Gaza and Israel: Sorting It Out
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By Jack Rothman
News of a ceasefire in the Gaza War is welcome, but the carnage it brought this summer may mark a turning point in the relationship of progressive Jews to Israel. The Netanyahu government and program do not represent me as a progressive, left-leaning Jew who has supported Israel strongly. These horrendous events are an affront to me, in the way they are to people around the globe, and I protested with LA Jews for Peace in front of the Israeli consulate on August 1st.
Still, for many, the bloodshed in Gaza throws the whole Zionist project into doubt. A friend emailed me the other day to say that he now questions whether "Israel has a moral right to exist." He says, "The land was confiscated, stolen, and finally occupied by Israel." These are piercing assertions that have forced me to dig deep about my own assumptions and to consider an historical perspective on the situation - a context that has been missing in most discussions. This is my response to my friend and to those who share a similar sentiment.