By Joel Magalnick, Editor, JTNews
Around 1,500 people came, with 29 local Jewish organizations and synagogues sponsoring the Israel solidarity rally held on Sun., Jan. 11. Representatives from several of these organizations, including the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, AIPAC and StandWithUs Northwest, as well as the Pacific Northwest office of the Consul General of Israel, spoke in defense of Israel and its campaign in the Gaza strip.
“Israel wants peace and has been working toward a two-state solution,” said Nevet Basker, chair of StandWithUs. “This war is not about occupation. It’s not about settlements. It’s not about a Palestinian state. This is a proxy war for Iran. Like so many wars we’ve faced before, this war with Hamas is about Israel’s right to exist.”
Ismail Khaldi, the deputy consul general, reminded the audience that the incursion was a war against Hamas, and not against the Palestinians.
“Let me clear, I have to be clear. Israel isn’t fighting the Palestinian people,” Khaldi said. “Our enemy is Hamas and its poisonous venom of terror and hatred. Israel wants the Palestinians to live in dignity in their own state, led by a democratic and moderate regime, and not a radical movement like Hamas.”
No elected officials came to the bima at Temple De Hirsch Sinai to speak, but a letter sent by Washington’s senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray and read to the audience stated: “There is much at stake in this conflict from the loss of innocent life to the impact on all children. Our hope is that the difficult humanitarian situation will be resolved and that a sustainable ceasefire can be reached quickly. It is time for the United States to increase efforts to end the appeal and influence of extremism in the Middle East. The next administration must work to lead the international community toward a new serious and sustainable peace process. Those efforts will result in a more secure and prosperous region.”
David Levine, 23, lives in Seattle but is in process to make aliyah. He said he attended the rally because he’s worried about the future of Israel.
“I could see this coming from Gaza,” Levine said, “and I fear that, God forbid, we pull out to the 1967 borders that Ben Gurion Airport is going to be the target, and it’s going to lead to a broader war.”
Brian Judd of Seattle came to the rally and later commented on JTNews’ blog about the lack of concern from many American Jews for the Palestinians under fire.
“While I believe Israel has the right to defend itself, and it is showing tremendous restraint in its response to the rocket attacks from Gaza, I would like to see some more reverence from the American Jewish community about the loss of Palestinian lives,” he wrote. “We should all take a cue from Israel, and show restraint for our words and not take away the humanity of Palestinian civilians, who are in the line of fire as Israel tries to eradicate Hamas.”
Though the purpose of the rally was to show solidarity in support of Israel, not every Jew in the area feels Israel is in the right. A handful of protestors showed up to the Temple De Hirsch Sinai event, and several representatives from Jewish Voice for Peace said a Mourner’s Kaddish six days later at an Israel protest rally in downtown Seattle that drew approximately 200 people. Israel called a unilateral ceasefire that same day.