Two voices of loss in Gaza
| 11:27 UK time, Thursday, 8 January 2009
This morning we heard from two women who have both experienced loss as a result of the fighting in Gaza.
Ora Regev lives in northern Israel. Her 25-year-old son Nir was among 21 people killed in a suicide bombing in the coastal resort of Haifa in 2003. Manal Timraz is from Coventry. She's got a huge extended family living on the Gaza Strip. She found out this week that 15 of them have been killed during Israeli air raids.
You can listen to the discussion below.
It drew a strong response from you, judging by some of the text messages we received:
"Dear nicky + shelagh i have tears in my eyes over one news item"
"Thanks so much for that brave, painful broadcast with the Jewish mother/arab lady. Sony Award winning stuff. Maybe you could send a copy to the FCO/Brown." - Andy
"Listening two those two desperate ladies and their stories was very moving. My suggestion is that the next UN meeting should be held in the streets of Gaza. With the bombs raining down maybe we will get some real action."
"That was the most powerful radio I've heard in a long time. Maybe there is hope. Let the mothers do the talking to each other." - Mark in Chelmsford.
But not all of you were moved in the same way by the story. Here's a sample of the views of those texters who were critical of that part of the programme:
"Appalling appalling radio. How dare your radio station try and put up once persons loss against another persons loss. How can there be any comparison bet ween 2 so different scenarios"
"How typical of bbc liberals,they walk past & ignore own citizens sleeping freezing on streets,who have no voice, but r obsessed with plight of Palestinians" - John
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Comments
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The fact that the Israeli woman lost one family member while the woman with a family in Gaza lost 15 illustrates the terrible one-sidedness of the current conflict.
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It is the grief, anguish, anger, fear and insecurity verbalised by the Israeli lady in this clip and felt by the people of Israel that is the root cause of the current Israeli aggression in Gaza.
The same feeling and emotions lead trapped and desperate Palestinians to try to kill Israelis.
What more can radio do than two bring the two sides together and promote some peace and understanding, on however small a level?
Those that are posting here to condemn this clip should first think about what they have done to promote peace and understanding (i doubt they will think of much) and then either tell us about it so we can promote their good work, or they should shut up.
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No offence Doug, but although I would be distraught to lose 15 cousins, second cousins etc, if one of my boys was killed in the attack as described by the Israeli mother, I could never forgive the perpetrator.
The broadcast was brilliant. It showed that two women, each experiencing infinite grief, still maintain the ability to talk to each other.
The fact that Hamas provoked the Israelis and that Israels response is disproportionate is becoming irrelevant. What is relevant is that once again, religion, power and plain stupidity is killing the innocent.
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Nikki:
It is sad and a horrible loss to the families of the people who were killed in the attacks!!!
~Dennis Junior~
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Well, now BBC and most of the international community are playing the "kids are dying" card.
Well, let's examine this a little further.
1: HAMAS government does nothing to keep their citizenry safe. They set up camp amongst the civilian population so that kids will get killed in military operations.
2: HAMAS is the overwhelming democratically elected government of the civilian population. The citizenry SELECTED this leadership. They are explicitly joining the terrorist movement.
3: HAMAS has stated it's objective to not relent until Israel is destroyed and removed. Hence, the citizenry follows suit.
4: The simple fact of the matter is HAMAS needs to approve treaty with a complete cease fire on both sides, and Israel needs confirmation that tunnels are destroyed that allow these milliles to be smuggled into the Gaza Strip. Actually, this was all part of the original treaty from 2005.
5: HAMAS doesn't care about kids dying and are responsible for creating a situation where kids and civilians would be killed. The citizens of Gaza are pawns used by the many enemies of Israel in a final goal to destroy Israel.
Let's be real and call a spade a spade. The Arabs nations hate Jews. They worked in concert with Hitler in WWII and have the same goals of Jewish extermination. Unforturnately, so does most of the International community. It's all in the Bible folks. And God Curse all those who oppose Israel.
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