I very much appreciate Judy Rebick's comments. It is true that the great need in our world today is to develop the skills and openness to be in conversation with those who may disagree or have different view points from ourselves. With the skills of nonviolent communication, we can truly listen to another person, grow in understanding of their point of view and where it comes from, and then possibly discover that we have much in common. And we may also find ourselves changing our entrenched point of view. That is the wonder of active listening and open conversation. We may find grounds for our working together for justice and peace.
I believe that the pro-Palestinian movement needs to acknowledge the crimes of October 7, led by Hamas and at least one other organization in Gaza. It can then make clear that it stands for a non-violent direction based on human rights for all, justice and non-violent peace. I hope it would state that it wishes a future where Jews and Palestinians can live together in peace on the land that means so much to both of them.
I wish to reject antisemitism as well as islamophobia and anti-Palestine. Any unjust judgment, accompanied by violence, is totally against my desire for a non-violent society.
As I read this, Steven, I felt like I was reading some corporate media (the National Post ?) defending the “anti semitism” groups that keep spewing their propaganda and blatant lies! Where is the real “investigative journalism” here? “No peace without Justice” for the Palestinians!
The attack and hostage taking by Hamas opposes all possibility of a nonviolent resolution. However, Netanyahu has made it clear he will not choose a peace option. I have read the proposal put out by Hamas and it has a schedule of releasing the hostages as Israeli government demonstrates actual efforts to establish new fair just and respectful terms to live with a state of Palestine. Hostages have been a real leverage for public discourse about the war. I do not agree with the attacks on the hostages and those who participated in dehumanizing them through acts of abuse. May they be identified and charged with all who have acted that way regardless of their status with the USA.
If there had been an independent and free Palestinian state for the past many decades, it is highly improbably that the attacks of October 7, 2023 would have ever taken place. This is not to justify the attacks, but to suggest there is an historical context which seems taboo to discuss in this era of increasingly dominant repression of critical, fact-based thought.
I'm with Scott Ritter on this one. Palestine is the testing ground for the world's most advanced surveillance technology. It is not credible that the Hamas attack was a complete surprise. I think that the goal was to exchange prisoners and establish mutual respect. It makes no sense to poison that with an atrocity. Under the Hannibal protocol, Israel perpetrated the atrocities, re-making the event into a false-flag attack. The "response" has been outrageously disproportionate, as usual.
I recently quit a discussion group when another member was accused of antisemitism. I think that the only way to avoid that charge is to be clearly prosemitic, granting Jews special privileges and freedom from criticism. Co-existence as equals is not acceptable.
I very much appreciate Judy Rebick's comments. It is true that the great need in our world today is to develop the skills and openness to be in conversation with those who may disagree or have different view points from ourselves. With the skills of nonviolent communication, we can truly listen to another person, grow in understanding of their point of view and where it comes from, and then possibly discover that we have much in common. And we may also find ourselves changing our entrenched point of view. That is the wonder of active listening and open conversation. We may find grounds for our working together for justice and peace.
I believe that the pro-Palestinian movement needs to acknowledge the crimes of October 7, led by Hamas and at least one other organization in Gaza. It can then make clear that it stands for a non-violent direction based on human rights for all, justice and non-violent peace. I hope it would state that it wishes a future where Jews and Palestinians can live together in peace on the land that means so much to both of them.
I wish to reject antisemitism as well as islamophobia and anti-Palestine. Any unjust judgment, accompanied by violence, is totally against my desire for a non-violent society.
As I read this, Steven, I felt like I was reading some corporate media (the National Post ?) defending the “anti semitism” groups that keep spewing their propaganda and blatant lies! Where is the real “investigative journalism” here? “No peace without Justice” for the Palestinians!
The attack and hostage taking by Hamas opposes all possibility of a nonviolent resolution. However, Netanyahu has made it clear he will not choose a peace option. I have read the proposal put out by Hamas and it has a schedule of releasing the hostages as Israeli government demonstrates actual efforts to establish new fair just and respectful terms to live with a state of Palestine. Hostages have been a real leverage for public discourse about the war. I do not agree with the attacks on the hostages and those who participated in dehumanizing them through acts of abuse. May they be identified and charged with all who have acted that way regardless of their status with the USA.
If there had been an independent and free Palestinian state for the past many decades, it is highly improbably that the attacks of October 7, 2023 would have ever taken place. This is not to justify the attacks, but to suggest there is an historical context which seems taboo to discuss in this era of increasingly dominant repression of critical, fact-based thought.
I'm with Scott Ritter on this one. Palestine is the testing ground for the world's most advanced surveillance technology. It is not credible that the Hamas attack was a complete surprise. I think that the goal was to exchange prisoners and establish mutual respect. It makes no sense to poison that with an atrocity. Under the Hannibal protocol, Israel perpetrated the atrocities, re-making the event into a false-flag attack. The "response" has been outrageously disproportionate, as usual.
You might be interested in this previous article on PeaceQuest https://www.peacequest.ca/p/what-if-the-oct-7-attacks-had-never-happened
I recently quit a discussion group when another member was accused of antisemitism. I think that the only way to avoid that charge is to be clearly prosemitic, granting Jews special privileges and freedom from criticism. Co-existence as equals is not acceptable.