War and Pain and Rights in Israel & Gaza

The Israel Hamas war has brought out a lot of fear, frustration, confusion and extreme responses throughout the world.

Israel has the right to exist as the Jewish homeland and for self determination. That is what Zionism means. Israel, like all governments, has the responsibility to keep its citizens safe.

Hamas is a terrorist organization who has always had the desire to wipe Israel off the map as the Jewish state and to kill as many Jews as possible. Sinwar, a top Hamas leader, has made it clear the higher body count of innocent Palestinians the better for Hamas’ cause. He has also articulated the wish of 100 October 7s.

The Palestinian people also have the right to self determination and to be led by a government that wants to lift them up to live healthy, happy and productive lives free from leaders who care more about using them as pawns in their desire to kill Jews and eliminate Israel as the Jewish homeland.

Genocide is the desire to eliminate a group of people based on their immutable characteristics. The response to the October 7 terrorist attack is not genocide – it is war. Agree or disagree (or both!) with the Israeli government’s actions – if their goal was genocide Gaza and the West Bank would have been parking lots by October 10.

We can – and I would strongly argue should – care about innocent Palestinians who are pawns of Hamas – literally being used as human shields. It is devastating to see what is happening to innocent civilians – but I also believe Israel must do everything in its power to go after the perpetrators of October 7.

I believe it is possible to be pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian at the same time. Ensuring Israel’s right to exist as the Jewish homeland and believing Palestinians should have their own state; a two state solution where each has the right to live in safety and freedom.

Regarding the current war – the word “ceasefire” should never be considered without the phrase “release of all hostages.” By only focusing on a ceasefire people are forgetting what happened on October 7 – the murder of 1,200 people, women being raped repeatedly, and the kidnapping (and raping, and torturing, and murdering of many of) of 251 people.

The war was and is the response to the terrorism of October 7.

Antisemitic and anti-Zionist activity around the world in response to the war does nothing to help people in Israel or Gaza – instead, it punishes Jews thousands of miles away for actions they have no say in.

Agree or disagree in a decision by Prime Minister Netanyahu or the IDF – no Jew or Jewish ally in Milwaukee (or anywhere outside of Israel) is responsible for it. Targeting all Jews for decisions in Israel is an old antisemitic trope which must be rejected by all people of good will.