For Passover consideration, and a happy Pesach to all Ed http://www.plenglish.com
Dai! [Enough!] by Carolina Cositore March 10, 2006 Like almost all otherwise progressive American Jews, I began as an ardent supporter of Israel for considerable reason: the Holocaust's proven need for Jews to have a haven, a sure refuge and as recompense, Israel and Jerusalem have more millennia of meaning than say, Bavaria (that the people living there at the time, the Palestinians, did not owe this debt was not part of the propaganda). Be that as it may, this tiny nation that began as a socialist dream of kibbutzim making gardens of the desert has become a nightmare, and it is past time for American Jews to stop shutting their eyes.this nightmare has no happy ending. American Jews know in their hearts that their beloved Israel is controlled by a minority of religiously intolerant fanatics who have not yet prevailed in having the Law of Return changed to exclude most less extreme Jews or in retaining unwavering support for whatever policies they practice. It is time for American Jews to say "Dai!", not to stop supporting Israel but to condition our support on adherence to basic Jewish humanitarian ideals. Because Dayenu [it would have been enough] at the end of the 1948 war for Israel to have control of 78 percent of the former Palestine, far more than the UN partition plan. Dayenu for Israel to repeatedly invade and destroy homes of people suspected of having a militant family member. Dayenu for Israel to use its children in the military to kill other children. Since September 29, 2000, 123 Israeli children have been killed by Palestinians and 710 Palestinian children have been killed by Israelis. Dayenu for Israel to hold the late leader of another people (Yasser Arafat) prisoner in his enclave. Dayenu for Israel to begin building a xenophobic wall, like the US, its mentor and sole supporter in the country of nations. Dayenu for Israel to declare it will not accept or recognize the results of fair and democratic elections in another State, again like the US. Dayenu for Israel to declare publicly it intends to execute the winners of those elections. Dayenu for Israel to, in its "selective executions" to accidentally kill innocents. Dai! *** http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0324-35.htm Why Jews Must Speak Out on Palestine by Jonathan Tasini Jonathan Tasini is running for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate in New York. For the past 25 years, Jonathan has been a union leader and organizer, a social activist, and a commentator and writer on work, labor and the economy. Published on Friday, March 24, 2006 by the Huffington Post Yesterday, I spoke at an event in New York City called Rachel's Words. Two years ago, Rachel Corrie, a human rights activist, was crushed to death by an Israeli Army bulldozer as she tried to protect the home of a Palestinian pharmacist from demolition in Rafah, Gaza Strip. She was 23. A play based on her writing, "My Name is Rachel Corrie" was scheduled to open yesterday in New York City but it's debut was postponed indefinitely, in all likelihood because of the controversy it would cause in a city with such a large Jewish audience. As a Jew who lived in Israel for seven years and whose family still lives there and has deep roots going back more than 80 years, it breaks my heart that there is a refusal to grapple with an almost untouchable topic in our country: why does the United States have such a one-sided policy in the Israel-Palestine conflict? And it's the reason I agreed to speak at the event which honored Rachel's life and her beliefs. The event took place at the historic Riverside Church. I stood in the pulpit in the very same place that Dr. Martin Luther King stood almost 40 years ago. And that's where I began my remarks: Almost 40 years ago, in 1967, Dr. King spoke in this very place about the need to speak up against a great purveyor of violence: his own government. He said, "If America's soul becomes totally poisoned, part of the autopsy must read Vietnam...So it is that those of us who are yet determined that "America will be" are led down the path of protest and dissent, working for the health of our land." Dr. King also said that he was speaking on behalf "of the people who have been living under the curse of war for almost three continuous decades now. I think of them too because it is clear to me that there will be no meaningful solution there until some attempt is made to know them and hear their broken cries." "I speak as a citizen of the world, for the world as it stands aghast at the path we have taken. I speak as an American to the leaders of my own nation. The great initiative in this war is ours. The initiative to stop it must be ours." How those words, sadly, have so much meaning for us today. Those of us who stand opposed to the war in Iraq do so as patriotic people who love our country and our communities but, because it is our country, we demand that it live up to high moral standards of peace, justice, democracy and human rights. We speak and stand up and oppose the war in Iraq for the same reason that we speak and stand up and say the occupation of the Palestinian people is wrong, morally and legally, and must end with a negotiated, just, and peaceful solution between the lawfully elected governments of the Palestinian people and Israel. To be honest, I don't think most Jews -- and certainly this is true of most Americans -- understand the brutality of the occupation, the violations of international law and our role in perpetuating that occupation. Most Jews have never been to the area and so they either have no idea what goes on or choose to ignore the awful reality. Their perceptions are framed by the MSM and pandering politicians. If you raise a criticism of Israel or our country's policy towards the conflict, you immediately are targeted, within the Jewish community, as being either disloyal (if you are Jewish) or anti-Semitic (if you are not Jewish). This is nonsense and has got to stop. In fact, those politicians who pander to our worst instincts