This series of ads was published by Gush Shalom, a peace activist organization started by Uri Avnery, in the Israel newspaper, Haaretz. They follow the course of the Lebanon conflict from July 25 through August 4 and summarize Avnery's insights into the political dynamics of the Lebanon and Gaza incursions and the ultimate costs and consequences of the death and destruction to Israel. Other articles by Avnery have been featured on Daily Kos and can be found at Gush Shalom's site,:
http://zope.gush-shalom.org/...
Slowly, slowly,
kilometer after kilometer,
We are getting into the Lebanese quagmire.
Like last time.
Members of the government
Say that they have not been told in advance.
Like last time.
After all the killing and destruction,
We shall not achieve any aim.
But the price will be high.
Like last time.
Ad published in Haaretz, July 25, 2006.
BACK TO 1982
THEN: The war was prepared well in advance.
THIS TIME: The same.
THEN: We went to war only to protect "the Peace of Galilee".
THIS TIME: We go to war to protect Haifa and Afula, too.
THEN: We waited for a provocation (the attempt on the life of Ambassador Argov).
THIS TIME: We waited for a provocation (the capture of two soldiers).
THEN: "We shall advance only 40 KM in order to eliminate the Katyushas."
THIS TIME: "We shall advance only a few kilometers in order to eliminate the rockets."
THEN: Sharon acted behind the back of the cabinet.
THIS TIME: Olmert-Peretz-Halutz act behind the back of the ministers.
THEN: We destroyed Lebanon.
THIS TIME: We are destroying Lebanon.
THEN: Only the PLO profited from the war. A few years later they returned to Palestine.
THIS TIME: Only Hezbollah will profit from the war. Their prestige in the Arab world increases every day.
THEN: We were stuck in the quagmire for 18 years.
FOR HOW LONG SHALL WE BE STUCK THIS TIME?
Ad published in Haaretz, July 26, 2006
The Israeli army,
One of the strongest in the world,
Is already fighting for 16 days
Against an organization that has
Only a few thousand fighters.
It is impossible to win
Against a guerilla organization
There is no military solution.
Ad published in Haaretz, July 27, 2006.
While the eyes of the public
Are riveted to the
Daily bloodletting in Lebanon -
The wholesale killing
In the Gaza Strip
Is going on.
Women and children
Are also killed
Every day.
This bill, too,
Will be presented to us
In the future.
Ad published in Haaretz, July 28, 2006.
Now they all admit:
The government has started this war
In light-hearted haste,
Without checking alternatives,
Without prior discussion.
Now we are stuck in the mud.
All the wise guys have an advice
About how to get out of it:
Get into it even deeper.
To get out of this mud
There is only one way:
To get an agreement and
G E T O U T!
Ad published in Haaretz, July 30, 2006
"Condoleezza gives us
All the time we need
To continue the war."
"Condoleezza will stop
The war
In a week."
Condoleezza and her boss
Open and close
The tap -
According to their
Own interests,
Of course.
From this tap
There flows
Blood.
Ad published in Haaretz, July 31, 2006
"We warned them
And called on them
To escape!"
That is disgusting
Hypocrisy.
Because we have:
Bombed the roads.
Destroyed the bridges.
Cut off the supply of gasoline.
Killed whole families on the way.
There is only one way
Of preventing more such disasters,
Which turn us into monsters:
T O S T O P!
There is no military solution!
Ad published in Haaretz, August 1, 2006
A failed government
Is escaping forwards.
When nothing
Is being achieved -
Soldiers are sent
To seize territory.
There is no military solution!
Ad published in Haaretz, August 2, 2006
After the war,
The situation will be
As it was before.
A hundred speeches
Of Olmert
Will not change that.
There is no military solution.
Only a political settlement.
Ad published in Haaretz, August 4, 2006
This war has
Only one aim left:
To save the prestige of
Olmert,
Peretz
And Halutz.
All the other aims
Have gone up in smoke.
There is no military solution.
Ad published in Haaretz, August 4, 2006
(Reprinted with permission.)