British Jewish response - we support Palestinians and Sharon
Exeter Synagogue | 10.04.2002 12:24
Thoughts about the Situation in Israel
We receive many emails about Israel, and support for Israel, in the present difficult situation, which so far have not been forwarded to you. However, as we approach Yom Hashoah and Yom Ha'atazamut, the following item seemed appropriate and helpful.
Dear Friend
I hope this e-mail finds you well, happy to eat Chametz again...
I am fairly sure when I say that also for you Pessach has been much more difficult this year then any previous year. The reports of the score of Israelis being killed and wounded during the festival, the visions of Israeli tanks entering Palestinian cities, has made us all wonder: Is there an end to this vicious cycle ?
As a Jew, viewing the escalation of violence (in the last year and half) has left me increasingly speechless. On the one hand, I support Israel’s right to protect itself in all my heart. On the other hand, I am very aware of the growing moral price the Israeli society is paying as a result of this 100 year long conflict. Being able to explain, for myself, what is right and what is wrong, what is acceptable and what is evil has become a key priority.
That is why, the attached article by Amos Oz, the famous Israeli writer, has helped me clarify what is the struggle that we are facing.
In his article, Amos Oz draws a clear picture of the situation stating
"Two wars are taking place. The first is the war of the Palestinian people and their right to be freed from occupation and establish an independent state. Any decent person will support such an objective.
The other war is the war of the fanatical Islam, from Iran to Gaza and from Lebanon to Kalkilya, to destroy Israel and uproot the Jewish people from its homeland. Every decent person will despise such a sinful war.
The origin of embarrassment, confusion and simplicity , for us as well as for the entire world, is in the fact that Yassar Arafat and his men are running these two wars as one, and are running them at the same time. Probably, the murders-suicides can not tell apart between these two wars. And even decent and peace and justice seekers, in Israel and around the world, are falling in this trap."
In his simple words, Amos Oz has managed to point out that the current IDF attack is not against the Palestinian struggle for an independent state, but against the Jihad that was declared against the existence of Israel and the real terror (literally) they have spread.
For me, his short article was a reminder that the State of Israel does not exist to oppress the Palestinians. The State of Israel does not exist to enforce a Jewish-western culture on the Middle East. The State of Israel does not exist to keep a powerful army.
The State of Israel is about the challenge of building a Jewish society in the 21st century. A society that is rooted in its past and strives for a better future. A society that is democratic and fair and gives the opportunity to all it its citizens to live a safe and meaningful life.
As we move towards Yom Hashoa (Holocaust day), Yom Hazikaron (Israel's remembrance day) and Yom Ha'atzmaut (Israel's 54th Independence day), I hope we will be able to remember that the cause of our struggle is to celebrate life, celebrating having a free Jewish life in Israel.
Your response is welcomed,
Doron
doron@masorti.org.uk
We receive many emails about Israel, and support for Israel, in the present difficult situation, which so far have not been forwarded to you. However, as we approach Yom Hashoah and Yom Ha'atazamut, the following item seemed appropriate and helpful.
Dear Friend
I hope this e-mail finds you well, happy to eat Chametz again...
I am fairly sure when I say that also for you Pessach has been much more difficult this year then any previous year. The reports of the score of Israelis being killed and wounded during the festival, the visions of Israeli tanks entering Palestinian cities, has made us all wonder: Is there an end to this vicious cycle ?
As a Jew, viewing the escalation of violence (in the last year and half) has left me increasingly speechless. On the one hand, I support Israel’s right to protect itself in all my heart. On the other hand, I am very aware of the growing moral price the Israeli society is paying as a result of this 100 year long conflict. Being able to explain, for myself, what is right and what is wrong, what is acceptable and what is evil has become a key priority.
That is why, the attached article by Amos Oz, the famous Israeli writer, has helped me clarify what is the struggle that we are facing.
In his article, Amos Oz draws a clear picture of the situation stating
"Two wars are taking place. The first is the war of the Palestinian people and their right to be freed from occupation and establish an independent state. Any decent person will support such an objective.
The other war is the war of the fanatical Islam, from Iran to Gaza and from Lebanon to Kalkilya, to destroy Israel and uproot the Jewish people from its homeland. Every decent person will despise such a sinful war.
The origin of embarrassment, confusion and simplicity , for us as well as for the entire world, is in the fact that Yassar Arafat and his men are running these two wars as one, and are running them at the same time. Probably, the murders-suicides can not tell apart between these two wars. And even decent and peace and justice seekers, in Israel and around the world, are falling in this trap."
In his simple words, Amos Oz has managed to point out that the current IDF attack is not against the Palestinian struggle for an independent state, but against the Jihad that was declared against the existence of Israel and the real terror (literally) they have spread.
