Question Israel

Centre Daily Times
State College, Pennsylvania

To the Editor,
With all respect, love and admiration for Jewish wisdom, history and spirituality, and for my many Jewish friends, neither wisdom, nor love, nor admirable spirituality has been shown by the Israeli government's assault upon the people of Gaza. For rather than wiping out radical Hamas militancy, the Israeli bombing and invasion of Gaza is strengthening allegiance to Hamas among the Palestinian people.

It is not anti-Jewish or anti-Semitic to question and challenge the short-sighted militant nationalism of Israeli government policy, which mirrors, provokes and strengthens radical Islam in the Middle East, and anti-Semitic insanity elsewhere in the world. One can love the Jewish people and Judaism itself, and yet challenge the policies and practices of Israel!

Fortunately, the Israeli government does not represent the consensus of Jewish opinion on Middle East policy. Indeed, praise heaven, there is a strong and vocal minority, a peace movement composed of Jews within Israel, in organizations such as Rabbis for Human Rights and the Israeli Committee against Home Demolitions, as well as organizations in this country, such as the Shalom Center of Rabbi Arthur Waskow, or Jewish Voice for Peace.

One can love Israel deeply and yet challenge much of Israel's policy and practice toward Palestinians and the occupied territories. Israel should stop the insanely disproportionate violence launched against Gaza, and cease the long and murderously oppressive blockade of that territory. And the US government should cease its absurd support of such counterproductive policies.