Annapolis: Naomi and Rafi

Israeli and Palestinian Perspectives on Annapolis
By Naomi Chazan and Rafi Dajani

Brit Tzedek asked two of our allies, Naomi Chazan, professor of Political Science and former Member of Knesset with the Meretz party in Israel, and Rafi Dajani, the Executive Director of the American Task Force on Palestine, to answer several questions about the upcoming Annapolis peace conference, tentatively scheduled for November 27.

1. What is the significance of the upcoming peace conference for Israelis and Palestinians?
2. Who do you think should be included in the peace process (state and non-state actors, representatives of civil society, etc.) and why?
3. What do you see as the issue around Hamas with the peace conference and how can it be addressed?
4. Which of the final status issues i.e. Jerusalem, borders, refugees, settlements and security arrangements, do you believe are most contentious and why? How do you think the two sides might go about reconciling their differences on these issues?
5. What are the weaknesses of the Olmert and Abbas governments and how do you think that might affect the outcome of the conference?
6. What role would you like to see the U.S. play in the Annapolis conference and into the future?

1. What is the significance of the upcoming peace conference for Israelis and Palestinians?
Naomi Chazan (for Israelis): The Annapolis meeting scheduled to take place next week will be significant only if it launches a set of negotiations within the framework of the Arab League Initiative on permanent settlement issues immediately after the formal ceremonies. These must be accompanied by clear agreements on monitoring and verification mechanisms to accompany the process. A series of gestures to improve the situation on the ground, including release of prisoners, a settlement freeze, removal of unauthorized outposts, and dramatic improvements in the flow of peoples and goods can improve the climate, but are not a replacement for such negotiations.

Israeli public opinion is ambiguous at this time on the utility of these measures. Anything short of a vigorous diplomatic effort leading to a sustainable two-state solution is antithetical to Israeli interests in the long-run.

Rafi Dajani (for Palestinians): The Annapolis meeting is significant on a number of levels. It heralds the potential for the resumption of serious Israeli-Palestinian negotiations leading to a final settlement, for the first time in seven years. In addition, after six and a half years of little engagement on the conflict, the United States, for a number of different reasons, has re-engaged in a serious fashion in the hope, not so much that a Palestinian state can be established by the end of the second Bush Administration, but more that an irreversible process, a foundation, can be created leading to Palestinian statehood and an end to the conflict.

Simply holding the meeting does not guarantee its success. Expectations are realistically low that the meeting will produce a joint document/declaration that will address the 'core issues' of borders, Jerusalem and refugees in a substantive way.

More important is what follows the meeting, where success will be measured by progress on two tracks. The first track is the initiation of a serious process of negotiations between the parties, with the active involvement of the United States, leading to the establishment of a Palestinian state based on internationally accepted parameters and the Arab Peace Initiative. Progress on this track should result in increased Arab endorsing of and contribution to the process, particularly from Saudi Arabia. This is the much-mentioned 'political horizon' that is so critical to re-establish Palestinian faith in their ability to achieve statehood through political negotiations.
The second track is a visible and marked improvement of conditions on the ground. Internally, Palestinians are primarily concerned with establishing law and order and the rule of law. Prime Minister Fayyad has taken important steps towards re-establishing that with the recent deployment of thousands of Palestinian police across the West Bank, most notably in Nablus.
Parallel to that must be Israeli actions that demonstrate Israel's commitment to a two-state solution, most critically a settlement freeze but also including removal of illegal outposts, release of prisoners, and the facilitation of Palestinian movement of people and goods throughout the West Bank and in and out of Gaza in order to resuscitate the devastated economy.
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2. Who do you think should be included in the peace process (state and non-state actors, representatives of civil society, etc.) and why?

Naomi Chazan: The negotiations should be transparent, consultative and hence as inclusive as possible. This means that the number of state actors and the level of attendance at the Annapolis event will be an important factor in the success of the Annapolis process that, hopefully, will commence immediately afterwards. This international participation will have the effect of granting legitimacy to the negotiations, and will impose on the participants obligations as well.

Civil society should also be included at Annapolis. One of the major reasons for the failure of the Oslo process was the chasm that developed between decision-makers and the publics they claimed to represent. This mistake cannot be repeated. The participation of some civil society representation can offer a bridge to the Palestinian and Israeli publics and help promote support for decisions as they are taken.

Rafi Dajani: At this late stage, it is unrealistic to include actors beyond the parties to the conflict, the United States and possibly key Arab states at the Annapolis meeting. However, as the peace process following the meeting unfolds, it will be important to expand the circle of state and non-state actors as well as include representatives of civil and religious society in order to support the process of negotiations and the difficult decisions the Israeli and Palestinian leaderships will have to take. A 'staggered' level of participation is likely most useful, the sequence of which will depend on the shape of the process itself as it unfolds.

In terms of the type of participation, the support of Arab states will give the Palestinians the cover of legitimacy for their negotiations, as well as the political cover from the inevitable criticism and resistance that the process will face from opponents. International participants, particularly the international donor community, will supply the critical financial and material backing necessary for building the institutions and economy of a future Palestinian state. The upcoming Paris donor conference is an important first step in the effort. Civil and religious society, particularly among Israelis and Palestinians, could foster and enhance communication and dialogue to address the existing skepticism and suspicion between the two sides.
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3. What do you see as the issue around Hamas with the peace conference and how can it be addressed?

Naomi Chazan: Israel's negotiating partner on the Palestinian side has traditionally been the PLO. All agreements signed to date have been concluded between the PLO and the government of Israel. This formula should be continued in the current round as well. If the PLO incorporates Hamas representation – a move that would ease matters given Hamas control of Gaza – that should be respected by Israel.

Rafi Dajani: As head of the Palestine Liberation Organization, it is solely within the mandate of Palestinian President Abbas to negotiate with Israel. This does not require Hamas permission or acceptance. There will be no Hamas representation at the Annapolis meeting and neither is it necessary for the meeting's purposes.

Within Hamas, there are two strains of thought regarding the Annapolis meeting. One strain advocates actively working to ensure the meeting's failure. The other advocates waiting for the inevitable failure it sees resulting. Either way, Hamas opposes the meeting and predicts its failure.

In the longer run, it will be essential for the implementation stage of an agreement that the issue of Hamas be addressed. It is impossible that a Palestinian state can come into existence with the current Palestinian political fracture and West Bank/Gaza division. Hamas represents a sizable minority of the Palestinian public, with an Islamist constituency being at its core and those who have lost faith in the political process as default supporters. If an unfolding process of negotiations following the Annapolis meeting improves Palestinian daily life, brings a political horizon of statehood slowly to the foreground, and stops Israeli actions contradictory to the establishment of a Palestinian state, Hamas will find it difficult to actively oppose the negotiations. It will also allow President Abbas to negotiate the inevitably needed Palestinian reconciliation from a position of strength. A failure of the political process following Annapolis or even a continuation of the status quo will greatly strengthen Hamas and may result in increased violence.


4. Which of the final status issues i.e. Jerusalem, borders, refugees, settlements and security arrangements, do you believe are most contentious and why? How do you think the two sides might go about reconciling their differences on these issues?

Naomi Chazan (Israeli perspective): The question of the borders is the most immediate issue that must be resolved. The June 4, 1967 boundaries are the bedrock of any binding agreement. Any variation from these borders must be by agreement, on the basis of 1:1 swap. No transfer of population must be included in this settlement. The fixing of the borders will facilitate agreement on the most contentious issues, which remain Jerusalem and the refugees. Although some contend that it might be possible to have Israel accept the "two [surely she meant “one capital for two states”?] capitals for two-states" formula in Jerusalem in exchange of Palestinian willingness to agree not to demand implementation of the right of return for refugees to Israel, it might be more productive to deal with each issue separately.

Sharing Jerusalem as the capital of two states is a sine qua non for a lasting agreement. Israeli recognition of its (partial) responsibility for the creation of the 1948 refugee problem will go a long way to producing a formula acceptable to both sides which will address both Palestinian and Israelis concerns.

Rafi Dajani (Palestinian perspective): Palestinian red lines exist on all of the above final status issues, although there is a great degree of pragmatism regarding negotiating these issues as long as the principles they are based on are safeguarded and acknowledged by Israel.

In terms of borders, Palestinians regard an acceptance of the 22% of mandatory Palestine as the future Palestinian state as their 'historic compromise.' (Note: A state consisting of the West Bank and Gaza Strip would represent 22% of mandatory Palestine, while Israel proper makes up 78%) They are not willing to 'compromise the compromise.' In other words, a future Palestinian state must be based on the June 1967 borders. Once that principle is established, the exact borders of the state are negotiable as long as any variation of the borders resulting in a land swap to accommodate Israeli settlement blocs are equitable, negotiated and minimal.
On Jerusalem, the same applies. Palestinians regard all of occupied East Jerusalem as their future capital, while understanding that traditionally Jewish areas would revert to Israel as part of a negotiated process.

The refugee issue is one that most goes to the very heart of the Palestinian narrative and experience of exile and dispossession. An agreement will have to include a formula that recognizes the inherent right of Palestinian refugees to reclaim their lost homes and land, with implementation exercised through compensation, third country citizenship, a return to a new Palestinian state and a negotiated return to Israel for a limited number. Israeli acknowledgment of its part in the creation of the refugee issues is also critical.

Finally, on security arrangements, Palestinians recognize that the energies and resources of a future state should be focused on building their new state rather than on military expenditures. However, security arrangements cannot infringe on Palestinian sovereignty and must also result from negotiations.

5. What are the weaknesses of the Olmert and Abbas governments and how do you think that might affect the outcome of the conference?

Naomi Chazan (for Olmert):The Olmert government is unstable not only because of the low popularity levels of the prime minister (stemming from his abysmal performance during the Second Lebanon War and from ongoing corruption investigations), but also because of the lack of support from coalition partners for his diplomatic effort. Yisrael Beiteinu and Shas are not supportive of the measures necessary for a resolution of the conflict, and the majority of the Pensioner's party (Gil) is also hesitant.

Nevertheless, a successful launch stands to fortify Prime Minister Olmert in the eyes of the public, which is largely supportive of a renewal of negotiations. In any event, it would be a grave error to link negotiations to the political future of any given leader. Formal agreement on a diplomatic process will bind any future Israeli leader, thus salubriously dissociating the process from the political fate of any individual.

Rafi Dajani (for Abbas): The Abbas government in the short term is actually stronger than it was when it was part of a unity government with Hamas. It now has the ability to make decisions and act decisively without the paralysis and division that characterized the unity government.

Its long term prognosis is another matter and depends to a very large degree on the results of the Annapolis meeting, whether a serious process is launched, and whether the situation on the ground changes. Much of that will depend on U.S. and Israeli action or lack of it. The one year period between the time President Abbas was elected and the parliamentary elections that Hamas won provides a stark warning of how the lack of tangible support for President Abbas from Israel and the U.S. can result in serious consequences. A repeat of that will seriously weaken the Abbas government to the point where it will either resign, or be forced to negotiate with Hamas under unfavorable conditions. It is unlikely that a more serious and moderate partner for peace than the Abbas/Fayyad government will be available among the Palestinians in the foreseeable future, and it is in Israeli and American interests that he succeed.

6. What role would you like to see the U.S. play in the Annapolis conference and into the future?

Naomi Chazan: The United States must be committed to the conclusion of permanent status negotiations within the next year. It must also accept its responsibility to oversee negotiations – including the studied employment of a series of incentives and disincentives – to assure its success. The U.S. can best fulfill this role by including other international and regional actors (especially the Quartet and the Arab League) in such an undertaking.

