My girlfriend brought this gem to my attention.
It is an open letter from an IDF soldier that participated in the recent Gaza action & thus was based in a Gaza home for the duration of the conflict. From my experience, this soldier’s compassion & overall attitude are representative of IDF reservists. When you contrast this empathetic plea to Hamas’ deplorable conduct you get a glimpse into the crux of this never ending conflict.
An Open Letter to A citizen Of Gaza:
I Am the Soldier Who Slept In Your Home:
By: Yishai Goldflam
Hello,
While the world watches the ruins in Gaza, you return to your home which remains standing. However, I am sure that it is clear to you that someone was in your home while you were away.
I am that someone.
I spent long hours imagining how you would react when you walked into your home. How you would feel when you understood that IDF soldiers had slept on your mattresses and used your blankets to keep warm.
I knew that it would make you angry and sad and that you would feel this violation of the most intimate areas of your life by those defined as your enemies, with stinging humiliation. I am convinced that you hate me with unbridled hatred, and you do not have even the tiniest desire to hear what I have to say. At the same time, it is important for me to say the following in the hope that there is even the minutest chance that you will hear me.
IDF Medics care for and eventually evacuate (into Israel) a Fatah member injured by Hamas during recent Gaza incursion
I spent many days in your home. You and your family’s presence was felt in every corner. I saw your family portraits on the wall, and I thought of my family. I saw your wife’s perfume bottles on the bureau, and I thought of my wife. I saw your children’s toys and their English language schoolbooks. I saw your personal computer and how you set up the modem and wireless phone next to the screen, just as I do.
I wanted you to know that despite the immense disorder you found in your house that was created during a search for explosives and tunnels (which were indeed found in other homes), we did our best to treat your possessions with respect. When I moved the computer table, I disconnected the cables and lay them down neatly on the floor, as I would do with my own computer. I even covered the computer from dust with a piece of cloth. I tried to put back the clothes that fell when we moved the closet although not the same as you would have done, but at least in such a way that nothing would get lost.
I know that the devastation, the bullet holes in your walls and the destruction of those homes near you place my descriptions in a ridiculous light. Still, I need you to understand me, us, and hope that you will channel your anger and criticism to the right places. I decided to write you this letter specifically because I stayed in your home.
I can surmise that you are intelligent and educated and there are those in your household that are university students. Your children learn English, and you are connected to the Internet. You are not ignorant; you know what is going on around you.
Therefore, I am sure you know that Qassam rockets were launched from your neighborhood into Israeli towns and cities.
How could you see these weekly launches and not think that one day we would say “enough”?! Did you ever consider that it is perhaps wrong to launch rockets at innocent civilians trying to lead a normal life, much like you? How long did you think we would sit back without reacting?
I can hear you saying “it’s not me, it’s Hamas”. My intuition tells me you are not their most avid supporter. If you look closely at the sad reality in which your people live, and you do not try to deceive yourself or make excuses about “occupation”, you must certainly reach the conclusion that the Hamas is your real enemy.
The reality is so simple, even a seven year old can understand: Israel withdrew from the Gaza strip, removing military bases and its citizens from Gush Katif. Nonetheless, we continued to provide you with electricity, water, and goods (and this I know very well as during my reserve duty I guarded the border crossings more than once, and witnessed hundreds of trucks full of goods entering a blockade- free Gaza every day).
Despite all this, for reasons that cannot be understood and with a lack of any rational logic, Hamas launched missiles on Israeli towns. For three years we clenched our teeth and restrained ourselves. In the end, we could not take it anymore and entered the Gaza strip, into your neighborhood, in order to remove those who want to kill us. A reality that is painful but very easy to explain.
As soon as you agree with me that Hamas is your enemy and because of them, your people are miserable, you will also understand that the change must come from within. I am acutely aware of the fact that what I say is easier to write than to do, but I do not see any other way. You, who are connected to the world and concerned about your children’s education, must lead, together with your friends, a civil uprising against Hamas.
