Dig Deep to Understand the Israel-Hamas War
Dear Leading Ladies,
This week, it is difficult to think or write about anything other than the war in the Middle East.
We urge our readers to go beyond the headlines to understand the situation more fully. Read about the history of Zionism from the 1800s through the 1920s; the mandate for the British Protectorate for Palestine during 1918-1948; and the ensuing establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 which initially included a plan for a separate Arab Palestinian state. Consider that while the Palestinians were being ousted from their land in the Protectorate in 1948, the Arab Jews were being evicted from surrounding Arab countries. And, of course, remember that after World War II, tens of thousands of European Jewish survivors of the Holocaust found themselves with no other country but the new State of Israel willing to take them in.
The history of the area is complicated and longstanding.
Leading Ladies is heartbroken with the news out of Israel and Gaza. The loss of life, especially of children and other innocents, is terrifying and horrific. We stand with Jewish Israelis and Palestinian Arabs who seek peace, safety, and security for their beloved families.
At the same time, we categorically condemn Hamas and other terrorist groups who disregard all decency as they slaughter, rape, and assault men, women, and even babies. We recognize the importance of understanding that Hamas may be composed of Palestinians, but that not all Palestinians are part of Hamas. It is imperative to understand that among Jewish Israelis, not all are supportive of every policy of Netanyahu's government. Many support a two-state solution and more tolerant attitudes towards Palestinians not aligned with Hamas, and also condemn any response to the Hamas attack that would target innocent civilians and resemble Hamas’s inhumane breaches of the rules of warfare.
With the news coming at us 24/7, often in sound bytes, making snap judgments without nuanced information becomes easier and easier. Palestinians are all terrorists; Israelis are land grabbing colonists; Arabs are dishonest; Jews have never been trustworthy. We’ve witnessed a large uptick in anti-semitism and Islamophobia recently. We can expect more now. Being well informed has always been the best enemy of bias, discrimination, and hate.
These two articles from Bloomberg and the BBC, for example, give extensive histories of the Gaza and Israel areas:
Bloomberg Article: Your Guide to Understanding the Roots of the Israel-Hamas War
BBC Article: Israel Gaza war: History of the conflict explained
For a history of Hamas and its charter, consider this.
Let's all be harbingers of truth. And let us all vigorously oppose terrorism in the Middle East and everywhere as we support the victims and survivors of this frightening war.
Therese (she/her/hers)
Judy (she/her/hers)
Didi (she/her/hers)
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