Rafi Dajani: At the conference, the United States must impress upon the parties that it is committed to seeing the process through in a sustained and serious manner. Statements regarding the parameters of a final settlement would be particularly helpful, especially a reference to a sharing of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and a future Palestinian state.
Following the meeting, the U.S. must continue and expand its current re-engagement in the process of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, and widen the circle of participants to include all members of the Quartet and the Arab League. This will require a sustained effort solidly backed by the U.S. president to conclude final status negotiations by the end of the Bush Administration. The Administration should also impress upon the incoming Administration that it must seamlessly continue the process from where the outgoing Administration left off.

Gaza: the final solution

Gaza: The Final Solution In Slow Motion
http://www.countercurrents.org/velloso211107.htm
By Agustin Velloso 21 November, 2007


On Sunday, 11th November 2007, at about four o'clock in the morning, the pharmacist Salim Madani is in Sufa, the only border post to the Gaza Strip that the government of Israel opens every now and then. They have been waiting for 14 day for a truck loaded with medicines for distribution in the Strip, still stuck on the Israeli side. They have been waiting for permission from the Israeli government so that they may move the load onto another truck so the medicines can move into Khan Yunis on the Palestinian side.

For many months ill Palestinians have been dying needlessly because many other trucks have not been authorized to transport medicines or even any other basic products - to the prison into which Gaza has been transformed. The martyr children Mohammad Turk, Mohammad Helow and Shaban Lulu, are only three of the hundreds of Palestinians that have died in the last so many months as a result of the Israeli and international blockade.

Shifa'a hospital staff in Gaza City pointed out September 5, 2006 that the three boys had died because of renal complications that could not be treated as they had run out of the necessary medicines. The Emergency General Director of the Ministry of Health warned at the time of the imminent danger of death faced by more than six hundred children suffering from renal deficiencies. Since then, actually since Israel occupied Palestine for the first time, it has been very plain that Palestinian children, old people, women and men face the very present danger of losing their land, their houses, their way of life and even life itself, for no other reason other than they are not Jews.

It is also glaringly clear that from that date on that the international community has refused to put a stop to this slow and painful genocide. On the contrary, they have chosen to make it possible in many ways for Israel to carry out its own Final Solution in Palestine: giving them weapons, money, political support and punishing the Palestinians in Gaza with a boycott that cries out to heaven with anguish for its cruelty and brutality.

Here, in Spain, on September 12, 2007, while the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) was making public the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli bullets and missiles (4.878 of whom 969 were children), the Prince of Asturias Foundation, in an act that could only be understood if committed by a psychopath such as Hannibal Lector, granted the "Concord Prize" to the Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem for being a living memory of a great historical tragedy and for its great efforts to promote, among the present and future generations, from that memory, the defeat of hate, racism and intolerance (sic).

Salim, sick of his pointless wait, is about to go back home once more when he sees that another truck appears to take the place of the one for which he has been waiting. Puzzled, he decides to wait. Several workers transfer the goods very quickly from the truck that brought them through Israeli territory to the truck that will take them to the Palestinian side. This is a compulsory system implanted by Israel to make life for the Palestinian people as difficult as possible. What was it? Perhaps food or basic products, urgent supplies or medicines. Of course not! it was a load of banners, flags, pennants, T-shirts and caps to be used at the march to take place on the 11th to commemorate the anniversary of Yasser Arafat's death.

Thanks to the politics of the slow motion Final Solution implemented in the Gaza Strip, Gazans lack everything and very nearly nothing goes in. On the other hand, the border post of Sufa, which according to OCHA's report no 50 of November 9, 2007 lacks the infrastructure to handle the distribution of food and medicines and was open only six days out of the nine it was supposed to be operational according report no 49 of October 2.

Talking in less technical terms but closer to reality, what OCHA is actually saying is that the Israelis stop the food at the border until it perishes and the medicines go out of date. In this way " the beasts in two legs" (as the Palestinians are called by the Israelis) fall ill for lack of vitamins, enough food or the essential elements necessary for a healthy life. Then they find that they cannot find any help in medicines that turn out to be ineffective.

Back in Gaza city, Salim goes out to the street where he watches thousands of demonstrators with empty stomachs and heads full of false illusions. A few, nevertheless, have a fully satisfied belly and a wallet far bigger than most; they plan to move from plan A, which is commemorating the death of Arafat three years ago, to plan B, which is provoking the Palestinian [Hamas] security forces by engineering a violent confrontation with them. It seems necessary to add, in every propitious occasion, one more problem to the long and heavy list that the whole world has thrown onto Hamas' back in order to try to defeat it on points, once they have had to admit that it is too strong to be defeated by KO.

It is necessary to exhaust and confuse the hungry and desperate masses, so that they are able to believe that it is Hamas, the party they voted so massively into power, almost two years ago, the real obstacle that stops them getting the bread and peace that has been denied to them, although not by Gaza, but by Israel, the United States and the European Union.

While Salim sees what is happening and smokes a cigarette, he wonders in silence why a big march to remember Arafat could not have been organized last year, or the year before, but this year.

For his part, Abu Mazen, along with the other traitors and collaborators, gives orders to extract as much political profit from the violence as possible despite the fact that on the eve of the march there was a meeting between Fatah and Hamas to smooth over any tensions. Below the surface, however, they were preparing a subversive action against the legitimate Hamas government, but even more so, against the Palestinian cause.

A few insults and threats here, some stone throwing and the firing of a few shots there, were enough for the pressure cooker that is Gaza to explode without hope. The social and mental balance of these people cannot possibly be more fragile after the collective punishment they have endured in the last few years, so a well timed provocation could be quite enough to bring the government down.

The ingenious Israeli policies in Palestine, which basically try to implement the Nazi-like Final Solution in slow motion are evident to the careful observer. Sadly, it seems that the Palestinians themselves have hastened this process with a fratricidal war. For that Israel relies on a handful of collaborators, with hundreds of thousands of very desperate people and a group of accomplices who support them and even reward them.

Author: Agustin Velloso (Madrid - Spain)
Translated by Ernesto Paramo (www.tlaxcala.org)

Annapolis - Rabbinic support

(Title is shortened to fit in a single line in the archives panel)

RABBINIC SUPPORT FOR ANNAPOLIS CONFERENCE
Brit Tzedek v'Shalom
Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 20 , 2007

JEWISH PEACE MOVEMENT BUILDS CRITICAL CONGRESSIONAL, RABBINIC SUPPORT FOR ANNAPOLIS CONFERENCE

CHICAGO—The American Jewish peace movement celebrated major gains this week, mobilizing the support of 135 Members of Congress and more than 500 Jewish clergy for the upcoming Annapolis conference as an opportunity to revive the long-stalled Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and counting a new ally amongst their ranks - AIPAC.

The signatures in support of the Annapolis conference—the first U.S. brokered summit between Israeli, Palestinian and Arab leaders in seven years, now tentatively scheduled for early next week—were amassed through two separate initiatives: a call from rabbis and cantors nationwide organized by Brit Tzedek v’Shalom and a bi-partisan Congressional letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, sponsored by Representatives Gary Ackerman (D-NY) and Charles Boustany (R-LA).

In both cases, Brit Tzedek, the country’s largest and most vibrant grassroots Jewish peace organization, activated its network of 37,000 people across the country to convey to their elected and religious leadership that American Jews not only overwhelmingly support a negotiated, two-state resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but want to see their leaders play an active role in achieving it. A recent poll conducted by Zogby International (June 4, 2007) shows that 87% of American Jews support a two-state solution, while 68% are more likely to support a candidate who promises to take an active role in the peace process.

Five hundred eighteen national pulpit, academic and organizational rabbis and cantors and rabbinic and cantoral students from all major denominations of American Judaism signed on to Brit Tzedek’s rabbinic call—“Kindle the Lights of Peace”— first released only 10 days ago. The Chanukah themed appeal draws on the story of the oil that burned for eight days to remind the community that "even when circumstances appear grim - perhaps especially then - hope and courage are vital."

For the full text of the rabbinic call, go to http://ga3.org/btvshalom/alert-description.html?alert_id=17926064
For a complete list of signers, go to http://ga3.org/campaign/rabbinic_call/explanation#signers

The signers urge the Jewish community to use the rekindled excitement generated by Annapolis to inspire engagement of the candidates during the upcoming election year, realizing, as Rabbi John Friedman, chair of Brit Tzedek’s Rabbinic Cabinet says, that "for the Annapolis talks to become something other than a well-meaning gesture, it is essential that we, as a community, make clear to the current Administration and the one that will succeed it that the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is vital to the interests of all those who live in the region, and the American people."

Among the call’s many prominent signers were Yitzhak Greenberg, former Chairman of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council; Burton L. Visotzky, Professor, Jewish Theological Seminary; Paul Menitoff, Executive Vice-President Emeritus, Central Conference of American Rabbis; and Toba Spitzer, President, Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association.

“We must make it a priority to demonstrate that a ‘pro-Israel’ candidate is one who both calls unambiguously for a negotiated two-state solution, and has a realistic and robust plan to make it happen," Friedman adds.

Brit Tzedek applauded the Ackerman-Boustany letter sent yesterday to Secretary Rice as an example of proactive, pro-peace leadership the group advocates. The letter expresses support for the Annapolis conference as a “critical opportunity” to reinvigorate the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and urges that “robust, hands-on U.S. leadership and diplomacy is necessary to frame not only on what transpires at the meeting, but on what takes place before and after it.”

"We welcome Representatives Ackerman and Boustany’s impressive initiative expressing the sentiments of the overwhelming majority of American Jews who strongly support U.S.-backed initiatives aimed at reaching a negotiated, two-state resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” says Brit Tzedek president Steve Masters. “Israel's long-term peace and security require that this conference succeed and the support of the U.S. Congress is a critical factor for ensuring the success over the long haul of this vital peace process."

In a mass mobilization, Brit Tzedek activists from across the country contacted hundreds of Congressional offices to advocate that their representatives support this initiative. The group also worked collaboratively with the other groups who favor a negotiated, two-state resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict— including Americans for Peace Now, Israel Policy Forum, Arab American Institute, American Task Force on Palestine and Churches for Middle East Peace—to build support for the letter both on the Hill and among their respective constituencies.

Ultimately, 135 Representatives signed the letter including more than 1/3 of Congress’ Jewish delegation, among them Rep. Tom Lantos (D-CA), Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Henry Waxman (D-CA), dean of the Jewish House members. In addition, the entire delegation from Massachusetts, where three of Brit Tzedek’s strongest chapters are located, signed the letter.

For the full text of the Ackerman-Boustany letter, go to http://ga3.org/campaign/AckermanBoustany_thankyou/explanation#fulltext
For a complete list of signers, go to http://ga3.org/campaign/AckermanBoustany_thankyou/explanation#signers

The letter also garnered the support the Union for Reform Judaism (representing American Judaism’s largest denomination), the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation and, perhaps most unexpectedly, that of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), which has typically resisted U.S. initiatives aimed at encouraging American leadership in renewing Israeli- Palestinian negotiations.

"The hard work will start the day after Annapolis. That's when the world will be watching to see how serious all the parties - Israeli, Palestinian, American - really are about peace," said Steve Masters, President of Brit Tzedek v'Shalom. "Our efforts to mobilize support for Annapolis demonstrate beyond a shadow of a doubt to the White House, to Members of Congress, and to the presidential candidates that American Jews stand behind genuine peace efforts."


Text of the call:
As we approach the festival of Chanukah, we American rabbis and cantors call on the American Jewish community to rekindle our commitment to Israeli-Palestinian peace. When we light candles at this darkest time of the year, may we nurture hope for a lasting peace settlement after too many years of violence and despair. If we learn anything from the story of Chanukah, it is that even when circumstances appear grim - perhaps especially then - hope and courage are vital.

At the upcoming Annapolis peace conference, the parties to the conflict will have their first substantive face-to-face meeting in nearly seven years to launch final-status negotiations. For many of us, the heady optimism and promise we felt while witnessing the Clinton peace talks seem like distant dreams. Yet, we must remain alert to the real opportunities emerging right now that need our support.

