For comparison, Michael Mandel’s article “Self-Defense against Peace”:
http://www.counterpunch.org/mandel02052009.html

I think it suffers from the common tendency to speak of nations as individuals (“Israel wants this,” “Israel does that”), but I bring it up here for a very specific purpose. In describing the nation’s actions in such stark terms, it shows how policies somehow override the actual efforts of people like Baskin … who, silly me, I thought it was their job to negotiate policy.

To continue with that concept of the diversity of views and goals within Israel, and regarding Levy’s article:

What frustrates me, or frustrates my understanding, is Meretz. I have read many books by Yehoshua, Grossman, and Oz … and I think there is some basic flaw in my perception of their lives and work which prevents me from seeing why they have thrown their (significant) verbal support toward the assault on Gaza, as well as the Lebanon strikes in 2006. These authors questioned the retention of the Occupied Territories, and they were criticized the 1978 and 1982 invasions of Lebanon. But what is going on with them now? Why have their voices contributed so greatly to the problem Levy outlines? Can anyone help me understand that?

Best, Ron

Yes, read and weep.

Here is a piece by Gideon Levy, shouting to anyone who will listen about the failures of the left in Israel to protest against the group-think among Israeli leaders to continually resort to violence:

http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1063597.html

Shai

Today’s elections will shift Israel still further to the right. The forced expulsion of innocent people for the simple reason that they are not of Jewish descent is becoming an option openly discussed in Israel. How can people be brought to the insight that force will only cause misery, and not peace???

How can i, as a non-Jew, help to bring the message across? The two sides, those who back Israel, and those who back the Palestinians, do not listen to each other. In other words: how can your blog, Rabbi, become more public to those who a priori do not see that the horror in the Holy Land (which is holy to both sides!) must be stopped??

“throw your head back and scream to the high heavens” — you made me think of O. Zadkin’s sculpture in Rotterdam “Destroyed City”
(http://www.zadkine.com/search/?&name=&medium1=on&year1950=on&sentform=true&limit=1&page=6 and
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6b/Zadkine_rb_I.jpg) ,