Expressing views that are surely representative of American Jews as a whole, here's what some American Jews are saying about the violence in Gaza.
J Street has a petition demanding that the U.S. intervene to bring about an immediate resumption of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas; the petition also calls for lifting the blockade of Gaza.
The petition says:
I support immediate and strong U.S.-led diplomatic efforts to urgently reinstate a meaningful ceasefire that ends all military operations, stops the rockets aimed at Israel and lifts the blockade of Gaza. This is in the best interests of Israel, the Palestinian people and the United States.
Brit Tzedek v'Shalom has an action alert asking folks to write to President-elect Obama, insisting that he speak out now and call for an immediate cease-fire and humanitarian aid to Gaza, noting that he has spoken out on other issues. As Representative Barney Frank pointed out, "Obama says we have one President at a time, but I'm afraid that seriously overstates the number of Presidents we have right now."
Americans for Peace Now is asking its supporters to write to President Bush and President-elect Obama in support of a ceasefire and humanitarian relief for Gaza.
Jewish Voice for Peace condemned the Israeli attacks on Gaza, calling for an immediate end to attacks on all civilians, whether Palestinian or Israeli, and noting that the blockade of Gaza is a violation of humanitarian law and has been widely condemned around the world. Meanwhile they have been organizing support for Israeli high school students who have been imprisoned for refusing to serve in an army that occupies the Palestinian Territories.
The overwhelming majority of American Jews voted for Obama -- just as the overwhelming majority of American Jews opposed the Iraq war. Let's pull for President- elect Obama to heed Brit Tzedek v'Shalom's call to speak out now.
[Robert Naiman is National Coordinator of Just Foreign Policy, a membership organization devoted to reforming U.S. foreign policy to reflect the values and serve the interests of the majority of Americans. Naiman edits the daily Just Foreign Policy news summary. JFP's web site is www.justforeignpolicy.org ]
Jewish Voice for Peace joins millions around the world, including the 1,000 Israelis who protested in the streets of Tel Aviv this weekend, in condemning ongoing Israeli attacks on Gaza. We call for an immediate end to attacks on all civilians, whether Palestinian or Israeli.
Israel's slow strangulation of Gaza through blockade has caused widespread suffering to the 1.5 million people of Gaza due to lack of food, electricity, water treatment supplies and medical equipment. It is a violation of humanitarian law and has been widely condemned around the world.
In resisting this strangulation, Hamas resumed launching rockets and mortars from Gaza into southern Israel, directly targeting civilians, which is also a war crime. Over the years, these poorly made rockets have been responsible for the deaths of 15 Israelis since 2004.
Every country, Israel included, has the right and obligation to protect its citizens. The recent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza shows that diplomatic agreements are the best protection for civilian life.
Moreover, massive Israeli air strikes have proven an indiscriminate and brutal weapon. In just two days, the known death toll is close to 300, and the attacks are continuing. By targeting the infrastructure of a poor and densely populated area, Israel has ensured widespread civilian casualties among this already suffering and vulnerable population.
This massive destruction of Palestinian life will not protect the citizens of Israel. It is illegal and immoral and should be condemned in the strongest possible terms. And it threatens to ignite the West Bank and add flames to the other fires burning in the Middle East and beyond for years to come.
The timing of this attack, during the waning days of a US administration that has undertaken a catastrophic policy toward the Middle East and during the run-up to an Israeli election, suggests an opportunistic agenda for short-term political gain at an immense cost in Palestinian lives. In the long run this policy will benefit no-one except those who always profit from war and exploitation. Only a just and lasting peace, achieved through a negotiated agreement, can provide both Palestinians and Israelis the security they want and deserve.
3) Tell Obama: Your Strong Voice Is Needed In The Middle East NOW!
Brit Tzedek V'Shalom (Jewish Alliance for Justice & Peace)
The escalating warfare in Gaza and southern Israel demands the immediate attention of President-elect Obama. As President-elect, he must speak out about the escalating crisis between Israel and Hamas, call for an immediate ceasefire, and send a strong signal about his long-term objectives for Israeli-Palestinian peace.
In the last month, he and his advisors did not hesitate to release the outline of a large stimulus package and post-Inauguration economic plan in an attempt to contain the financial crisis. Similar action is warranted for the Middle East.
