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| March 9, 2008
Canadian Jewish Groups speak out against Israeli siege of Gaza I represent both the Alliance of Concerned Jewish Canadians, a pan-Canadian Jewish coalition, and Not In Our Name, an Ottawa organization of Jews. Each Shabbat, when I go to my synagogue, I join in prayers affirming our obligations, as Jews, to “perform acts of love and kindness,” to “welcome the stranger,” and to “make peace when there is strife.” Because of the Holocaust, I, like many other Jews have vowed that I will work to assure that “never again” will any peoples, Jewish or otherwise, be subjected to human rights abuses and genocide. Today, I join many other Jews across Canada and the world, who are revolted and ashamed by what many consider the Israeli government's atrocities, war crimes, and violations of international law against Palestinian people. Israel has condemned the people of Gaza, in particular, to collective punishment for the “crime” of legally electing a government of which Israel disapproves. The 1.4 million people of Gaza, 59% of whom are children, are now suffering from severe shortages of food, potable water, medicine, and sewage treatment. Almost all Gazans were self-supporting before the occupation. Now 4 out of 5 starve without food aid; aid which is almost completely blocked by the siege. Children's growth is stunted and they are traumatized by sonic booms, aerial bombing, and targeted assassinations. Israel recently carried out a 5 day military assault on the people of Gaza, based on flimsy excuses of “security,” which killed 116 Palestinians, including many civilians and 25 children. Now, Israel threatens to perpetrate even more horrors for the people of Gaza. Last week, in an act of appalling candor, Israeli Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai threatened to impose what he, himself called a “shoah,” (a Holocaust) on the people of Gaza. The government has announced its plans to follow through on the 5 day military assault with a full-scale ground offensive of genocidal proportions. Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak is seeking legal permission to “transfer” Gazan civilians from their homes in northern Gaza to the already dangerously over-crowded south of Gaza, and Security Minister Avi Dichter is calling for Arabs to be moved from Jerusalem to the West Bank. These constitute illegal ethnic cleansing, reminiscent to the way the Nazis forced European Jews from their homes into concentration camps. The people of Gaza, already live imprisoned in a virtual concentration camp. It is particularly horrific that Israel, which claims to represent the world's Jews, should perpetrate such crimes. The Alliance of Concerned Jewish Canadians will not allow these acts to be carried out in our name. These are acts antithetical not just to international law and human rights, but to Jewish ethics. Statement presented by Diana Ralph, Ph.D. Alliance of Concerned Jewish Canadians & Not In Our Name 613-321-2765, dianar@magma.ca |