[Peace-discuss] Israeli massacre in Gaza

Sun Dec 28 16:35:40 CST 2008

"Obama Understands Israel's Urge To Respond"

...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/28/axelrod-obama-understands_n_153784.html

Stuart Levy wrote:
> On Sat, Dec 27, 2008 at 07:42:46PM -0600, C. G. Estabrook wrote:
>> [Using US-provided F-16s against home-made rockets, Israel today with US 
>> permission killed hundreds of people in Gaza and injured hundreds more.  
>> The US NSC spokesman said that Hamas must first stop the rocket attacks 
>> before the Israeli assault ceases. CAIR "calls on President-elect Obama to 
>> demonstrate his commitment to change our nation’s current one-sided 
>> Mideast policy by speaking out now in favor of peace and justice for all 
>> parties."  Bet he won't. --CGE]
>> ...
> 
> J Street PAC (http://www.jstreet.org/) calls for
> "an immediate and strong U.S.-led diplomatic effort" for
>     a renewal of the cease-fire on both sides,
>     an end to the siege of Gaza by Israel
> and calls on the incoming Obama administration to
>     lead an early and serious effort to achieve a comprehensive diplomatic
>     resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian and Arab-Israeli conflicts
> 
> "The United States, the Quartet, and the world community must not wait -- as they
>  did in the Israel-Lebanon crisis of 2006 -- for weeks to pass and hundreds or
>  thousands more to die before intervening.  [...] As friends and supporters
>  of Israel, we need to remember that only diplomacy and negotiations can
>  end the rockets and terror and bring Israel long-term security and peace."
> 
> Sounds good to me.  
> 
>    http://action.jstreet.org/t/3251/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=508&tag=gazaemail-txt
> 
> Here's their call:
> 
>> From slevy at new.math.uiuc.edu Sun Dec 28 14:24:08 CST 2008
>> Date: Sun, 28 Dec 2008 14:15:19 -0500 (EST)
>> From: "Isaac Luria, J Street" <info at jstreet.org>
>> To: slevy at new.math.uiuc.edu
>> Subject: Gaza: Stop the violence
>>
>> Dear J Street Member,
>>
>> Twenty-four hours ago, Israeli Defense Forces struck the Gaza Strip, leaving
>> hundreds dead and wounded ? pushing the long-running Israeli-Palestinian
>> conflict further down a path of never-ending violence.
>>
>> I felt immediate pressure from friends and family to pick a side. Did I think
>> that Israel's actions were fully justified or disproportionate? Did Hamas bring
>> this on itself by firing rockets and provoking Israel or are the strikes an act
>> of aggression against a people trapped in misery and poverty? Couldn't I see
>> who's right and who's wrong?
>>
>> At this moment of extreme crisis, J Street wants to demonstrate that, among
>> those who care about Israel and its security, there is a constituency for
>> sanity and moderation.  There are many who recognize elements of truth on both
>> sides of this gaping divide and who know that closing it requires strong
>> American engagement and leadership. 
>>
>> Click here to sign our petition demanding an immediate and strong U.S.-led
>> diplomatic effort to reinstate a meaningful ceasefire ending the violence,
>> including the rockets aimed at Israel, and lifting the blockade of Gaza:
>>   http://action.jstreet.org/t/3251/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=508&tag=gazaemail-txt
>>
>> Israel has a special place in my heart.  I lived there last year while my wife
>> was studying to be a rabbi.  But I recognize that neither Israelis nor
>> Palestinians have a monopoly on right or wrong. While there is nothing "right"
>> in raining rockets on Israeli families or dispatching suicide bombers, there is
>> nothing "right" in punishing a million and a half already-suffering Gazans for
>> the actions of the extremists among them. 
>>
>> And there is nothing to be gained from debating which injustice is greater or
>> came first.   What's needed now is immediate action to stop the violence before
>> it spirals out of control.
>>
>> The United States, the Quartet, and the world community must not wait - as they
>> did in the Israel-Lebanon crisis of 2006 - for weeks to pass and hundreds or
>> thousands more to die before intervening.  There needs to be an urgent end to
>> the new hostilities that brings a complete end to military operations,
>> including an end to the rocket fire out of Gaza, and that allows food, fuel and
>> other civilian necessities into Gaza.
>>
>> The need for diplomatic engagement goes beyond a short-term ceasefire.  Eight
>> years of the Bush Administration's neglect and ineffective diplomacy have led
>> us directly to a moment when the prospects for a two-state solution to the
>> Israeli-Palestinian conflict hang in the balance and with them the prospects
>> for Israel's long-term survival as a Jewish, democratic state.
>>
>> Following a renegotiated ceasefire, we urge the incoming Obama administration
>> to lead an early and serious effort to achieve a comprehensive diplomatic
>> resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian and Arab-Israeli conflicts.
>>
>> This is a fundamental American interest.  We too stand to suffer as the
>> situation spirals, rage in the region is directed at the United States, and our
>> regional allies are further undermined.  Our goals must be a Middle East that
>> moves beyond bloody conflicts, an Israel that is secure and accepted in the
>> region, and an America secured by reducing extremism and enhancing stability.
>> None of these goals are achieved by further escalation.
>>
>> Even in the heat of battle, as friends and supporters of Israel, we need to
>> remember that only diplomacy and negotiations can end the rockets and terror
>> and bring Israel long-term security and peace.  American politicians are
>> already hearing from those who see only one side.  Help us give voice to the
>> large number of Americans who recognizes that justice will only be served when
>> the rights and grievances of both sides are recognized and a peaceful two-state
>> solution to this long-running conflict is put in place.
>>
>> Click here to sign our petition to show your support for immediate and strong
>> U.S. intervention to renegotiate a ceasefire in Gaza:
>>   http://action.jstreet.org/t/3251/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=508&tag=gazaemail-txt
>>
>> We know that many policy makers agree with us privately, but hesitate to
>> express their views publicly because they hear only from the partisan extremes.
>> This is our moment to show that there is real political support for shedding a
>> narrow us-versus-them approach to the Middle East.
>>  
>> The situation in Gaza could not be more urgent. Who knows how many more lives
>> will be lost before this round of violence is over?  When it ends, will we look
>> back and say if only we had spoken out sooner, more lives could have been
>> saved, more damage avoided?
>>
>> As far back as I can remember, those who see the world in black and white have
>> overwhelmed those of us who see the shades of gray.  I hope that you'll help us
>> to change that dynamic by forwarding this message to everyone you know ? after
>> you've signed our petition.
>>
>> Thank you so much for joining our efforts at this difficult time. Together, we
>> can achieve an end to this round of violence, a resumption of the ceasefire,
>> and a serious move toward peace between Israel and the Palestinian people.
>>
>>  - Isaac
>>
>> Isaac Luria
>> Online Director
>> J Street
>> December 28, 2008
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