Take Action <http://ga3.org/campaign/obama_your_voice_needed/b5dwg642j7bd37b?>
Tell President-elect Obama that his strong voice is needed now. Ask him to call for an immediate ceasefire that ends the attacks by all sides and facilitates the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. He must remind the entire international community of his commitment to Middle East peace and his intention once taking office.
President-elect Obama should also send informal envoys (advisors without formal appointments, members of Congress, etc.) to the region to meet with Israelis, Palestinians, government leaders, and others. Such action will send a strong message about the substantial shift in U.S. involvement he will oversee.
Israel's long-term security lies in a negotiated peace agreement with the Palestinians. As an ally to Israel, there is no more important step Obama can take than to make his positions and concern known immediately.
Please contact President-elect Obama and express your support for his active involvement. Take Action!
L'Shalom,
Sue Swartz, National Advocacy Chair Deepa Domansky, Washington Liaison and Advocacy Coordinator
OMER GOLDMAN, [in Israel]
JESSE BACON,
, http://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org Goldman is one of the "Shministim" -- high school seniors who refuse to enter the Israeli military process. She said today: "I'm proud to refuse to serve in an army that claims to be for humanity and defense but hurts people on a daily basis."
She recently wrote: "I first went to prison on September 23 and served 35 days. ... By the time you read this, many of my friends will be in prison too: in for three weeks, out for one, and then back in, over and over, until they are 21. The reason? We refuse to do military service for the Israeli army because of the occupation.
"I grew up with the army. My father was deputy head of Mossad and I saw my sister, who is eight years older than me, do her military service. As a young girl, I wanted to be a soldier. The military was such a part of my life that I never even questioned it."
Bacon is a board member of the group Jewish Voice for Peace, which, among other things, is launching a campaign to support the Shministim.
MICHEL WEKSLER,
Weksler said today: "I was a tank commander in the Israeli military. I spent a month in jail because I refused to deploy to Gaza in 2002. I felt it was my duty to refuse 'clearly illegal' orders (an Israeli judicial term) and I think Israeli occupation practices are clearly illegal. It's noteworthy that the Israeli Supreme Court has continuously avoided hearing a refusenik case.
"The rocket attacks from Gaza are wrong, but it's ridiculous for Israel to pretend as if it is the victim in this vicious cycle. Israel has been violating international as well as Israeli law in how it is dealing with the Palestinians in the occupied territories. These people are in total legal limbo. They are not Israeli citizens, they don't have an independent state, and Israel is denying them their rights as occupied people under the Geneva Conventions. Olmert has been trying to cover this up recently by referring to the 'citizens of Gaza.' The people being bombed in Gaza are not citizens of anything and that's the crux of the problem: they are stateless people and that needs to end."
YONATAN SHAPIRA, http://www.CombatantsForPeace.org A former captain in the Israeli Air Force Reserves, in 2003 Shapira initiated the group of Israeli Air Force pilots who refused to participate in attack missions on Palestinian territories. He is a co-founder of Combatants for Peace.
He said today: "The big media is completely biased in not giving a true picture of the situation. People need to listen, watch and read alternative media sources. If you look at the number of people that were killed in the last few days the numbers for the Palestinians are enormous -- over 375 people in Gaza! This is an open air prison controlled from all sides. People in Gaza cannot go out, can't get the food, medicine, clean water, electricity they need and the Israeli Air Force is bombing them and killing innocent children in this crazy operation. The media are simply not telling this story.
"Hamas fires rockets on Israeli towns and yes, four Israelis have been killed and these rockets can kill me and my family. But Israel's retaliation and collective punishment will not bring us more security, just the opposite. The root cause of the conflict is the ongoing occupation and the refusal of the Israeli government to negotiate with Hamas and to agree to a complete withdrawal to 1967 borders. There's no real intention to solve the problem by my government unfortunately.
"I want to shout as loud as I can and ask everyone to join us in this struggle, Palestinians and Israelis who want to stop the bloodshed. The massacre will not stop unless people from all over the world will wake up, join us and call for boycott, divestment and sanctions on the Israeli government. I am saying these things as a Jew and as an Israeli who wants to continue to live in this beautiful and sad piece of land."
