JVL introduction
At a time when unbearable suffering is being inflicted on the people of Gaza, while world leaders look on impassively uttering hypocritical words of regret at the same time as they arm the aggressor, it is some consolation to hear about a gigantic solidarity effort from within Israel.
The message below from Rula Daood, National Co-Director of Standing Together, arrived by email on Tuesday August 13, explaining how thousands of volunteers in various Palestinian towns in Israel have come together to gather food and essential supplies for Gaza.
In a situation where protesters are silenced by the Israeli government and are at risk of political persecution and police violence, we can only applaud this effort to oppose Israel’s policy of collective punishment and starvation but as they say “ultimately, the only way forward is a ceasefire and hostage release deal, an end to the occupation and Israeli-Palestinian peace. By mobilizing our communities, showing solidarity, and acting – we will get there. ”
NWI
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Email from Rula Daood, Tuesday August 13
| Hi ,
Wow! I am at a loss for words. What an incredible, hopeful and moving thing that is happening here. I honestly can’t believe that I am writing to you from a place of hope and joy, but yesterday in Umm al-Fahm was truly spectacular.
Over the past couple of weeks we have been mobilizing Palestinians and Jews in various Palestinian towns in Israel to gather food and essential supplies that will be transferred to Gaza through an international non-profit organization. We honestly couldn’t expect what happened – THOUSANDS of people are donating and volunteering at our collections sites. I’ve never seen anything like it. I want to explain why this is so important, and I want to ask that you consider supporting this: |
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| For us Palestinian citizens of Israel, the past 10 months have been particularly painful – watching our people endure mass death, suffering, loss and displacement just an hour or two away from our homes affects us daily – and many times when we speak up, we are silenced by the government and are at risk of political persecution. For many of us, protesting is a frightening and dangerous action, due to fear of persecution and police violence. However, through this aid donation campaign we’ve been able to mobilize thousands of Palestinian citizens to volunteer together, donating and packaging huge amounts of aid that will be transported to people in Gaza – over 70 full trucks so far! We are standing in solidarity with our people in Gaza and providing much-needed aid, and by doing so we are also opposing the Israeli government’s policy of starvation and shattering their efforts to suppress us. |
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| Amongst the political persecution that so many Palestinians have been facing in Israel, and which has increased since the start of the war, this action gives people the opportunity to come together and do something that will practically impact Palestinians in Gaza. It reminded us all of the beauty in our community and people, the power of Palestinian-Jewish solidarity, and how much we are able to achieve when we mobilize our communities. This is what a mass movement looks like – thousands upon thousands of people helping where they can, speaking up, together.
An action like this costs us a lot of money, and this is where we need all of the support we can get. Costs of hiring trucks and truck drivers, renting storage, and other logistics and organizing costs are soaring, but we know it’s worth it. And we know we can keep this going when we have your back. Please consider supporting us in this donation campaign as we build a force in our society that says loud and clear: NO TO A POLICY OF STARVATION. NO TO COLLECTIVE PUNISHMENT. YES TO SOLIDARITY. |
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| We know that ultimately, the only way forward is a ceasefire and hostage release deal, an end to the occupation and Israeli-Palestinian peace. By mobilizing our communities, showing solidarity, and acting – we will get there. Please join us in this fight: |
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Once again the Hostage Release is a topic.. has no one in Israel read the article in The Times of Israel which reported Hamas had offered to release ALL the Hostages on Oct9th.. Israel said NO.
Has no one in Israel read about Israel signing contracts with BP for the Gaza Gas field 3 years ago.
These important facts are never mentioned.
While we realise there are some Humanitarian sane Israelis who are horrified at the current level of atrocities against Palestinians by Israel, the vast majority are so indoctrinated with hate and propaganda, what can those few achieve in the bigger picture especially now as cholera and polio strike.. It was widely reported thst an Israeli politician was applauded in the Knesset for his ” Slow Death ” plan of Starvation and Disease to kill Palestinians without cost of Israeli lives and Global condemnation.. US & UK political leaders gave their support to this atrocity.. It’s beyond belief that this was and is allowed to go on.. but it is.. and while the fact a few Israelis try to help doesn’t really mean much.. unless you want to prove there are ” good Israelis”..
Encouraging to hear there are some joint Palestine-Jewish activities going on in Israel. But, I’m wondering whether the goods they are assembling are actually allowed into Gaza by the military authorities. And, I suspect Palestinians in the West Bank also need aid.
The following is a passage from Tony Greenstein’s latest article, and something quite shocking that I’d not heard about before:
. ‘Finish them’ is the most popular car bumper sticker in Israel today. When the war began Tel Aviv was flooded with stickers ‘exterminate now’