I’m a Jewish U.S. Army veteran

 Dear Editor,

I’m a Jewish U.S. Army veteran. I have been to Israel and the West Bank with other veterans more than once. I have also been to the Jewish quarter in Jerusalem. I have seen and directly experienced the sadistic cruelty and brutality of rabid settlers, backed up by the IDF in the West Bank. I have also witnessed the mostly nonviolent resistance of Palestinians to the strangling oppression of the occupation. It’s about time that Ben and Jerry’s joined the boycott and I commend them for it. 

The attempt to squash their right and others to nonviolently protest Israel’s illegal (under international law) occupation – what Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu referred to as an apartheid worse than what they had in South Africa – and your editorial supporting that, is beyond deplorable. It is yet another example of bullying and an attempt to silence and punish legitimate, nonviolent dissent that the Israeli government and its supporters here in the U.S. engage in.

In 2020 the U.N.voted 165-5 to approve a draft resolution in favor of Palestinian self-determination, with Israel and the United States voting against. Is practically the entire world wrong? Or would you say they are all “Israel haters and anti-semites?” 

Tarak Kauff

Hope that other companies will follow Ben & Jerry’s courageous example

Your editorial about Ben & Jerry’s decision to stop selling its ice cream in the Occupied Palestinian Territories was way off base. I am an American Jew who supports Israel’s right of existence and ability to flourish. However, I do not support its Apartheid actions. I do not hate Israel and I am definitely not an ant-Semite. But I do hate its human rights abuses, especially against children and the people of Gaza. Three times I did human rights work in the West Bank/Occupied Palestinian Territories with International Women’s Peace Service and was shocked to see how many Apartheid rules are in place. Let’s hope that other companies will follow Ben & Jerry’s courageous example.

Paula Silbey

Delgado willing to take a stand?

 

Letter: Is Rep. Delgado willing to take a stand against Israel?

Dear Editor:

When U.S. Rep. Antonio Delgado holds his next town hall, will he address a question many have been asking him for months? We want him to co-sponsor H.R. 2590. It would withhold military aid to Israel when used in violation of international humanitarian law to abuse Palestinian children, destroy homes, confiscate land or annex Palestinian territory.

This year, Israel’s oppression has worsened. The whole world saw the indiscriminate bombing of civilian homes in Gaza. Two highly respected organizations, Human Rights Watch and the Israeli human rights center  B’Tselem, have documented how Israel’s routine treatment of Palestinians constitutes apartheid, an internationally recognized human rights offense.

As a Jewish American who is older than the State of Israel, I’m relieved that people are finally noticing the ugly reality behind endless bipartisan praise for Israel’s supposed support of democracy and human rights. Today, more and more Americans, including Jewish Americans, are demanding justice for Palestinians.

Delgado says he supports human rights, so why does he parrot discredited talking points from the pro-Zionist lobby? Why has he been “unable” to meet constituents to discuss this, even after 2,300 voters signed a petition favoring H.R. 2590? And why are questions about U.S. policy toward Israel never picked to be addressed at his town halls?

Here’s a suggestion. Attend a Delgado town hall. See for yourself. Will Delgado answer any questions from advocates for H.R. 2590? Will he join the growing number of representatives who already are co-sponsors? If he does take that principled stand, I’ll be the first to cheer.

Bob Gelbach

Saugerties, N.Y.

We will stop criticizing Israel ...

Attached and below is my letter to the Hudson Valley One in response to accusations of anti-Semitism against NewPaltz Women in Black. We demonstrate regularly in defense of Palestinian rights. It was printed in the July 21, 2021, issue.

Naomi Allen

We Will Stop Criticizing Israel When Israel Stops Oppressing Palestinians

Why do we “single out” Israel for its abuses of Palestinian human rights? Shouldn’t we look at China’s abuses, or Myanmar’s, or the way Saudi Arabia treats women? All of those things are terrible, but as Americans, our focus is on demanding changes from our government. Only Israel gets $4 billion a year (plus special supplements) from Americans’ tax money to commit these atrocities. The U.S. government has “singled out” Israel for this benefit. Our money buys the bombs and bullets that destroy homes and families in Gaza. Our money buys the Caterpillars and surveillance equipment that destroy homes and families in Jerusalem and the West Bank. The Jewish National Fund, which will only sell or lease land to Jews, is a tax-exempt fund under American law. 

When someone tells us to avert our eyes from these atrocities and look at the atrocities elsewhere, they don’t want to have to answer—do you support these acts or not? If you oppose racism and white supremacy in the U.S., why would you want to hush up the same acts, the same thinking, the same privilege, that protect one ethnic group—Jews—at the expense of all others? 

