Like davidminzer, I’m Jewish and descendant of holocaust survivors. Moreover, I’ve been a Zionist all of my life. I went to a Zionist school, I was active in Zionist youth groups. I’ve always been a fervent supporter of Israel as a refuge for Jews around the world who seek a place to exercise their traditions and embrace their identity in peace. I sang the Israeli anthem in the train rails of Aushwitz-Birkenau and I pledged to fight every day of my life to make sure the savage crimes that had taken place there would never happen again. Every year I pledged: Never Again. Remember and Never forget.
Well, I haven’t forgotten. And so to honor that pledge, to honor the memory of my family members who died in those death camps and because “there comes a time when silence is betrayal,” today I finally and publicly end my support for the state of Israel.
ENOUGH. I’m done justifying crimes against humanity by a country that claims to be an illuminated western democracy. I’m done defending a country that is unwilling to grant self-determination to a neighboring people because it won’t let go of a few settlements and divide a city. I’m done tolerating the slaughtering of innocent kids, the murderous and barbaric occupation of an impoverished people, the utter disregard for human life.
Fuck them.If they think their daily peace of mind is worth the lives of hundreds of innocent people, Fuck them. If they think the best way to go right now would be to vote for Natanyahu (who is so far winning in the polls), Fuck them.
If they won’t bat an eye before keeping millions without electricity or water, before bombing civilian neighborhoods at exactly the time when kids are leaving schools, before breaking every standard of international law or moral decency, Fuck them.
It’s time for every true progressive in this country and around the world to do the only thing that our consciences should allow us to do, the only thing that can keep us consistent with our supposed beliefs that human life is precious and that unnecessary violence is always criminal, barbarous and unacceptable. We must demand that Israel stop violence and immediately put an end to its colonialist military occupation of Palestine. And until they do so, we must organize and do everything we can to make sure our money is not financing mass murder and oppression.
Thanks to Ian Warner
#119–daveg==interesting post. Israeli has blockaded Gaza. What would you recommend as an alternative?
I do kinda wonder WHY the USA does support Israel so much. Its been a lot of money for nothing in return that I personally value. I suppose, regardless of original or continuing intent, that Israel acts as bait for all the otherwise anti-American/Western impluses that exist in the middle East, and/or that USA is trusting Israel to act as proxy for things we don’t want to do directly==like bomb Iraq’s Nuclear Facility as it did 20 years ago to the outrage of the world including the USA. Then 20 years later, we invade the whole country to do the same thing. Using Israel is so much cheaper.
Can anyone doubt we are in fact waiting for Israel to take on Iran?
Mew, mew, mew.
Talking about fooled, is amazing how people can get so long winded over a dailykook manipulation
I equate the hamas to my cats litterbox
#120–Brett==you ask: “I don’t support Hamas firing rockets into surrounding Israel but what would you do if you were supressed over the year so much? /// I would agree not to seek the death of someone who could squash me for the bug I was anytime he decided to do so. I would accept peace on the best terms I could secure and then work politically for increased advantage. I would hide my intent to kill my victor for a 1000 years before revealing my own inherent weakness.
Hamas/the Palestinians actually DESERVE to be killed they are acting so self-destructively. Death by Cop. Death by Israel. Some people simply don’t want to live.
#126–nothing said==”I wouldn’t support either of them, both are despicable and unworthy of support.” /// Equating both sides of a dispute is to highlight your own lack of understanding/knowledge/interest. Recognize what a dullard this makes you. HAVE AN OPINION BASED ON FACTS OR PHILOSOPHY—not the equivalence of ignorance.
#135–person==very much like nothing said. The life of Palestinians within Israel is head and shoulders above the life of those living under the Hamas Terrorists. No concentration camps, no liquidation based on racial theories. Killing people who are trying to kill you is indeed what the Nazi’s did. Its what everyone does. Now try to identify some overriding DIFFERENCES between Nazi’s and most of the rest.
Silly to post what you did.
#142–Pedro==your attention span may be that limiting but even a “fool” would know this thread beyond its initial spark has nothing to do with the kos posting. You can do better.
>> ECA said, on December 30th, 2008 at 4:14 am
>> I find that MOST TIMES…
If someone THROWS something at you and you THROW A BOLDER BACK…he will QUIT…and shut up..
If that worked as a military strategy, Palestine should be the most peaceful place on earth.
In reality, violence just breeds more violence.
Violence Begets More Violence. Build a wall or something
#113, Greg Allen
>> Yes, atheism was the sole cause of their ruthless, power hungry, paranoid ways. Not.
>> There is not a single shred of evidence to suggest that they would have acted any differently if they were religious.
Here is the bottome line for me: Atheists like to keep claiming that if only THEY ran a society, everthing would be better.
Well, it’s been tried and was more horrible than ever.
#147 Even so, it was not only the spark that rekindled the subject, but the hit counts will go to a dailykook story. Now, who’s the fool.
#150–Greg==what is it about Stalin being a COMMUNIST escaped your attention? Blaming atheism is like blaming left handedness. An irrelevant true fact is still irrelevant.
#!51–Pedro==well, I guess you are for going off on a tangent and for not having anything relevant to say on topic.
Richard Engle of NBC news just reporting that Egypt and Jordan gave Israel the “greenlight” to attack Hamas. Seems those Arab Countries recognize Hamas as proxies for Iran and Syria.
The link provided by #124–Jim really is worth the read. Slightly on the other side of the issue, but not crazy, is: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/daniel-levy/what-next-on-gazaisrael-a_b_153743.html
which is defective in basing its solution on proposals that have been and currently are being rejected by the parties in contention.
I think a wall is the only way to go until the Palestinians will agree to a recognition of Israel’s ability to exist.
#150 – Greg Allen, that’s funny, there are a number of countries that are largely atheist, and they have a high quality of life, generally higher than the US. Oh yeah, and they’re not run by communists, unlike your two examples.
Religion is the most divisive and hateful force in the world.
#152 I already said how I felt on the subject until I realized where it came from.
If you want, you can ask a blog moderator to open another thread/post on the subject. Many a source on this topic.
To everyone decrying the disparity in the capabilities of the two sides in this war, don’t feel sorry for Hamas for bringing a knife to a gun-fight.
@Molly as a girl you have nothing to say about the right to retaliate against missiles. Missiles are for men and women should just shut their cake holes or keep them stuffed with something useful.
#64
“thats not a very deep “analysis” or do you in your unique way over emphasize “anal?””
I’m simplifying things, that’s all. Besides, it’s always a good thing to find others who will either do some corrections or add more info that will fill in the gaps.
Do guys want to unite the Jews and the Muslims? Organize a gay pride parade in Jerusalem and even the Christians will pitch in.
Sometimes I wonder if Hate and not love as their religion claims is what keeps all those people together…
>If someone was sending rockets on my house where my daughters were sleeping at night, I would do everything to stop it, and I would expect Israelis to do the same thing.
One can only hope that hearing this type of thing from Barack Obama might spark a change in outlook among some on the left. It is surprising to hear this from Obama, who previously was steeped in the language of the left, having Edward Said as a mentor at Columbia.
# 141 bobbo said, on December 30th, 2008 at 4:55 am
I do kinda wonder WHY the USA does support Israel so much. Its been a lot of money for nothing in return that I personally value.
Was it not of value to get intelligence and advice from Israel that, had we paid attention, would have saved thousands of lives?
Israel had told the U.S. for a generation that we had to put a wall between the cockpit and the cabin of our aircraft rather than a door.
AP wants money for the full article. So, the best link for this that I could find was this one.
If true, would that constitute something of value to you?