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Israel condemnation and the Cause of War and Conflicts

Categories: East Asia, North America, Indonesia, Israel, Lebanon, Palestine, U.S.A., Citizen Media, International Relations, Politics, War & Conflict

Many Indonesian bloggers respond to the current brutal and terror act against civilians in Palestine and Lebanon with disgust and condemnation.

Indra Pramana [1]who is very concerned about the current escalation of tension in the middle-east, especially the use of excessive force by Israelis against civilians in Palestinian territory and Lebanon, questioning the actions of the Jewish state and the silent voice of the world on the events [2]:

I still don't understand, why Israel has to kill a lot of innocent civilians, including children, only because they want to save two of their soldiers which are being captured by Hezbollah militants. Why they have to bomb the Beirut international airport? Why they have to sacrifice the life of a lot of Lebanese civilians, including children?

Why all countries around the world did not immediately condemn the attack? When North Korea did a “show-off” with its missiles, most of all countries around the world immediately condemned the move. When terrorists strike Mumbai's rapid transportation with several blasts to its trains, all countries immediately condemned the attack. Why up to the moment, it's quite difficult for most countries around the world to condemn the Israel's attack? Why so far, only Indonesia condemned the attack, while the Philippines only issued Lebanon travel ban for its citizens? And why the UN Security Council finds it difficult to come out with a resolution to condemn the attack?

I really hope that the international community can immediately look into this matter. This matter is obviously more serious than the North Korea issue. North Korea only performed a show-off, while in this case, a lot of civilians, including children, has been killed by the brutal attacks. I also really hope that the international community can do the necessary to stop Israel's attacks, so there's no further innocent people become victims.

While many Indonesian bloggers condem the acts of the Israelis against Lebanon and Palesine, Romi Satro Wahono [3] highlights more on the root cause of conflicts happens in any parts of the world including in the Middle East where he elaborates three major factors [4] of conflicts and war that happen throughout the history of [5] the world adding a note that it's the US who has waged the most wars:

First, ambition to show off and gain recognition on the part of more powerful countries with all possible pretext to support the action.

Second, war as a very profitable business. You can see the table in his blog on the top five countries who export and import weapons and its values in US dollars

Third, poverty, injustices, and big social gap between the haves and the have-nots.

Some commenters seem to agree with him. Arif Widianto [6], for example, comment that:

Saya tidak terkejut kalau Amerika merupakan negara yang terbanyak terlibat dalam konflik (perang) internasional. Industri senjata di negara tersebut merupakan industri yang besar dan harus diserap. Kalau pasar tidak menyerap, minimal negara sendiri yang menyerap. Boleh dilihat, setiap kali Partai Republik berkuasa di Amerika, dijamin bakal akan ada perang di suatu belahan dunia karena Partai Republik disokong oleh industri senjata. Lihat George Bush dan George Walker Bush sebagai sedikit contoh dari penguasa yang berasal dari Partai Republik. Kedua orang ini menggelar perang yang cukup dahsyat di akhir abad 20 dan awal abad 21.

I am not surprised to see the US as a country with the most involvement in international conflicts (war). Weapon industry in the country is one of the biggest business and has to be dealt with. If the (international) market does not absorb that (weapon) production, it'll become the burden of state to do it. See, everytime the Republic is in the helm of power, it'll be rest assured there would be a war in other parts of the world because the Republic party is supported by weapons industry. See for example George Bush Sr. and Jr as a case in point. The two father and son president have waged the greatest war in the late 20th century and early 21st century respectively.