LEONARD’S DIGEST

Jan 13 2009 ∞

MIDEAST: Some Israelis Cry Out for Peace

Are you Anti-Semitic? Imagine my shock yesterday when that question was thrown in my face. I was talking with a colleague about the war in Gaza and voicing my opinion that Israel’s response to the rocket attacks was way out of proportion to the threat posed by Hamas. Then just because I was critical or questioned the Israeli invasion of Gaza I am suspected of Anti-Semitism. And this was not the first time this term has been thrown in my face when the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has come up.

No I don’t support Hamas or Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s outrageous goals of destroying Israel. And my position on this conflict does not reflect “Anti-Semitism”. As I have stated numerous times I believe Israel has the right to defend themselves and a right to live in peace. I just don’t believe that there is a military solution to the Israeli- Palestinian conflict. I certainly don’t think an oppressive military action against the Palestinian people in Gaza brings Israel closer to improving the situation in the Holy Land. The Right-wing in Israel and the US are quick to say that peaceful solutions have not worked in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Let’s look at it the other way: massive military action, aerial bombings that result in large numbers of civilian casualties has not worked either. We have seen Israel’s military solution before and the Holy land is no closer to peace.

No it’s not Anti-Semitic to be critical of the horrific invasion of Gaza, quite the contrary. Support for a peaceful solution and for a two State solution to the Israeli- Palestinian conflict is anything but Anti-Semitic.

MIDEAST: Some Israelis Cry Out for Peace
By Daan Bauwens

TEL AVIV, Jan 11 (IPS) - Another peace rally Saturday night brought together about a couple of thousand Israelis to demand an immediate end to the ongoing assault in Gaza. The demonstration was held in front of the Hakirya, the central command of the Israeli Defence Forces and the Ministry of Defence in the heart of Tel Aviv.

This was the third peace rally in three weeks. The first was held directly after the first air bombing of Gaza. It was attended by a few hundred protesters. At the second, more than 2,000 people came out on the streets. (READ THE FULL ARTICLE)

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“I would like Israel to be a Jewish state, and therefore not to annex over 2 million Palestinians who live in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip to Israel, which will make Israel a bi-national state.”
- Yitzhak Rabin - Former Israeli Prime Minister

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