We urge the American Jewish community to stand behind the conference as it attempts to launch a negotiation process with the goal of a viable Palestinian state, living side-by side and in peace with a secure Israel. We cannot emphasize strongly enough that Israel's long-term peace and security require that this conference be a true starting point for a real, sustained peace process, one characterized by consistent U.S. diplomatic engagement and tangible improvements in living conditions and security for both Israelis and Palestinians.

The next American president will play a critical role in determining whether the results of steps initiated at Annapolis lay the foundation for a final status peace agreement. A large measure of our hopes for peace will be entrusted to whoever wins the 2008 election, and as such, it is crucial that we communicate to all the candidates that a truly pro-Israel president will, with the support of the vast majority of American Jews, do everything in his or her power to bring about a negotiated two-state resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

May the spirit of peace and the light of justice illumine the vision of our leadership for the benefit of our people and our world this Chanukah.

Signed by:

Rabbi Howard Avruhm Addison, Philadelphia PA
Rabbi David Adelson, New York, NY
Rabbi Moshe Adler, University Heights, OH
Rabbi Katy Z. Allen, Wayland, MA
Rabbi Adam M. Allenberg, Los Altos Hills, CA
Rabbi Rebecca Alpert, Philadelphia, PA
Rabbi Thomas M. Alpert, Great Neck, NY
Rabbinical Student Steven Altarescu, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY
Rabbi Renni S. Altman, Great Neck, NY
Rabbi Julia Andelman, New York, NY
Rabbi Camille Shira Angel, San Francisco, CA
Rabbinical Student Julia Appel, Brookline, MA
Rabbi David Ariel-Joel, Louisville, KY
Rabbi Benjamin L. Arnold, Evergreen, CO
Rabbi Stephen A. Arnold, South Easton, MA

Rabbi Melanie Willa Aron, Los Gatos, CA

Rabbi Aviva Atzman, Chicago, IL

Rabbinical Student Susan Averbach, San Francisco, CA

Rabbi Andy Bachman, Brooklyn, NY

Rabbi Chava Bahle, Suttons Bay, MI

Rabbinical Student Rachel E. Bareblat, Lanesboro, MA

Rabbi Benjamin H. Barnett, Corvallis, OR

Rabbi Lewis M. Barth, Encino, CA

Rabbi David Dunn Bauer, Amherst, MA

Rabbi Renee H. Bauer, Minneapolis, MN

Rabbi Pamela Frydman Baugh, San Francisco, CA

Rabbi Dennis Beck-Berman, Petersburg, VA

Cantor Chanin Becker, Tarrytown, NY

Rabbi Shelley Kovar Becker, New York, NY

Rabbi Leonard I. Beerman, Los Angeles, CA

Rabbi Marc J. Belgrad, Buffalo Grove, IL

Rabbi Haim Dov Beliak, Los Angeles, CA

Rabbi Lisa Sari Bellows, Buffalo Grove, IL

Rabbi Moshe ben Asher, Chatsworth, CA

Rabbi Karen Bender, Tarzana, CA

Rabbinical Student Olivier S. BenHaim, Seattle, WA

Rabbi Jeffrey Bennett, Newington, CT

Rabbi James M. Bennett, St. Louis, MO

Rabbi Philip J. Bentley, Hendersonville, NC

Rabbi Karyn B. Bergman, Brooklyn, NY

Rabbi Will Berkovitz, Seattle, WA

Rabbi Philip Berkowitz, Kennebunkport, ME

Rabbi Donald R. Berlin, Baltimore, MD

Rabbi Donna Barbara Berman, Hartford, CT

Rabbi Howard Berman, Jamaica Plain, MA

Rabbinical Student Joseph Michael Berman, Somerville, MA

Rabbi Phyllis Ocean Berman, Philadelphia, PA

Rabbi Leila Gal Berner, Kensington, MD

Rabbi Elisheva Beyer, Reno, NV

Rabbi Jonathan Arthur Biatch, Madison, WI
Rabbi Binyamin Biber, Silver Spring, MD
Rabbinical Student Noah Benjamin Bickart, New York, NY
Rabbi Herman J. Blumberg, Wayland, MA
Rabbi Rena S. Blumenthal, New Platz, NY
Rabbi Steven Bob, Lombard, IL

Rabbi Lewis Eugene Bogage, Denver, CO

Rabbi Elizabeth Bolton, Baltimore, MD

Rabbi Stephen Booth-Nadav, Denver, CO

Rabbi Jill Borodin Seattle, WA

Rabbi Neal I. Borovitz, River Edge, NJ

Cantor Leslie F. Boyer, Troy, NY

Rabbi Daniel Ethan Bridge, Seattle, WA

Rabbi Gerald S. Brieger, Orange, CT

Rabbi Herbert Brockman, Hamden, CT

Rabbi Lynn Brody, Los Angeles, CA

Rabbinical Student Lauren Simone Brody-Hyett, Wayne, PA

Rabbi Caryn Broitman, Vineyard Haven, MA

Rabbi Daniel M. Bronstein, Brooklyn, NY

Rabbi Herbert Bronstein, Glencoe, IL

Rabbi Marcelo Bronstein, New York, NY

Rabbi Sharon Brous, Los Angeles, CA

Rabbi Carey Brown, Lexington, KY

Rabbi Jonathan Brumberg-Kraus, Norton, MA

Rabbi David Brusin, Whitefish Bay, WI

Rabbinical Student Micheline Burke, Wyckoff, NJ

Rabbinical Student Daniel Burstyn, Pittsburgh, PA

Rabbi Carol Caine, Albany, CA

Rabbi Debra S. Cantor, Newington, CT

Rabbi Don P. Cashman, Albany, NY

Rabbi Adam Chalom, Lincolnshire, IL

Rabbi Joshua S. Chasan, Burlington, VT

Rabbi Steven A. Chester, Oakland, CA

Rabbi Micah Joseph Citrin, Los Altos Hill, CA

Rabbi Ayelet S. Cohen, New York, NY

Rabbi Debrah Anne Cohen, Philadelphia, PA

Rabbi Eli Cohen, Santa Cruz, CA
Rabbi Howard A. Cohen, Greensboro, NC
Rabbi Hillel Cohn, San Bernadino, CA

