Jewish Voice for Peace

[annm4peace]

Please allow me to share with you our statement below about the headlines seen in papers across the world yesterday and today.
In sadness on this terrible day,Cecilie Surasky
Jewish Voice for Peace
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December 28, 2008 Jewish Voice for Peace joins millions around the world, including the 1,000 Israelis who protested in the streets of Tel Aviv this weekend, in condemning ongoing Israeli attacks on Gaza. We call for an immediate end to attacks on all civilians, whether Palestinian or Israeli.

Israel's slow strangulation of Gaza through blockade has caused widespread suffering to the 1.5 million people of Gaza due to lack of food, electricity, water treatment supplies and medical equipment. It is a violation of humanitarian law and has been widely condemned around the world.

In resisting this strangulation, Hamas resumed launching rockets and mortars from Gaza into southern Israel, directly targeting civilians, which is also a war crime. Over the years, these poorly made rockets have been responsible for the deaths of 15 Israelis since 2004.

Every country, Israel included, has the right and obligation to protect its citizens. The recent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza shows that diplomatic agreements are the best protection for civilian life.

Moreover, massive Israeli air strikes have proven an indiscriminate and brutal weapon. In just two days, the known death toll is close to 300, and the attacks are continuing. By targeting the infrastructure of a poor and densely populated area, Israel has ensured widespread civilian casualties among this already suffering and vulnerable population.

This massive destruction of Palestinian life will not protect the citizens of Israel. It is illegal and immoral and should be condemned in the strongest possible terms. And it threatens to ignite the West Bank and add flames to the other fires burning in the Middle East and beyond for years to come.

The timing of this attack, during the waning days of a US administration that has undertaken a catastrophic policy toward the Middle East and during the run-up to an Israeli election, suggests an opportunistic agenda for short-term political gain at an immense cost in Palestinian lives. In the long run this policy will benefit no-one except those who always profit from war and exploitation. Only a just and lasting peace, achieved through a negotiated agreement, can provide both Palestinians and Israelis the security they want and deserve.

What we will do together.


JVP is working now to develop a multi-faceted and long-term response to the attacks on and strangulation of Gaza. We will let you know soon how you can be a part of this. But in this moment, especially for thos of you who live in the United States:

1. The US Campaign to End the Occupation has a list of street actions taking place around the US now.2. Contact the US White House to protest the attack and demand an immediate cease-fire. Call 202-456-1111 or send an email to [e-mail].

3. Contact the State Department at 202-647-6575

4. Contact your Representative and Senators in Congress at 202-224-3121

5. Contact your local media by phoning into a talk show or writing a letter to the editor.

[The Traveler]

1. Kick. Recommend. Stop the killing on both sides. n/t

[Poll_Blind]

2. Peace! And thank you for posting- K&R!

PB

[tbyg52]

3. Kick qua kick

and so I can keep track of this.

I've said since a very young age that if I were going to be religious I would be Jewish. I identify with the philosophy, as expressed by Leo Rosten.

Edited to add link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_Rosten

[babylonsister]

6. This has nothing to do with being Jewish. It has to do with

what is right or/and wrong.

[tbyg52]

8. As does everything.

Edited to add:

And happy I stayed up long enough to respond to this in a timely manner.

Absolutely, and that's what Mr. Rosten said. He just happened to be speaking for a tradition that happened to be Jewish and happened (IMHO) to be good.

BTW, I am an atheist who tries to appreciate good things when I encounter them. :hi:

[TahitiNut]

4. 15 Israelis since 2004 ... almost 300 Gaza Palestinians since Thursday

:puke:

[tbyg52]

5. Yeah, well

I didn't say I always approved of their politicians.....

[NOW tense]

7. k&r It is time to try something different.

Countries need to let themselves get through the grieving process before the act. Governments react on the anger part of the grieving process then they just run out and kill, and the same with the other side. This cycle of human atrocity needs to end.

[Swamp Rat]

9. k&r

[Greyhound]

10. A hearty K & R.

The voice of sanity.
:kick: & R

[Douglas Carpenter]

11. kick and recommended! of course

[burrowowl]

12. K&R

I very much recommend subscribing to JVP e-mail. Very informative.

[Sebastian Doyle]

13. The best thing Israelis can do for peace

Is never allow the Likud party (or their puppets Kadima - the Israeli equivalent of the DLC) to hold office again.
Whatever happened to the Labor party anyway? Have they even had a PM since Rabin was murdered?

