1.5 million people … that’s how many packed the National Mall for the inauguration of Barack Obama. What a marvelous and unifying event, even for those of us who are concerned about some of our new President’s positions. And to watch him in action over the past few days, what a breath of fresh air to see someone who wants to inform the public, who cares about the Constitution and the rule of law, who wants to engage constructively with the world.
Perhaps this bodes well for that other 1.5 million people, jammed into 139 square miles of the Gaza Strip. After weeks of Israeli bombardment and ground assault, the grim toll in Gaza continues to rise as more bodies are found under the rubble of obliterated buildings. President Obama, in his comments on the Middle East, struck a new chord by recognizing the suffering and despair of the Palestinian people. And of course, he reiterated Israel’s right to defend itself, as so many presidents before him have done. Does anyone doubt the U.S. government’s support for the state of Israel. But support for Israel does not mean turning a blind eye to atrocities committed in the name of security. Yes Israel has a right to protect its citizens from rocket fire coming from the Gaza Strip, but not to imprison via occupation a population of 1.5 million in a 25 mile by 5 mile pressure cooker with no outlet but the Mediterranean.
Is Israel defending itself when its soldiers warn people to evacuate their homes, and then bomb the UN or Red Cross shelters where the civilians have sought refuge? Does defense include shooting Palestinians waving white flags as they exited their home after they were told to leave the area (audio report here); or refusing access to emergency vehicles to reach a man who was shot in the leg thus causing an easily treated gunshot wound to become fatal; or bombing the home of a Palestinian doctor and killing three of his daughters? In the doctor’s case (he actually worked in Israel and strived to bring the two peoples together), the Israeli authorities evacuated the rest of his injured family members to a Tel Aviv hospital, perhaps under pressure from his horrified and grief-stricken Israeli colleagues.
The Jewish voice in official Washington has sadly been dominated by the right-wing American Israel Public Affairs Committee. Yet many American Jews disagree with Israel’s actions and America’s unflinching support. If AIPAC does not represent your point of view, check out the Tikkun website, where like-minded individuals have donated enough money to run an ad in the New York Times proposing a different solution to the Middle East conflict. They would like to run more ads to counteract the AIPAC voice, so you can still donate and add your name to the growing list. As our new President has so often stated, we must be the force behind his actions. It’s time to let him know that in the case of the conflict in the Middle East the status quo is no longer acceptable.