Rabbi Michael M. Cohen, Manchester Center, VT

Rabbi Stephen E. Cohen, Santa Barbara, CA

Rabbi Andrea Cohen-Kiener, West Hartford, CT

Rabbi Neil Seth Comess-Daniels, Santa Monica, CA

Rabbi David J. Cooper, Piedmont, CA

Rabbi Mychal Heather Copeland, Atherton, CA

Rabbi Scott Corngold, Lynbrook, NY

Rabbi Rachel Cowan New York, NY

Rabbi Jonathan K. Crane, Atlanta, GA

Rabbi Meryl M. Crean, Elkins Park, PA

Rabbi Matt Cutler, Schenectady, NY

Rabbi Benjamin David, Roslyn Heights, NY

Cantor Michael Davis, Chicago, IL

Rabbi James S. Diamond, Princeton, NJ

Rabbi Lucy H.F. Dinner, Raleigh, NC

Rabbi Fred Scherlinder Dobb, Bethesda, MD

Rabbi Robert Dobrusin, Ann Arbor, MI

Rabbi Art Donsky, Allison Park, PA

Rabbi Israel S. Dresner, Wayne, NJ

Rabbi Ellen W. Dreyfus, Homewood, IL

Rabbi Malka T. Drucker, Santa Fe, NM

Rabbi Renee Beth Edelman, Port Washington, NY

Rabbi Dan Ehrenkrantz, Wyncote, PA

Rabbi Amy Eilberg, Mendota Heights, MN

Rabbi Joab Eichenberg-Eilon, Marrieta, GA

Rabbi Bruce Elder, Glencoe, IL

Rabbi Sue Levi Elwell, Philadelphia, PA

Rabbi Daniel Epstein, Fair Lawn, NJ

Rabbi Lewis John Eron, Cherry Hill, NJ

Rabbi Andrew Vogel Ettin, Pfafftown, NC

Rabbi Ted Falcon, Seattle, WA

Rabbi Milton Feierstein, Stoughton, MA

Rabbi Josh Feigelson, Evanston, IL

Rabbi Michael Edward Feinberg, New York, NY

Rabbi Sam E. Feinsmith, New York, NY

Rabbi Meir Feldman, Memphis, TN

Rabbi Theodore Feldman, Petaluma, CA

Rabbi Michael Fessler, Turnersville, NJ

Rabbi Brian D. Field, Denver, CO

Rabbinical Student Brian Fink, Philadelphia, PA

Rabbi Tirzah Firestone, Boulder, CO

Rabbi Frank Fischer, Chapel Hill, NC

Rabbi Alan Flam, Providence, RI

Rabbi Nancy Flam, Northampton, MA

Rabbi Randy Craig Fleisher, St. Louis, MO

Rabbi Jeff Foust, Newton, MA

Rabbinical Student Joshua Frankel, New York, NY

Rabbi John Franken, St. Louis, MO

Rabbi Wayne M. Franklin, Providence, RI

Rabbi Carla Freedman, South Salem, NY

Rabbi Barry Friedman, Hopatcong, NJ

Rabbi Dayle A. Friedman, Philadelphia, PA

Rabbi John Friedman, Durham, NC

Rabbi Natan Fuchs, Lathrup Village, MI

Rabbi Stephen Fuchs, West Hartford, CT

Rabbi Nancy Fuchs-Kreimer, Philadelphia, PA

Rabbi Ruth Gais, Summit, NJ

Rabbi Hillel Gamoran, Seattle, WA

Rabbi Laura Geller, Beverly Hills, CA

Rabbi Everett E. Gendler, Great Barrington, MA

Rabbi Gary S. Gerson, Oak Park, IL

Rabbinical Student Jordana Gerson, New York, NY

Cantorial Student Mark Getman, Lawrence, NY

Rabbi George Gittleman, Santa Rosa, CA

Rabbi Aubrey L. Glazer Harrison, NY

Rabbi Gail Glicksman, Haverford, PA

Rabbi Robert J. Gluck, Albany, NY

Rabbi Andrew T. Gold, Las Vegas, NV

Rabbi Neal Gold, Wayland, MA

Rabbi Rosalind A. Gold, Reston, VA

Rabbi Shefa Gold, Jemez Springs, NM

Rabbi Dan Goldblatt, Danville, CA

Cantor Dorothy Goldberg, Madison, CT

Rabbi Irwin N. Goldenberg, York, PA

Rabbi Rachel Goldenberg, Chester, CT

Rabbi Eva Goldfinger, Farmington Hills, MI

Rabbi Michael M. Goldman, Durham, NC

Rabbi Debra E. Goldstein, Larchmont, NY

Rabbi Seth Goldstein, Olympia, WA

Rabbi Jeffrey W. Goldwasser, North Adams, MA

Rabbi Paul Golomb, Poughkeepsie, NY

Rabbi Linda Henry Goodman, Brooklyn, NY

Rabbi Marc Gopin, Silver Spring, MD

Rabbi David M. Gordis, Newton, MA

Rabbinical Student Andy Gordon, New York, NY

Rabbi Debora S. Gordon, Troy, NY

Cantor Jonathan Ben Gordon, White Plains, NY

Rabbi Leonard David Gordon Philadelphia, PA

Rabbi Maralee Gordon, Woodstock, IL

Rabbi William Joseph Gordon, Chatsworth, CA

Rabbi Seth Goren, Pitttsburgh, PA

Rabbinical Student Emma Gottlieb, New York, NY

Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb, Ojai, CA

Rabbi Mel Gottlieb, Los Angeles, CA

Cantorial Student Eileen Gottschalk, Rochester, NY

Rabbi Roberto Graetz, Lafayette, CA

Rabbi Arthur Green, Newton, MA

Rabbi Yitzhak Greenberg, New York, NY

Rabbi David Greenstein, Rego Park, NY

Rabbinical Student Adam Ron Greenwald, Los Angeles, CA

Rabbinical Student Nicole Greninger, New York, NY

Rabbi Suzanne Griffel, Chicago, IL

Rabbi Susan Grossman, Columbia, MD

Rabbi Joshua Gutoff, Brooklyn, NY

Rabbi Stanley D. Halpern, Gary, IN

Rabbi Jill Hammer, New York, NY

Rabbi Maurice Harris, Eugene, OR

Rabbi Abraham Havivi, Los Angeles, CA

Rabbi Lauren Grabelle Herrmann, Philadelphia, PA

Rabbi Garson Herzfeld, Brooklyn, NY

Rabbinical Student Neil Elliot Hirsch, New York, NY

Rabbi Aryeh Hirschfield, Portland, OR

Cantor Linda Hirschhorn, San Leandro, CA

Rabbinical Student Jo Hirschmann, Bronx, NY

Rabbinical Student Janie Hodgetts, Chestnet Hill, MA

Rabbinical Student Heidi Hoover, Brooklyn, NY

Rabbi Mark Hurvitz, New York, NY

Cantor Bradley Hyman, Plainview NY

Rabbi Naomi Mara Hyman, Easton, MD

Rabbi David Ingber, New York, NY

Rabbi Daniel Isaacson, Berkeley, CA

Rabbi Daniel J. Isaak, Portland, OR

Rabbi Sheldon Isenberg, Gainesville, FL

Rabbi Brett R. Isserow, Alexandria, VA

Rabbi Steven B. Jacobs, Woodland Hills, CA

Rabbi Burt Jacobson, Piedmont, CA

Rabbi Devorah L. Jacobson, Amherst, MA

Rabbinical Student Daria Jacobs-Velde, Philadelphia, PA

Rabbinical Student Joshua G. Jacobs-Velde, Philadelphia, PA

Rabbi Jennifer Jaech, Croton-on-Hudson, NY

Cantorial Student Marisa Elana James, Orange, CT

Rabbi Norman Janis, Cambridge, MA

Rabbi Beth Anne Janus, Santa Cruz, CA

Rabbi Amita Jarmon, Rockland, ME

Rabbi John Jensen, Grants Pass, OR

Rabbi Daniel Judson, Roslindale,MA

Rabbi Eitan Julius, Northwest Galilee

Rabbi Yoel Kahn, Berkeley, CA

Rabbinical Student Daniel Kaiman, Los Angeles, CA

Rabbi David Kaiman, Gainesville, FL

Rabbi Raphael Joshua Kanter, New Bedford, MA

Rabbi Peter Edward Kasdan, Longboat Key, FL

Rabbi Joanna Katz, New Paltz, NY

Rabbi Hillel Katzir, Auburn, ME

Cantor Aviva Katzman, Chicago, IL

Rabbi Alvan Kaunfer, Providence, RI

Cantor Jack Kessler, Philadelphia, PA

Rabbi Stanley Kessler, West Hartford, CT

Rabbi Paul Kipnes, Calabasas, CA

Rabbinical Student Emma Kippley-Ogman, Jerusalem, Israel

Rabbinical Student Donna Kirshbaum, Swarthmore, PA

Rabbi Lori D. Klein, Santa Cruz, CA

Rabbinical Student Margaret Frisch Klein, North Chelmsford, MA

Rabbinical Student Margie Klein, Brooklin, MA

Rabbi Stephen A. Klein, Scarsdale, NY

Cantor Jeff Klepper, West Roxbury, MA

Rabbi Jonathan Kligler, Woodstock, NY

Rabbi David L. Kline, West Roxbury, MA

Rabbi Marc Aaron Kline, Lexington, KY

Rabbi Tracy Guren Klirs, Great Neck, NY

Rabbi Myriam Klotz, Bala Cynwyd, PA

Rabbinical Student Rachel Korbin, Los Angeles, CA

Rabbi Peter Knobel, Evanston, IL

Rabbi Norman D. Koch, New Milford, CT

Rabbinical Student Debra Ruth Kolodny, Silver Spring, MD

Rabbi David Kominsky, Portland, OR

Rabbi Neil Kominsky, Lowell, MA

Rabbi Ira L. Korinow, Haverhill, MA

Cantor Leigh Korn, Lafayette, CA

Rabbi Emily Faust Korzenik, Scarsdale, NY

Rabbi Chava Koster, New York, NY

Rabbi Michael Louis Kramer, Massapequa, NY

Rabbi Douglas E. Krantz, Armonk, NY

Rabbi Leonard Sanford Kravitz, Hackensack, NJ

Rabbi Judith Kummer, Roslindale, MA

Rabbi Jeffrey Kurtz-Lendner, Hollywood, FL

Rabbi Gail Labovitz, Los Angeles, CA

Rabbi Susan Laemmle, Los Angeles, CA

Rabbi Lynne Landsberg, Washington, DC

Rabbi Michael Adam Latz, Seattle, WA

Rabbi Allan Lehmann, Newton, MA

Rabbi Shoshana Leis, Bronx, NY

Rabbi Michele E. Lenke, Needham, MA

Rabbi Michael Lerner, Berkeley, CA

Rabbi Joshua Lesser, Atlanta, GA

Rabbi Sarra Lev, Philadelphia, PA

Rabbi Amy Levin, Cranston, RI

Rabbi Mark H. Levin, Overland Park, KS

Cantor Samuel E. Levine, Brooklyn, NY

Rabbi Joshua Levine Grater, Pasadena, CA

Rabbi David Louis Levinsky, Palo Alto, CA

Cantor Mark A. Levy, Felton, CA

Rabbi Richard N. Levy, Los Angeles, CA

Rabbi Robert Douglas Levy, Ann Arbor, MI

Rabbi Stan Levy, Los Angeles, CA

Rabbi Sue E. Levy, Webster, TX

Rabbi Yael Levy, Philadelphia, PA

Rabbi Sheldon Joel Lewis, Palo Alto, CA

Rabbi Michael J. Lezak, San Rafael, CA

Rabbi Elias Lieberman, East Faimouth, MA

Rabbi Mordechai Liebling, Philadelphia, PA

Rabbi Yossi J. Liebowitz, Spartanburg, SC

Rabbi Howard V. Lifshitz, Long Grove, IL

Rabbi Rebecca Lillian, Miami, FL

Rabbi John A. Linder, Glenview, IL

Rabbi Ellen Lippmann, Brooklyn, NY

Rabbi Richard M. Litvak, Aptos, CA

Rabbi Neal J. Loevinger, Poughkeepsie, NY

Rabbi Andrea C. London, Evanston, IL

Rabbi Alan David Londy, New York, NY

Rabbi Michael Lotker, Camarillo, CA

Rabbi Alan Lovins, New Haven, CT

Cantor Jonathan Lovins, West Hartford, CT

Rabbi Steven Lowenstein, Glencoe, IL

Cantorial Student Abbe Lyons, Ithaca, NY

Rabbi Sarah E. Mack, Providence, RI

Rabbi Shaul Magid, Bloomington, IN

Rabbi Jonathan Malino, Greensboro, NC

Rabbi Tamar Malino, Poway, CA

Rabbi Nina H. Mandel, Sunbury, PA

Rabbi Harry A. Manhoff San Leandro, CA

Rabbi Paula Marcus, Aptos, CA

Rabbi Natan Margalit, Newton Centre, MA

Rabbi Miriam Margles, Glenford, NY

Rabbi Bonnie Margulis, Madison, WI

Rabbi Jeffrey M. Marker, Brooklyn, NY

Rabbi Richard Marker, New York, NY

Rabbi Nathan Martin, Ann Arbor, MI

Rabbi Robert Marx, Saugatuck, MI

Rabbi J. Rolando Matalon, New York, NY

Rabbi Dennis N. Math, New York City, NY

Rabbinical Student Jaron Matlow, Philadelphia, PA

Rabbi Ralph Mecklenburger, Fort Worth, TX

Rabbi Bernard Mehlman, Boston, MA

Rabbi Rim Meirowitz, Winchester, MA

Rabbi Paul J. Menitoff, Palm Beach, FL

Rabbi Joseph Meszler, Sharon, MA

Rabbinical Student Abby Michaleski, Hammonton, NJ

Rabbinical Student Diana Miller, Philadelphia, PA

Rabbi Mark J. Miller, Houston, TX

Rabbi Joshua Minkin, Brooklyn, NY

Rabbi Yocheved Mintz, Las Vegas, NV

Rabbi Michelle Missaghieh, Los Angeles, CA

Rabbi David Mivasair, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Rabbi Stephen Fisher Moch, Holiday, FL