Palestinians deserve equal human rights, and it is not anti-Semitic to say so. Not only have Jews all over the world spoken up for Palestinian rights, but Israeli Jews are beginning to speak up also—1000 Israeli Jews just began circulating a letter “Stop Israel’s Apartheid!: An open letter to the international community,” which you can read here: https://jews4decolonization.wordpress.com

A poll of American Jews by the Jewish Electorate Institute and published in Ha’aretz, the N.Y. Times of Israel, on July 13, showed that one-quarter of American Jews agree that Israel is an apartheid state, and 22% believe that Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinians. 

58% said we should cut aid to Israel so it couldn’t spend more U.S. money supporting the Jews-only settlements on stolen Palestinian land in the West Bank.

Not to mention the 16,000 artists from all countries who have called for an end to Israeli apartheid: https://mondoweiss.net/2021/06/this-is-not-a-conflict-this-is-apartheid-over-16000-artists-sign-letter-in-solidarity-with-palestine

Are they all anti-Semites?

The charge of anti-Semitism, when it is used to silence critics of the Israeli government, is just a cloak that supporters of Israel’s policies use to cover the naked shame of apartheid, ethnic cleansing, and genocide. It also discredits criticism of genuine anti-Semitism, which is on the rise in the U.S. mainly thanks to Trumpism and its open support of white supremacy. 

In the meantime, here are some books you can read that will help clarify the history of the region:

“The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine,” by Israeli historian Ilan Pappe;

“The General’s Son,” by Miko Peled, grandson of an Israeli hero of 1948 and 1967;

“The Iron Wall,” by Israeli historian Avi Schlaim.

 

Naomi Allen

Schenectady High School email stirs controversy

Regarding your article today "Schenectady High School email stirs controversy...." you use the words "complex" and "nuance."  A military occupation of another people, persisting for 74 years so far, is neither complex nor nuanced.  It is simply an outrage, one that, bolstered by the US government's uncritical support for Israel, has largely been ignored by the rest of the world.  Criticism and reporting on Israel's project to seize as much land as possible from Palestinians and force as many Palestinians to leave is well documented in the Israeli press, both in Hebrew and in English, through the statements of Israeli politicians and the enactment of laws privileging Jews worldwide over the Palestinians who live there. Calling this what it is is not anti-semitic.  In fact, implying all Jews would support Israel's actions is a slur.  I refer you to the Pew Center's recently released study showing that American Jews have widely differing views on Israel.  https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/05/21/u-s-jews-have-widely-differing-views-on-israel/.  Less than half think Israel is essential to being Jewish. It's encouraging to see there is an on-going conversation on the issue. 

Lisa Mullenneaux

Delgado holds another virtual townhall meeting on July 28

To the Editor,

Congressman Delgado holds another virtual townhall meeting on July 28.  But will he address a question many have been asking him for months? We want him to co-sponsor HR 2560, a bill that has gathered sponsors each year, and that would prohibit use of US military aid by Israel in violation of international humanitarian law, by abusing Palestinian children, destroying homes, confiscating land and annexing territory in occupied Palestine.

Already this year, Israel’s oppression has worsened. The whole world saw the indiscriminate bombing of civilian homes in Gaza. Around the same time, two highly respected organizations, Human Rights Watch and the Israeli human rights watchdog, B’Tselem, documented how Israel’s routine treatment of Palestinians constitutes apartheid, an internationally recognized offense against human rights.  

As a Jewish American who is older than the State of Israel, I’m relieved that people are  finally noticing the ugly reality behind endless bi-partisan praise for Israel’s supposed support of democracy and human rights.  I’m especially pleased that more and more Jewish Americans, especially the younger generation, are demanding justice for Palestinians.

Representative Delgado says he supports human rights, so why does he parrot discredited talking points from the pro-Zionist lobby?  Why has he been “unable” to meet constituents to discuss this, even after 2,300 voters signed a petition favoring HR 2560?  And why are questions about US policy toward Israel never picked to be addressed at his townhalls?

Here’s a suggestion. Attend the townhall on July 28. See for yourself.  Will Delgado answer a question from advocates for HR 2560? Will he join the growing number of representatives who are already co-sponsors?  If he does take that principled stand, I’ll be the first to cheer.

Bob Gelbach

Supporting Palestinian Rights Is Not Anti-Semitic!

 Supporting Palestinian Rights Is Not Anti-Semitic!

Dear Editor,

New Paltz Women in Black holds a vigil every Saturday on Main Street in front of Elting Library, from 12:45 to 1:30. We stand for an end to all kinds of racism, including anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and white nationalism; for protection of the environment;  for women’s equal rights, including the right to choose abortion; for LBGTQI equality; against U.S. militarism and bullying of countries around the world (and our 800 bases in 70 countries); and for human rights over private profit everywhere.

This includes Palestine and Israel, where the indigenous Palestinian population has been and still is being driven from its homes and lands, subjected to second-class citizenship, and oppressed by a brutal, degrading occupation that has lasted 73 years, not to mention Israel’s criminal blockade of Gaza, now in its 13^th year.