For me, his short article was a reminder that the State of Israel does not exist to oppress the Palestinians. The State of Israel does not exist to enforce a Jewish-western culture on the Middle East. The State of Israel does not exist to keep a powerful army.
The State of Israel is about the challenge of building a Jewish society in the 21st century. A society that is rooted in its past and strives for a better future. A society that is democratic and fair and gives the opportunity to all it its citizens to live a safe and meaningful life.
As we move towards Yom Hashoa (Holocaust day), Yom Hazikaron (Israel's remembrance day) and Yom Ha'atzmaut (Israel's 54th Independence day), I hope we will be able to remember that the cause of our struggle is to celebrate life, celebrating having a free Jewish life in Israel.
Your response is welcomed,
Doron
doron@masorti.org.uk
Exeter Synagogue
e-mail:
dan@danielbrett.co.uk
Homepage:
http://www.eclipse.co.uk/exeshul/exeshul/
Comments
Hide the following 8 comments
Well, yes and no
10.04.2002 12:59
Even ignoring the morality of launching a war for peace, there's just no logic to it: terrorist networks can't be destroyed in the same way conventional military ones can as they are sustained by grievance and small cells, not barracks and state funding.
John
Actually, just no
10.04.2002 13:53
Zionist fanatics who, just like Hitler thought Aryans were a "master race" believe jews are a so called "choosen people", have been calling the shots to varying degrees ever since.
And needless to say, Israeli state terrorism is still funded to the tune of 3 billion per year by the United States.
Solidarity with the brave Jewish refuseniks
Boycott Israel NOW!
Auntie Beeb
Im impressed with the Neturai Karta
10.04.2002 14:21
they call themselves the [ www.neturaikarta.org ] and they state they oppose Israel and Zionism absolutely even going so far as to carry Palestinian flags around.
Fascinating, no ? And, by the way , They seem to be genuine. Mark Tesslers 1994 book on the Palestine conflict mentions them specifically.
Im not connected with them in any way but i think they need a good hearing for their case.
Fools ! Fools! Fools!
Homepage:
http://www.neturaikarta.org
turning the promised land into a killing zone
10.04.2002 14:46
Havala
can't get the site
10.04.2002 16:47
zedhead
here's the link
10.04.2002 18:19
the intro reads:
Judaism is the faith of the Jewish people. It is predicated upon G-d's existence and His revelation at Sinai.
At Sinai, in the presence of the assembled multitudes of Jews, recently released via Divine miracles from Egypt, the Creator revealed His Torah to the nation.
This Torah contains the basic doctrines of our faith, Divine commandments and the narrative of the earliest Jewish and general human encounter with G-d.
Throughout the centuries Jews pledged their assent to this Torah even when their lives were at stake. They maintained this loyalty with almost unanimous allegiance until the dawn of the modern age. In the three hundred - odd years since the so - called Enlightenment began, Jews and Gentiles throughout European civilization have been losing many souls to its evil clutches.
Today unfortunately there are many Jews who, through no fault of their own, are ignorant of, and fail to, practice the basics of their faith. This is a great tragedy for many reasons. Perhaps paramount among them is the falsification of Judaism that results when those unaware of its basic assumptions speak to the general public.
It behooves all Jews loyal to their faith to proclaim to the world the truths of Judaism in as lucid a manner as possible.
Neturei Karta International is dedicated to the propagation and clarification of Torah Judaism.
Its only loyalty only is to G-d and His revelation.
One of the basics of Judaism is that we are a people in exile due to Divine decree.
Accordingly, we are opposed to the ideology of Zionism, a recent innovation, which seeks to force the end of exile. Our banishment from the Holy Land will end miraculously at a time when all mankind will unite in the brotherly service of the Creator.
In addition to condemning the central heresy of Zionism, we also reject its policy of aggression against all peoples. Today this cruelty manifests itself primarily in the brutal treatment of the Palestinian people. We proclaim that this inhuman policy is in violation of the Torah.
NKI seeks peace and reconciliation with all peoples and nations. This is especially needed in our relations towards the Islamic world where Zionism has for 53 years done so much to ruin Jewish - Muslim understanding.
We welcome the assistance of all men of good will and stand ready to assist all whose agenda coincides with ours.
gnome
Cause and Affect
10.04.2002 18:45
You admit that there is "a struggle" for an independant Palestinian state. Doesn't the word "struggle" imply the presence of an obstructive force to the creation of a free Palestine? What, I wonder, do you think that force is?
Of course Israel does not exist to oppress the Palestinians. But Israel created a state out of land that did not belong to them. Since 1967, nearly a million Palestinians have been 'ethnically cleansed' from their homeland, and over 400 of their villages razed to the ground by Israeli forces. That is oppression whichever way you look at it.
CAM
well no, too
10.04.2002 22:27
txiki