Rabbi Jack Moline, Alexandria, VA

Rabbi Ben Morrow, Santa Fe, NM

Rabbi Linda Motzkin, Gansevoort, NY

Rabbi Ben Newman, Bronx, NY

Rabbi Richard Newman, Sea Point, South Africa

Rabbi Leah Novick, Carmel, CA

Rabbi Jonathan Omer-Man, Berkeley, CA

Rabbinical Student Hannah Orden, Milton, MA

Rabbinical Student Saul F. Oresky, Wyncote, PA

Rabbi Barbara Ostfeld, Buffalo, NY

Rabbi Andrew M. Paley, Dallas TX

Rabbi Alexis Pearce, San Diego, CA

Rabbi Barbara Rosman Penzner, West Roxbury, MA

Rabbinical Student Jill Perlman, New York, NY

Cantor Mark J. Perman, Marietta, GA

Rabbinical Student Karen R. Perolman, New York, NY

Rabbi Shoshana Perry, Chelmsford, MA

Rabbi Jonah D. Pesner, Needham, MA

Rabbi Aaron Petuchowski, Chicago, IL

Rabbi William Plevan, New York, NY

Rabbi Philip M. Poanwe, San Antonio, TX

Rabbi Allen Howard Podet, Jamestown, NY

Rabbinical Student Rena Polonsky, Los Angeles, CA

Rabbi Philip M. Posner, Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico

Rabbi Amber Powers, Philadelphia, PA

Rabbi Marcia Prager, Philadelphia, PA

Rabbi Allan Press, Danville, NH

Cantor Ari Priven, New York, NY

Cantor Steven Puzarne, Los Angeles CA

Rabbi Sanford Ragins, Los Angeles, CA

Rabbi Lawrence Raphael, San Francisco, CA

Rabbi Rayzel R. Raphael, Melrose Park, PA

Rabbi Paula Reimers, Lebanon, PA

Rabbi Victor H. Reinstein, Jamaica Plain, MA

Rabbi Steven Carr Reuben, Pacific Palisades, CA

Rabbi Yael Ridberg, New York, NY

Rabbi Seth Daniel Riemer, Middletown, CT

Rabbi Daniel A. Roberts, University Hts., OH

Rabbi Rochelle Robins, San Diego, CA

Rabbi Yael Romer, Kingston, NY

Rabbi Brant Rosen, Evanston, IL

Rabbi Aaron Paul Rosenberg, Waterford, CT

Rabbi James B. Rosenberg, Barrington, RI

Rabbinical Student Matthew Todd Rosenberg, Bel Air, CA

Cantor Aviva Rosenbloom, Los Angeles, CA

Rabbi Anna S. Rosenfield, Pittsburgh, PA

Rabbi John Leon Rosove, Los Angeles, CA

Rabbi Donald Rossoff, Morristown, NJ

Rabbi Jeffrey M. Roth, New Paltz, NY

Rabbi Michael Rothbaum, Bronxville, NY

Rabbi Jonathan Rubenstein, Gansevoort, NY

Rabbinical Student Sandra M. Rubenstein, Wyncote, PA

Rabbi Sarah Rubin, Keene, NH

Rabbi Robert Saks, University Park MD

Rabbi Regina L. Sandler-Phillips, Brooklyn, NY

Rabbi David Fox Sandmel, Chicago, IL

Rabbi Dennis Sasso, Indianapolis, IN

Rabbi Sandy Sasso, Indianapolis, IN

Rabbi Julie Saxe-Taller, Berkeley, CA

Cantor Hollis Suzanne Schachner, Wayland, MA

Rabbi Jeffrey L. Schein, Cleveland, OH

Cantor Robert S. Scherr, Williamstown, MA

Rabbi Chaim Leib Schneider, Aptos, CA

Cantor Neil Schnitzer, Philadelphia, PA

Rabbi Rachel Schoenfeld, Allston, MA

Rabbi Marvin S. Schwab, Santa FE, NM

Rabbi J. Frederic Schwalb, Croton-on-Hudson, NY

Rabbi Arthur L. Schwartz, Cold Spring Harbor, NY

Rabbi Barry Schwartz, Cherry Hill, NJ

Cantor Richard Schwartz, Culver City, CA

Rabbi Amy M. Schwartzman, Falls Church, VA

Rabbi Adrienne P. Scott, Houston, TX

Rabbi Allen Secher, Whitefish, MT

Rabbi Steve Segar, University Heights, OH

Rabbi Judith Seid, Pleasanton, CA

Rabbi David Seidenberg, Florence, MA

Rabbi Jerry Seidler, Amherst, NY

Rabbi Chaim Seidler-Feller, Los Angeles, CA

Rabbi Bruce B. Seltzer, Northampton, MA

Cantor David Serkin-Poole, Bellevue, WA

Rabbi Gerald Serotta, Chevy Chase, MD

Rabbi Isaac Serotta, Highland Park, IL

Rabbi Drorah Setel, Buffalo, NY

Rabbi Judy Shanks, Lafayette, CA

Rabbi Mark Dov Shapiro, Springfield, MA

Rabbi Bonnie Sharfman, Scottsdale, AZ

Rabbi Dan Shevitz, Venice, CA

Rabbi Paul Shleffar, Emeralds Hills, CA

Cantor Linda Shivers, Portland, OR

Rabbi David Shneyer, Rockville, MD

Rabbi Linda Shriner-Cahn, Bronx, NY

Rabbinical Student Andy Shugerman, New York, NY

Rabbi Jodie Siff, Plandome, NY

Rabbinical Student Deborah Silver, Jerusalem

Rabbinical Student Jack Silver, Temple, AZ

Rabbi Susan Silverman, West Stockbridge, MA

Rabbinical Student David Singer, Brooklyn, NY

Rabbi Jonathan Singer, Seattle, WA

Rabbi Scott A. Slarskey, Newton, MA

Rabbi Jonathan P Slater, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY

Rabbi Amy Joy Small, Summit, NJ

Rabbinical Student Josh Snyder, Philadelphia, PA

Rabbinical Student Matthew Soffer, Brooklyn, NY

Rabbi Ruth H. Sohn, Los Angeles, CA

Rabbi Myra Soifer, Reno, NV

Rabbi Felicia Sol, New York, NY

Rabbi Eric Solomon, Raleigh, NC

Rabbi Hesch Sommer, Madison, CT

Cantor Kerith Spencer-Shapiro, Leonia, NJ

Rabbi David S. Sperling, New York NY

Rabbi Scott Sperling, Takoma Park, MD

Rabbi Aaron Spiegel, Indianapolis, IN

Rabbi Adam S. Spilker, St. Paul, MN

Rabbinical Student Patrice Spitz, Boulder, CO

Rabbi Toba Spitzer, Lexington, MA

Rabbi Brent C. Spodek, New York, NY

Rabbi Joshua Stampfer, Portland, OR

Rabbi Sonya Starr, Columbia, MD

Rabbi Jacob Staub, Philadelphia, PA

Rabbi Linda K. Steigman, Wilkes-Barre, PA

Rabbinical Student Adam Stein, Los Angeles, CA

Rabbi Margot Stein, Bala Cynwyd, PA

Rabbi Gershon Steinberg-Caudill, El Cerrito, CA

Rabbi George M. Stern, Philadelphia, PA

Rabbi Ronald Stern, Los Angeles, CA

Rabbi Shira Stern, Morganville, NJ

Rabbinical Student Kaya J. Stern-Kaufman, Housatonic, MA

Rabbi Ariel Stone, Portland, OR

Rabbi Andrew Straus, Tempe, AZ

Rabbi Shira Stutman, Philadelphia, PA

Rabbi Alvin Marx Sugarman, Atlanta, GA

Rabbi Yaffa-Shira Sultan, San Diego, CA

Rabbi Jeff Sultar, Philadelphia, PA

Rabbi Daniel J. Swartz, Scranton, PA

Rabbi Robert P. Tabak, Melrose Park, PA

Rabbi Joshua Samuel Taub, St. Louis, MO

Cantor Elliot Taubman, Block Island, RI

Rabbi Michael Z. P. Tayvah, Great Neck, NY

Rabbi David A. Teutsch, Wyncote, PA

Rabbi David L. Teva, Middletown, CT

Rabbi David Thomas, Sudbury, MA

Cantor William R. Tiep, New Orleans, LA

Rabbi Lawrence Troster, Teaneck, NJ

Rabbi Theodore Tsuruoka, Great Neck, NY

Rabbi Jason van Leeuwen, Encino, CA

Rabbi Burton L. Visotzky, New York, NY

Rabbi Andrew D. Vogel, Brookline, MA

Rabbi Heidi F. Waldmann, Plattsburgh, NY

Rabbi Moshe Waldoks, Brookline, MA

Rabbi Brian Walt, West Tisbury, MA

Rabbi Bruce S. Warshal, Hillsboro Beach, FL

Rabbi Arthur Waskow, Philadelphia, PA

Rabbi Sheila Peltz Weinberg, Amherst, MA

Cantor Alan Weiner, Valley Village, CA

Rabbi Cheryl J. Weiner, Los Angeles, CA

Rabbi Daniel Alan Weiner, Seattle, WA

Rabbi Scott Weiner, New York, NY

Rabbinical Student Jay H. Weinstein, Syosset, NY

Rabbi Simkha Y. Weintraub, Brooklyn, NY

Rabbi Melissa Weintraub, Brooklyn, NY

Rabbi Zari M. Weiss, Seattle, WA

Rabbi Lewis J. Weiss, Indianapolis, IN

Rabbi Max W. Weiss, Hoffman Estates, IL

Rabbi Margaret M. Wenig, New York, NY

Rabbi Harry Scott White, Prairie Village, KS

Rabbi Nancy Wiener, New York, NY

Rabbi Shohama Wiener, New Rochelle, NY

Rabbi Avi Winokur, Philadelphia, PA

Rabbi Arnold Jacob Wolf, Chicago, IL

Rabbi Joseph A. Wolf, Portland, OR

Cantor Ross Wolman, Evanston, IL

Rabbi Bridget Wynne, Albany, CA

Rabbi Elana Zaiman, Seattle, WA

Rabbi Mary Zamore, Morristown, NJ

Cantor Lorel Zar-Kessler, Sudbury, MA

Rabbi Adam Zeff, Philadelphia, PA

Rabbinical Student Ziona Zelazo, Franklin Lakes, NJ

Rabbi Lina N. Zerbarini, New Haven, CT

Rabbi Shawn Zevit, Jenkintown, PA

Rabbinical Student Jonathan D. Zimet, New York, NY

Rabbinical Student Chanah Zimmermann, Klamath Falls, OR

Rabbi Laurie Zimmerman, Madison, WI

Rabbinical Student Rain Zohav, Rockville, MD

Rabbi Henry A. Zoob, Westwood, MA
Rabbi David J. Zucker, Aurora, CO

Brit Tzedek v'Shalom, the Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace, is a national grassroots organization more than 36,000 strong, that educates and mobilizes American Jews in support of a negotiated two-state resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Cut Israel off

Cut Israel off
By Charley Reese

Charley Reese has written a few items in the following article, that are not peace building initiatives but an isolationist approach. In general he makes sense.

“Israel is a strategic and economic liability.” I disagree with this statement, Israel may be an economic liability, but not a strategic one. She is our ally and we cannot be jumping around from one to the other. State department has consistently failed in almost all its policies, let there not be another one.

“Israel’s goal is and always has been to take all of Palestine and to get rid of the Palestinians.” Is this goal stated some place? Has any of the initial leaders pronounced this?

“They have blatantly violated international law by building settlements on occupied land, and by violating the airspace of other sovereign countries.” And perhaps that is the reason the peace process is delayed, the Common Israelis need to speak out against this. This is wrong and is a detriment to peace. Whenever there is injustice, tables will turn around one day or the other.

“The Arab and Muslim people, with the exception of al-Qaeda, don’t hate America or Americans.” Agree with that, and of course, our current administrations has no qualms in lying to the public and the neo-cons breed on chaos and cash in creating an environment of fear, we don’t need to be suckered in to their money making schemes.

The Israel lobby will do more damage to the interest of Israel than any one else. They pursue a policy of taking advantage of others to the point, it will tilt the balance to the detriment of Israel. Any undue advantage taken by the lobby, will affect Israel.

Here is Charley Rees’s piece:

Cut Israel Off
Posted on November 17, 2007
By Charley Reese
ICH -11/16/07 “Antiwar“

It is long past time for American politicians to quit carrying water for the state of Israel and its powerful U.S. lobby. Congress’ craven obedience to the lobby is a disgrace.

America’s strategic interests in the Middle East lie with the Arab countries. Israel is a strategic and economic liability. The U.S. government’s slavish support of Israel brands us as a hypocrite and is responsible for most of the hostility toward the U.S.

Americans have been brainwashed into believing that it’s the Arabs, and the Palestinians in particular, who don’t want peace. That is a big lie. The Palestinians made an enormous concession when they agreed to settle for a state on 18 percent of Palestine. Saudi Arabia proposed several years ago a peace plan in which all of the Arab countries would recognize Israel in exchange for Israeli withdrawal from the occupied territories. The Israelis rejected it out of hand, just as they reject Arab efforts to have the Middle East a nuclear-free zone.

Israel’s goal is and always has been to take all of Palestine and to get rid of the Palestinians. The Israelis employed ethnic cleansing in 1948 and again in 1967 to make hundreds of thousands of Palestinians refugees. For 40 years, the Israelis have refused to give back the Palestinian and Syrian lands they seized in war. They have blatantly violated international law by building settlements on occupied land, and by violating the airspace of other sovereign countries.

Palestinians are the victims, not the villains, in this case. The Israelis make their lives miserable in the hope they will give up and leave. At the same time, the Israelis, in cahoots with the American government, maintain a charade of proposed peace talks. They of course never come to fruition. The Israeli government is not about to allow the Palestinians to have a viable state. If they give the Palestinians anything, it will be a patchwork of enclaves completely surrounded and controlled by Israel. Having created 700,000 Palestinian refugees, the Israelis have from the beginning refused to allow them to return to their homes, farms and businesses, all of which Israel confiscated on the specious grounds that they were “abandoned property.”

Without U.S. aid, which now is conservatively estimated to total $108 billion (think of the infrastructure and schools that amount could build in the U.S.), and without the U.S. wielding its veto every time the United Nations tries to act, none of this would be possible.

It is not just the Muslim world that hates our pro-Israel foreign policy, for sound reasons that it is unjust and cruel. Europeans and others around the world are contemptuous of America’s slavelike obedience to a small foreign power. It has gotten to the point that to be seen as an ally of the United States is viewed negatively.

The Arab and Muslim people, with the exception of al-Qaeda, don’t hate America or Americans. It is the pro-Israel foreign policy and, of course, our invasions of two Muslim countries that they hate. Virtually all of the anti-Arab and anti-Muslim propaganda generated in this country has its source in the Israeli lobby and in Israel itself.

