“Helping to bend the moral universe towards Justice” (An Analysis of the Israel, Hamas, & Palestinian Conflict) by Seth D. King
In my perspective, many leftist liberal Americans through social media are standing with a pro-Palestinian / anti-Israel movement which is justifying the actions of radicalized Islam in the form of Hamas. These activists who are saying “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” in my view are holding Hamas as justified for their inhuman actions which included torture, rape, and sexual brutality against women on and after the tragic events of October 7th.
Hamas has proven itself also to hold an un-negotiable “Death to Israel” extremist ideology which I believe leads multicultural Jewish and Arab Israelis in a democratic Israel to believe that they have no other choice but to vote for the Zionist party to eliminate Hamas militarily after many years of trying to negotiate for a “two state solution” and also after leaving Gaza to its own government in 2005.
In my view, the Palestinians of Gaza are now in such a deadly predicament primarily because of radicalized Hamas and because of a lack of leadership. My research indicates that the Palestinians of Gaza elected Hamas as their government after Israel left in 2005. It is important, I believe, to realize that the pro-Palestine activist movement in the USA by standing so extremely against Israel seems to give support towards Hamas’ intentions of “Death to Israel” and “Death to the USA” as funded and supported by Iran.
The people of Jewish identification and descent themselves actually have many liberal voices from within who keep openly criticizing Israel like Gabor Mate, Noam Chomsky, & Norman Finkelstein. Jews living in a democratic Israel and in a Constitutionally free speech protected USA can and do speak up freely against the policies of Israel and against what they see as an inhuman “occupying,” “apartheid,” or at a minimal overly-aggressive Israeli Zionist political movement that even go so far as to say that the Zionists are committing “genocide” against the Palestinians.
This is similarly like how in the United States Americans have the right to vote and/or exercise their freedom of speech to speak up against US policies and either to support or criticize international US military actions. We can and do speak up in the United States, but in my perspective without large movements of people they can have seemingly limited effect sometimes in the time sensitive sense. However, as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” These words give hope and a sense that progress towards freedom, equality, and indeed justice is not only possible, but also although it might take time, inevitable. I sincerely hope so.
However, the US government appears to do what they do often no matter what the people say. At least, until an election year. This it appears to me to be true with how US President Joe Biden sent billions of dollars of funding to Iran and now is also sending billions of dollars of funding to Israel without Congressional approval. This while America itself has so many of its own domestic issues. This gives me the impression that the highest levels of the US government are currently being controlled more and more according to the private interests and imperialist intentions of globalist economic elites. Although I would still never ever vote for Donald Trump.
This freedom to speak up is unlike what can happen in some Islamic countries where speaking out against the government or against Islam, or simply by leaving the religion of Islam can become threatening to your life. Similarly, from my American perspective, this is how it is or can be in Communist dictatorships such as China, Russia, North Korea, and/or Cuba, as examples, where voicing opposition to the government can get you into danger. Although still there are brave leaders amongst the people who continue to stand up for freedom of speech, education, the liberalization of universal human rights, and democracy in all of these countries.
This is one reason why I still believe that Israel can and will succeed ultimately if Israelis and the many free thinking people internationally will speak up and lend pressure to help force Israel’s hand such they demand for greater Palestinian civilian protection, humanitarian aide, and periods of cease fire in Gaza allowing for Hamas more opportunities to return the hostages & even surrender before escalating the war further.
The history of the Jewish people is really “out of the frying pan and into fire” despite the incredible biblical history and scientific evidence connecting the Jews to their land starting about 4000 years ago as well as the state of Israel’s free market democratic inclusion of Arabs, Muslims, and Christians in their country as well as an attempted “two state solution” for 80 years. Naturally, there have been historical accounts of brutality on both sides perhaps even more on the side of Israel?
Thus, Israel’s restraint, surgical precision in striking, and responsibility for civilian life is critically needed at this time to enable them to earn greater international support and to avoid being properly identified as “bloodthirsty” Zionists who are committing “war crimes” and “genocide” against innocent Palestinian civilians including women and children.
However, if Israel does go full Zionist at this point and continues to move towards a full scale unrestrained take over of Gaza causing a humanitarian disaster resulting in the displacement of 2.3 million and the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians including children who are not with Hamas, then before that happens, I will be joining the pro-Palestinian movement myself in full force.
It is very important that we keep holding Israel accountable and to a higher standard like so many with different perspectives and on different sides of this critical moment in history are doing right now.
I’m not sure why Russia’s aggression wasn’t protested in the United States as strongly as Israel’s war has been in Gaza. “At least 10,000 civilians, including more than 560 children, have been killed and over 18,500 have been injured since Russia launched its a full-scale armed attack against Ukraine on February 24, 2022, according to the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU).”
Some might claim that this is because of anti-semitism, but the important thing is that people are really taking these Israeli, Hamas, and Palestinian events that have transpired since October 7th with some very special significance. Many are truly engaged in actively protesting, marching, educating themselves, and demanding of something more ethical and humane than what they see happening in the midst of this typical war scenario.
This “awakening to activism” is one reason to have hope because this is the only way that change can happen. It is the only way that people begin to realize the collective power that we do have to stand against war, injustice, ideological division, and the suffering of innocents caught in a war zone. It is one way that we can begin to closely examine what war itself includes and that we can actively stand up to decrease the number of conflicts, wars, and war crimes that occur.
So, to continue, I don’t agree with the calling of Israel as equivalent to the Nazi’s in the same way that I don’t agree in calling the United States as equivalent to the Nazi’s. This despite the fact that US and literally every country has been involved in wars where civilians and innocents were killed. For example, study the atomic bomb that the US dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki which ended WWII. Despite the unspeakable horrific reality involved what the US did isn’t equivalent in my perspective to what the Nazi’s did to systematically murder 6 million Jews in an attempt to exterminate them all and take over the entire world in the Holocaust.