I swear to you, that if the citizens of Gaza were busy paving roads, building schools, opening factories and cultural institutions instead of dwelling in self pity, arms smuggling and nurturing a hatred to your Israeli neighbors, your homes would not be in ruins right now. If your leaders were not corrupt and motivated by hatred, your home would not have been harmed. If someone would have stood up and shouted that there is no point in launching missiles on innocent civilians, I would not have to stand in your kitchen as a soldier. You don’t have money, you tell me? You have more than you can imagine. Even before Hamas took control of Gaza, during the time of Yasser Arafat, millions if not billions of dollars donated by the world community to the Palestinians was used for purchasing arms or taken directly to your leaders bank accounts. Gulf States, the emirates – your brothers, your flesh and blood, are some of the richest nations in the world. If there was even a small feeling of solidarity between Arab nations, if these nations had but the smallest interest in reconstructing the Palestinian people – your situation would be very different.
You must be familiar with Singapore. The land mass there is not much larger than the Gaza strip and it is considered to be the second most populated country in the world. Yet, Singapore is a successful, prospering, and well managed country. Why not the same for you? My friend, I would like to call you by name, but I will not do so publicly. I want you to know that I am 100% at peace with what my country did, what my army did, and what I did. However, I feel your pain. I am sorry for the destruction you are finding in your neighborhood at this moment. On a personal level, I did what I could to minimize the damage to your home as much as possible.
In my opinion, we have a lot more in common than you might imagine. I am a civilian, not a soldier, and in my private life I have nothing to do with the military. However, I have an obligation to leave my home, put on a uniform, and protect my family every time we are attacked. I have no desire to be in your home wearing a uniform again and I would be more than happy to sit with you as a guest on your beautiful balcony, drinking sweet tea seasoned with the sage growing in your garden.
The only person who could make that dream a reality is you. Take responsibility for yourself, your family, your people, and start to take control of your destiny. How? I do not know. Maybe there is something to be learned from the Jewish people who rose up from the most destructive human tragedy of the 20th century, and instead of sinking into self-pity, built a flourishing and prospering country. It is possible, and it is in your hands. I am ready to be there to provide a shoulder of support and help to you.
But only you can move the wheels of history.”
Regards,
Yishai, (Reserve Soldier)
6 responses so far ↓
Rachel A Pine // Feb 15, 2009 at 12:25 pm
WAR CRIMES – OPEN LETTER TO AN IDF SOLDIER
Sir
I have no proof that 420 Arab children were killed in Gaza, but I have relied on the figures quoted by the world’s media. Whether they are authentic or not, I just don’t know.
If the figure was not 420, maybe it was 320, or 220, or just 120. Perhaps even only twenty. And, I have no evidence of how old these children were. Some were undoubtedly babies or infants – as I have seen photographs of the bodies, but others could well have been eight, or ten – perhaps even teenagers.
What I do know and what I am very clear about is that the killing of even twenty children – whether infants or not, was a crime as they could have posed no threat to your powerful tanks, planes and helicopter gunships.
I also know that my religion – I am Jewish – expressly forbids such killings. So does international law. So does the United Nations. And so does Christianity.
The Geneva Conventions on Human Rights prohibits such unlawful behaviour and anyone alleged guilty of such a war crime must, by international law, be brought before the International Criminal Court to answer such charges.
That is the law and that is democracy and that is how our society, and your society, works. Otherwise, there is no democracy, no justice and no law and we could all just kill those we wanted out of the way or who were just inconvenient.
If there were war crimes committed in Gaza, by either side, then those responsible, must be brought to justice. Can you help?
1 Wingless // Feb 16, 2009 at 5:51 am
What I do know and what I am very clear about is that the killing of even twenty children – whether infants or not, was a crime as they could have posed no threat to your powerful tanks, planes and helicopter gunships.
