We have only love in our hearts for the Jewish and Palestinian people. After the incredible suffering the Jewish people experienced during the Holocaust, it is especially distressing that the Israeli government is guilty of crimes against humanity. During our time in the West Bank and Gaza we witnessed Israel's apartheid with walled-in ghettos that imprison entire communities and a repeat of Nazi crimes to terrorize and kill civilians. While the name of the gas used to kill women and children is no longer Zyklon B, the death from white phosphorous is no less horrible.The Israeli government is destroying schools, hospitals, ambulances, water treatment facilities, food production, and police stations as part of a methodical genocide of the Palestinian people. Click here for a brief video explaining why Gaza is hell on earth.
In January 2009, CBS's 60 minutes explained how illegal settlements are fueling violence in Palestine and Israel (click here to view the 60 minute segment). At the center of the injustice in Palestine is a Zionist propaganda message that God wants Jews to force Palestinians from their homes. Rabbi Yisroel Dovid Weiss explains in the below video why the official teaching of Judaism is Palestine belongs to the Palestinians.
In the United States we often hear how Israel's leaders are promoting peace because they are promoting a two state solution. The truth is Israel's government has not wanted a two state solution for many years and uses this deception to expand settlements. Israel's government needs settlements to continue the cycle of violence. Eventually a small number of people resort to violence after years of oppression, seeing homes destroyed, and experiencing the deaths of their family. An attack by a desperate Palestinian then gives Israel the opportunity to wipe out large numbers of people by dropping bombs or gassing people. This cycle of violence, by design, continues shrinking Palestine and enlarging the state of Israel. Perhaps the greatest victims in this ongoing "legal plunder" of Palestine are the young people in Israel who unknowingly are brainwashed with fear and messages to show no mercy.
As I passed by homeless people, I thought about the children who survived. I thought how sad it is that the Palestinian people do not have the equipment to recover and bury their dead. For the survivors, each destroyed home is a constant reminder of mass murder.
If we want to imagine what will make a child grow up to become a suicide bomber, I submit living in a tent in front of the crushed bodies of your entire family is a powerful motivator.
In the December 27, 2008 to January 21, 2009 Israeli invasion of Gaza over 4,000 homes were destroyed or badly damaged. Israeli soldiers killed between 1,417 and 1,500 Palestinians and seriously injured between 10,000 and 12,000 Palestinians. Confirming the slaughter of a defenseless people, a total of 13 Israelis, including friendly fire casualties, died. The invading Israeli army was able to keep casualties to a minimum by using Palestinian children as disposable human shields. The massive Israeli bombing left more than 400,000 Gazans without running water and tens of thousands of people are now homeless. The statistic of over 300 Palestinian children killed and no Israeli children killed sums up what happened.
The siege and other Israeli efforts to inflict suffering and hardship began in January 2006 when the people of Gaza democratically elected a Hamas majority in parliament. Israel and the United States wanted Fatah to obtain a majority in parliament. The combined siege by Israel and Egypt, funded by the United States, is intended to bring the people in Gaza to their knees so that they will vote for Fatah leaders. The US and Israel want Fatah leaders that will sell out their people, as best illustrated by Egypt's corrupt Hosni Mubarak, and enslave the people of Gaza.
For almost 30 years, Egypt and Israel have annually received billions of US taxpayer welfare as part of the 1979 Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty. Hosni Mubarak, routinely on the list of the world's worst dictators, has consistently complied with Israeli demands to starve Palestinian children so that he can continue to pocket part of the now over $2 billion in annually recurring US taxpayer welfare.
In summary, the Palestinian people are a defenseless people. Sling shots, rocks, and home made rockets are never justified and at the same time are no match against modern fighter aircraft dropping chemical and depleted uranium weapons. The majority of Palestinian people we met want and pray for peace. They know the face of war and everyone we spoke with was sincere in their wish to live in peace with their Jewish brothers and sisters. If you doubt that peace or a two state solution is possible, consider for a moment the peaceful respect and warm welcome the Palestinian people extended to Rabbi Weiss and three other Hasidic Jews that entered Gaza to deliver medicine to the children.
While we experienced the inexcusable treatment of Palestinians by Israel, it is important to keep in mind that Israel is far from monolithic, and that there are groups there that seek a just peace.
If you put “Israel Peace Groups” into Google, you will find several such groups, starting with Rabbis for Human Rights, which represents the Rabbinic conscience in Israel and the Jewish tradition of protecting human rights. Gush Shalom supports withdrawal from the occupied areas. The Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions opposes such actions and others, such as uprooting of olive orchards and the expropriation of land. Yesh Gvul stands behind Israeli soldiers who refuse to obey immoral orders. Yesh Din investigates settler acts of violence to help bring the rule of law to the West Bank. New Profile consists of Palestinian and Jewish women working together to achieve a just peace and who refuse to live as enemies.
It is essential to distinguish Israel from Zionism and Zionism from the fundamental core of Judaism, which is to seek justice. If Israel returns to the basics of the religion that unites it, there will be a good chance that a fair and permanent peace will come to Israel and Palestine. Such an outcome is possible, but it will require flexibility from all involved.
How can you help? Educate your friends and family by sharing the information in this newsletter. For personalized advice to help guide you to make a difference, call us at 530-554-7061.
We should always remember all that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing.
Peace,
Propaganda and the Promised Land
Each year we recognize people who have made a special contribution to make our world a better one. The nomination window for the 2009 Teach Peace Foundation awards closes on August 1, 2009.
