The Israeli military force is proving to the world their capabilities to crush any and all who would oppose their goals. This is a government that is in the process of punishing those that would dare to confront them with grievances not on bent knee and with eyes not firmly focused on the ground. The future of the Palestinians is as bleak and hopeless as any group of people in recent history, save for the Jews during the 1930s and 40s ironically enough. The inhabitants of Gaza, a squalid slum, unfit for even the lowest rungs of humanity is what they have called home for years as wards of a state determined to crush the last vestiges of pride and dignity from their souls.
The dominance of force the Israeli government has mounted against its Palestinian antagonist; a loathsome burden and unwanted presence in order to protect its citizenry is impressive to say the least. The reported unity of government and the Israeli populace over the "Operation Cast Lead" aka the Gaza War is equally impressive. And the ability to influence public opinion via control of the mass media is no less than brilliant in strategy as well as execution.
With the wide spread butchery and mayhem that is occurring as we write, most of it will never see the light of day as the Israeli news blackout is nearly 100% complete. One may occasionally get a view of smoldering flesh, a glimpse of blood splattered walls or perhaps the faint whines and whimpers of trapped victims of all ages crying out for help, but we will never know the true extent of the violence and violations of internationally accepted laws of war. Behind closed doors, these lowly Palestinians are paying a very high price for their refusal to comply with their master’s demands.
The entire world is being placed on notice during this conflict that Israel may be small but they are lethal. The Israeli government is showing its fangs and they are long, sharp and merciless. The Israeli government is sending the message that they have the stomach to lay waste to an entire city, burning, maiming and crippling even the innocent in order to bring vengeance upon those they deem responsible for harming one of their own. This is a lesson the wise among us would be wiser to learn and appreciate for what it means.
The Israeli government has proven over their 60 year existence that they are presiding over a gritty, resilient and determined people that has the ability to hardened and become callus to a world beyond their own beliefs. One could view this evolved desensitized characteristic as an attribute to be proud of in an environment of ever dwindling global resources.
In a world where armed conflict is soon to be the first choice of conflict resolution, he who can develop a coarseness necessary to look down upon his perceived foe as less than human will benefit greatly when called upon to fire live rounds into a rock throwing crowd of youths or to press the firing mechanism to launch a missile from an f-16 fighter destined for an occupied apartment building. These are skills many of us may never fully master, that is why this message the Israeli government is sending to the Arab world and beyond is all the more powerful.
Israeli government officials, including but not limited to Tzipi Livni leader of the Kadima party(served as a lieutenant in the Israeli Defense forces and worked for the Mossad for two years) with hopes of being elected Prime Minister, Ben Netanyahu (Likud Party Chairman also looking for another term as Prime Minister) and Ehud Barak of the Labor Party and current Minister of Defense and former Prime Minister are all on the same page of tough talking points melding the message of death and destruction to any who dare to oppose the state of Israel.
Yes, it is election time for the Israelis government and that in and of its self can make the fate of the Palestinians even direr than it has to be. With the leading candidates out to prove who can make the citizenry safest from the hoards of filthy thugs scrounging about aimlessly in the world’s largest ghetto, will probable have the best chance of being elected.
The only slim hope the Palestinians have against the insurmountable force upon them is the possibility that cooler heads will prevail within the Israeli people. But at this snapshot in time, none seem to be stepping forward. At this stage of this bloody game, the global community will have to await President elect Barack Obama to see if his message of change will fall gracefully upon the hardened hearts of Israel. Meanwhile, Israel will have to live with the unintended consequence of their actions as they have metastasized into the fearsome beast of the Middle East. But apparently this is a trade off they are willing to make in the name of security and self preservation.