Pope Leo wants us to forget about the idea of a “just war.” Prof. Amos Goldberg, speaking at a conference on genocide, reminds us that the genocides of the past half century were the results of “just wars” – bloody conflicts that one side felt were existential. Both the pope and the historian are hitting on an essential issue: The slaughter takes place within a historical context, in which those committing the atrocities are convinced they are doing so to protect their homes and their very identities and continued existence. And, just as there is no justice in war, there is no absolute innocence. The rules of war and against genocide do not deal with innocence, but with actions taken against an entire population, rather than enemy fighters. The pope warned against wars waged for internal political gain. We must ask ourselves not who prevails, but who benefits. And where is the justice in that?

While Trump has waged war with Iran, here in our little corner of the Middle East, things stalled, but not quietly. The Israeli army has used the opportunity to seize the southern strip of Lebanon, “purifying” the rocky piece of territory as it advances and proclaiming it will be there “for a while.” It remains in Gaza, while most Gazans cannot return to their homes, scrabbling, instead, to scrape together the money to pay the exorbitant price of a sack of flour. Hamas still, after three years of war, controls the humanitarian aid that comes in by the truckload each day. Israel looks the other way. We cry that Hamas is once again amassing arm and fighters, but we never agreed to let Gaza have an alternative. Where........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)