Peace groups that tolerate calls to destroy Israel don't seek peace!
This message is to the sponsors of the January 16 peace rally at Nollen Plaza: Middle East Peace Education Project -- AFSC, Catholic Peace Ministry; DMCW; Veterans for Peace –DM; Methodistfederation for social action— DM chapter; DM Palestine group; Islamic Center of DM; Socialist Workers Party; Students Activist Against War—Drake University; International League for Peace and Freedom -- DM
Sponsors: Work for a permanent, two-state solution for a Jewish Israel and an Arab Palestine. Repudiate those groups -- including Hamas -- whose stated goal is to destroy Israel. Theirs is not the road to peace. Do not tolerate signs calling for Israel's destruction in your rallies. Repudiate those signs now! Publicly.
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Here's what the peace groups tell the media ......
But does the following match their message?
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If not, the sponsors of the rally must repudiate the blatent rejection of peace that is part of their message. http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090206/OPINION04/902060341/1038/Opinion | February 6, 2009 Letter to the Editor, Des Moines Register
Sign at peace protest didn't convey peace | The peace groups that regularly hold demonstrations in Nollen Plaza should be ashamed of tolerating in their Jan. 16 rally a sign that implicitly called for the destruction of Israel. The homemade sign read: "Gaza will never die. But Israel will." The triumphalism expressed by that sign, carried apparently by a student from the West Bank, should repel all who desire a real, lasting and honorable peace to be reached by the current adversaries, based on mutual, and enforceable, acceptance.
One would hope peace groups would support the making of peace in which both parties may live in peace (a goal supported by the Jewish Federation), and not turn a blind eye in rallies to those whose ultimate goal is to expect the other party to be obliterated . That's not peacemaking. For peace groups to align themselves with this ideology, siding politically with Hamas, is abhorrent.
Demonstrations are scrutinized by the public to discern underlying motivations. Whatever the reasons for their tolerating the sign's display, the sponsors have an opportunity to repudiate the anti-peace sentiment expressed on the sign.
To maintain their integrity, they should take that opportunity.
- Mark S. Finkelstein, community relations director, Jewish Federation of Greater Des Moines, Des Moines comments to jcrc@dmjfed.org ----------------------------- If your e-mail does not display the photos, view the photos online at http://jcommunitynews.blogspot.com |
