An Open Letter to A citizen Of Gaza :

[Daleksfearme]

Judy Lash Balint, Jerusalem
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An Open Letter to A citizen Of Gaza :
I Am the Soldier Who Slept In Your Home:
By: Yishai G (reserve soldier)

Hello,

While the world watches the ruins in Gaza , you return to your home
which remains standing. However, I am sure that it is clear to you
that someone was in your home while you were away.

I am that someone.

I spent long hours imagining how you would react when you walked into
your home. How you would feel when you understood that IDF soldiers
had slept on your mattresses and used your blankets to keep warm.

I knew that it would make you angry and sad and that you would feel
this violation of the most intimate areas of your life by those
defined as your enemies, with stinging humiliation. I am convinced
that you hate me with unbridled hatred, and you do not have even the
tiniest desire to hear what I have to say. At the same time, it is
important for me to say the following in the hope that there is even
the minutest chance that you will hear me.

I spent many days in your home. You and your family's presence was
felt in every corner. I saw your family portraits on the wall, and I
thought of my family. I saw your wife's perfume bottles on the
bureau, and I thought of my wife. I saw your children's toys and
their English language schoolbooks. I saw your personal computer and
how you set up the modem and wireless phone next to the screen, just
as I do.

I wanted you to know that despite the immense disorder you found in
your house that was created during a search for explosives and
tunnels (which were indeed found in other homes), we did our best to
treat your possessions with respect. When I moved the computer table,
I disconnected the cables and lay them down neatly on the floor, as I
would do with my own computer. I even covered the computer from dust
with a piece of cloth. I tried to put back the clothes that fell when
we moved the closet although not the same as you would have done, but
at least in such a way that nothing would get lost.

I know that the devastation, the bullet holes in your walls and the
destruction of those homes near you place my descriptions in a
ridiculous light. Still, I need you to understand me, us, and hope
that you will channel your anger and criticism to the right places.
I decided to write you this letter specifically because I stayed in
your home.

I can surmise that you are intelligent and educated and there are
those in your household that are university students. Your children
learn English, and you are connected to the Internet. You are not
ignorant; you know what is going on around you.

Therefore, I am sure you know that Qassam rockets were launched from
your neighborhood into Israeli towns and cities.

How could you see these weekly launches and not think that one day we
would say "enough"?! Did you ever consider that it is perhaps wrong
to launch rockets at innocent civilians trying to lead a normal life,
much like you? How long did you think we would sit back without
reacting?

I can hear you saying "it's not me, it's Hamas". My intuition tells
me you are not their most avid supporter. If you look closely at the
sad reality in which your people live, and you do not try to deceive
yourself or make excuses about "occupation" , you must certainly reach
the conclusion that the Hamas is your real enemy.

The reality is so simple, even a seven year old can understand:
Israel withdrew from the Gaza strip, removing military bases and its
citizens from Gush Katif. Nonetheless, we continued to provide you
with electricity, water, and goods (and this I know very well as
during my reserve duty I guarded the border crossings more than once,
and witnessed hundreds of trucks full of goods entering a blockade-
free Gaza every day).

Despite all this, for reasons that cannot be understood and with a
lack of any rational logic, Hamas launched missiles on Israeli towns.
For three years we clenched our teeth and restrained ourselves. In
the end, we could not take it anymore and entered the Gaza strip,
into your neighborhood, in order to remove those who want to kill us.
A reality that is painful but very easy to explain.

As soon as you agree with me that Hamas is your enemy and because of
them, your people are miserable, you will also understand that the
change must come from within. I am acutely aware of the fact that
what I say is easier to write than to do, but I do not see any other
way. You, who are connected to the world and concerned about your
children's education, must lead, together with your friends, a civil
uprising against Hamas.

I swear to you, that if the citizens of Gaza were busy paving roads,
building schools, opening factories and cultural institutions instead
of dwelling in self pity, arms smuggling and nurturing a hatred to
your Israeli neighbors, your homes would not be in ruins right now.
If your leaders were not corrupt and motivated by hatred, your home
would not have been harmed. If someone would have stood up and
shouted that there is no point in launching missiles on innocent
civilians, I would not have to stand in your kitchen as a soldier.
You don't have money, you tell me? You have more than you can imagine.
Even before Hamas took control of Gaza , during the time of Yasser
Arafat, millions if not billions of dollars donated by the world
community to the Palestinians was used for purchasing arms or taken
directly to your leaders bank accounts. Gulf States , the emirates -
your brothers, your flesh and blood, are some of the richest nations
in the world. If there was even a small feeling of solidarity between
Arab nations, if these nations had but the smallest interest in
reconstructing the Palestinian people – your situation would be very
different.

You must be familiar with Singapore . The land mass there is not much
larger than the Gaza strip and it is considered to be the second most
populated country in the world. Yet, Singapore is a successful,
prospering, and well managed country. Why not the same for you?
My friend, I would like to call you by name, but I will not do so
publicly. I want you to know that I am 100% at peace with what my
country did, what my army did, and what I did. However, I feel your
pain. I am sorry for the destruction you are finding in your
neighborhood at this moment. On a personal level, I did what I could
to minimize the damage to your home as much as possible.

In my opinion, we have a lot more in common than you might imagine. I
am a civilian, not a soldier, and in my private life I have nothing
to do with the military. However, I have an obligation to leave my
home, put on a uniform, and protect my family every time we are
attacked. I have no desire to be in your home wearing a uniform again
and I would be more than happy to sit with you as a guest on your
beautiful balcony, drinking sweet tea seasoned with the sage growing
in your garden.

The only person who could make that dream a reality is you. Take
responsibility for yourself, your family, your people, and start to
take control of your destiny. How? I do not know. Maybe there is
something to be learned from the Jewish people who rose up from the
most destructive human tragedy of the 20th century, and instead of
sinking into self-pity, built a flourishing and prospering country.
It is possible, and it is in your hands. I am ready to be there to
provide a shoulder of support and help to you.

But only you can move the wheels of history."
Regards,
Yishai, (Reserve Soldier)
 








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