This open letter responds to a recent piece on Gaza that, while filled with grief, directs blame in the wrong place. To provide balance, here is a fuller historical and geopolitical context.
The United Nations offered both Jews and Arabs states with borders, independence, and recognition. The Arabs rejected it, vowing to “drive the Jews into the sea.” They lost, and called it a Nakba (catastrophe). Syrian historian Dr. Constantin Zureiq, who coined the term, wrote in 1948 that the true catastrophe was the Arab leaders’ refusal of the partition plan and their subsequent defeat. He admitted, “We must recognize our mistakes and our responsibility for the disaster that is our lot.”
Seven Arab armies invaded to abolish partition and Zionism. They lost despite being offered the majority of the land in the U.N. plan. Instead of integrating Palestinians, Arab states confined them to refugee camps, using them as political tools while denying them rights and citizenship.
In 1967, after losing again, Arab leaders declared the “three no’s”: no peace, no recognition, no negotiations. Decades later, this rejection still prevents Palestinian statehood.
In the Oslo Accords (1990s), Israel offered autonomy, funding, and infrastructure. Instead of building schools and businesses, Palestinian leaders diverted billions into militias and launched suicide bombings.
In 2005, Israel left Gaza entirely, removing entire generational families and soldiers. Palestinians had a chance to build a thriving Mediterranean economy. Instead, they elected Hamas, which poured aid into rockets, tunnels and palaces while civilians lived in poverty.
Elections haven’t been held in nearly 20 years. Hamas suppresses dissent in Gaza and Fatah does the same in the West Bank, while paying families of terrorists (“Pay to Slay”). Both prioritize power and violence over nation-building. Clerics and media glorify martyrdom and hatred of Jews instead of promoting education and peace.
Meanwhile, Arab regimes call Palestinians “brothers” but deny them equal rights in Lebanon, Syria, Egypt and Kuwait.
Without oil or vast resources, Israel built farms in deserts, a thriving democracy, and a world-class tech hub. Palestinians could have partnered with or learned from Israel, but instead chose rejection and violence. The slogan “From the river to the sea” is not a call for coexistence but for Israel’s eradication.
Israel has faced repeated wars and uprisings: 1948, 1967, 1973, 1982, 1987, 2000, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2014, 2021, and 2023. Each began with Arab aggression. Each ended with Israeli survival. In between these wars were consistent terrorist attacks. The Intifada!
The PLO, founded in 1964 — before settlements or “occupation” — sought Israel’s destruction, not Palestinian independence. Violence against Jews predates Israel itself, such as the 1929 Hebron massacre, which the terror was as gruesome as on October 7th.
On Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas executed its ideology in full view of the world: massacres, kidnappings and atrocities streamed online. Nearly 90% of Palestinians express support for Hamas, confirming this is not just about Hamas but a broader societal choice. UNWAR employees participated, as did families held hostage in their own homes.
Critics condemn Israel while remaining silent on Assad’s killing of 200,000 Syrians, Darfur’s 400,000 dead, Iran’s 1,500 murdered protesters, or China’s internment of two million Muslims. Why does outrage peak only when Jews are involved?
Civilian deaths in Gaza are tragic, but the blame lies with Hamas. They built tunnels under homes and hospitals, launched rockets from schools, and used civilians as human shields. Israel, despite fighting the largest urban war in modern history, has taken unprecedented measures to minimize civilian harm — far more than any other army.
If Israel put down its arms, it would be destroyed. If Palestinians put down their arms, peace could finally come. The conflict has never been about creating another Arab state but about erasing the one Jewish state in the region.
Kevin Howard
Park City