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Letters to Media Home |
As supporters of Brit Tzedek V'Shalom, the Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace, we wish to join Jews everywhere in expressing our grief at the tragic loss of Israeli lives due to attacks by Palestinian suicide bombers and gunmen. We deplore these acts for the immeasurable pain they perpetuate on Israeli civilians as well as on the collective psyche of Jews everywhere. We also wish to express our grief at the even greater loss of Palestinian life and the incalculable harm being done to Palestinian society by the harsh conditions of the Israeli occupation, and to protest against the collective punishment inflicted on the entire Palestinian people in retaliation against the suicide bombings perpetrated by a few radical Palestinian organizations. We deplore the acts on both sides of the conflict that have been perpetuating the vicious cycle of violence, and we hold both the Palestinian and the Israeli leadership responsible for the situation. We must recognize that the continuing occupation of Palestinian territories by Israeli armed forces has created a bizarre situation in which death seems to offer better promise than life. We do not excuse the willful or careless killing of any civilian, but neither can we allow our fear, horror and sorrow at such killing cajole us into accepting the continuing Occupation, which is the chief and overwhelming cause of violence between the two peoples. We call on people everywhere, Jews and non-Jews, to speak out for peace, as so many are already doing, even at this time of great tragedy. Eventually Jews and Palestinians will have to recognize each other's rights to a national homeland with secure borders. Let us be brave and demand that this inevitable solution not be delayed while countless more innocents on both sides are brutalized and killed. Steve Schapiro, Jules Rabin, Carol Sucher, Brian Tokar, Jude Elford, Linda Markin, Mike Sucher, Debra Stoleroff, Fred Woogmaster Brit Tzedek v'Shalom, Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace |
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