Thanks to the unconstitutional largess of the cowardly Congress, Israel is a rich country and one of the world’s leading military powers. It doesn’t need American aid. It is time to quit dancing to the tune of a lobby with dual loyalties and to pursue America’s interests.

Americans are being betrayed by their own politicians, and it’s time to treat those scoundrels with the contempt they deserve.

Annapolis peace conference

Annapolis peace conference

November 27, 2007

Information about peace conference will follow moderators comments:

I do hope some one at the State department is willing to push the REFRESH button and start thinking afresh. It takes courage and guts, and without it, nothing in the world has ever been achieved.

The most important party to peace making is the ones that affected and the ones who can make a difference. Mother Teresa said “If you want peace, to talk with your enemies, you don’t make peace with friends”.

I do hope the state department brings people who are willing to speak out, and speak up. If they bring the puppets and make decisions, they won't last longer. They need to bring Hamas into the picture without them in the equation we will not succeed.

All our efforts to place wedges between Abbas and Hamas shows our desperation to do something. We cannot bring peace when still a party to the conflict is not part of the solution. I have spoken against the agenda of Hamas, but if we need peace, a geunine one, they need to ba part of the equation.

Please push the refresh button of your mind.

Mike Ghouse

Annapolis peace conference Nov. 27

http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2007/11_20-24/OUD

The much-anticipated Annapolis peace conference apparently has shrunk to a one-day affair, to be held next Tuesday at the Naval Academy.

To prepare for the international event, Annapolis flags will be replaced by American flags throughout the town starting tomorrow, according to a spokesman for the mayor.
"We are proud to host the conference on behalf of America, not just the city of Annapolis," said Karen Engelke, special projects coordinator for Mayor Ellen O. Moyer. "We want to have the welcome mat out."

Even though the State Department is keeping all information about the conference under wraps - even the dates - the Associated Press cites department sources in reporting that the conference will be held on Tuesday. It is being orchestrated by the United States to help Israel and the Palestinians inch their way toward a lasting peace. The Bush administration announced the conference in September.

The conference will be held in between meetings in Washington, the AP reported. The primary guests are the Israelis and the Palestinians, and the Bush administration also is inviting Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Syria and key international players in the peace process.

But with only a week to go, the State Department still is keeping the conference under tight wraps.

"We have not announced the dates. When we announce the dates, we will announce them," State
Department spokesman Leslie Phillips said yesterday.

Naval Academy officials weren't releasing any information, either.

"When they confirm it, they confirm it, and I guess all the dates will fall into place," Naval Academy spokesman Deborah Goode said in referring a reporter's inquiry to the State Department.

Local police officers also aren't saying much about their role in providing security during the conference.

"We have agreed to provide personnel resources to the Diplomatic Security service. At this time, we are in the planning phase, so I cannot confirm number of personnel and/or the dates," Anne Arundel County Police Department spokesman Sgt. Sara Schriver said this morning.

A spokesman for the Maryland State Police Annapolis Barrack said troopers will be helping, but he declined to say how many, or when, or what they will be doing.

Ms. Engelke, of the Mayor's Office, said only two groups have applied for special events permits.
Shalom International, based in Miami Beach, Fla., has applied for a permit to hold a "Jerusalem Isn't for Sale - Defend Jerusalem" rally at Gate 1 of the Naval Academy Monday and Tuesday, and America for a Safe Israel, with its headquarters in New York City, plans to have a First Amendment rally on Monday afternoon.

According to permit applications, the rally by Shalom International is expected to attract "100 but this could easily get bigger given the politics."

Robert Kunst, president of Shalom International, said his group will rally outside the White House on Sunday, and outside Gate 1 at the Naval Academy on Monday and Tuesday, even if the conference isn't held on the expected date.

"It is a rally to stop Munich II - Munich I was when they gave the Sudetenland to (Adolph) Hitler in 1938, which started World War II" and the Holocaust, Mr. Kunst said.

A spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Ibrahim Hooper, told The Capital that responsibility for peace rests with Israel.

"Unless the Israelis are serious about promoting justice for the Palestinian people and about freedom from occupation, I don't see much coming out of the conference," Mr. Hooper said.

He said Israel's government uses demonstrations by a handful of anti-Palestinian radicals as an excuse to continue its abuse of Palestinians.

As preparation for the conference, the Israeli cabinet on Monday approved the release of 441 Palestinian prisoners and pledged not to build any new settlements in the West Bank, according to the Associated Press. But, Israel stopped short of American demands to halt construction in existing settlements before the crucial conference.

Israel is holding as prisoner an estimated 9,000 Palestinians, and Palestinian leaders had asked for 2,000 to be freed.

The head of the Anti-Defamation League told The Capital the conference may accomplish a lot, even though it will be shorter and less dramatic than most peace talks.

League National Director Abraham H. Foxman said the most important thing the conference can accomplish, realistically, is to get the sides to agree to meet and talk some more.

The key indicator is whether surrounding Arab countries agree to participate in the talks, Mr. Foxman said.

"The measure of success will be who comes, more than what they achieve," he said.

Experts said Israel regards the upcoming conference only as a ceremonial launching pad for new peace efforts, while the Palestinians want a more detailed plan for how future post-conference talks will proceed.

At the Naval Academy, no major schedule changes have been made for next week for the 4,400-member Brigade of Midshipmen, an academy spokesman said yesterday. The mids will get off a little past noon tomorrow, and will have liberty on Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving, but will be back in class on Monday.

Staff Writer Heather Rawlyk and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

- No Jumps-

.......................................................................................................

Peace Burden on Israel

http://www.cair.com/ArticleDetails.aspx?mid1=674&&ArticleID=23799&&name=n&&currPage=1

The much-anticipated Annapolis peace conference apparently has shrunk to a one-day affair, to be held next Tuesday at the Naval Academy.

To prepare for the international event, Annapolis flags will be replaced by American flags throughout the town starting tomorrow, according to a spokesman for the mayor.

"We are proud to host the conference on behalf of America, not just the city of Annapolis," said Karen Engelke, special projects coordinator for Mayor Ellen O. Moyer. "We want to have the welcome mat out."

Even though the State Department is keeping all information about the conference under wraps - even the dates - the Associated Press cites department sources in reporting that the conference will be held on Tuesday. It is being orchestrated by the United States to help Israel and the Palestinians inch their way toward a lasting peace. The Bush administration announced the conference in September.

The conference will be held in between meetings in Washington, the AP reported. The primary guests are the Israelis and the Palestinians, and the Bush administration also is inviting Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Syria and key international players in the peace process. . .

According to permit applications, the rally by Shalom International is expected to attract "100 but this could easily get bigger given the politics."

Robert Kunst, president of Shalom International, said his group will rally outside the White House on Sunday, and outside Gate 1 at the Naval Academy on Monday and Tuesday, even if the conference isn't held on the expected date.

"It is a rally to stop Munich II - Munich I was when they gave the Sudetenland to (Adolph) Hitler in 1938, which started World War II" and the Holocaust, Mr. Kunst said.

A spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Ibrahim Hooper, told The Capital that responsibility for peace rests with Israel.

"Unless the Israelis are serious about promoting justice for the Palestinian people and about freedom from occupation, I don't see much coming out of the conference," Mr. Hooper said.

He said Israel's government uses demonstrations by a handful of anti-Palestinian radicals as an excuse to continue its abuse of Palestinians.

Punishing Gaza

Punishing Gaza
By Stephen Lendman
November 6, 2007














Moderator comments follow the article

On September 20, Haaretz reported: "The security cabinet voted unanimously yesterday to increase sanctions against the Hamas-run Gaza Strip (and declare) the region a 'hostile entity.' " A further statement read: "We will reduce the amount of megawattage we provide to the Strip, and Hamas will have to decide whether to provide electricity to hospitals or weapons lathes." Israeli officials also decided to punish Gazans by restricting:

-- fuel as well as electricity from Israel to Gaza;

-- the passage of goods and people through border crossings that are already severely restricted; and

-- visits to prisoners even further than how limited they are already.

An increased monitoring of funds was also announced as well as stating border crossings would be closed for up to 48 hours in response to (crude small homemade) Qassam rocket fire, and that Israel would supply nothing further to Gaza residents "except for (whatever Israel considers) humanitarian needs." Hamas' response was swift and sharp. Spokesman Fawzi Barhoum called the cabinet's decision and sanctions a "declaration of war" and said "we must unite the ranks to come together in the conflict with the cruel enemy....This is another attempt to force us to surrender (our sovereignty)."

At first, the world community hardly blinked with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon acting as irresponsibly as his predecessor. He urged Israel to reconsider its decision but denounced Hamas for its "continued indiscriminate rocket fire....into Israel (and that he) understand(s) Israel's security concerns over this matter." Nothing in his statement mentioned Israel's daily attacks and killings of Palestinians or the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza after Israel closed its borders last June, isolated the Territory from the outside world, and cut off most essential supplies and services to its people.

Karen Koning-Abu Zayd is the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) Commissioner-General for Palestine Refugees. On October 30, she showed more concern than her boss by saying Israel's decision to cut fuel and electricity to Gaza violates international law. She noted Israel's concern, but stressed "how can you want to punish people, all of them in Gaza (as) most of them....are not behind these activities....if you don't have electricity, you don't have water, you probably don't have food." This action will have a "very serious" effect on the population.

Two other UN officials also went public with their criticisms. UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Jean Ziegler was one of them. He called on the European Commission to suspend commercial relations with Israel until it stops preventing Palestinians from receiving food without restrictions. He reported to the General Assembly that 22% of Palestinian children already suffer from malnutrition because they lack access to food.

UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, John Dugard, also weighed in. He called on State Members in their capacity as High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention. He asked them to ensure Israel complies with its provisions regarding the protection of civilians in times of war. One of them under article 54 states: "Starvation of civilians as a method of warfare is prohibited," as well as "attack(ing), remov(ing), or render(ing) useless objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population such as foodstuffs, agricultural areas (for their production), crops, livestock, drinking water installations and supplies and irrigation works.... " Article 55 then obligates an occupying power to ensure "the food and medical supplies of the population."

Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) chief Walter Fust also expressed alarm after a recent Gaza visit. He called conditions "untenable" and "shocking" with 30% of children (in his judgment) malnourished and hospitals and health centers in a precarious state.

Things then changed on October 30. Haaretz reported Israel's "High Court of Justice ordered the state to respond within five days to a petition submitted by dozens of human rights groups (10 of them according to other reports) to halt its (Gaza fuel and electricity) cutoff," but it stopped short of banning the action. Justices may have been concerned after the European Union (EU) criticized Israel's move on October 29 calling it an act of "collective punishment." EU commissioner for external relations, Benita Ferraro-Waldner, said she was "very concerned" about the decision, that it's not a solution, and that the EU doesn't "want the population to suffer."

It's hard knowing if this signals change or whether to take the commissioner's concern seriously. The European community, along with Israel and the US, denounced Hamas' democratic election in January, 2006 as the legitimate Palestinian government. It's response ever since was to end all outside aid and impose crushing sanctions and an economic embargo on the Territories as well as politically isolate the new Hamas government.

The results were devastating. Even before the latest crisis, Gaza's industrial production had fallen 90% and its agricultural output was half its pre-2007 level. In addition, nearly all construction had stopped, unemployment is around 80%, and the level of poverty is shocking based on World Bank data showing over 80% of Gazans live on less than $2.40 a day. Further, the Palestinian Al Huq association of jurists called Israel's summer, 2005 Gaza disengagement fraudulent as "Israel retains full control of the Gaza Strip's land borders, population registry, airspace and territorial sea," and the IDF invades the Territory at will.