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ARE YOU CLAIMING THAT THE IDF TARGETTED A CHILD? Please show me one iota of proof… Please explain why they used ultra-expensive guided munitions ($100,000+ per) when it could have done the same job for a tiny fraction of the cost by using artillery… Why did they put soldiers at risk by sending in ground troops when it could have just done everything from the air or via artillery? AND WHY DOES IT CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THIS ENEMY POPULATION with WATER, FOOD & ELECTRICITY when fellow Arab nations DO NOTHING, even their government does nothing (unless you count stealing aid meant for the people to be a government responsibility)
AN ANALOGY IF YOU WILL
If I point a gun at you and your family but am holding a baby in my hand what would you do? What would you do after I shot your father, then your mother (and I’m not shooting them in the head, I’m shooting them in the gut and letting them bleed out slowly, to increase your suffering and theirs), and what about after I shot your baby brother… Would you just sit by and not shoot back because “it’s a crime?”
IT IS A CRIME NOT TO SHOOT BACK – Not shooting back at terrorists because they use human shields only ENCOURAGES THAT TACTIC.
Holding responsible those that shoot through said shields is the most dispicable kind of moral relativism for you essentially condoning this tactic.
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I also know that my religion – I am Jewish – expressly forbids such killings.
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NO IT DOES NOT! PLEASE SHOW ME WHERE SELF DEFENCE IS FORBIDDEN.
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So does international law.
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Please show me where it says a nation must not defend itself it the enemy uses human shields! WHAT INTERNATIONAL LAW ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?! If you want to have this debate you are going to need to be clear… The “international law” states that combatants must differentiate themselves from civilians and must fight away from civilian areas. It is quite clear on this and is quite clear on whom is culpable for the deaths of human shields…
What have you to say on that?!
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So does the United Nations.
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Soooo YOU ARE TELLING ME THAT: If such Human Rights CHAMPIONS as Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria, Malaysia, Indonesia, China, Russia, Egypt & Iran vote on something then that makes it somehow “right”?!
That is ALL A UN RESOLUTION REPRESENTS! Nothing more than a vote by the evil, self-serving nations of this world! Who Cares! Do you even realize who sits on the UNs “Human Rights Comissions” (some, if not all of the above have sat on it)? the “Disarnament Comissions”? (the worlds greatest hiders of WMDs)
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The Geneva Conventions on Human Rights prohibits such unlawful behaviour and anyone alleged guilty of such a war crime must, by international law, be brought before the International Criminal Court to answer such charges.
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RACHEL, PLEASE DO YOUR HOMEWORK! The “Geneva Convention” is a treaty… Israel has not violated any part of this treaty.
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That is the law and that is democracy and that is how our society, and your society, works. Otherwise, there is no democracy, no justice and no law and we could all just kill those we wanted out of the way or who were just inconvenient.
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RACHEL – DO YOUR HOMEWORK! Neither the Geneva Convention, nor the UN, nor anything else mentioned in your post has ANYTHING TO DO with Democracy! There are ENOUGH DICTATORSHIPS that sit on the UN! Heck, the UN is probably the biggest world body of International Human Rights Violators in the world! Check out: http://wingless.aoriginality.com/?p=293
if you want to learn alittle more about what the UN is exactly. I am more than happy to debate or answer questions on ANYTHING HERE.
You seem like you are well meaning but you are taking a bunch of terms & phrases you’ve heard used and abused and simply regurditating them here. If a crime has been committed then you need to be specific. WHAT CRIME? WHAT CONVENTION DOES IT BREAK?!
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If there were war crimes committed in Gaza, by either side, then those responsible, must be brought to justice. Can you help?
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Oh ya, Hamas is going to turn it’s people over to the International Court of Justice… And then it’s going to stop broadcasting children’s shows that teach 3 year olds to kill the insidious Jew (that’s you btw, nobody cares about your politics)… and then it will change it’s Charter (which identifies Jews & Infidels, NOT ISRAELIS)
What world are you living in?! Idealism is nice and good on paper, but wake up and smell the reality!
As for your question of “Can I Help”
Only in a limited capacity at this time. I can point out the absurdity of such claims. Most claims follow the same format as yours: they glue together a bunch of phrases: GENOCIDE-GENEVA-CONVENTIONS-UN-RESOLUTIONS-ETHNIC-CLEANSING-PALESTINE-CHILDREN-DEAD-HEARTLESS-PROTOCOLS-ELDERS-OF-ZION with little regard or understanding of that which they utter.
