Many have written in the past week about the current crisis in the Gaza Strip.  I have confessed an ambivalence and genuine uncertainty about whether Israel's actions are justified, in whole and in part, and candidly it just doesn't seem genuine that so many of us, posters and contributors alike, have staked out positions that are devoid of the uncertainty I freely admit to have.  Like many of you, I have tried to look past cable news channels and the so-called mainstream media in an effort to move beyond shallow analyses and garden-variety and simplistic explanations more akin to spaghetti westerns with those black and white hats as guides for distinguishing the good guys from the bad.

In the course of my internet wanderings, I stumbled across the statement by the Israel Policy Forum ("IPF") on the crisis in Gaza.  I offer it as a possible touchstone for rational discussion between decent people at the TPM Cafe.  IPM's statement is presented because I understand it to be a group that has reflected a far more even-handed approach to the I-P conflict than other so-called "mainstream" organizations in Washington, and because our own MJ Rosenberg IPF's Director of Policy Analysis.

At the threshold, IPF calls on the United States to push for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, but appears to squarely and without ambiguity blame Hamas for what has taken place:

Israel Policy Forum (IPF) urges the United States to push for an immediate end to hostilities and resumption of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The ceasefire was terminated by Hamas on December 19, despite the stated willingness of the Israelis to extend it and the efforts of the Egyptians to negotiate an extension. Israel's blockade was a response to continued Hamas firing of missiles at Israeli communities and other infractions, and the use of the ceasefire for building up its arsenal of longer range and more sophisticated missiles, the impact of which is now being felt in ever wider areas of Israel.

The statement continues with a declaration that "IPF deplores all loss of life and the suffering of people on both sides of the Israel-Gaza border", and that the military action threatens the long-term interests of Israel, the United States and the Middle East peace process. That said, IPF Executive Director Nick Bunzl also states that Hamas provoked Israel "for its own reasons", and further states that he understands Israel's need to defend its citizens:

"Hamas, for its own reasons, provoked Israel's military response without regard for the civilian population of Gaza, and we understand Israel's need to defend her citizens," Bunzl added.

Finally, IPF calls on the United States, with the assistance of the Quartet and the Arab states in the region, to push for a mutual and long-term ceasefire defined as follows:

IPF therefore calls on the United States to push for an international effort to bring about an immediate Hamas-Israel truce, negotiated by intermediaries. IPF also urges immediate exploration of a long-term armistice, also through intermediaries, in which there will be absolutely no attacks on Israel of any kind and the end to the import of advanced weapons by Hamas in exchange for a commensurate lifting of the blockade by Israel."

IPF's statement resonates with me, but I understand that many of you will have good faith reasons to feel otherwise.  Pennies for your thoughts.

Bruce S. Levine

New York, New York