CPTnet
17 February 2009
PALESTINE: No winners in Gaza war


Now that the bombing of Gaza has stopped, the world is beginning to survey and record the damage.  The devastation is overwhelming.  Now I have a clearer picture of the effect of those Israeli jets flying for three weeks over At-Tuwani in the southern West Bank-about fifty miles from Gaza-while I was there.

Both Hamas and Israel are declaring a great victory.  The spin-doctors on both sides are having a great time.  The truth is, everyone lost.  The whole world lost.

The people of Gaza lost, with over 1,300 dead-about 100 Palestinians for every Israeli-and 5,000 wounded, plus masses of people traumatized for life.  The whole infrastructure of Gaza is now rubble.  Electric, water, and sewage systems are destroyed.  The Israeli military also demolished twenty-three mosques, in addition to schools and hospitals.

Israel also lost much, including any moral credibility it may have still had.  In fact, the international community is talking about Israeli war crimes.  

The United States lost because of its shameful support of the massacre, shipping more bombs to Israel instead of working to stop the killing.  

The whole world lost.  Racist attitudes in and toward the people of all three Abrahamic religions have greatly increased.  The war was a setback for those working toward understanding and reconciliation.

No one wins in war.  Can the world now take another look at sincere nonviolent engagement as a realistic, sensible, and moral solution to war?