Renowned Israeli writer and peace activist David Grossman has called his country's military operations in Gaza "genocide." According to him, although he tried not to use this term for many years, after the facts he has seen and heard, he no longer hesitates to voice it.
The editorial office reports that Grossman spoke about this in an interview with the Italian publication "La Repubblica," and The Guardian also reported on it. He stated that the use of the words "Israel" and "genocide" in the same sentence indicates that something is seriously wrong in the country: "For years, I didn't utter this word. But now I cannot ignore it. This expression is like an abyss – once spoken, it grows larger and brings more destruction."
The writer said that the hunger and misery in Gaza contradict the lessons Israel learned from its historical past. According to him, this situation deals a serious blow to Israeli society, both humanely and morally: "Israel's historical claim of sensitivity to human suffering is completely contradicted by what is happening in Gaza today. And this is terrible."
Grossman also spoke about the negative impact of Israel's occupation policy on the country. He noted that the occupation, ongoing since 1967, has damaged Israeli society and gradually alienated the country from moral values: "The occupation corrupted us. It was as a result of this process that we became addicted to power and believed we could do whatever we wanted."
The writer also commented on France's and Great Britain's intention to recognize the Palestinian state. In his opinion, this step could contribute to the peace process and create an opportunity to negotiate with a partner with clearer commitments: "Perhaps sitting at the table with a real state will be more beneficial than negotiations with an entity that has uncertain governance. But the conditions must be precise and serious."
David Grossman emphasized his commitment to the two-state solution model despite all difficulties, adding that it is the only real way out: "This path is difficult. But both we and the Palestinians must demonstrate political maturity. There is no other plan."
Sevinc Karimova