Do continue this discussion though please – I am really not here to belittle or disparage anyone. If there is one thing I can communicate to you it’s to DIG DEEPER… Go to the SOURCE – read the Geneva Conventions, realize who they apply to…
Look at Gaza, ask yourself how come the people there are so much worse off since Israel left (wasn’t Israel the big bad wolf?!)
Ask yourself how it is Israel can be SO BAD and yet provide it’s enemies with water, electricity & food…Not to mention allowing aid to land in its airport, and use it borders and roads to get these supplies to the enemy!!! (i.e. why aren’t they coming in from their fellow Arabs in Egypt?!). If Israel was so bad, how come it has given up land for yet another Arab nation (99% of the MidEast & 80% of Palestine are already Arab nations), while it can just as easily wipe out all of its enemies in a fortnight.
The high death toll in Gaza was a DIRECT RESULT of Hamas actions. They prevented people from fleeing, they did not provide bomb shelters, they told people to ignore the early warnings Israel provided (which is actually Hamas’ responsibility, as a government it’s their job to provide early warning & evacuation, it’s not the enemies job!).
Don’t buy into the rubbish – bomb shelters were 100% doable & possible. HOW DO WE KNOW? Gaza is criss-crossed by underground tunnels used for weapons smuggling. The same skills & funds used to dig those ‘could-shoulda’ been used to dig shelters.
Or should Israel have done that for them as well?
2 John // Feb 26, 2009 at 4:56 pm
Good stuff Wingless.
I agree with your every word and support your effort to talk some sense into ignorant people.
As the going says, the first casualty in every war is the truth.
God bless,
John
3 Wingless // Feb 27, 2009 at 2:55 am
That’s John! It’s encouraging – sometimes I feel like the world’s flipped! That I am in some bizarro alternate reality… often alone…
I really wish some of these people would respond and turn it into a dialogue . I honestly enjoy the stimulation and sometimes (alas, rarely) learn something from people who disagree with me.
Unfortunately I found most who want to disagree are very much like Ms. Pine above. She regurdidates soundbytes without any supporting information. Such posts rarely even reference the post they are replying to… These posts are always filled with rheotric: “illegal war”, “genocide”, “ethnic cleansing” (i.e. Gaza is being ethnically cleansed…..Right, and that’s why their population has one of the heighest growth rates in the world….hrm….)… When and if ANYONE RESPONDS they will rarely answer back as they really cannot answer questions – it’s much easier to find another page on the blog and repost the same rheotrical yipyap.
I don’t like what is happening to the left worldwide, it’s becoming increasingly radical. It’s not “the rightwing has different views and solutions to problems”, it is instead: ” they are right wing so…they are wrong and ignorant and evil and they want to EAT Muslims & The Homeless (I love a salad with some homeless chunks I’ll admit) and torture gays & destroy all the nations of the world… and because they can only have these evil views….if they are right wing.
(the right is also seeing a similar trend towards the farther right )These idealogical issues are becoming impossible to argue because of this trend, you are less likely to have a dialogue with somebody if you believe their idealogy makes them inherently “evil”. It’s no longer a change of opinion, today each ‘wing’ believes the other is evil and tryin to change their way of life! It’s one reason I am “wingless”…
4 AW // May 14, 2009 at 3:49 am
Fuck the UN and the jew hating warmongering Arab miliants. I hate these groups likew the one in Sri Lanka and Sudan. BURN them and bomb them with cluster bombs or snipe their asses up. Israel will always win against genocidial muslim pigs/pricks.
Anyway Israel has the BEST girls on the world. If I had to join their Defence force to fuck then I would.
Nothing more safer in life than fucking and smoking weed
5 wingless // Jun 13, 2009 at 11:54 pm
AW, um…err…Well, you have done something incredible:
I’M ABSOLUTELY SPEECHLESS!
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