Ethical Relativism and Rights, Equality and Justice - Essay Example

Ethical relativism and rights, equity and justice Lecturer: Ethical relativism, rights, equality and justice on the current Gaza conflict between Israel and Hamas Introduction The ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict is part of the long-term Israel-Palestine conflict that has occasioned higher border tensions and extremist tides across Middle East. Israel and Hamas are in conflict over the Gaza Strip and Hamas has been firing rockets in to Israel while Israel responded by launching airstrikes and later a ground invasion. The current escalation of the conflict was triggered by abduction of three Israel teenagers from West Bank settlements, but Hamas denied any involvement (BBC News, 2014). According to Israelites, Hamas is a controversial Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood that has been accused by Israel for launching several attacks and suicide bombings. However, Hamas views itself as the legitimate representative of Palestine authority and has the rights of reclaiming the Gaza strip and West Bank that were initially occupied by Palestinians before the UN resolution that created the State of Israel. According to ethical relativism, morality is relative to one’s culture and whether an action is wrong or right is determined by the moral norms of the particular society (Howie, 1987). According to Israelites, Gaza strip is their promised land and thus Palestinians are not supposed to establish a state or territory on that land according to Israelites’ cultural norms and beliefs. On the other hand, Hamas has extremist ideals, beliefs that perceive suicide attacks on non-Muslims and especially Israelites as justified, and thus rocket launches in to Israel territory are moral. Furthermore, Israel considers the neighbors as provocative and willing to destroy the State of Israel completely thus any air strikes in retaliation of aggressive actions by the neighbors such as building of rockets or digging tunnels to connect to Israel is considered morally right and justifiable by the Israelites (Beauchamp, 2014). According to the rights perspective of ethics, the rights that are set by the society must be granted the highest protection and such rights are considered ethically correct if a large population of the society endorses them (Howie, 1987). According to Hamas, their original rights to Gaza strip settlements were violated after the Seven Days war that led to establishment of Israel settlements and thus they have the ethical responsibility of reclaiming back the land. On the other hand, Israel believes that it has the right not to be attacked and defend its citizens from rocket fire since Hamas is committed to the total destruction of Israel state. Hamas considers Israel as an occupying and oppressive power than has no moral claim to self-defense, but Israel has a right to live in the settlement according to past Palestinian authority agreements and thus Hamas must respect the rights of Israel (Beauchamp, 2014). According to justice principle of ethics, an ethical decision is just if it has a consistent logical basis that supports the decision (Howie, 1987). In this case, Palestinian militants have been threatening Israel with attacks by digging tunnels and abducted Gilad Shalit, an Israel soldier through the tunnels. After Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005, Hamas has launched thousands of rockets thus making the lives of Israelites living in the missile range miserable and thus it was just for Israel to attack the militants through air strikes and ground incursion in order to destroy the underground tunnels (BBC News, 2014). Israel has in the past bombed several Hamas targets during Operation Cast Lead and Operation Pillar of Defense in order to minimize the ability of Hamas launching rockets in to Israel thus destroying the rocket supply lines has led to reduction of Hamas aggressive tactics of launching rockets in to Israel territory. To Hamas, the conflict is all about responding to an aggressive and oppressive neighbor since it refused to recognize Israel and past Palestinian agreements regarding the border and settlements thus escalating the existing border tensions since 2006. The Palestinians living in Gaza Strip and West Bank have equal rights to to express their opinions, practice their religion and access basic human services such as food and gas. Accordingly, the Palestinians must be treated equally with respect and dignity. In this case, Israel blockade in Gaza has created a humanitarian crisis since 2007 since all border crossing and naval pathways have been restricted in the territory it controls. Although Israel has claimed the goal of the blockade is to diminish Hamas capability of building rockets and mortars, such move has led to suffering of thousands of Palestinian civilians since it has restricted access to basic services such as healthcare, food, electricity, gas and construction materials and significantly reduced the export volumes (Beauchamp, 2014). In my opinion, the morally correct position of the United States is to call for a truce to the escalating violence that is claiming lives on both sides and cautiously get the two sides to agree on a seize the current hostiles and agree on the best possible means of attaining the greatest good for each side (Howie, 1987). Hamas must recognize the prior Palestinian agreements with Israel and agree to demilitarization of Gaza and West Bank in order to reduce the civilian casualties and ensure peaceful co-existence through observing the agreements that have demarcated the Palestine and Israel settlements in the conflict regions. Conclusion Israel asserts that the airstrikes and ground incursion in to Hamas is a retaliation of the teenage boys abducted by Hamas and perceives Hamas as a threat since it has launched numerous rockets in to Israel territory. Hamas claims that Israel has no moral right of self-defense since it has occupied Palestinian land and implemented a blockade that has led to humanitarian crisis. However, the best action by the United States is to call for the end of the current hostilities and conflicts that have claimed lives of innocent civilians and support the two sides in agreeing on a diplomatic plan that will ensure lasting peace within the region. References: BBC News. 2014. ‘Gaza-Israel conflict: what is the fighting about?’, Accessed on 4th August, 2014 from http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-28252155. Beauchamp, Z. (2014). ’11 crucial facts to understand the Israel-Gaza crisis’, Accessed on 4th August, 2014 from Vox July 17, 2014. http://www.vox.com/2014/7/16/5904691/hamas- israel-gaza-11-things. Howie, J. (1987). Ethical principles and practice. Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press. Read More