violence decreased, but it almost definitely won’t while hostility continues.  As said before, Israel can keep this up as long as Gaza can; it has no urgent need to stand down, and while it is still being attacked, it has no reason to.

A two-state solution is not the answer at this time.  As a nation, Palestine would have even greater agency to carry out its attacks, which are borne of long-standing hatreds and not self-defence.  Being an independent country hasn’t stopped any of Israel’s many other aggressors from attacking or building up munitions, and it would be short-sighted to assume that granting nationhood to Palestine would be the end of outright violence, let alone ongoing animosity. 

But Palestine absolutely does need to be in control of its own destiny and affairs.  In order to establish a strong economic base it needs to develop businesses, infrastructure, and trade, all impossible while Israel’s blockades persist.  And in order for the blockades to be lowered, their necessity must disappear; Palestine must prove they are obsolete.  Trust must be established.  Strong and honest trade links with its powerful neighbour will be absolutely integral to rebuilding Gaza.  A governing body devoted to opposing Israel is also a major roadblock.  Hamas has not proven its commitment to peace, or even to its people, as both Israel and the opposing party Fatah have argued. [7][8]

One would hope that the Palestinian people as a whole would prefer not to be in a perpetual state of conflict and starvation.  Hamas’ currently very low approval ratings coming up to elections may be a reflection of this, but it depends who you ask. [9] What is most needed is a displacement of the autocratic and violent few in favour of a more cooperative and conciliatory government.  The changes will not be immediate – the new order will have to prove its commitment to peace before Israel will feel secure enough to change its policies.  But continued violence will not encourage cooperation.  A neutral third party would also be preferred to enter the region and disarm rebellious elements – an impartial group, if one could be found.  This would hopefully avert another situation similar to the Gaza offensive. 

But even if this were to occur, the most important step would still be altering the culture of hostility between Israel and Palestine.  There’s no way to confiscate all the rocks in Gaza.  Altering these long-standing attitudes will be the longest, most difficult, and least measurable part of the process, but it is the only way that two disparate peoples could eventually coexist peacefully. 

Israel holds the keys to the important first step: independence.  But it has no inclination to help the Palestinian people given the hatreds and hostilities borne towards it.  Yet these hostilities will only be exacerbated by continuing to deny them the basic needs of life.  As long as Palestinians continue to attack Israel and live under a government with the stated agenda of doing so, Israel cannot help them, for its own safety and the safety of its people.