Nothing New on the Middle Eastern Front
A Twist on the Title of Erich Maria Remarque’s Famous 1929 Novel
While the media covers each new and surprising development – the killing of Hamas’s leader, Ismail Haniyeh, and Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah; Israel’s invasion of southern Lebanon; Iran’s ballistic-missile attack on Israel – the fact is that things are becoming what they always were. Potentialities that were present from the beginning are being realised.
From a Broader Historical and Philosophical Perspective
Israel’s critics miss the point when they claim that it is failing in its mission to destroy Hamas, and is merely killing Palestinians and razing Gaza. Recall Israel’s strategy before Oct 7, 2023. For years, it ensured that foreign financing reached Hamas in order to keep the Palestinians divided, thus preventing any progress towards a two-state solution.
A digression: Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine and Israel’s Strategies
Of course, Israel is acting in self-defense in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon. But much depends on how one defines “self”. If Russia occupies part of Ukraine and proclaims it part of Russia, can it then claim self-defense when it crushes those who resist?
When Germany invaded Belgium at the start of World War I, a Belgian minister supposedly observed that: “Whatever historians will say later about this war, nobody will be able to say that Belgium attacked Germany.” Yet since Russia’s invasion, respect for settled facts no longer holds. The Kremlin and its allies have become increasingly effective at claiming that Ukraine started the conflict.
Israel’s Rhetoric is Not Dissimilar
When the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) launched its “limited ground operation” in Lebanon on Oct 1 this year, one was reminded of Russia’s euphemistic description of its invasion as a “special military operation”. In both cases, we can paraphrase Groucho Marx: It may look like war, and it may hurt like war; but don’t let that fool you. This really is war.
Shocking Revelations and the Brass-aced
Again, things are becoming what they always were. In late July, a coterie of Israeli ministers, MPs, journalists, and TV commentators decried an IDF military police raid on the Sde Teiman base in southern Israel, following reports of Israeli reservists abusing Palestinian detainees.
The Boskett Firestorm and the Brass-aced
The raid and arrests triggered large public protests, even though it was other Israeli reservists who had blown the whistle. Horrified by what they had witnessed, they heroically came forward with allegations that security personnel on the base were torturing Palestinian prisoners by sodomising them with metal rods. Some of the prisoners then bled to death.
Legends Show that No One Cares, Except Those Who Do
Yet rather than being outraged by such atrocities, some Israeli officials were outraged at those prosecuting the case. Consider the following transcript from a debate in the Knesset (parliament), aired by the British journalist Peter Oborne:
The Twist: Wash, Rinse, Repeat
Unidentified Israeli MP: “This is insanity, someone in the prosecutor’s office thinks it’s possible to arrest soldiers for things they do to Nukhba (Hamas Elite Unit) terrorists. We can’t continue as usual …” [Interjection]: “To insert a stick in a person’s rectum, is this legitimate?” MP: “Shut up! Yes, if he is Nukhba, everything is legitimate to do. Everything.”
Legends Show that No One Cares, Except Those Who Do
Or consider this clip from a panel discussion on Israeli TV (also shared by Oborne):
The Twist: Wash, Rinse, Repeat
First panelist: “Soldiers are suspected of raping a shackled prisoner – this doesn’t concern you?” Second panelist: “I don’t give a rat’s ass what they do to that Hamas man. The only problem I see is that it’s not state policy to abuse detainees. First, they deserve it and it’s a great form of revenge. Second, maybe it will act as a deterrent.”
Conclusion
The war on terror has always been a war of self-preservation, and Israel has its own contorted narratives to justify its actions. It’s time to step back, reevaluate, and put an end to the cycle of violence and oppression.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Can Israel be deemed as a victim of terrorism?
A: Yes, as any sovereign nation, Israel is entitled to protect itself from terrorist attacks.
Q: Is it true that Israel has supported Hamas?
A: Throughout the decades, Israel and Hamas have had complex and often contradictory relationships. At one time, Israel was the primary funder of Hamas, but that support was discontinued in the 1990s.
Q: What is the purpose of the war on terror?
A: The purpose is to combat international terrorism, to disrupt terrorist networks, and to bring about a safer world for all nations.
Q: Are there any other forms of terrorism?
A: Yes, there are various forms of terrorism, including left-wing, right-wing, and nationalist terrorism, among others.
Q: Does it make a difference if Russia were to invade Ukraine?
A: Yes, if Russia were to invade Ukraine, it would be a serious escalation of violence and could have far-reaching consequences for global security.
Q: Can Slaboj Žižek explain anything?
A: Possibly, but his explanations would likely be convoluted and lacking in concrete context.
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.
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