Jewish Voice for Peace 3

Analysis

Dear Stan, I woke up this morning to the news that the latest short-term "ceasefire" lasted all of 90 minutes. The death toll in Gaza has now passed that of Cast Lead - an exceptionally grim marker. I am nearly without words. But I urge you to read the piece excerpted below - an absolutely searing reflection on life right now in Tel Aviv from an Israeli-Dutch couple, which also captures so perfectly much of what it was like during Cast Lead when I lived there with my family. More than anything else I've read, it captures the effects of this assault on daily life for many Israelis - a mix of fear, complacency, mob-mentality, and detachment. These are phenomena that are familiar to us no matter where we live. And it shows how difficult it is to oppose Israeli policies from within. Which is exactly why as US Jews,it is so important for us to support those brave Israelis out on the streets protesting, and why we must stand up to our communal “leaders” who have committed themselves to supporting Israel's disastrous war on civilians.  Please read this excerpt, or visit our website for the entire piece. I'm convinced that if we are to end this violence, it is absolutely essential that we build a platform for voices like these. Especially as Jews, it is our responsibility to try to understand why this brutal attack has won such extensive support from both Israeli and US Jewish communities, so we may transform that sad reality. Please forward it widely. Thanks for showing such commitment, Rebecca Vilkomerson Executive Director From Tel Aviv: "No to hate, yes to peace." That simple message has to get a lot louder.  What is life like in Israel today?    What follows is an excerpt from a public letter written by Hilla Dayan & PW Zuidhof, an Israeli-Dutch couple spending the summer in Tel Aviv with their children: Our family landed in Tel Aviv in steamy mid-July, just when the current violence started. As a Dutch-Israeli family from Amsterdam that travels frequently to Israel we are used to being teased in calmer times about why, for our own sanity, we do not choose a real holiday destination instead of a conflict zone. ... The witch hunt of dissenters has reached epidemic proportions, targeting many, and women especially, who dare speak their minds against theOrna Banai, Gila Almagor, Shira Gefen are famous celebrities who were vilified for speaking out; a Palestinian psychologist working for the Lod municipality and many like her got fired for what they posted on Facebook. ... Needless to say, the government does nothing to curb the climate of violence against dissenters. Instead it incites it with reckless disregard to its potentially disastrous consequences. We do not fear to go and demonstrate, we are still able to do that with reasonable safety, but staying safe on the street is a slightly more complicated task than calculating where the nearest building entrance is in case of a siren alarm. This regime of collective fear and collective mobilization in support of the war is so intense, that our “war vacation” is starting to feel like we took the wrong flight and landed in North Korea. ... What is entirely lost or powerful sublimated is the consequence of being implicated in and authorizing crimes against humanity. Israelis consider the war of position between Hamas and their government to be an existential war, and the conduct of their enemy, they feel, absolves them from any accountability. In their battle of survival, real and imaginary, it only makes sense to let the enemy die and verify the killing (vidu hariga). In this savage place no laws of war apply. At times like these mom is better off here in this normal-savage place where she is from, and where she directly partakes in efforts to stop the war. For dad it is crazy to be here, where he is surrounded by supporters of war crimes, who seem superficially normal and go about their normal lives. The kids, they just soak up the sun and enjoy themselves tremendously, their family and friends keep them happy. Their happiness and safety is comforting, but what would we say when they start asking us: mom, dad, what is war, who is doing it, and why can’t you stop it? -Hilla Dayan & PW Zuidhof Tel Aviv For the full text of this remarkable narrative, click here. Contact Info: Jewish Voice for Peace 1611 Telegraph Ave, Suite 550 Oakland, CA 94612 510.465.1777 info@jewishvoiceforpeace.org Connect with Us: Become a 2014 JVP Member | Facebook | Twitter | Forward Subscribe to our blog Muzzlewatch