Obama, speak out on Gaza!
My letter to the Obama-Biden transition team:
Dear President-Elect Obama,
As a Jew, I’m begging you to speak out against Israel’s insanely disproportionate response to Hamas in the Gaza Strip. While this military incursion kills and maims hundreds of innocent Palestinians, it also makes every Jew on the planet less safe…. especially Israelis. At a time when it seemed as though anti-Semitism was finally beginning to fade, the Israeli government, with their ill-considered actions, has revived it.
The Jews of Europe were forced into walled ghettos; places where they depended upon people outside for their every need. When that aid was denied, the people starved. When the ghettos were attacked, innocents died… because they had nowhere to run.
Now, Israel has created its own massive ghettos in the Gaza Strip and West Bank. The people are starving and have nowhere to run. Every Jewish child, when taught our history, is told, “Never forget.” Has the Israeli government forgotten? President Obama, please help them remember. This state of affairs does not serve the Israeli people.
The Israeli government’s actions also threaten every American. The United States is Israel’s top funder and ally. By not speaking out, you implicitly approve their actions. Please don’t let this misperception go unanswered.
I realize that there are well-funded and powerful groups like APAC defending Israel’s actions. I know that they’ll scream “Anti-Semite!” if you speak out. But most American Jews are horrified by the violence that’s unfolding. We may support the state of Israel and its right to defend itself, but we have not lost our compassion or reason.
Please don’t stand by and allow more innocents to be massacred. Remind the Israeli government that their actions impact not only the future of their own children, but that of Jews and Americans everywhere.
Sincerely,
Heidi Allen