(no subject)

[desh]

You know, I've always felt much less connection to Israel than your typical active American Jew. I was only in Israel once, 10 years ago, and haven't had much desire to go back since. When the Israeli government does things I don't like, my reaction isn't "let's do something about that", but rather, "I don't want to be associated with that".

So why is the news making me sick to my stomach?

Comments

[desh]

Yeah, I think it's been at least a few years since Israel was attacked in any way by a bona fide, widely recognized nation. (Unless I'm forgetting something.) Who knew they were that close to the snapping point about it.

[dagoski.livejournal.com]

NPR has been interviewing Iraeli citizens on the peace outlook sporadically this past year and I've noted an increasing anger at the constant small attacks. The do no real harm, but the problem with terrorist acts is that they terrify. One thing I've noticed with adults who survive an abusive childhood is that attempts to intimidate them will cause a goodly number to react with violence or an esclation beyond the scale of the effort to intimidate. Hell, I do that myself and I'm aware of the problem. I think Israel is like that. I also wonder if they have some intelligence that hints of larger operations in the offing. I have to admit, these attacks are scarily impressive. These were not suicide raids, but well executed military operations. I think that's what spooked the Israeli government. The quality rather the quantity. The nature of the raids speaks of a capability that belongs in elite or special forces units. This is something that most news outlets miss and even NPR glosses over.