Syed Khalique Ahmed
NEW DELHI—Israeli attacks on Palestinians is different this time as many Jewish groups, particularly in the US and the United Kingdom, have come out in open support of Palestinians. They not only took out rallies and marches in solidarity with Palestinians, they have also demanded sanctions against Israel and ban on supply of arms to the Jewish country, saying these arms would be used for massacre of Palestinians.
According to media reports, Jewish groups, many of whom are also employees in UK, were moved by watching the death and destruction of Palestinians circulated widely by Palestinian groups on social media. In the past, the US and European media that have been largely sympathetic to Israel, used to suppress information regarding atrocities on Palestinian people. In fact, there have been more protests against Israeli airstrikes in US and Europe than in Arab and Muslim countries. Many Jews inside Israel also protested against their country’s army saying what they are doing with Palestinians amounts to “war crimes” and “apartheid”.
Montreal-based Jewish Voices Canada held a demonstration two days ago in front of the Israeli Consulate in Montreal. The protesters called the policies of the Israeli government towards Palestinians as “apartheid” and asked Canada to impose sanctions on the Jewish country. They said that the Israel-Palestine conflict was not between equals because on one side was the Israeli army laced with lethal weapons and on the other were unarmed Palestinians.
US-based Jewish Voice for Peace took out a rally in support of Palestinians in Manhattan, shouting slogans of ‘FREE PALESTINE’. They also demonstrated in front of the Israeli mission at UN, AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee), a lobbying group for Israel in US, and Friends of IDF (Israel Defence Forces), besides at offices of several pro-Israeli leaders.
According to Jewish media reports, New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Wisconsin Congressman Mark Pocan, both of whom happen to be Jews, and Michigan Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, a Muslim of Palestinian-origin, are working to introduce a resolution to block the sale of US weapons worth $737 million to Israel. All the three members of the Congress are from the Democratic Party that is in power in US. Such a thing had never been done by Jewish people in US though US Jews still continue to be the biggest supporter of Israeli government’s policies.
Israeli government is also facing flak from Jewish employees of Tech giant Google. Over 250 Jewish youths working with Google have written a letter to Google CEO Sundar Pichai urging it to support the Palestinian people by giving financial assistance to Palestinian humanitarian groups equal to what it gives to Israel’s humanitarian organisations. The group called Jewish Diaspora, also asked Google’s parent company Alphabet to review its business relations with companies and institutions that facilitate oppression of Palestinians.
A former Israeli pilot, speaking about Israel’s policies of repression against Palestinians, said that “Israel is an apartheid state and my government and military are war criminals”.
Orthodox Jews took out a rally in London to show solidarity with Palestinians. One of them said, “We as Jews are embarrassed about what is happening in the State of Israel, in the Jewish name. We feel ashamed because they are doing everything in the name of Jews, in the name of Torah, in the name of God. It is so shameful.”
Stating that they were with Palestinians, they said, “They (Palestinians) should not give up struggle against the State of Israel. They should continue to fight because Palestine will be free one day.”
