photo: Amir Farshad Ebrahimi, Creative Commons

Can you hear me? Yes, deep down, beyond the talking heads on TV, the US politicians bending over backwards to be the number one Israel supporter in the world and the major mainstream Jewish organizations, there are many people who are fighting for an alternative policy on the Gaza conflict.  What is even more offensive is what just happened at a pro-Israel rally in New York with politicians and Jewish leaders falling over each other to use the most extreme, hate-filled language to support Israel’s ongoing Gaza incursion amongst the 10,000 attendees.

According to journalist Max Blumenthal’s recent article on Alternet, “‘rally attendees described the people of Gaza to me as a ‘cancer,’ called for Israel to ‘wipe them all out,’ insisting, ‘They are forcing us to kill their children in order to defend our own children.’ A young woman told me, ‘Those who die are suffering God’s wrath.’”

I’m Jewish, a strong supporter of Israel’s right to exist and I’m ashamed at what people said and did at this rally, which was a reflection of the language and policies of national leaders and organizations. Inciting hate by either side will do nothing to bring an end to this conflict in the short or long term. As long as both sides-both Israelis and Palestinians–continue to preach and practice hate, there will be rockets dropping onto both sides, with continued suffering for Israelis and Palestinians.  While Israel has the immediate upper hand with its more advanced military, as long as Iran continues to fund Hezbollah, rockets will continue to fall into Israel, no matter what is said at US rallies.

There are other options, as I wrote about the other day. One is to support the more rational approach of groups such as J Street which is supporting a ceasefire in Gaza and is pushing for a new strategy by the Israelis, Palestinians and US government to bring security and peace to Israel and Palestine.  The US has been a great friend to Israel since its inception. However, a true friend holds you accountable for your behavior; Jews, US politicians and leaders need to do the same for Israel right now because our blanket support for its policies does nothing to give Israel security and peace in long-term, which is what we all genuinely want. takepart with J Street now.