Responses (mailed to SJJP) to our letter in the Herald, Aug 17, 2006

 

(from Canada)

I want to thank you all most sincerely for your letter to the Herald.

I visited Israel only once, but my Dad (the Rev James Currie) conducted parties of pilgrims nearly fifty times. He had many Jewish and Arab friends and I have no doubt he would have abhorred the violence on either side. 
I firmly believe that there could be a way for Israel to live in peace within secure boundaries. I also believe that the policies of the current Israeli government, with the support of the US and UK, will achieve exactly the opposite. It's time for the people of peace to speak out exactly as you have done.

May I suggest you enter the real world? How doyou equate a REAL peace when Dr Farouk Mansour, an Egyptian MP and member of the Muslim Brotherhood, in a recent interview with BBC Radio said that even if Israel were to recognise the Hamas Government, both his organisation and Hizbollah were still dedicated to the 'removal' of the 'Jewish presence' from the region? How do you reconcile peace with the Hamas constitution, unaltered in its aim to destroy Israel. You are as dangerous as those mad ultra orthodox Jews who march with the anti-Israel mob. Shame on you. Try living in Israel with the thousands of rockets. Brian L [full name removed by SJJP admin] (Supporter of Israel and proud of it)

Hi guys

Just to let you know it was great to see you at the demo on Saturday. I cannot tell how you good it was. I walked for some time behind your banner (and between the Quakers!) I lived in Israel for a while working on a couple of kibbutz and travelling and I loved the country and the people and have always felt an affinity. Yet recent events started to make me feel very uncomfortable. 

On Saturday I felt uncomfortable at first demonstrating in an umbrella group were some of the groups represented were perhaps expressing sentiments that I would definitely not agree with. But when I saw you guys making a very courageous public display of what you feel about the conflicts it gave me a courage to be were it counts. Your leaflet said it all. Thanks for being there guys and keep up the good work.  Hope to see you again.

I read your letter in today's Herald with interest. Frankly I found it simplistic.Who does not welcome the current ceasefire and want to see fundamental changes that will turn it into an lasting peace? Well Hizbollah for one group. Do I have doubts, reservations and criticisms over the Israeli handling of the conflict? Absolutely and so do they, as you are aware of. What kind of slap on the wrist did you exactly propose to combat rockets on civilians? Do Hizbollah and their sponsors not carry any responsibility for what happened to Lebanese civilians?

Hizbollah have no reason to attack Israel, but are merely pawns in the maneuvres of their Iranian masters attempts to dominate the region. They were not doing this for the Palestinians, though I am sure that they will be delighted to receive the support and comfort of the misguided, amongst whom you all seem to number.If anything they have substantially reduced the likelyhood of Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank in the near future.
Most people, I would hope, also wish for justice for the Palestinians. Could you please explain to me the role of Qassam rockets from an Israeli-free Gaza in this?
Over the last few years Israel's unilateral withdrawals have not fostered peace, but only an urge to terrorise further. Perhaps Israel has to regain its "strong" credentials before a real peace can emerge.

I consider myself a Scottish Jew  for a just peace which is exactly why I would not stand alongside many of the groups who marched in Edinburgh last week. I hope you are able to differentiate between those seek the annhiliation of and those that seek peace with Israel.

I have just received a copy of your ill conceived article in the Herald.  In the interests of debate and exchange of ideas, please read my comments, which are in bold italics.

Mid-East peace is inseparable from justice

THERE has been considerable debate and comment in your paper about the conflict in Lebanon and the attitude of British Jews to the war. If reading the letters page was the only way of gauging non-Israeli Jews' attitude to the war, it would seem that there is and was unanimous support for recent Israeli action. We would, however, beg to differ.

It is a point worth making that not all Jews support the actions of the Israeli state in Lebanon and the Occupied Territories, and the level of debate and opposition in Israel itself would suggest we are not alone in this view.

A group of us marched at the Stop the War demonstration in Edinburgh on Saturday past under the banner of Scottish Jews for a Just Peace, calling for an immediate ceasefire, and were proud to do so. The response we had from others on the march was both moving and affirming; our presence triggering sympathetic discussion and mutual understanding with Lebanese, Syrian and Muslim groups and individuals; a dialogue that opens up real potential towards tackling preconceived ideas and views.

Why do you insist on vilifying the State of Israel in public?  It is true that a number of Israelis themselves do not agree with how Israel's campaign was managed in Lebanon, but they live in Israel and at the end of the day they realise they are in extreme danger from Islamist terrorism. Your comments in the first paragraph are disingenuous to the extreme. You would have us believe that they hate their own country. You do not live there, all you see and hear are the views (mostly biased) of the media, and you listen to the warped ad hominem rhetoric of Israel's enemies and take it for the truth, and stick your knives into Israel from the comfort of your armchairs.

While we welcome the current ceasefire, we now want to see the fundamental changes that will turn it into a lasting peace. Israel's use of overwhelming force against its neighbours represents collective punishment on civilian populations, which produces not victory but the hatred that will fuel future conflicts. To say this is not to defend Hizbollah's attacks on civilians; we care very much about the security of the people of Israel. But we recognise that their true security will not be achieved by force; in resolving the conflict, peace cannot be separated from justice - above all, justice for the Palestinian people. Without that, there will be no peace.

