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Letter: A Gaza truce won’t work

The recent talk by Ambassador Daniel Kurtzer in the Snowmass Chapel gave another perspective to the Gaza conflict. His message: “Diplomacy, not bullets.” Officially, Hamas is the aggressor. It has and continues to launch many thousands of rockets indiscriminately into Israel. Astonishingly, there has been no evidence such as photos of destroyed structures nor hospital reports of Israeli civilian deaths or injuries.

On the other side of this equation, just one laser-guided missile, delivered through a 120 mm Merkva tank barrel, accurate within 2 feet, programmed to explode inside the target, obliterates it and whatever or whoever is inside. Multiply these munitions by any number and add aerial bombardment, and a colossal killing machine is created.

There are no military targets like bunkers, manned checkpoints, fighting vehicles or fighting formations in Gaza. Therefore, by mistake or design, targets become dwellings, schools, power stations and waterworks. No need to dwell on the death and destruction witnessed by news reportage.



This disparity is analogous to a rubber zodiac with half a dozen fighters threatening the extinction of a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier. Nonetheless, this perceived threat has been the reason for almost continuous weapon deployment.

For Israel, the answer is clear: “Bullets, not diplomacy.” No need for our secretary of state to butt in by working toward a two-state solution or a truce in Gaza. Who does he think he is?




Israel has the full backing of our civilian and military agencies from the president on down. Even the slightest criticism will cost him or her their office. The American Jewish community, with a few exceptions, also is quite comfortable. The U.N., established for the purpose of avoiding military conflict, has been emasculated. Still, there is the world community with a few billion Muslims who might well consider Israel the bad guys.

The cover of the current issue of the magazine Economist is simple and direct: “Israel is winning the battle and losing the war.”

Stefan Edlis

Aspen