For G-d's sake, stop Netanyahu before that asshole starts Armegeddon.

[Karenina]

14. K&R!

[Cults4Bush]

15. I wish members of JVP would post here

I cant believe some of the pro war posts Ive seen here lately.

[annabanana]

16. These are the voices we should be lifting up.

Here are the peacemakers.

[snot]

17. I don't want to rush to judgment, but his account matches what I've heard elsewhere --

does any credible source seriously dispute these alleged facts?

[bunnies]

18. k&r for peace and sanity. nt

[bullwinkle428]

19. K&R

[pberq]

20. Received today from Jewish Voice for Peace

Email received today from JVP:

The news about the attacks in Gaza is beyond words. "Appalling" doesn't even come close.

U.S.-supplied Israeli F-16 warplanes and Apache helicopters have fired missiles and dropped over 100 tons of bombs on dozens of locations in the Israeli-occupied Gaza Strip. Over 300 people are dead and at least 1,400 more are injured. Many if not most of them are civilians. Food and medicine were already in short supply in Gaza and all medical facilities have been completely overwhelmed by this onslaught. Access to Gaza has been cut off by Israel.

This is the most violent and heartbreaking situation that has happened to the Palestinians in recent history, and it must stop. In addition to calling for protests at Israeli consulates and federal buildings, as well as letters to the U.S. and Israeli governments, Jewish Voice for Peace staff and members are already putting together an aggressive campaign focused on Gaza. And, without a moment to waste, we call for an immediate end to attacks on all civilians.

I am Stephanie Roth and I've been an activist with Jewish Voice for Peace for many years, including serving on the board of directors. I've been involved with social justice issues my entire adult life - both in my professional life as an editor and fundraiser, and as a volunteer and activist. There is no issue I find more important or compelling than my work to end the Israeli Occupation. I am particularly saddened by this weekend's tragedy, occurring just a week after the uplifting days when the Shministim - the young Israeli conscientious objectors - caught the world's attention with their courage to say no to violence on December 18. I know that people in Gaza will stop dying when Israeli soldiers, like the Shministim, have the courage to say NO. NO, we will not target civilians; NO, we will not follow immoral orders; NO, we will not contribute to the destruction of Palestinian society.

Together with the Shministim, and with the 1,000 Israelis in Tel Aviv and thousands of others around the world who have already come out to protest the Gaza onslaught, we say YES. YES, stepping up to speak for justice and peace makes a difference; YES, we stand with the people of Gaza, of the West Bank, of Sderot in Israel and the innocent civilians everywhere whose lives are destroyed by cynical politicians and warmakers; YES, our voices together are stronger than the voice of any one of us alone; and YES, we are committed to the longterm goal of ending the Occupation and working for justice, peace and life.

Jewish Voice for Peace's goal - MY goal - of ending the Occupation is a long-term one. Today, I will be giving the biggest gift I can to insure that they have the resources for a swift and sustained response to this most recent atrocity.

We are in this struggle for as long as it takes, and we need your help. Please make the largest gift you can, today. Every gift is put right to work, and every gift makes a difference.

"If not us, who? If not now, when?"

Stephanie Roth

[Ghost Dog]

21. Perfectly put.

Rec.

[newtothegame]

22. Why didn't the Jewish Voice for Peace get out a few weeks ago...

when Hamas first stepped up the rocket attacks on Israel? They might have had more of an influence then.

[annm4peace]

24. JVP were speaking out.

they know Violence begets Violence.

[annm4peace]

27. Israel used US smart bombs

The smart bombs they are dropping on Gaza. I thought it might be Lockheed and that is why Gov. Pawlenty went to Israel a couple weeks ago, instead it is Boeing in St. Louis, MO. Maybe activist there can protest outside their building/campus


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http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/Israel-Requests-GBU-39-Small-Diameter-Bombs-05071/

Israel was the first non-US customer for JDAM kits, which turn ordinary bombs into GPS-guided precision smart weapons.

Boeing in St. Louis, MO would be the prime contractor. Implementation of this proposed sale will involve multiple trips to Israel by U.S. Government and contractor representatives for one-week intervals, for approximately 3 years.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1230456505080&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull
**************************************************************************************************

who profits, who dies ?

[SoCalDem]

26. They probably did, but did the "media" report on it with any vigor?

The people who control the press/media, control the message..

Their choices on stories they report, and the words they use, determine public opinion..:(

[rvablue]

23. Kick. n/t

[G_j]

25. Thank you

the sadness of the situation is unbearable.

K&R