In the aftermath of the September 11th massacre
We share the shock and outrage of the civilized world at the
mass killings of September 11, 2001. Our hearts go out to all
who lost loved ones in such a horrible way; we are especially
touched by the courage of the firefighters who died attempting
to save others. Yehi zichram baruch--let their memory be blessed.
We condemn most forcefully those who carried out these attacks--whoever
and wherever they are, they should be brought to justice for their
crimes against humanity. However, we urge our elected representatives
to turn to justice and the rule of law, not to revenge and retaliation.
In particular, we ask our government to refrain from harming innocent
civilians. As the Israeli-Palestinian conflict shows, the cycle
of senseless violence and retaliation does not solve anything.
We cannot fathom what would make human beings conceive and carry
out such a massacre, but their actions have clearly brought us
closer to a confrontation between Islam and the West. The flashpoint
in such a conflict is in East Jerusalem, where Israel, with U.S.
support, occupies Haram Al-Sharif, one of Islam's holiest places.
This site is also where the Second Temple stood, and fundamentalist
Jewish settlers, intent on building a Third Temple, have attempted
to blow up the Haram Al-Sharif mosque.
"There is no patent remedy for terrorism," notes former
Knesset member Uri Avnery, "the only remedy is to remove
its causes." The continued occupation of Haram Al-Sharif
is not the only reason Islamic fundamentalists hate the United
States, but if the fanatics among Jewish settlers should succeed,
horrific consequences would follow for the entire world.
Thus, striving to reduce tensions in the Middle East is not only
a moral imperative for us in the United States, but essential
for our safety. The ad proposed by Jewish Voices Against the Occupation
is a step in this direction and seems as relevant as ever--perhaps
even more so. We encourage you to sign it.
If you are interested in learning more about Jewish Voices Against
the Occupation and their proposed ad please visit http://www.jvao.org/.
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