Perhaps you can clarify something for me. In your idealistic rush to set the world to rights, have you considered that your "sympathetic discussions and mutual understanding with Lebanese Syrian and Muslims groups" are not what they seem – that maybe they despise you more than they despise and hate the rest of us?   What do you envisage will happen if  the security fence comes down, and Israel withdraws from the West bank?  Do you really think it would be like waving a magic wand, and Israelis and Arabs will live happily ever after?  Given the status quo, and the hatred which comes from Hizbullah, Syria, Iran, and Hamas, which they are ensuring will continue by teaching their children to hate – your remark about caring for the security of the people of Israel is a complete oxymoron. You must surely realise that Israel's neighbours hate her, and have done for 59 years. Having her behave differently just so people like you can stay out of the firing line of Islamist hatred is craven behaviour on your part.  Past experience has often shown that aligning yourselves with those who hate Israel will not help you if push comes to shove.

We may represent a minority current of Jewish opinion, but believe there are many other Jews living in the UK who feel the same way we do. We would call on them to join us and engage in a meaningful debate about the way forward to peace and justice.

I cannot decide if your posting is the action of a group of arrogant liberals, or a group of naïve idealists.  You have no right to assume that many other Jews in the UK agree with what you are doing – I know for a fact that for every Jew who does, ten more do not, so the use of the word "many" above is untruthful and an exaggeration.  The Jews for Justice for Palestinians are viewed by the majority of Jews in the UK at best with suspicion at worst with the scorn they deserve – why should you have the temerity to assume you are perceived as being different from them?

(from Florida)
Your group would undoubtedly sign up to serve as the Judenrat for the concentration camps that your friends in the left would quickly place us all in.  Peace is one thing- defending yourselves is quite another.  You could have a positive message but instead you have a devisive message and you provide fodder for the enemies of your people- and I say that presuming and assuming that you consider yourself to be part of the Jewish people and not some alienated group.   Obviously your views are shaped by your fears which I understand  to some degree.  You fear being a proud Jew in a continent that hates Jews

I was very pleased to see your letter in today's Herald.

I'm not Jewish, but as a musician I know many, and (nearly 50 years ago!) I studied composition under Alexander Goehr, who is Jewish.

Daniel Barenboim's work to bring young Israelis and Arabs together musically and culturally seems to me wonderfully positive, as is all coming together in agreement of Jews and Arabs.

Please keep active!

As a Glasgow Jew, I would like to express my deep disappointment at the behaviour of your group over the past few days.

You are perfectly entitled to your opinions in terms of Israel's actions. While I disagree with some of your views, that is not my main problem with your recent actions.

If you want to express your opinions in terms of Israel's actions, as Jews who disagree with the government of Israel, then you surely should be sending letters to the Jewish Telegraph, the Jewish Chronicle, or newspapers in Israel such as Ha'aretz or the Jerusalem Post. Instead, your group decided to write to the Herald. I can only surmise that your intention is to try to prove to as many non-Jews as possible that you disagree with other Jews. You are so concerned about what non-Jews think of you that you are perfectly prepared to advertise and widen divisions within the Jewish community. This only serves to harm the Scottish Jewish Community and to show you in a bad light, making a show for non-Jewish public opinion.

I find this approach very sad. I hope that you reconsider your tactics and cease to try to prove to the outside world how unconnected you are to the Jewish mainstream.

(from a Glasgow sympathiser, currently in the US)

We are on the same page on two items. If there was deliberate targeting of civilians this is inexcusable and a war crime. If there was the use of powerful indiscriminate bombing weapons primarily for the purpose of wanton destruction of civilian property and not to eliminate rocket launching positions wherever they were, or Hizbollah command structures wherever they were, this is at least a matter for debate. 

I would however appreciate having your clear understanding of just what Hezbollah stands for in relation to Jews. It's leader Nasrallah has made unequivocal statements in this respect. Hizbollah are not refugees who lost their homes, and I don't believe that the sacred soil of the three-way disputed Shebaa Farms was the reason they would decide to cross a sovereign border, kill soldiers and kidnap or capture others. Israel holds four Lebanese to my understanding. One is a murdering terrrorist pure and simple. If there is a hostage element to any of the other three, this must be exposed and let Hizbollah make an allegation. What should Israel have done? Turned the other cheek and negotiatied for a sign that they were alive? Or suffer the the Ron Arad treatment for another twenty years?

I also personally believe that no accomodation can be reached with a Palestinian leadership while Hamas is in power. They certainly were democratically elected. As they are sworn to make all of Palestine a Muslim theocracy, why would anyone seriously think that they will enter into meaningful negotiations based on compromise?  Have they ever signalled that a compromise based on a lasting peace is possible? So what is there to talk about? The present question for consideration in my view is what is the appropriate and reasonable action to take in order to stop the qassem rockets permanently. None of this changes my views on the occupation of the west bank and the propping up of Judeo-fascist settlers there. 

The issue of Palestinian prisoners is a different matter. I heard an Israeli spokesman claim that every single Palestinian prisoner was being held on charges of terrorism against civilians. Given the large number of several thousand, this seems most unlikely. If the Palestinians have a list of prisoners that can be published, this issue is a legitimate one to be raised. If Israel is holding hostages, so can Palestinians.  

Your comments on the above will be appreciated.


As a jew living in Glasgow for the past 10 years, I was very much heartened to read your letter in today's Herald, whose sentiments I very much endorse. I would like to contribute to any subsequent campaigns planned around the current crisis in the Middle East.

(from a person with an Islamic (?North African) name)

I am with you.