I’m not saying that we should not continue to stand up strongly for the people of Gaza either. We should and must do what we are called to do and what we believe is right. But my view sees Hamas as holding a greater blame for the present condition within which the Palestinians find themselves, and also because of the fact that Palestine elected Hamas.
It is also that I believe that to say “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” is to literally call for the end of Israel. As a Christian, myself, I believe that we are in a form of biblical end times, and that after tribulations Jesus Christ will return. This is what the Bible has prophesied in Revelations and to stand against the true destiny of a right Israel, in my view, is to stand against God.
The interpretation of what this all means is to be found in the hearts and minds of each one of us as we each personally strive to do “what is right” and “to work out our own salvation.” It is a central part of my ministry to inspire and guide people into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and into a personal experience of God’s Miraculous and Redeeming Love. It is my perspective that God is calling each and every one of us to self examine, to expand in understanding and education, and to become more developed in character through the deep examination of this Israel / Hamas / Palestine conflict with compassion for one another at this important moment in time. For me, this is the case, and this is what I am experiencing.
Additionally, as my view grows and as history plays out, I may personally shift my support away from the current Israeli government’s Zionist approach if they become too much of what I perceive to be against God’s true will for Israel.
I will do this because if Israel moves further in a full Zionist direction, while at the same time the USA delays United Nations measures which are attempting ethical responsibility for the water, food, medical supplies, humanitarian aide, and protection of innocent Palestinian lives in Gaza then I would perceive that the current Zionist Israeli government would actually be engaged in damaging Israel and harming themselves.
We all need to stand up for education, diverse media coverage, protection of the innocent, wisdom, and continued restraint in how the USA and Israel both handle this rapidly escalatingly humanitarian disaster in Gaza.
Let us examine some present statistics on it.
“Gaza’s Health Ministry said Friday, December 22, 2023 that it has documented 20,057 Palestinian deaths in the fighting and more than 50,000 wounded. It does not differentiate between combatant and civilian deaths. It has previously said that roughly two-thirds of the dead were women or minors.”
The present Israeli military action in Gaza which results in such a giant humanitarian disaster upon the people of Gaza could completely destroy Israel’s support internationally and any sense of right-action on behalf of Israel and also regarding US governmental support of it in the eyes of so many if it hasn’t already occurred. This can and will potentially be very damaging to the political futures of Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden, and many others in my perspective.
This just might be what the global economic elite and/or Vladimir Putin intend for us. Confusion, anger, shock, and division, but together we can stand up for something greater. We can stand up for education, peace, and understanding. We can stand up for those innocents who are caught and trapped in war zones. We must stand up for the future all children equally. It is up to each of us, I believe, to help bend our universe more towards justice!
Seth D. King
12–22–2023
President
North American Region
United People for Peace (UPP!)
Resources:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_Palestinian_legislative_election
https://www.iranintl.com/en/202311150106
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_support_for_Israel_in_the_2023_Israel–Hamas_war
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Holocaust
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Israel
https://ukraine.un.org/en/253322-civilian-deaths-ukraine-war-top-10000-un-says
https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-12-22-2023-7453c6f92d74eb1e12e506489031b91b
Resources Cited:
https://jnlwp.defense.gov
About Seth D. King
Seth D. King is an Computer Science, Creative Writing, & English Teacher. He currently teaches AP Computer Science and is the Technology Career Pathway Lead Teacher at New Designs Charter High School. He was a graduate of Santa Monica High School. He holds a B.S. degree in Environmental Engineering from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and a Clear Single Subject English Teaching Credential. He has a Master’s degree in Educational Technology & Leadership from Cal State Los Angeles. Mr. King just recently added a Master’s of Divinity degree from The Word of God International University. He lives with his wife and 2 kids in Los Angeles, CA.
Mr. King is co-Founder of the United People for Peace (UPP!) International peace-building association. He and his high school students released a “One World Declaration of Peace” video and petition project in 2013. Their petition continues to this day with 10 of his Community Leadership Writing Contest winning students who aspire to meet Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.
Seth is a Christian with many Jewish and Muslim friends as well as partners in international peace building and environmental tree planting restoration work. He believes it to be a part his responsibility to speak up in support of Israel and also for ethical, technologically advanced, humane, non-lethal, or non-excessive strategic choices to de-escalate present Israeli-Palestinian-Hamas conflict. 🙏🏼❤️🩹✡️✝️☪️❤️🕊
About the United People for Peace (UPP!)
The United People for Peace (UPP!) is an international association dedicated to love, integrity, community, justice, leadership, partnership, friendship, and world peace!
The Mission of UPP! is to champion the causes of world peace, youth empowerment, leadership, responsibility, non-violent activism, civilization and education locally, nationally and internationally.
The Vision of UPP! is to consciously forward peace, community, humanity and stability on Earth by inspiring and orchestrating a radical awakening and shift now in humanity to the real work of peace.
The Purpose of UPP! is to source a worldwide peace, education and justice movement that current, past and future neighborhood, city, state, country and world leaders must recognize, acknowledge and respect.
The Scope of our Vision is ultimately to generate a global movement of people who are responsible for feeding, clothing, housing, and educating every single person on Earth. We are quite literally committed to a world where 80–90% of the money now spent on the machines of war and on soldiers in the military is re-allocated to forwarding education, providing goods and services, ending poverty and building humane and healthy communities around the world.
The power is within us to stand as one people united for peace. The power is within our hearts and minds to cause… World Peace Now!
