![]() Nor can we chalk up Gadot’s service as a mistake of her youth during which she supported the IDF at the time but then realized the err of her ways. Unfortunately, we cannot chalk up Gadot’s military service as merely fulfilling a requirement to avoid possible jail time, a situation which has befallen some Israelis. So, where does Gal Gadot come in? Like every Israeli citizen, Gadot fulfilled her state-mandated minimum two years of service in the IDF. ![]() So, to respond to NPR’s rather flippant comment: Yes, tensions are “still” high. In total, Israeli aggression has resulted in the deaths of around 20,000 Lebanese, half of whom were civilians. Looking beyond a simplistic analysis of which party fired the first shot, it is crucial to note the root cause of these various engagements lie in Israel’s ongoing occupation of Palestine (this past May marked the 69th year) as well as Israel’s continual disregard for Lebanon’s sovereignty, materializing regularly through illegal incursions in Lebanese airspace by Israeli jets. The international community has repeatedly criticized Israel for its disproportionate use of military force against Lebanese citizens and infrastructure, causing mass displacement and destruction during these engagements. Some of these engagements were first sparked by guerilla warfare activity from Lebanon, giving Israel a simple scapegoat of “They started it!” Others were results of Israel’s chauvinist policies which claim south Lebanon as part of their territory. These engagements ranged from attacks to full-on invasions, seen most poignantly in 1982. To give a bit of historical context, Lebanon and Israel have engaged militarily on a large scale at five separate points in the past 50 years. In that moment, the tremendous lack of understanding that Americans have regarding the relationship between the two countries became overwhelmingly clear. ![]() Some others, as I heard on NPR’s ‘1A,’ expressed surprise that tensions “still” existed between Lebanon and Israel. Many Americans likely saw these headlines and assumed the ban was due to Wonder Woman’s revealing outfit, though anyone who has visited Lebanon can attest that one would see women dressed in less on a simple trip to the grocery store. The move was summarized by American commentators as yet another example of the Arab world’s backwardness and absence of progressive values. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |