Two point three million people enduring a constant blockade, in a space about one-tenth the size of Rhode Island? One person’s terrorist is another’s oppressed victim. One can be kept down for only so long before you don’t care anymore about the consequences of retaliation.
On the other hand, Hamas wants to rid the Middle East of Jews, and Hamas apparently controls Gaza. What is Israel supposed to do? The dynamics and realities perpetuate the struggle on both sides.
Israel’s homeland comes with so many strings attached. I will never fully comprehend Israelis living the way they do—trying to live a modern life but living it under constant scrutiny, constantly hounded and haunted by animosities both ancient and contemporary.
They appear, to me anyway, to exist on the edge of imminent collapse and disaster, never really being able to rest or find contentment or simply get through a day without worrying about threat levels. They’re all part civilian, part soldier, to some extent always on guard. They’re surrounded on three sides by people and countries harboring various levels of animosity, some who wish them harm, who wish they weren’t there, some of whom are always plotting how to get rid of them.
There might be too many concessions to think of the place as the promised land. Being chosen has come at a terrible cost. It might be tempting to throw off that mantle. It might be tempting to question God’s wisdom, even God’s existence, but that’s been happening all along the way.
3 Cents' 