Jewish insights on Israel-Lebanon war?

Question

To our brother/sister Jews,

What are your feelings on the current situation? I only know what the news reports, I'm curious what we ordinary people think?

What I've gathered is that Israel is a Zionist state, but that not all Jews consider themselves Zionists. What do Jewish (non-Zionists) think about the war then?

No, I'm not Muslim. And yes, I am fishing for differing views. Thanks.

Thanks everyone, I appreciate all your answers. This is a confusing issue for me and it helped to see your different responses.

I do not want to choose a best answer as I feel that all your opinions are valid. However you can vote for your choice if you wish.

Thanks again, and peace to all.

Answer 1

You're certainly correct that not all Jews are zionists. However, Judaism views every war as tragic! Any death is a tragedy. Jews worldwide are praying for peace in Israel.

Answer 2

Zionism is JUST a word used to describe someone patriotic to Israel. It's like saying Americanism is having love for the US of A. Zionists are anyone who recognizes the right of Israel to exist in peace without being constantly attacked by those who don't like the Jews or for any other irrational reason. Unfortunately, the words Zionism and Zionist have been given the conjecture of a radical movement of some sort. It's not even close. Whether you are Jewish or NOT but beleive that Israel has the right to exist like any other nation, then you are a Zionist. Its as simple as that. The difference is that those people that are more pro-active and personally INVOLVED in the development and protection of Israel are denominated Zionists. So Zionism is nothing more than a political stance that Israel has the right to co-exist as an autonomos nation among all the other nations of the world. Therefore you could say that the United Nations are Zionists because they agreed and passed a resolution that Israel has the right to exist in the place it is today.

By the way, the word Zion is another word for Israel. The land of Israel in the Bible was known by different names. Zion being one of them.

I really hope that many people get to read this because it is a shame that so many are SOOOO misinformed.

On another note, the Israeli military is in Lebanon not because they want to, but be cause they were forced in to defend their country...PERIOD. As a matter of fact, Israel moved out of the "Buffer Zone" in southern Lebanon in 2000 after much world pressure and for what? To be attacked again. The terrorist organization, Hizbollah, invaded sovereign Israeli territory and kidnapped 2 soldiers and began to send a barrage of missiles into Israeli civilian populations. What would any country do in that case? The Lebanese people are suffering, and that is truly unfortunate. But war itself is unfortunate. BUT BE VERY CLEAR>>ISRAEL DID NOT START THIS WAR. Actually, Israel has not started ANY wars. They have always been provoked and for no good reason. Those that are against Israel want to ERASE IT OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH. What do you think ANY nation in their position should do?

Answer 3

While I think both sides have done a lot of bad things, I think the fundamental problem is having Islamic militants whose goal is the destruction of Israel. Once that is your aim, how can you really 1) hope for true peace; 2) think that any limited response or negotiation will pay off? Every limited response in the past just led to another attack down the line.

I feel like Israel's response looks terrible from the amoral position of Eurpoe, who wouldn't stand up to fight unless the enemy were walking down their main streets (see Balkans, Africa, pre-WWII). But when dealing with 1) an enemy that has no rules or limits and; 2) a country (lebanon) that harbors them, then the only response is one which makes every incursion very costly. If the people of Lebanon are going to turn a blind eye to the likes of Hezbulah in their country (even electing them!!) then there is a price to be paid for such callous indifference.

To be clear, the loss of innocents is a real tragedy. But the blame lies with the UN (there was a UN force there and they did nothing- again!!) and the Lebanese (and it's neighbors) who have done nothing to address the situation. I'm not sure it is unfair for Lebanon to suffer much in the way German civilians suffered after watching the Nazis rise to power.

This war requires a rethinking of the long-followed strategy of measured responses by Israel as a way to, hopefully, inch towards peace. I think now the realization is the enemy does not want peace - so what do you do? You have to bring misery to the people who harbor the enemy so that, even in the absence of a change of heart toward the Jews, they just want to be able to wake up one morning without the threat of a bomb dropping on their homes. It's not nice. It's not a very enlightened approach to diplomacy or war, but it is the type of 15th century response for a region locked in a 15th century way of life.

Answer 4

Hello, I'm a Jewish Israeli (or should I say "Israeli Jew"?).
I'm loyal to my nation and state and justify my army. The atmosphere in Israel is pretty bad and we all feel the war, since every day more and more people get killed- Israelis and Lebaneses.
Although the Lebanese people do not deserve this war, there is no much of a coice, as things seem from here. Hizbollah kidnapped several Israeli soldiers in Israel's area and demand to get their murderers back from the Israeli prisons, while Israel has no intentions to negotiate with them. This war is all Hizbollah's fault and I couldn't be more sorry for the innocent Lebanese people who got stuck in the middle of this, but if the Lebanese regime has no intentions to get rid of Hizbollah and stop the suffering of innocent Lebanese people, why should Israel?

We are fighting for our lives and defend ourselves from the terror. If that is not a legitimate reason to fight, I don't know what is.

Answer 5

I am Jewish and I do not consider myself a classical Zionist

I despise the current Israeli government, but I love the land and its people.

As a result I do support Israel in doing what ever is necessary to make sure that its citizens are safe from terrorists like Hezbollah.

if this means that their needs to be a secular Jewish government that protects the Jews in Israel, so be it.

Answer 6

I'm not jewish either but I believe trully that Judaism and Zionism should be divided apart and not meant upon the same definition and the actions of one should not interfere or represent that of the other. The recent attrocities being commited by Israel to my knowledge by the doctrines of all religions alike are not supported and are not representive of the religions themselves.

Answer 7

One of my good friends is a non-Zionist Jew and he thinks that the leaders of Israel should be tried for war crimes.

Answer 8

Hi. I'm not Jewish.

But if you will accept my comments.... it seems that most Jews support Zionism and the Zionist state.... however there are some who do not.

Go here and see for yourself...... these Jews admit that the Palestinians and Lebanese are right...

www.nkusa.org

Answer 9

ok im jewisha nd a zionist. i believe that israel has a right to defend itself and what is going on

Answer 10

Israel will only have peace when the lunatic Islamic cults Hezbollah, Hamas, and their backers are 100% defeated.