DV Journal

There are two misperceptions that are repeatedly and confidently asserted about the war between Israel and Gaza.  The first is that the war was unprovoked.  The second is that it was caused by the internal divides within Israel, or the approaching normalization with Saudi Arabia, or the incompetence of the Israeli government, or the fiftieth anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, or….

The problem with the “unprovoked” argument is that it turns Hamas into irrational actors.  Since there must be some explanation for their acts of barbarism, it must be that they’ve been driven to these savage and desperate acts by the ongoing Israeli occupation of their people.  What else, so the argument goes, can they do under these insufferable circumstances?

The truth, however, is that Hamas is provoked by the existence of a non-Muslim state in a land that was once under the control of Islam, what is called in Arabic, dar al-Islam.  Hamas isn’t killing Israelis because they’re Jewish.

Hamas is killing Israelis because a sovereign Jewish state in what was once the abode of Islam is an affront to Hamas’ Islamist ideology.  Israel’s existence is the provocation, and, therefore, short of committing national suicide, there is nothing that Israel can do to achieve détente as Israel has been able to do with its secular neighbors:  Egypt, Jordan, and the Palestine Liberation Organization, as well the countries comprising the Abraham Accords.

I believe the occasion of this war was the prospect that Saudi Arabia was about to announce normalization with Israel.  That has now been put on hold.

Another possible candidate for the war’s occasion is the massive protests against the judicial coup perpetrated by the Israeli governing coalition.  The Israeli society is deeply divided.  But we should not confuse occasions with causes.  Pundits can argue about what occasioned the war at this very moment.  But there is only one cause for the war:  Hamas’ rejection of a sovereign non-Muslim state within dar al-Islam, the historical abode of Islam.

Israel’s ground invasion has begun.  The blockade continues.  Egypt could allow the Gazans humanitarian passage into the Sinai.  But, they refuse.  Hamas could restore the 150 hostages to their families and end the blockade.  But, they refuse.

Hamas could end the suffering of the Gazans by surrendering and recognizing Israel’s right to exist.  But, they refuse.  Hamas could have used the billions of dollars it received in international aid since 2014 to build electricity plants rather than rockets, roads rather than tunnels into Israel.  But, they refused.

The arguments and images about to be deployed against Israel will pull at the heart.  The Gazans truly don’t deserve this.  But the ability and responsibility to protect Gaza is Hamas’ alone—not Israel’s, not Egypt’s, not their Muslim and Arab brethren, and not the international community.  Hamas must finally decide between its medieval ideology and its people’s welfare.  The choice is theirs alone.

In the wake of the brutal Hamas attack on Israel, George Donnelly, the chief of staff for progressive state Sen. Nikil Saval (D-Philadelphia), retweeted anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian statements.

In response to denunciations of Hamas’ violence against Israeli civilians, one social media account responded, “What did y’all think decolonization meant? Vibes? Papers? Essays? Losers.” And “Progressive commentators saying Palestinians have entered ‘Israeli territory’…baby check yourselves. You’re part of the problem.” Another responded to criticism of Hamas violence with the message, “Damn, a lot of you really are fairweather friends to the Palestinians.”

Donnelly retweeted all of these statements.

Saval (D-Philadelphia) did not respond to a request for comment.  However, Saval did issue a statement denouncing Hamas and Donnelly has since deleted his posts.

State Sens. Steven Santarsiero (D-Bucks) and Judith Schwank (D-Berks) cosponsored a memo that Senate Leader Jay Costa cosigned for a resolution condemning the terrorist attacks.

“As you no doubt know by now, on Saturday, the Jewish sabbath, or as it is called in Hebrew, Shabbat — and nearly 50 years to the day after the beginning of the Yom Kippur War, which was deliberately started on Judaism’s holiest day — Hamas launched an unprovoked terrorist attack against Israel, firing over 2500 rockets at cities throughout the country, while invading Israeli communities near the Gaza Strip. As of this writing, according to many reports, hundreds of Israelis have been killed, and many have been taken hostage, including civilians and young children.

“When the Senate reconvenes on October 16, we will be introducing a resolution condemning this unprovoked and repugnant attack and voicing our strong support for the State of Israel and its people in their time of need. We invite you to join us by co-sponsoring this resolution,” the memo stated.

The Pennsylvania Republican House leadership commented: “We strongly condemn terrorism against America’s closest ally, the nation of Israel. As terrorists have invaded their sovereign borders, taken hostages, and launched offensive weapons that have killed more than 900 innocent Israelis and injured thousands more, Israel deserves America’s strong support.

“Many hearts are broken, and it will take a very long time for hearts to heal. The Yom Kippur War anniversary rekindled many of the traumatic feelings Israelis who survived that war as wounded and imprisoned soldiers, survivors, spouses, and children and grandchildren of victims have been quietly and privately living with for decades. The wounds from this attack, touching so many families, will likewise linger. The stories of those murdered, wounded, and kidnapped within their homes and ‘safe rooms,’ and during their parties and holiday celebrations is heartbreaking.”

“There should be no equivocation on this matter. Those who are marching in Philadelphia and with organizations in line with the Democratic Socialists of America, who count members of the Democratic Party as their members, supporters, and political allies, should be ashamed of the dissemination of the worst type of propaganda.

