JEWS SPEAK OUT AGAINST ISRAELI AGGRESSION END THE KILLING IN GAZA, LEBANON AND ISRAEL!

Jewish Socialists’ Group leaflet
distributed at the demonstration on 22nd July 2006

JEWS SPEAK OUT AGAINST ISRAELI AGGRESSION END THE KILLING IN GAZA, LEBANON AND ISRAEL!

The Jewish Socialists’ Group unreservedly condemns Israeli military aggression in Gaza and Lebanon, the appalling loss of civilian life on all sides in this conflict, and continued imprisonment without trial of thousands of Palestinians whose “crime” is to oppose Israel’s occupation.

When Israel commits acts of aggression, it does so in the name of its government and military command and not in the name of Israeli civil society or of Jewish people in the Diaspora. Israel does not speak or act in our name, nor in the name of its own civilians whose life it endangers.

This is not a religious conflict of Jews against Muslims but a question of human rights, social justice and freedom from occupation. It suits the Israeli government very well to define the conflict as “us” v “them”- Jews v Muslims - as this undercuts opposition within Israeli society and among Diaspora Jews and divides the Palestinians. The anti-war movement here and in the Middle East must unite under the secular banners of social justice, democracy and human rights and oppose any attempts to draw lines on religious grounds.

In Israel there are protests against the aggression calling for a just, negotiated solution.

Increasing numbers of civilians are refusing military service in Lebanon or in the Occupied Territories.

We express our support and solidarity for them. The Israeli government is imposing media restrictions on reporting from Gaza. The international media are imposing their own blackout on the protests within Israel led by groups such as Gush Shalom (Peace Bloc). It is vital that the anti-war and pro-Palestinian movements do everything to strengthen the opposition within Israel and within Jewish communities.

In Britain 300 Jews signed a whole page advert in The Times condemning Israel’s collective punishment of the people of Gaza. The Jewish people and Israeli civilians are not at war with the Palestinians. The parents of the kidnapped Israeli soldiers have said that Israel should be prepared to negotiate an exchange of prisoners - but Bush and Blair disagree. They are encouraging Israel’s aggression and threatening to draw Syria and Iran into the conflict.

Jewish Socialists work for a negotiated solution to the Israel/Palestine conflict to bring about a peaceful future in the region. This must be based upon equality not discrimination, democracy not theocracy, and human rights for all.

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David Rosenberg’s speech on behalf of
European Jews for a Just Peace
at the demonstration on 22nd July 2006

I am speaking on behalf of European Jews for a Just Peace - a coalition of Jewish groups across many European countries who oppose Israel’s continued occupation of Palestinian land, the repression of the Palestinian people and who seek a future based on peace, justice and equality.

In Britain three groups are affiliated: Just Peace UK, Jews For Justice For Palestinians and the Jewish Socialists’ Group, of which I am a member.

I am here to tell you that the Jewish people and Israeli civilians are not at war with the Palestinians and the Lebanese people, and that Jews in the Diaspora and in Israel are protesting against the actions of the Israeli military. This evening in Tel-Aviv, the Peace Bloc - Gush Shalom - are rallying around the slogan: Ceasefire Now - End the killing in Gaza, Lebanon and Israel. More and more soldiers are refusing to serve in Lebanon and the Occupied Territories. Earlier this week, in the heart of America, 500 Jews in San Francisco protested outside the Israeli consulate and 18 were arrested. When Israel bombarded Gaza recently, 300 Jews in Britain took a full-page advert in The Times to condemn the collective punishment of the people of Gaza.

I signed that ad. It was not the first advert I had signed. In 1982 I was one of 120 Jews who put their name to an advert under the heading ’Peace in Lebanon and Israel’. We have been here before. We know the cost in human life that was endured in Israel’s first Lebanon war when Sharon took Israel on the insane track of seeking a military solution to the conflicts of the region.

There are many Jews who despair at the actions of the Israeli government but do not speak out. They are intimidated by accusations that they are self-haters, that they are helping the antisemites, that they support Hamas and Hezbollah

European Jews for a Just Peace are not intimidated. We are not self-haters. It is precisely because we are so aware of our Jewish history that we hate oppression, we hate injustice we hate the collective punishment of a people and we will say so. We do not aid the antisemites but we work for a future that is as secure for the Jewish people in the world as any other people. There are people who use criticism of Israel as a cover for antisemitism. We challenge them, we oppose them and so should you. Antisemitism is no friend of the Jews and no friend of the Palestinians either.

You do not have to share or support the ideas of Hamas of Hezbollah to say that the bombardment of civilians is wrong, detention without trial of thousands of Palestinians is wrong, discrimination between Jews and non-Jews in Israel is wrong, or to say that the Israeli government should negotiate with the democratically elected Palestinian government, which means: negotiate with Hamas.

Israel’s actions are both murderous and suicidal. The parents of the kidnapped soldiers want the Israeli government to negotiate a prisoner exchange but Israel does not listen to them because it listens instead to Bush and Blair. We have to make them all listen to us, and to let them know that here in London and elsewhere, Israelis and Palestinians, Jews and Arabs, and humanitarians everywhere are speaking out together against the invasion, against the killing, and for peace with justice

http://www.jewishsocialist.org.uk/lebanondemoleaflet.htm