According to the United Nations, one-third of the Gazans killed are children.
Some in the international community are beginning to admit that the Israeli
military is committing genocide and infanticide. Every day, and sometimes
hourly, Israel commits horrific violations of international and moral law. I can’t
help but believe that the heart of Israel is weeping, even breaking, as this nation,
holding itself up as a model of democracy, commits violent atrocities against the
innocent. Rabbi Henry Siegman, former Executive Director of the American
Jewish Congress, said recently, responding to a question about what Israel
could have done to avoid the carnage: “Sure, they could have ended the
occupation.” I say, now, end the occupation of Palestinian lands, remove the
settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, end the siege of Gaza,
re-establish the 1967 borders, establish a just peace for all and hold Israel
accountable at the International Criminal Court. Just as no nation would stand
to have rockets fired at it from another nation, neither do the people of Gaza
chose to live as they are forced to live, in a prison, with every movement restricted
and every life oppressed by brutal power.