GAZA DEMO PARLIAMENT HILL
JAN 3, 2009 Diana Ralph

As a Jew and on behalf of the Jews across Canada who support peace and justice, I stand in solidarity with Palestinian people in condemning the Israeli massacre of the people of Gaza.

Because Israel claims to represent all Jews, we have a particular obligation to stand up for justice and humanity. Jewish ethics demand that our highest priorities should be, not security, but the love of mercy, the law, of justice and the way of peace. As Jews, we are all obligated to
make peace when there is strife and to welcome the stranger.

On Yom Kippur, our holiest day, we pray:

When will redemption come? When we master the violence that fills our world. When we look upon others as we would have them look upon us. When we grant to every person the rights we claim for ourselves.

Let the Shofar’s sound awaken the voice of conscience, our common worship unite us in love, our memories of bondage impel us to help the oppressed.

Israel and its supporters are spreading dangerous lies to justify its assault on the people of Gaza. They claim that this is a war to defend Israel’s security which targets Islamist militants.

This is NOT a “war”. It is the world’s 4th largest military force, massacring captive, starving people, whom they have held under siege for two years and under occupation for over 40 years. It is a war crime, a humanitarian disaster, and a sin.

It is NOT about defending Israel’s security. We condemn collective punishment in all its forms, including Qassam rockets. But we know that Israel repeatedly broke the cease fire which Hamas respected and that it rejected Hamas’ offer to extend the cease fire. The Qassams are only a pretext for Israel’s massively disporportionate assault. They pose so little threat to Israel that this past year, the Israeli government refused to allocate funds to reinforce buildings in Sderot against rocket attacks. The security of Israeli people is best served by ending the siege, the occupation, and the massacre of innocent civilians.

And it is NOT about targeting “Hamas”. It is about killing and injuring thousands of civilians in order to smash the legitimate struggle for Palestinian sovereignty.

What do we want from Israel? (Repeat after me!)

Ceasefire NOW
Stop the siege NO
Reinstate humanitarian aid NOW
End the Occupation NOW

As Jews, we also condemn the hypocrisy and silence of our own government in the face of this atrocity. We urgently call on Canadian politicians to condemn Israel’s Gaza massacre and to call for an immediate cease fire and an end to Israel’s illegal siege of Gaza. We also call on Canada to recognize Hamas as the elected government of Palestine, and to reinstate and expand humanitarian aid to all Palestinian people, particularly those in Gaza.

Together for Justice and Peace!

Shalom, Saalam, Peace!