This is why it's so important to understand the responsibility is not zero-sum. The fact that one person or group is responsible for something does not mean that you are not.
In this case, Hamas is responsible for Oct. 7, and for all its decisions since. And Israel is responsible for ITS decisions.
"While she opposes the hawkish Israeli government, Ms. Medina — like most Israelis — blames Hamas for the war.
“The reality is very hard, but it’s not my responsibility,” she said."
Wrong answer.
"At the same time, there is little desire in Israel to see Gazan children starve to death.
“We don’t have the soul for that,” said Hen Kerman, 32, from the southern city of Beersheba."
I'm glad she thinks Israelis don't have that kind of soul. But at this point I'll add: PROVE IT.
At this point, all the evidence points to the conclusion that the Israeli government does in fact have "the soul for that", and that altogether too few Israelis are willing to oppose them because of what they allegedly do not have the soul for.
Opposing Bibi for other reasons does not count.
“I have mixed emotions,” said Sarah Brien, 42, a resident of Urim. “On the one hand, you are obligated as a country to international conventions. On the other, you are not getting anything in return."
That is not the point. You do not e.g. let aid through to starving people to get something back.
If someone said to me, while explaining why the US did not admit more Jewish refugees in the 30s, that we would not get anything in return, that would be an obvious failure of conscience. Same here.
More generally: one of several reasons why I have not been willing to listen to what passes for debate on I/P for decades is that it's always about the terrible things that the other side has done. I know that. Both sides have done terrible things.
But neither side (speaking now of their leadership, not individual people) seems willing to stop pointing fingers at the other and consider their own faults, let alone what they can do better, or what their responsibilities as decent human beings might be.
There is no hope until they do.
When you fire that first shot, no matter how right you feel, you have no idea who's going to die. You don't know who's children are going to scream and burn... How much blood will spill until everybody does what they're always going to have to do from the very beginning -- sit down and talk!
