Israel's Missing Moral Compass

Countries around the world are condemning the starvation of innocent people in Gaza through the inaction of the Israeli government in providing sufficient aid. This is important, although God knows why it has taken so long. Since Israel took over food distribution hundreds of Gazans have been shot while attempting to get aid, and there are reports of children dying from malnutrition. Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney has called Israel's denial of humanitarian aid in Gaza a violation of international law. and is pressing for Israel's control of aid distribution to be replaced. Again, why has this taken so long? 

The few people still allowed to provide humanitarian releif says that nearly half a million Gazans now face catastrophic levels of food insecurity and that roughly 100,000 children and women are facing severe acute malnutrition.

This past Thursday an Israeli government minister claimed that Israel had no duty to alleviate hunger in the territory and was seeking to expel its population. According to the New York Times: 

Amichay Eliyahu, a far-right lawmaker who leads Israel’s Heritage Ministry, said in a radio interview that “there is no nation that feeds its enemies,” adding that “the British didn’t feed the Nazis, nor did the Americans feed the Japanese, nor do the Russians feed the Ukrainians now.” He concluded that the government was “rushing toward Gaza being wiped out,” while also “driving out the population that educated its people on the ideas of ‘Mein Kampf,’” an antisemitic text written by Adolf Hitler.

There are still people who insist that Israel is not engaged in ethnic cleansing or genocide, admittedly strong terms. Yet what does this sound like to you? Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu allows right-wing ministers to make these outrageous assertions because they are propping up his corrupt and immoral government. 

Israel has now announced a "strategic pause" in Gaza, whatever that means. Netanyahu claims that there is no starvation in Gaza, a terrible lie. Perhaps a cessation of the mass murder will mean that people will receive the food and water they need for survival.

Not long ago actor Mandy Patinkin,  who describes himself as Jewish with a dash of Buddhist, made strong comments during an interview about what is happening in Gaza and the West Bank: 

“I ask Jews to consider what this man Benjamin Netanyahu and his right-wing government is doing to the Jewish people all over the world.” 

“They are endangering not only the State of Israel, which I care deeply about and want to exist, but endangering the Jewish population all over the world. To watch what is happening, for the Jewish people to allow this to happen to children and civilians of all ages in Gaza, for whatever reason, is unconscionable and unthinkable.” 

“And I ask you Jews, everywhere, all over the world, to spend some time alone and think, Is this acceptable and sustainable? How could it be done to you and your ancestors and you turn around and you do it to someone else?.” 

Amen.