Time For America To Get Out Of The War Business

As the conflict continues to unfold with Hamas and Israel, Americans are being drawn in to support Israel. First let clarify my position on this conflict. Hamas is evil and does not have the interest of the Palestinian people at heart in this conflict. Hamas will use any means necessary to carry out their war on anyone who is not their brand of Muslim. However, this conflict with Hamas has been used by the Israeli Government to justify their actions of bombing homes, schools, and other civilian areas. What is not being told is that Israel is using the same tactics. If we could only step outside the propaganda box and look at how the emotions of the American people are being used to choose sides in this conflict we might be surprised how we have been manipulated. 

Why is it that the political and military leaders along with media talking heads echo the statements made by Israeli politicians and diplomats without checking the facts. Americans are given only one side of the story and we are ready to accept what we are being told as the truth, because we feel as Christians we must support Israel.  Israel has the right to protect their country from the bombs and rockets fired upon them.  They have the right to do what they feel is needed to protect their people without the interference of the US government. 

The Palestinians have the right to be governed by a leadership that cares about their daily needs and not by Islamic leaders that do not care how many Palestinians are killed to accomplish their goals. 

The truth has been lost in the emotions of the propaganda battle. As the bombs, rockets and bullets are flying around both side are lying to gain support for their side. Hamas is blaming Israel of making war on civilians by dropping bombs in residential areas. Hundreds of civilians have died from the actions of Israel. In America, Christians justify Israel’s action. We need to stop and look at this in a less emotional state.  If Hamas is so concerned about what is happening to the civilian population then stop hiding in schools, hospitals and homes and fight in the open.

The Geneva Conventions state: “The presence or movements of the civilian population or individual civilians shall not be used to render certain points or areas immune from military operations, in particular in attempts to shield military objectives from attacks or to shield, favor or impede military operations. The parties to the conflict shall not direct the movement of the civilian population or individual civilians in order to attempt to shield military objectives from attacks or to shield military operations."

Again, Hamas is evil and does not care about the Palestinian people. Islam does not understand love and mercy; they deal only in hatred and cruelty. International law bans the use of medical units or prisoners of war to deter enemy attack. However, even though Hamas is violating the law, Israel does not have the right to bomb areas where civilians are known to be. 

International law states: "Any violation of these prohibitions shall not release the parties to the conflict from their legal obligations with respect to the civilian population and civilians, including the obligation to take the precautionary measures," 

The news media here in America daily is justifying Israel’s actions by telling us how Israel gives due notice of attacks. Warning missiles are being used—what is a warning missile? They blowup your neighbor’s house to convince you that they are going to blow-up your house so get out now? 

How are we to know the truth? The UN agency UNRWA's shelters have been shelled on four occasions despite officials giving precise coordinates to the IDF. Israel’s shelling of a UN shelter has resulted in several civilians being killed. Why is it that Israel can target a hospital where, the wounded, the sick and children should be safe but are not and there is no outcry from Christians in America?

Many American Christians are unaware that Gaza is one of the most overcrowded places on earth. Almost two million people are crammed into a strip of land just 25 miles long and 3 to 7 miles wide. The problem is, there is no place for these civilians to go. The Muslim world does not practice charity or mercy so they do not care what happens to the Palestinians.  When has a Muslim country offered to take the Palestinians? 

This war is not being fought on a conventional battlefield. Israel is pounding Gaza from the air, and its troops are increasingly fighting battles against a guerrilla army in densely populated urban area. The separation between "civilian" and "military" in Gaza does not exist. Hamas fighters are cowards; they hide their faces and hide behind the weak. 

The actions of Hamas towards the Palestinian people are not alone in this conflict. To complain that Hamas is operating in civilian areas is not justifiable. Israel’s IDF’s headquarters is in central Tel Aviv, surrounded by a hospital, shopping centers, offices and residential housing. This war is not what it seems. Both sides are at fault and America should stay out of this conflict. To justify our support of Israel based on the fact they are an ally is not acceptable. Just because they are an ally does not mean we should support wrong actions. 

If America is really interested in resolving the conflict in the Middle East then we need to stop supply arms to both sides. We need to stop overthrowing sovereign countries and replacing the leadership with a leadership that is worse than the one we overthrew.  

It is time to take care of our own interest and if as Christians we think Israel is God’s chosen people and that He cares for them let God fight their battles as He did in the past. God does not need America to defeat the enemies of Israel. America will just confuse the issues. If Christians believe that God loves Israel, then God will protect them. We need to get our house in order before we take on cleaning up the rest of the world. So far we have made a mess of everything we touch-Iraq, Syria, Egypt, Afghanistan and Libya to name a few countries we have messed up.  It is time for America to get out of the business of war.