Former NYC Mayor Ed Koch wrote the following commentary about the situation in Israel and Gaza:

January 5, 2009

Israel Is Exercising Its Right of Self-Defense

Opponents and enemies of Israel are in full hue and cry over Israel’s attack on the terrorist organization Hamas and its government and military installations in Gaza. The main criticism is that the Israeli response to the rocketing of southern Israel is “disproportionate.” There is little, if any, dispute that Israel’s goal of ending all rocket attacks on Israel and its civilian population, is reasonable and indeed sanctioned by international law. continue reading…

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Two opinion pieces in today’s paper discuss the current operations against Hamas in light of the worldwide efforts to combat terrorist entities.  William Kristol, writing in the New York Times, discusses how Israel has managed to learn from her mistakes made in conducting a war against Hizbullah two years ago.  He also notes that Israel does not have to hold onto Gaza for this counterterrorism operation to succeed, an important point that has not been made enough.

An editorial in the Wall Street Journal (subscription required) makes many of the same points, but emphasizes the role these operations play in fighting the extremist ideologies backed by Iran.  As long as Israel’s military is able to send a forceful and convincing message to Iran and her allies, the moderates in the Middle East–as well as Europe and the United States–will all be better off.

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President Shimon Peres appeared yesterday on ABC’s “This Week” with George Stephanopoulos.  He discussed Israel’s position on the six-month “state of calm” that expired last month and insisted that a future ceasefire must ensure that no further terror emanate from Gaza.  You can read more of the President’s comments and watch video excerpts of the interview on the George’s Bottom Line blog.

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Here is a summary of editorials and opinions on the current IDF operations. continue reading…

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In a Wall Street Journal opinion piece today (login required), Alan Dershowitz addresses the concern of ensuring proportionate warfare, or rather what is–and what is not–considered proportionate.  Israel recognizes the necessity to conduct a war morally, a sensitivity Hamas  exploits by placing civilians as human shields in or near potential targets.  Whereas Israel acts to protect its civilian population, Hamas flaunts the laws of war in the face of the international community.

The introductory paragraph for interested parties:

Israel’s actions in Gaza are justified under international law, and Israel should be commended for its self-defense against terrorism. Article 51 of the United Nations Charter reserves to every nation the right to engage in self-defense against armed attacks. The only limitation international law places on a democracy is that its actions must satisfy the principle of proportionality.

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The New York Times reports today on efforts by Hamas in Gaza to marry off women affiliated with the terrorist movement–preferably to the men employed as rocket launchers or smugglers.  The article goes on to say that Hamas provides each couple with a cash gift to help encourage further marriages.  Of course, the goal of this matchmaking activity is to bring into the world children who will carry on the single-minded goal of fighting Israel.  Or, in the case of one couple, to engage in a joint suicide bombing.  While Israel herself has been working for peace, it’s clear that her enemies have their focus elsewhere.

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The Hamas regime in Gaza has come up with another tool to spread its ideology: A video web-sharing service for waging a terror war.  Entitled AqsaTube (clearly inspired by YouTube), the videos promoted terrorists and the idea of global jihad.  Amir Mizroch, editor of the Jerusalem Post, writes in his blog Forecast Highs of the efforts to combat the website and the ideology it espouses.  The challenges he mentions represent the newest face of the efforts to curtail the spread of this insidious ideology.

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Last week, Israel’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Ron Prosor, published an op-ed in the Guardian calling for an honest discussion of the situation in Gaza. In contrast to those challenging Israel’s policies regarding Hamas, Prosor argues that Hamas is a danger not only to Israel but also to its own people. Hamas has retained its hold on power by eliminating rights to speech and expression and by misappropriating the very aid–supplied by Israel–meant to help the Palestinian people. The Western world, he writes, would do well to take Hamas and its threats to its neighbors at face value.

Showboating over Gaza
Israel last Saturday permitted two boats of protesters to land on the shores of Gaza. This disappointed the more aggressive agitators in the party, as they hankered for a confrontation with the Israeli navy that never came. Yvonne Ridley, on board making a documentary for an Iranian state-funded broadcaster, must have been particularly frustrated.
Having thoroughly assessed the security risks, Israel granted the ships safe passage. The protesters came ashore with enough hot air to fill the 5,000 balloons they’d brought for the children of Gaza. They also delivered 200 hearing aids. Yet their silence regarding Hamas’s abuse of its own people, let alone Israeli civilians, has been deafening. continue reading…

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In this unprecedented internet address, Malcolm Hoenlein, Executive Vice Chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations, addresses the Iranian people directly. The video, in English with Arabic and Farsi subtitles, expresses goodwill and friendship towards the Iranian people while emphasizign the serious problems with the government in Tehran.
For more information, see Jerusalem Online.

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For a broader look at what Israel’s 60th birthday signifies, have a look at this NYPost section made specially for the occasion.  With articles on history, democracy, and technology–and more!–we’re reminded how much Israel really has done in just a short time.

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