Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

EDITORIAL:

It’s dangerous, irresponsible to oversimplify Israeli-Hamas conflicts

Palestinian

Adel Hana / AP

In this Aug. 21, 2016, photo, Palestinian masked members from the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, a military wing of Hamas, ride a vehicle carrying a rocket during a rally in Rafah refugee camp, Gaza Strip. Over the years, the Islamic militant Hamas group has built up a large arsenal of rockets and missiles that have evolved from rudimentary short-range projectiles into powerful weapons capable of striking virtually anywhere in Israel.

In a statement issued last week about the violence between Israelis and Palestinians, Nevada Democratic Party chair Judith Whitmer took a disturbing stance on the conflict. We condemn her remarks, in which she placed full blame for the crisis on Israel and called on the United States to take action to “save the homes and lives of the Palestinian people” while mentioning nothing about the property and lives of Israelis.

“The present moment requires courageous and honest leadership from the United States, which has too long turned a blind eye to injustice and violence committed by the Israeli government, dominated by the extreme right wing,” the statement read in part. “The world cannot stand by as we witness atrocities and human rights violations being committed against Palestinians. People are being forced from their homes and tear gassed while praying. People, including children, are being killed. Palestinians have a right to live in peace. No caveats.”

Note to Ms. Whitmer: The Israeli people have a right to live in peace as well. Failing to mention that, and holding the Israeli government fully responsible for a situation driven by longstanding regional tensions coming from both Israelis and Hamas, is presumptuous, misguided and destructive.

Worse, Whitmer confuses the interests of Palestinians with the Hamas itself, which is a violent group of extremists that has proven to be a gigantic obstacle to peace in the region. That’s a grave error. Palestinians are no more monolithic than any people, and Hamas is harshly at odds with a great many Palestinians. Conflating Hamas with all Palestinians is as wrongheaded as believing the Israeli far right speaks for all Israelis.

As the Anti-Defamation League stated in its response to her comments: “Israel has the right to defend itself against the nearly 2,000 rockets and missiles fired by Hamas and other terror groups from Gaza into Israeli cities and towns. As we pray for a cessation of hostilities, ADL will help lead initiatives to build Israeli-Palestine understanding that could ultimately lead to a future that provides both peoples with security, self-determination and dignity.”

Agreed.

This is not to suggest that everything Israel does is acceptable, which is a point we’ll touch on in coming days.

But the answer to resolving the legitimate policy issues involved in the conflict — the blockade of Gaza, whether Jerusalem should be divided, etc. — is not to fire rockets at civilians. It’s talking. Whitmer’s one-sided statement suggests that Hamas’ terrorism is justified, which is simply unacceptable. Her comments suggest that the Nevada Democratic Party is growing out of touch with Nevadans who understand and appreciate that Israel has the right to protect itself.

However, other members of the party have shown that the Democrats are anything but unified behind Whitmer on the issue. The party’s treasurer, Howard Beckerman, resigned from his position, stating that foreign policy shouldn’t be on the state party’s agenda.

“I have been taking a stand my entire life to stand with the people of Israel to live in peace and to be free of the constant and ongoing terrorism practiced by those who seek its destruction and the annihilation of the Jewish people,” Beckerman wrote in his resignation letter, a copy of which was obtained by the Sun.

To their credit, a group of 27 Jewish Democrats in Nevada issued a statement Monday in opposition to Whitmer’s stance.

“As Nevada Democrats we stand united with President Joe Biden that Israel has the right to defend itself, and we hope for de-escalaton in the region,” the remarks read. “The statement by NSDP Chair Whitmer is unrepresentative of our values as Jewish Democrats and we strongly disagree with her. We expect party leaders to promote words of unity and stand for equality and peace for all people.”

Well stated.