AUSTRALIAN JEWISH STATEMENT ON GAZA

The following statement was issued by the Executive of the Australian Jewish Democratic Society on 30 December. A truncated version of it was published in the Sydney Morning Herald under Steve Brook’s name.

Many Israelis want their government to prevent the renewed and frightening rocket attacks from Gaza on Israeli southern towns. For various reasons, the government feels compelled to respond. This kind of scenario has played out many times in the past. Israel exacts an enormous price from the Palestinians in the blood of many innocent bystanders in exchange for the rocket attacks.

Unless international action prevents it, there will be a new cycle of violence. Israel has chosen a bloody and dangerous path, the outcome of which may well be to Israel's political and security detriment, just as happened two years ago with its incursion into Lebanon. There will be many innocent dead, but no resolution.

It has been so inevitable, and also so pointless. Israel has virtually imprisoned more than a million Palestinians in Gaza under conditions that have created immense deprivation and desperation. It refuses to negotiate with their leaders, although it did manage to get a ceasefire some six months ago, which was needlessly broken by Israel because of a tunnel.

We don't have a simple solution. The road back to sanity will be a long one. But every time Israel demonstrates its overwhelming military superiority, every time Israel pulls the noose around Gaza tighter, the problem becomes even more intractable. Long term, a resolution can only come through a readiness to talk, seeking a compromise that both sides can live with. Israel holds most of the cards. It can afford to be magnanimous to break the cycle of violence. Accepting a ceasefire by both sides would be a useful first step.

SMH

Bloody cost of Israel repeating past mistakes

Israelis want their government to take action against the rocket attacks from Gaza. But it is exacting an enormous price from the Palestinians in the blood of many innocent bystanders.

Unless international action prevents it, there will be a new cycle of violence. Israel has chosen a bloody and dangerous path, the outcome of which may well be to its political and security detriment, just as happened two years ago with its incursion into Lebanon.
It has been so inevitable, and so pointless. Israel has virtually imprisoned more than a million Palestinians in Gaza under conditions that have created immense deprivation and desperation. It refuses to negotiate with their leaders, although it did manage to get a ceasefire some six months ago, which was needlessly broken by Israel.

We don't have a simple solution. The road back to sanity will be a long one. But every time Israel demonstrates its overwhelming military superiority, every time Israel pulls the noose around Gaza tighter, the problem becomes even more intractable.

Steve Brook Australian Jewish Democratic Society, Melbourne