“These are immoral actions that call for bipartisan denunciation. Our prayers are with those who suffered the atrocities of these acts of terror.”

At a rally held in solidarity with Israel Monday night, Ardmore resident Amichai Shdemah told the story of his step-grandmother’s abduction from her home in Nir Oz kibbutz by Hamas terrorists.

The woman, whom Shdemah calls “Savta” or grandmother, is 84.

“We know some details. In the morning, she was hiding in the safe room,” Shdemah said. “Later, a neighbor heard her calling for help and went outside. He realized he couldn’t help her. There were too many terrorists, and he fled back to his safe room.”

Family members kept trying to call her cell phone. Eventually, someone answered and said in Arabic, “Hamas.”

“We are helpless and sick with worry,” he said. Officials gave the family no information. “They have checked hospitals,” he said. “And the list of the dead.”

“She was a social worker who worked with many families,” he continued. She has the “gift of an enormous family and remembers everybody’s birthday. She always made us feel part of her family. Her chicken soup is our kids’ favorite.”

Gov. Josh Shapiro

With signs that said “Philly Stands With Israel” and blue and white Israeli flags, around 1,000 people rallied in Wynnewood to support the Jewish state after the horrific Hamas terrorist attack that began on Saturday.

The group prayed, sang, and listened to remarks from politicians, clergy, and Jewish community leaders.

Michael Balaban, president and CEO of the Philadelphia Jewish Federation, organized the rally. He thanked the supporters and donors who’ve aided the beleaguered Jewish state.

“I don’t have sufficient words to describe the horror of the past few days,” said Balaban. “To wake up on Saturday morning, on Shabbat, a day of rest and Smideot Serot, to the news that Israel, our Jewish homeland and our Jewish people, had been attacked with thousands of rockets. And hundreds of terrorists infiltrated from Gaza. The news of Israelis being murdered, taken hostage, thousands wounded.”

“To read news of toddlers being kidnapped by terrorists,” said Balaban. “To know that refresh of social media or the news would bring with it horrific new details. We stand united, but we also stand in pain together,” he said. “We are heartbroken. We cry together. We are grieving. And we are angry.”

“In our own streets of Philadelphia and in Times Square,” he added, “while Jews are being massacred, there are those that cheer for our destruction. We’ve heard them call these terrorists’ freedom fighters,’ but that’s not what they are. They’re murderers who’ve stolen the lives of innocent Jews.”

“We’ve seen this same hatred time and time again. Like a virus, hatred of Jews has survived over time by mutating,” he said.

Gov. Josh Shapiro said, “We stand against terror, and we stand with Israel.”

Many are worried about our friends and family in Israel, which is “now a war zone.”

Others have never been to Israel but “recognize its critical role in the world. You recognize what Israel represents: Freedom. Democracy and peace. Those are values that we as Americans and we as Pennsylvanians hold dear.”

The gathering was near the spot where William Penn arrived 341 years ago, said Shapiro.

Penn had “a vision to build a colony built on the promise of religious tolerance and understanding,” said Shapiro. “Today, three and half centuries later, I am honored to address you tonight, both as the 48th governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and as a proud American Jew.”

“We must condemn the horrific acts of war perpetrated by Hamas and their enablers,” Shapiro said. “Hundreds of Israelis are among the dead and captured. But so are American citizens, as well as British, French, Canadian, Mexican, and so many other nationalities…These unprovoked attacks on innocent civilians warrant condemnation here in America and all across our globe…Let me speak the truth. There is no moral equivalency between Hamas, a foreign terrorist organization as designated by the United States, and Israel,  the only functioning pluralistic democracy in the Middle East.”

Tsach Sa’ar, Acting Consul General of Israel, said, “My homeland is bleeding. My homeland is burning. And my homeland is the closest ally of your homeland in the Middle East and beyond. This same homeland is the spiritual anchor for the Jewish community in America.”

On a joyous day in the Jewish calendar, “Palestinian terrorists from Hamas unleashed unprecedented terror. They killed over 1,000 individuals. Left thousands injured. And abducted more than 100. The victims, Jews and non-Jews, Israelis and Americans, and other foreigners…The atrocities committed are unspeakable. Children were murdered. Women were assaulted and abducted to Gaza. Elderly women at a bus stop were sprayed with bullets. Others were set ablaze.”

“It marks the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust,” said Sa’ar.

Gail Norry

“These horrifying actions were not just against Israel. They were acts against America, against the free world and all of humanity.”

Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Philadelphia/Delaware) and about 14 state legislators attended the rally. Representatives from the offices of other area congressional representatives, as well as from Sen. Bob Casey and Sen. John Fetterman, attended.

“I stand with Israel 100 percent,” said Philadelphia resident Gail Norry before the rally. “I’m horrified at what has happened. They took innocent lives. Havoc has been wreaked.

“These were people sleeping in their homes,” said Norry. “Young adults at a concert. They just had their entire lives turned upside down. The nature of the attack, just how horrible it was.” She had just traveled to Israel in May to celebrate Israel’s 75th anniversary.

“It is the only place to be in Philly if you’re a strong supporter of Israel and a proud Jew,” said Joshua Steinerman, a Bala Cynwyd resident who came with his family.