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- Dear Peace Activist,
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- The news about the attacks in Gaza is beyond words. "Appalling"
doesn't even come close.
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- U.S.-supplied Israeli F-16 warplanes and Apache helicopters
have fired missiles and dropped over 100 tons of bombs on dozens of locations
in the Israeli-occupied Gaza Strip. Over 300 people are dead and at least
1,400 more are injured. Many if not most of them are civilians. Food and
medicine were already in short supply in Gaza and all medical facilities
have been completely overwhelmed by this onslaught. Access to Gaza has
been cut off by Israel.
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- This is the most violent and heartbreaking situation
that has happened to the Palestinians in recent history, and it must stop.
In addition to calling for protests at Israeli consulates and federal buildings,
as well as letters to the U.S. and Israeli governments, Jewish Voice for
Peace staff and members are already putting together an aggressive campaign
focused on Gaza. And, without a moment to waste, we call for an immediate
end to attacks on all civilians.
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- I am Stephanie Roth and I've been an activist with Jewish
Voice for Peace for many years, including serving on the board of directors.
I've been involved with social justice issues my entire adult life - both
in my professional life as an editor and fundraiser, and as a volunteer
and activist. There is no issue I find more important or compelling than
my work to end the Israeli Occupation. I am particularly saddened by this
weekend's tragedy, occurring just a week after the uplifting days when
the Shministim - the young Israeli conscientious objectors - caught the
world's attention with their courage to say no to violence on December
18. I know that people in Gaza will stop dying when Israeli soldiers, like
the Shministim, have the courage to say NO. NO, we will not target civilians;
NO, we will not follow immoral orders; NO, we will not contribute to the
destruction of Palestinian society.
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- Together with the Shministim, and with the 1,000 Israelis
in Tel Aviv and thousands of others around the world who have already come
out to protest the Gaza onslaught, we say YES. YES, stepping up to speak
for justice and peace makes a difference; YES, we stand with the people
of Gaza, of the West Bank, of Sderot in Israel and the innocent civilians
everywhere whose lives are destroyed by cynical politicians and warmakers;
YES, our voices together are stronger than the voice of any one of us alone;
and YES, we are committed to the longterm goal of ending the Occupation
and working for justice, peace and life.
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- Jewish Voice for Peace's goal - MY goal - of ending the
Occupation is a long-term one. Today, I will be giving the biggest
gift I can to insure that they have the resources for a swift and sustained
response to this most recent atrocity.
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- We are in this struggle for as long as it takes, and
we need your help. Please make the largest gift
you can, today. Every gift is put right to work, and every gift makes a
difference.
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- "If not us, who? If not now, when?"
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- Stephanie Roth
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- P.S. I know that Jewish Voice for Peace will be asking
for help in a variety of ways over the next few days, weeks, months. Please,
if you believe in peace, if you believe in the Shministim, stay tuned and
help when you can. Thank you.
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