The EU was silent about this and Israel's overall repressive rule, land expropriations, daily incursions, and regular attacks and killings in the Territories. It was unconcerned about the internal violence on Gaza streets last spring and gave tacit support to anti-Hamas US and Israeli-armed Fatah (Protective Security Force) paramilitary death squads led by warlord Mohammed Dahlan. It ignored Hamas' months-long unilateral cease-fire, its ending all suicide bombings, its call for peace, and its willingness to recognize the Jewish state if Israel accepts and recognizes a Palestinian one.

Its founder, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin said at the time Hamas would end its struggle "if the Zionists ended its occupation of Palestinian territories and stopped killing Palestinian women, children and innocent civilians." Israel and the West rejected the offer and all good faith efforts. They opted instead to punish Palestinians collectively and deny them their legitimate rights.

After Hamas defeated Fatah paramilitaries, the EU backed Mahmoud Abbas' quisling West Bank government. It ignored Gaza's punishing isolation and Oxfam Great Britain's grim warning of the "increasing desperation of Gazans as shortages of fuel, water and food are reported." It failed to denounce Israel and the US for creating the crisis affecting 1.5 million people. It stood allied instead with Washington and the Olmert government and did so ever since. The same is true of the UN. It's hard thinking that's changed, and it'll take more than occasional high-sounding comments from a few officials to prove it.

In the meantime, Israel began reducing fuel supplies on October 28, and Gaza's deputy Petroleum Authority director, Ahmed Ali, said diesel fuel and gasoline deliveries were 30% lower than usual. He then added: "This is a serious warning (and) the people of Gaza....are now in danger. The hospitals, water pumping station and sewage will be affected by the lack of fuel." Israel's Dor Alon energy company confirmed the reduction, and the Defense Ministry said the Sufa crossing used for transporting fuel to Gaza was closed.

On October 25, Defense Minister Ehud Barak ordered the phased cutoff, and his deputy, Matan Vilnai, said "We will dramatically reduce the flow of electricity (by about two-thirds) from Israel over several weeks" to let Gaza supply its own electricity that's impossible as Israel knows. He added this measure is part of Israel's "deeper, broader disengagement." He neglected to say it's an illegal act of collective punishment as Gaza relies on Israel for all its fuel (that includes diesel, gasoline and natural gas) and most of its electricity.

The Palestinian Center for Human Rights reported Gaza needs over 220 megawatts of electricity and consumes about 200 megawatts, 60% of which is bought from Israel. The Gaza Electricity Generation Plant supplies 65 megawatts and another 17 megawatts are bought from Egypt. When Israel directly controlled the Strip, it let Gazans establish enough electrical capacity for only 38% of their needs. Then during "Operation Summer Rain" in June, 2006, the IDF assaulted the Territory, bombed its only electrical power plant, and destroyed its main transformers with missiles. Months of rebuilding restored less than two-thirds of its original 100 megawatt capacity and made the area mostly dependent on Israel for supply.

After declaring Gaza a "hostile entity" on September 19, that's now in jeopardy unless Israel reverses its stance and reconsiders other collective punishment measures as well. Currently, its authority allows only nine basic materials to enter the Territory. That hit local markets hard, and most ran out of many items causing sharp price rises up to 500% in some cases. Items banned include some medicines, furniture, electrical appliances, cows and cigarettes while others restricted are fruits, milk and other dairy products.

Then there's the energy plan. It's to begin cutting electricity for 15 minutes, then a half hour with daily increases as long as the punitive measure remains in effect that doesn't apply to hospitals and other "vital installations," Vilnai said. Things are now on hold, however, after Attorney General Menachem Mazuz temporarily halted the electricity cutoff following a "debate" in his office on October 29. He was apparently acting on UN and EU comments as well as his own High Court's order to respond to a petition by 10 human rights organizations in five days to stop this punitive action. Mazuz said Israel had a right to sever economic and commercial ties with Gaza, but its government is responsible for the Territory and more "research" was needed before cutting off electricity. What he meant, of course, is he'll await a High Court ruling and then act.

Haaretz reported on November 3 that "State Prosecution on (November 2) defended the government's decision (to cut fuel and electricity in a letter to the High Court) claiming it is not a form of collective punishment." It said that the decision was appropriate and gave the same tired reasons it often uses to justify its harshest actions. Defense Minister Ehud Barak agreed. In a November 4 Jerusalem meeting with Condoleezza Rice, he assured the Secretary that "The sanctions (won't) cause a humanitarian crisis" without further elaboration.

Israel's infrastructure minister, Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, agrees as well and feels these measures are needed and are a final attempt to avoid a military action some observers see coming. Israel's Gaza commander, General Moshe Tamir, already admits to almost nightly incursions into the Territory and practically signaled a planned assault.

Haaretz also reported on October 30 that Israel's Defense Forces (IDF) conducted their largest military drill in the north Galilee region since the 2006 Lebanon war. It ran four days and involved ground, air and naval forces as well as intelligence and S4 units. The paper noted a similar exercise preceded the Lebanon war so it happening now is ominous.

The Jerusalem Post echoed that sentiment on October 31. It quoted Defense Minister Ehud Barak saying a large-scale IDF operation against "Palestinian rocket squads" was drawing near, and "the time is approaching when we'll have to undertake a broad operation in Gaza." The report mentioned Gaza commander Tamir saying Hamas was "building an army" and had smuggled in unprecedented capabilities. Israeli Shin Bet Security Agency chief Yuval Diskin claimed Hamas had accumulated over 112 tons of explosives, and Tamir signaled Israel is prepared to act as a result. The Jerusalem Post earlier quoted IDF Southern Command chief General Yoav Galant saying he's been "pushing for a massive operation for the past year" and now may be close to getting one.

Hamas responded to this growing threat on November 1. It called on all Palestinian resistance factions to declare a high state of alert in anticipation of a large-scale Israeli incursion into the Territory. It issued a statement saying: "Hamas is well-prepared to engage in a battle with the Israeli army, once (Gaza) is invaded, as Hamas is confident of victory, given its strong trust in God."

A major IDF assault may be imminent as Israel continues attacking civilians in Gaza and the West Bank daily. The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights report for the last week of October said 15 Palestinians were killed, 29 others wounded, and 78 more arrested. In addition, during the seven day period, IDF forces made 49 hostile incursions into the Territories, and for the past 16 months maintained a devastating siege on the population.

Washington's Upcoming Annapolis Peace Offensive

Middle East observers know what most honest ones will admit. The intermittent, now revived "peace process" is merely pretense head fake. It's more theater than substance or a serious effort to resolve this long-running conflict, and look at the proof:

-- daily IDF incursions, attacks and killings in the Territories;

-- continued land expropriations;

-- crop destruction and agricultural restrictions;

-- home demolitions;

-- restricted movement through hundreds of checkpoints as well as curfews and border and other closures any time for any reason;

-- building permit restrictions and construction prohibitions;

-- denial of essential services; and

-- other politically motivated daily repression and "matrix of control" harassment.

This all continues without letup with the full acquiescence and support of the West plus billions in annual aid from Washington.

Furthermore, Hamas is barred from the peace process, and without its participation there can be none. Its exclusion and the desperate conditions in the Territories expose the glaring hypocrisy overhanging the staged affair. Just like the fraudulent "road map," this latest incarnation is going nowhere with more proof on November 4 from Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. She told Secretary Rice Israel's security comes first, and "only then (can there be) a Palestinian state."

Electronic Intifada editor Ali Abunimah compares the process to "one of those big budget Broadway extravaganzas; they go on for years (and) with each revival the cast changes," but the outcome is always the same as intended.

Abunimah notes the "latest revival" has Condoleezza Rice in a lead role play-acting to end the long-running conflict. George Bush is on stage as well trying to cast off his image as a warmonger and enabler of "Israeli colonization" and now pretends to want peace "with an eye on his legacy."
And so it goes with the other key actors in this melodrama pretending the process is real - quisling Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas who agreed to let Washington act as a "neutral arbitrator," Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert who jumped on the idea, and "special guest star" and reinvented war criminal Tony Blair in his new role as Middle East peace envoy. Last June he ended a failed 10 year run as UK prime minister when his audience booed him off the stage. He's been practically invisible since but will resurface in Annapolis later in November once a firm date is announced.

Abunimah notes how reality at times intervenes. It did in mid-October after Abbas' representatives met with Israeli counterparts to arrange a "declaration of principles" for the Annapolis meeting that are still unresolved. The IDF expropriated 300 more acres of Palestinian land near "occupied East Jerusalem (to expand the huge) Jewish-only settlements (bisecting) the West Bank (that) render a contiguous Palestinian state impossible."

Land seizures have been continuous since the 1993 Oslo Accords. For the past 14 years, Israel expropriated an area the size of Washington, DC for Jewish-only development knowing none of the "peace process" participants would object. It's been so extreme that noted Israeli historian Ilan Pappe believes the settlements, army bases, roads and separation wall will let Israel annex almost half the West Bank by 2010 and dispossess Palestinians now living there.

And now Abunimah explains "Rice feigns (gallingly hypocritical) frustration saying: "Frankly it is time for the establishment of a Palestinian state." She knows Israel won't allow one nor will Palestinians accept it under the current bantustan configuration and the condition Pappe describes.

Nor is one possible given the power of extremist elements in the Israeli government led by proto-fascist Deputy Prime Minister Avigdor Lieberman. Haaretz reported he insists any Israeli-Palestinian conflict resolution "include Israel's Arab citizens (on) the basis (of) a land swap and population transfer." He means no peace is possible unless 1.4 million Israeli Arab citizens are ethnically cleansed from the country. Nor will he allow core Palestinian issues to be discussed in Annapolis (or elsewhere) like "borders, settlements and the (right of return for) Palestinian refugees expelled by Israel."

And the beat goes on. Life in occupied Palestine is intolerable and worsening as the latest sham peace extravaganza is heading to Annapolis once its "opening night" is announced with fanfare and phoniness.

A different sort of event will take place in London November 17 and 18 hosted by the London Middle East Institute and organized by the London One State Group and SOAS Palestine Society at London University. It's called "Challenging the Boundaries: A Single State in Palestine/Israel." It will include panel discussions and individual speakers featuring noted participants like author and Middle East expert Gilbert Achcar, Electronic Intifada editor Ali Abunimah, noted author Nur Masalha, and Israeli historian and expert on Israel and Zionism Ilan Pappe who's now teaching at the UK University of
Exeter. The conference is about alternatives to a two-state paradigm and will advance ideas of a one-state vision that can become a workable political agenda for what seems to be the only credible way forward.

In another development, Al-Ahram Weekly reports Hamas will air its views at a "national conference" in Damascus that will coincide with Annapolis. Other Palestinian factions will also attend including the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) in a significant break with Fatah. Participating as well are the Damascas-based PFLP-General Command, the Islamic Jihad organization and senior Fatah members Farouk Al-Qaddumi and Hani Al-Hassan in a show of protest against "Abbas' line" and "his subservience to America and Israel." In addition to organized groups, hundreds of Palestinian and Arab intellectuals may attend that will add credibility to the event.

Conference organizers state they wish to reassert their opposition to "the attempted liquidation of the Palestinian cause" with special emphasis on "the right of return of five million (or more) Palestinian refugees." They also intend "not to give political cover to US-Israeli schemes to terminate the Palestinian cause in Annapolis (that is) hypocritical (and) insincere." And they further state: "The PLO leadership in Ramallah no longer represents the Palestinian people (because) it is a prisoner of the Israeli occupation and has lost whatever semblance of independence and free will it may once have had." In addition, "the PLO leadership (lacks legitimacy as it's) unelected, undemocratic and anachronistic."

