Last month the Toronto Sun published an editorial entitled “It’s time to stand with Israel.” Repeated indemnification of Palestine and its supporters aside, it’s mainly notable for the title, which insinuates the world is somehow “against” Israel.

It’s a funny thing when one considers the political climate surrounding the state of Israel. Given that it has launched two wars in less than 30 days (one against the Palestinians, the other against Lebanon), visiting destruction in the tens of millions of dollars on its neighbors (to say nothing of the incalculable human cost that continues to rise), the Western world has done everything it can to legitimize said violence. American politicians loudly proclaim that we stand united behind Israel while magazines such as Time trvialize the Middle East as a backwards curiosity. “Why do they fight?” they ask while ignoring the patently obvious answer: Israel is on someone else’s land. And they covet more.

Israel has graced my writings for years to no effect. Our representatives continue to protect a nation that undermines ours every step of the way; when Israeli spies steal military secrets there is no execution, only jail time or quiet deportation. When Israeli agents attempt to goad us into war with Egypt (see the Lavon Affair or the attack on the USS Liberty) the murdered go unavenged and the investigation is buried.

While Israel steals land from others we look the other way; we shrug when they shell a Palestinian beach to create the justification for murdering Hamas leadership. And when Israeli soldiers are captured within Lebanon, their act of retaliation levels infrastructure still recovering from 20 years of prior Israeli occupation.

And we turn our heads and sigh, as if we are not the genesis of this violence. We might even reassure ourselves Israel has the right to defend itself by sending the nation another couple billion dollars. Before you assuage that guilt, however, consider the following:

1. The invasion of Gaza to neuter Hamas was planned long before Gilat Shalit disappeared. According to Ha’aretz, “the detention of Hamas parliamentarians … had been planned several weeks ago and received approval from [Attorney General Menachem] Mazuz.” Also bear in mind that Hamas was established by Israel as an opposition party to the Palestinian Liberation Organization, robbing indigenous Palestinians of a unified and democratically-elected voice.
2. Israel planned its invasion of Lebanon before Hezbollah captured its two troops. Asia Times reports that the troops “were ambushed on Lebanon’s side of the border with Israel. Hezbollah, which commands the Lebanese south, immediately seized on their crossing.” Israel used their own invasion as cause for said invasion.
3. The disproportionate level of the attacks is staggering. Savaging all of southern Lebanon over two soldiers is akin to Mexico destroying the Golden Gate Bridge because two border-crossers died at the hands of a Southern California gang. Did the Israeli Defense Force really think that leveling airports, bridges and roads would hamper movement of their captured troops? Israel opposes international peacekeeping forces yet encourages that children write messages of hate on the missiles that will kill their Lebanese counterparts.

This is little more than a manufactured conflict to draw Iran, Syria, and ultimately the United States into a war with each other. Even though the vast majority of Americans oppose another battlefield in the Middle East, the Bush Administration’s unwavering support of Israel means it will fight its ally’s fight should Iran or Syria naturally choose to defend themselves. It gives Bush his war with Iran and it gives Israel its chance to destabilize the region further without worrying about the body count. After all, it won’t be Israeli kids dying.

I’ve reached a saturation point. If you aren’t already disgusted by Israel’s actions, nothing I say here today will make much difference. If you’re angry like me, however, make a stand. Voice your disapproval at the voting booth this year and force any proponents of Israel from Congress. Demand the AIPAC trial continue (it’s been halted several times). Educate yourself and your peers on how ensconced we are with this tiny Mediterranean country.

David Ben Gurion, the first Israeli Prime Minister, once said, “If I were an Arab leader, I would never sign an agreement with Israel. It is normal; we have taken their country. It is true God promised it to us, but how could that interest them? Our God is not theirs. There has been Anti-Semitism, the Nazis, Hitler, Auschwitz, but was that their fault? They see but one thing: we have come and we have stolen their country. Why would they accept that?”

As you watch the tragedy continue to unfold, ask yourself the same question. Why should we accept Israel’s theft of Palestinian and Lebanese land? And why should we rationalize American deaths that come as a result?

Perhaps the author of “It’s time to stand with Israel” has changed opinions in the wake of eight Canadian deaths in Lebanon. Maybe the Toronto Sun will push for retribution, for justice. Maybe Canada will adopt the Israeli plan of attack and destroy Tel Aviv’s business district. After all, a handful of Canadian citizens apparently merit that level of retaliation.

Regardless, it’s time to stand against Israel. If you look on the events of today as a human being, you cannot see otherwise.