The Book of Lamentations

It's a bit early for Tisha B'Av but never too early to organize a global gang-bang against Israel.

The reason this time? The Gaza Flotilla Fiasco.

Because of the top billing given to this news item, because of the plethora of op-eds and columns and analyses and statements and newscasts and special reports and punditry and explanations and ongoing coverage since it broke on Sunday, it feels unnecessary to recap the story.

So I won't.

Still, when I review the details in my mind, I am filled with astonishment at the reflexive worldwide condemnation of Israel, the penchant to cast Israel in the role of murderer or aggressor when, at the very most, it fell clumsily into a public relations ambush or failed to be utterly brilliant and clairvoyant. Yes, there were casualties...which seems to have been the whole point of the provocation. And we could argue for the next century about whether the Gaza blockade is a good idea but even if it is misguided, it must still be observed until it is lifted.

Israel's sovereign right to defend her citizenry against a possible attack by a ship filled not with kumbaya-singing flower children but with those intent upon stirring up violence inspired an international instinct to isolate Israel, casting her as a pariah among nations. And when the isolation of Israel or Jews is an irresistible impulse, no barrage of facts in Israel's favor will reverse world opinion.

But this is an old story, as old as the history of the Jews.

Still, it hurts.

For this I weep.