of fear and hatred, who praise policies that violate international law, they are the ones who are hurting Israel's long-term security and the security of all the people in the area. So, let me state clearly: I believe unequivocally in a secure, prosperous Israel. But I also believe with the same passion that the occupation is draining the moral and economic strength of Israel and that there will only be a just peace agreement when a Palestinian state -- a strong, vibrant, prosperous, independent state, able to provide jobs and a good life for its people -- thrives alongside Israel. Taking away the liberty, the humanity and the dignity of the Palestinian people takes away from the security from Israel. Targeting civilians, killing innocent men, women and children is evil -- no matter who is doing it. Killing civilians is a "grave breach" of international humanitarian law. Whatever the circumstances, such acts are unjustifiable. We have to end the violence on both sides and support the peacemakers in both Israel and among the Palestinian people. Opposition to the occupation is showing enormous love for Israel and for the Palestinian people. For the sake of Israel and for the sake of all people in that region who are fed up with three decades of war and occupation, we have to have an honest, open discussion. There is a physical embodiment of the occupation that we must speak up against now: the separation barrier that is being built in the occupied territories, slicing through Palestinian communities, with the support of the U.S. government. Yes, Israel has a right to protect it citizens. But last night I asked: How does peace come one day closer when we do not speak out against a wall that not only violates international law but, more important, embitters thousands of people for generations to come because it cuts off neighborhoods, separates families from each other, farmers from their land, the sick from hospitals, children from the schools and saps the economic vitality from an already impoverished people? We have politicians who claim to be for the rule of law and stand before the Wall (as Hillary Clinton has done) and praise it -- even though it violates international law. For us in the United States, the question becomes what is our government's role in perpetuating this conflict. As I said: For too long, under both Democratic and Republican administrations, our government has had a counterproductive, one-sided policy that too often ignores democracy, human rights, and respect for international law. Let's get this debate going. Begin to raise it among your friends and do so with the same love and commitment that you do for our country that leads you to vigorously oppose the Iraq war. As Dr. King said in 1967, "Somehow this madness must cease. We must stop now." *** * Passover Petition for immigrant justice A powerful call for justice is on the rise all over the country. Millions are taking to the streets to defend immigrant rights. In the coming weeks, Jews across the country will be celebrating Passover by re-telling the story of the Exodus - a time when we broke through the borders of enslavement to find freedom in a new land. Today, in this season, our government is slamming the door in the face of immigrants in need. The House of Representatives has already passed a bill that calls for immediately fining, detaining, and deporting any person with an immigration infraction - and for penalizing anyone who aids or assists undocumented immigrants. The Senate is currently debating how to move forward and is considering measures championed by politicians who are pandering to hatred and fear. As Jews, now is the time for us to stand up for human rights and be counted as a community who has not forgotten our own stories of Jewish immigration - both in the past and in the present day. Please join us in signing the linked statement that will be placed as an ad in newspapers across the country. Click on the link to sign - and then forward this message to 10 friends: http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/jfrej/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=255&t=CharlesTemplate.dwt To a liberating Passover, Tony Kushner, Adrienne Rich, Ruth Messinger, Rabbi David Ellenson, Barbara Dobkin, Rabbi Rolando Matalon, JFREJ and friends ===== Please sign this statement: This Passover, We Stand for Freedom! As American Jews who have immigrated to the United States over the last two centuries, struggled through poverty and enjoyed precious opportunities for advancement, we join together to speak against the proposed policies that demonize today's immigrants. As Jews, we know that immigrants have always enhanced this nation and affirm our belief that immigrants continue to do so today. We vehemently oppose the House Bill HR 4437 the "Border Protection, Anti-Terrorism and Illegal Immigration Control Act" -- which would make criminals of immigrants and their families as well as teachers, religious and community workers who work with them. We reject proposals that would create an exploitative guest-worker program and keep immigrants locked in poverty. We call, instead, for a path to citizenship, meaningful worker protections, living wages for all workers, and full rights for all immigrants. This Passover, as we remember what it means to be "strangers in the land of Egypt," we call on our communities and our political representatives to stand for freedom and justice. http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/jfrej/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=255&t=CharlesTemplate.dwt --------------------------------------------------------------------------- LAAMN: Los Angeles Alternative Media Network --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Digest: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Help: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive1: <http://www.egroups.com/messages/laamn> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive2: <http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yahoo! 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