No myfriend, Tashah is wrong. I understand how she feels this way, but I think she is wrong.
Al-Aqsa martyrs Brigades is a militant wing that does not at all agree with the position of fatah. Fatah, Abbas, have called for an end to suicide bombings and the resistance even. They want to push the non-violent resistance movement alongside direct negotiations with Israel. Many Fatah officials have condemned this crime.
Hamas has stopped suicide bombing and is able to clamp down on Izzi-din-Qassam military wing. Their response, like Tashah's, is wrong and I disagree with their 'natural response' remark, but I understand how they feel about it.
Please, for the sake of the holy land, for the sake of the jews and the palestinians, for the God's sake, for the sake of our father Abraham...Please understand that we cannot do this. We cannot do this, this has been the reason there has been no peace. Each side says it is in the hands of the other. Israeli 'defense' is an offense against a majority civilian population and infrastructure. It is what extremists use to continue the occupation just like 'palestinian defense' is used by extremists on the other side.
I am outraged at this crime, I have lost much hope, I am saddened, I am tired. But, captain, we cannot use it to block our rational thinking, with my sincere respect and admiration sir. Just a month or so ago a neighborhood in beit hanoun was shelled for hours and 18 women and children were killed under the pretext of 'Israeli' defense. The majority of palestinians killed in this intifada, four times the number of Israelis, are civilians. These are women and children and young men and old people. It is, in the eyes of much of the world an attrocity. But I cannot use beit hanoun, or the rape of gaza just months ago to put the case for peace solely on the Israelis or blindly support the palestinians and trust their 'reasonable' rersponse. We must stand together to condemn this crime and other crimes, and we must stand together to condemn Israeli crimes. It is up to us to look through the fog of war and stop the march to massacre.
My great grandfather was killed by an Israeli bullet in Haifa in 1948.
My uncle Sharif was killed by Israeli troops, his body riddled 16 times.
I have had cousins and uncles imprisoned without trial, family land confiscated, seen homes looted by Israeli police under the pretext of 'late due taxes'. I have been arrested and beaten by etheopian and russian Israeli soldiers in the old city of jerusalem for arguing with a police officer who would not speak english nor arabic with me. I travel to the west bank and see emense red roofed settlments surrounding the towns, I have been insulted at check point, M-16s raised at my mother and father, travelled 7 hours to get to a distance 10 miles away. I have witnessed the massive wall, the homes and land destroyed in it's path. But I cannot allow myself to be blinded by this, I cannot throw all my troubles, all my fears and all my worries at the jews, blame the Israelis unconditionally and support the palestinian militants and justify any 'reasonable' actions they might take.
You are in the minority, as I might be. But we cannot be sucked into the void of never ending struggle. For me, it is a price too heavy to pay. 80 years, my people have rebelled. 80 years, they have been sucked into the void.
