Different opinions

A Letter to Burlington Free Press    July 18, 2001

        Many assume that Jewish Americans are solidly behind Israel's actions in Palestine. Remarks addressed to an Israeli diplomat in a recent talk at the Ohavi Zadek synagogue show that this assumption is far from true.

       Manypeople at this event commented that Israel's policies of occupation and settlement are putting Palestinians in an impossible position, and that a long term settlement will have to allow Palestinians to have a country that can function economically.

       One man spoke of his familly's role in the foundation of Israel. He said that the ideals they had worked for have been betrayed by Israel's policy of occupation, assassination and oppression, and that Israel is treating Palestinians the way the Nazis treated the Jews in the years before the death camps. Afterward a boy around bar mitzvah age came over and thanked him for speaking out.

       A few people did say that they trust the Israeli government to do what it has to do. It was clear, however, that the majority of the audience had serious reservations, and that many were opposed to Israeli policy. Family traditions and relatives living in Israel only serve to deepen their anguish.

PETER LACKOWSKI

Jericho