Church official in Jerusalem analyzes Gaza-Israel conflict
July 23, 2014
The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem’s vicar for the Hebrew Catholic community says that both the Israeli government and Hamas are to blame for the current state of the Gaza-Israel conflict.
“The Israeli leadership, and in a special way the present leadership, seems to believe that the way to solve the conflict is by military means,” Father David Neuhaus said in an interview with Aid to the Church in Need. “They seem to believe that military intervention will bring victory or at least the realization of important goals. This is not genocide but certainly the attempt to crush resistance and make everyone believe that all resistance is terrorism.”
“In Hamas and more radical elements in the Islamic movement, the Israeli leadership has a foe that plays into its hands,” he continued. “Hamas is born out of the despair that has festered for more than 60 years as Palestinians have progressively lost hope that negotiations will bring any fruit. Hamas and its like propagate the parallel lie: violence will bring Israel to its knees.”
Father Neuhaus added that “the only way out is for Israeli and Palestinians to realize that violence will only breed more violence. Bombarding Gaza will only create more people who seek revenge for their shattered lives.”
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Posted by: John J Plick -
Jul. 24, 2014 10:16 PM ET USA
He conveniently ignores the fact that the Palestinians CHOSE "Hamas" in an ELECTION and that, apparently, over "Fatah" because Hamas was more radical in its attitudes. Even more, it is WELL KNOWN that Hamas DELIBERATELY embeds itself and it's weapons among civilians, particularly hospitals, schools & mosques.
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Posted by: jg23753479 -
Jul. 24, 2014 11:29 AM ET USA
Perhaps, Fr. Neuhaus, the current Israeli leadership has been brought to conclude military action is necessary by the over 2000 rockets fired at its cities and towns. If this kind of "resistance" were lobbing that many rockets at the US, I have little doubt the response WOULDN'T be to go to the nearest negotiations table.
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Posted by: FredC -
Jul. 24, 2014 11:29 AM ET USA
Hamas took the initiative to bombard Israel with unguided missiles that explode randomly among civilians. Is Fr. Neuhaus making Israel's defense equally unjustified?