Hamas also revealed plans to follow Damascus with meetings in Gaza and the West Bank to further highlight what Hamas and others call "this mockery" of a US-Israeli-Abbas effort to compromise or scrap issues vital to the Palestinian people like the right of return and status of Jerusalem. Ideas to be discussed include selecting "alternative and parallel national bodies" to counter Fatah's disregard for "the Palestinian national consensus." Under consideration is a new National Council and Executive Committee in direct opposition to Abbas who (along with Secretary Rice) tried unsuccessfully to abort Hamas' initiative. Little is expected from Annapolis, and some believe that may trigger a third Intifada and swing momentum to Hamas.

Shin Bet's Yuval Diskin thinks not but others disagree. Oslo came out of the first Intifada, and Israel's Gaza disengagement followed the second one. Nothing is off the table this time. Stay closely tuned.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

Also visit his blog site at http://www.sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to The Steve Lendman News and Information Hour on TheMicroEffect.com Mondays at noon US central time.

Original Content can be viewed online at http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_stephen__071106_punishing_gaza.htm

MODERATOR NOTES:

If the common Jewish people can think of their experience of some three millinnieum, and how they have survived despite the pressures and despots ... they should not do to others what they did not like done to them. I hope the courageous Jews speak out against this attrocity against the common people in Gaza. There is a gross imbalance in justice, yes, Israel has the power, American Presidents will support it and they can massacre the people of Gaza..... that does not make it right for the future of Israelis and Palestinians lives. If humans can't , there is a payback for it in terms of continued strife, the guilt of abusing the helpless. Justice is a self balancing system. This has to be stopped as it is against the interest of Isreal and Jews in the long haul.

"....Karen Koning notes Israel's concern, but stressed "how can you want to punish people, all of them in Gaza (as) most of them....are not behind these activities....if you don't have electricity, you don't have water, you probably don't have food." This action will have a "very serious" effect on the population."

Jewish youth and Israel

Sending our youth the wrong signals
Isi Leibler, Jerusalem Post

Article follows Moderator comments:

I understand and respect the drive to keep the memories of holocaust from receeding, as the the words "never again" has to be valued. The German integration experience was one of the most shameful of all experiences in human history. Minorities (ethnic, religious, cultural, political) all over the world struggle to be part of the society as contributors and participants, as did the Jews in Germany, but the reward they got in attempted annihlation and holocaust was a shame on humanity. No one should forget about this, and I commend the Jewish communities efforts to keep this alive and I have joined this effort.

The issues highlighted below are the same issues with the Hindus, Muslims and even Christian immigrants in America. The neo-cons of all religions are pushing for extremism in the name of conservatism making religion their villain, and are trying to brainwash their kids not with love, but with anti-someone. The new generation sees the beauty in inclusiveness and pluralistic values of America, those values appeal to them and they detest the old values based on hating some one.

We need to promote inclusiveness, the idea of accepting and respecting the God given uniqueness of each human being. The prejudice is bred in Jewish and Palestinian Arab children towards each other, this is not going to do any good to either one, it is a way of keeping the conflict up and it may be in the interests of those who want to cash in donations by keeping the fear factor alive. We must discourage these folks, who will bring untold miseries to the people while they enrich with donations.

And now the article:

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?c=JPArticle&cid=1192380800218&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Sending our youth the wrong signals
By ISI LEIBLER

Alarm bells should be ringing in response to the findings of the recent survey of American Jewish attitudes toward Israel compiled by Professors Stephen M. Cohen and Ari Kelman on behalf of the Andrea and Charles Bronfman Foundation. Based on a questionnaire of 1,700 American Jews of all ages, the report excludes the Orthodox (who are today more positively inclined toward Israel than ever) but does include intermarried couples who traditionally display little resonance toward the Jewish state.

The findings are highly disconcerting. Only 54% of the under-35 category was "comfortable" with the concept of a Jewish state, in contrast to 81% of those over 65. More disturbingly, over half of those under 35 would not even be inclined to regard the destruction of Israel as a "personal tragedy." The findings demonstrate that non-Orthodox American Jews under the age of 35 are moving from indifference to outright alienation with respect to their attitude toward the Jewish state. The report challenges the viability of sustaining any meaningful long term Israel-Diaspora relationship.

In retrospect, some erosion was predictable. The memory of the Holocaust has receded from public consciousness and young Jews today simply lack any appreciation of the implications of the powerlessness which prevailed among Jews before the state was created.

Nor does the current generation share the emotional attachments to Israel of their parents who witnessed the Zionist struggle and battles for survival climaxing with the euphoria of the Six Day War and the trauma of the Yom Kippur War. In addition, the combination of media demonization and burgeoning anti-Semitism have influenced many youngsters to transfer their support for Israelis as noble underdogs, toward identifying with what is commonly referred to as the "anti Zionist chic."

WHILE WE were aware that this was the prevailing atmosphere in Europe, we had hoped that America, home of the largest, most affluent and influential Diaspora community in Jewish history, would be different. Besides, in contrast to the intensification of hatred against Israel in Europe, over the past decade, American public support for Israel has reached a higher level than ever before. The report also suggests that in the absence of birthright israel visits, the situation would have been considerably worse.

And yet, beyond religious observance, a connection to Israel remains to this day the most important element in Jewish identity. Thus, unless negative attitudes toward Israel are reversed, a further snowballing impact on assimilation is inevitable.

HOW SHOULD we endeavor to reverse these negative trends? First, the government of Israel must become more directly involved. From the onset of the Oslo Accords, successive Israeli governments had distanced themselves from the Diaspora, on the false grounds that with an "irreversible peace process" a reality, mobilizing on behalf of Israel by Diaspora Jews was superfluous and even counterproductive.

Despite subsequent efforts to reverse the situation by Rabbi Melchior and Natan Sharansky respectively as ministers of Diaspora Affairs, by and large, government leaders have taken little interest in overseas Jewish communities beyond lauding potential donors.

In fact today, hardly any Israeli or Jew in the Diaspora would even be aware that Yitzhak Herzog retains a Diaspora Affairs portfolio because all his resources and energies are directed toward his Social Welfare Ministry.

Likewise the World Zionist Organization which should have filled the vacuum, until recently was more concerned to promote the excessive remuneration of its senior Israeli executives than supporting Zionist organizations in the Diaspora. As a consequence, Zionist federations in most Jewish communities simply faded from Jewish life.

DIASPORA Jewish leaders themselves are also at fault. In recent years, many became increasingly passive in response to the activities of the Jewish defamers of Israel in their midst. Some, in the name of freedom of expression and pluralism, even provided communal platforms for Jews to delegitimize the Jewish state.

For example, in the United Kingdom, the organizers of the successful Limmud education program previously invited Jacqueline Rose, the Jewish author of a fiercely anti-Israeli tract, to present her viewpoint. This year their keynote speaker is former Knesset Speaker and former head of the Jewish Agency, Avrum Burg, who shocked even his left-wing associates by alleging that the Jewish state behaves like Nazi Germany and urging Israelis to obtain foreign passports.

Another example is the head of the principal think tank of Anglo Jewry, a Jew who unashamedly promotes a bi-national not a Jewish state.

In the United States, Rabbi Michael Lerner, editor of the radical journal Tikkun, which publishes vehement anti-Israeli propaganda, continues to receive invitations to address Jewish audiences in temples and community centers.

The New Israel Fund which raises over $25 million from American Jews has the gall to describe itself as a "Zionist" organization which "loves Israel." Yet the JTA reports that it recently hosted an Israeli Arab who stated publicly that the 60th anniversary of Israel represented a "Nakba" (disaster) and expressed regret that Israeli Arabs had "not fought the occupation seriously."

The same organization also promoted Michael Karayanni, an Arab-Israeli Hebrew University law professor who urged American Jewish audiences to support replacing the Israeli flag and anthem imposed on Arab Israelis in 1948. Yet the New Israel Fund still continues to receive funding from Jewish Federations.

And then there is the Israel Policy Forum, regarded as a part of the American Jewish establishment and supported by some Israeli ministers (Deputy Premier Haim Ramon will be speaking to the group next month). Yet it shamelessly lobbies the White House to pressure our government to provide further unilateral concessions to the Palestinians and continually attacks AIPAC for promoting pro-Israel policies.


THE EXTENT of the degradation of Zionist values was exemplified in controversies which recently raged on American campuses over whether it was appropriate for Hillel and other Jewish bodies to provide platforms for Israeli draft-dodgers to address American students in order to justify defiance of IDF orders to serve in the territories.

Jews against Zion are hardly a new phenomenon in Jewish history. They follow in the tradition of Jewish apostates who turned against their own people in the Middle Ages, of self-hating Jews such as Karl Marx, and more recently Jewish communists who applauded Stalin's crimes against the Jewish people and defended Soviet anti-Semitism. The difference is that in the past such people were marginalized from Jewish life and no reputable Jewish organization would conceivably have provided them with platforms in order to demonize their own people.

We must end this madness by launching global educational campaigns to endow our youngsters with an appreciation of what Jewish life was like before the rebirth of the Jewish state and provide them with an understanding of a genuine Israel narrative and the morality of our case.
Let there be no illusions. If the process of alienation from the Jewish state is not reversed, the Diaspora is doomed.

The writer is a former chairman of the Governing Board of the World Jewish Congress and a veteran international Jewish leader.

ileibler@netvision.net.il



29. Torah is the future of Israel
Jeff
11/13/2007 17:44


G-d loving, Torah loving Jews are the vast majority of those making aliyah. G-d hating Jews won't stay in the Jewish community much longer - their children feel no guilt about marrying out and ignoring their heritage. Don't fight it Mr. Leibler - it's like quicksand. The more you fight it, the quicker it sucks you down. Just accept the fact that Truth always wins. Return to our Father, our King, the one and only G-d. He loves you very much and is waiting for your return.

56. Dump Zionism
Dan - USA
11/14/2007 11:46

Israel would be far better off if it became a true democracy. Dump the Zionist Racist stuff. To the rest of the world it looks like a privilege "For Jews Only" Country Club. Make your state religion Judaism, but dump all your laws that relegate non-Jews and the Indigenous people as 2nd class citizens.

48. Israeli Jews suffer the same alientation from Israel
David Wolfe - MO
11/13/2007 20:06

Israeli Jews, and youth especially ("non-orthodox") probably 'suffer' the same alienation from Israel as a modern Jewish State. The reasons are manifold: poor leadership and years of leftist education that have stigmatized the purpose of Israel as a Jewish country; corrupt government that raises the legitimacy of Israel; corrupt judiciary; corrupt media...So the results should be no surprise to anyone!

42. Diaspora and Israel
David - US
11/13/2007 19:25

How can American Jewish youth, mist used to ethics-oriented Reform or Conservative Judaism, relate to a country up to it s neck in corruption, human rights violations and ruled by intolerant rabbis right out of the Dark Ages? David

35. American Jews see their Jewishness as a stigma
Al Kafr
11/13/2007 18:15

We jews are not a religion, but a Nation. We have our own culture, language, history, ethnicity, nationality. But US Jews see "Jewish" as a stigma, not an identity. That is why they assimilate. The "other" is more exciting. Sort of why white American gentiles like Latino/Asian/Black lover as more exciting. Inherently its racist... but it SEEMS the opposite. Boringness is the perception Jews have to combat.

3. Leibler
Joe
11/13/2007 14:32


Methinks Isi doth protest too much. It seems that everyone who disagrees with him is a "self-hating" Jew - a term of abuse used by right-wingers who cannot stand democracy. And he is inaccurate, too. The head of the UK Jewish think-tank is not anti-Israel, only against its settlement policies, as are at least half of Israel's Jewish population. Are they "self-haters" too, Isi?

58. Americans See their Jewishness
Mike Ghouse - USA
11/15/2007 19:54

It is the same issue with the Hindus, Muslims and even Christian immigrants in America. The neo-cons of all religions are pushing for extremism in the name of conservatism making religion their villain, and are trying to brainwash their kids not with love, but with anti-someone. The new generation sees the beauty in inclusiveness and pluralistic values of America, those values appeal to them and they detest the old values based on hating some one.