International law recognizes the right of an occupied people to resist—if the Palestinians stopped resisting they would disappear as a people overnight.  It does not recognize the right of the occupying force—Israel—to steal Palestinian lands and homes and resources, build Jews-only settlements on occupied land, refuse to vaccinate the occupied population against Covid-19—in effect, to try to eradicate the Palestinian people. 

Were you shocked by the Tulsa Massacre of 1921, which wiped out an African-American neighborhood? Israel carried out such massacres on 500 villages in Palestine in 1948, killing thousands and expelling 750,000 people from their homes; and it continues to destroy Palestinian villages and neighborhoods throughout the region. 

Do you think redlining and discriminatory mortgage practices to prevent racial integration in the U.S. were deplorable?  In Israel and in the occupied West Bank, the Israeli government builds homes that can only be occupied by Jews. Because of these settlements, the dream of a two-state solution is dead. If you read the daily newspapers you can see that the current unrest was ignited by Israel’s evictions of Palestinians from homes in Jerusalem where their families have lived for generations, turning those homes over to Jews from Brooklyn. 

Do you believe in religious freedom and separation of church and state? Israel invades mosques and other holy sites at will. 

Do you believe that all people should have equal rights? In Israel, the law guarantees the right of self-determination only to Jews.

Israel’s right to exist is not being threatened. It has accords with all the major Arab countries, and enjoys a lively trade with them and with the rest of the world, giving Israelis the highest standard of living in the region. 

But the right to exist of the Palestinians is at serious risk. Should they just shut up and submit to another 73 years of occupation, ethnic cleansing, and degradation?

Until Palestinian refugees have the right to return to the land of their birth, there can never be peace. The refugees of 1948 and 1967, and their descendants, still living in squalid refugee camps throughout the region, must be allowed to go home. 

Israel’s systematic violations of Palestinian human rights must be called by the correct name—apartheid. The whole world can see this. Israel claims to speak for all Jews everywhere, but it does not speak for us, or for the increasing number of American Jews who reject Israeli human rights abuses and stand up for the rights of Palestinians. 

Naomi Allen

We Will Stop Criticizing Israel When Israel Stops Oppressing Palestinians

 We Will Stop Criticizing Israel When Israel Stops Oppressing Palestinians

Why do we “single out” Israel for its abuses of Palestinian human rights? Shouldn’t we look at China’s abuses, or Myanmar’s, or the way Saudi Arabia treats women? All of those things are terrible, but as Americans, our focus is on demanding changes from our government. Only Israel gets $4 billion a year (plus special supplements) from Americans’ tax money to commit these atrocities. The U.S. government has “singled out” Israel for this benefit. Our money buys the bombs and bullets that destroy homes and families in Gaza. Our money buys the Caterpillars and surveillance equipment that destroy homes and families in Jerusalem and the West Bank. The Jewish National Fund, which will only sell or lease land to Jews, is a tax-exempt fund under American law. 

When someone tells us to avert our eyes from these atrocities and look at the atrocities elsewhere, they don’t want to have to answer—do you support these acts or not? If you oppose racism and white supremacy in the U.S., why would you want to hush up the same acts, the same thinking, the same privilege, that protect one ethnic group—Jews—at the expense of all others? Palestinians deserve equal human rights, and it is not anti-Semitic to say so. Not only have Jews all over the world spoken up for Palestinian rights, but Israeli Jews are beginning to speak up also—1000 Israeli Jews just began circulating a letter “Stop Israel’s Apartheid!: An open letter to the international community,” which you can read here: https://jews4decolonization.wordpress.com

A poll of American Jews by the Jewish Electorate Institute and published in Ha’aretz, the N.Y. Times of Israel, on July 13, showed that one-quarter of American Jews agree that Israel is an apartheid state, and 22% believe that Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinians. 

58% said we should cut aid to Israel so it couldn’t spend more U.S. money supporting the Jews-only settlements on stolen Palestinian land in the West Bank.

Not to mention the 16,000 artists from all countries who have called for an end to Israeli apartheid: https://mondoweiss.net/2021/06/this-is-not-a-conflict-this-is-apartheid-over-16000-artists-sign-letter-in-solidarity-with-palestine

Are they all anti-Semites?

The charge of anti-Semitism, when it is used to silence critics of the Israeli government, is just a cloak that supporters of Israel’s policies use to cover the naked shame of apartheid, ethnic cleansing, and genocide. It also discredits criticism of genuine anti-Semitism, which is on the rise in the U.S. mainly thanks to Trumpism and its open support of white supremacy. 

In the meantime, here are some books you can read that will help clarify the history of the region:

“The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine,” by Israeli historian Ilan Pappe;

“The General’s Son,” by Miko Peled, grandson of an Israeli hero of 1948 and 1967;

“The Iron Wall,” by Israeli historian Avi Schlaim.

Naomi Allen