Mid-Missouri

Peaceworks

Working towards peace and sustainability

Our Non-Violent Movement Faces Bogus Charges of Anti-Semitism. Pursue Peace Through Non-Violence.

 

 The following post was written by Peaceworks Director, Mark Haim.

Pursue Non-Violence. Condemn the Actions of Netanyahu as well as Elias Rodriguez.

I write today as a Jewish American as well as as an advocate for a just peace in Israel/Palestine. I am responding to the murder, in cold blood, of two members of the staff of Israel's embassy in Washington, as well as the unrelenting Israeli war on Gaza which has cost the lives of tens of thousands of Palestinians.

Some seek to gain political advantage from the former, painting the peace movement as violent and antisemitic. Both charges, however, are bogus.

Let me make this perfectly clear. The peace movement is a force for non-violence. We unequivocally condemn the actions of the apparent gunman, Elias Rodriguez, who took the lives of Israeli embassy staffers Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim. Moreover, our demonstrations, vigils, sit-ins, encampments, etc. have been overwhelmingly peaceful. Members of our movement have been arrested and, in some cases, kidnapped, based upon them exercising their constitutionally guaranteed free speech rights, not due to any violence.

We reject the conflation of opposition to Israel's current actions in Gaza and the West Bank, or Zionism more generally, with antisemitism. Over the past year and a half I have participated in countless meetings, as well as several hundred vigils or demonstrations right here in CoMo and I have yet to encounter antisemitism among my fellow peace advocates.

In fact, I am a member of a local Jewish peace group, CoMo Jews 4 Ceasefire which has generally good relations with all segments of the community including the Islamic Center of Central Missouri, Congregation Beth Shalom as well as many secular groups. We don't all agree on everything with everybody, but our dialogue is respectful. There is, thankfully, no hate.

Solidarity with the people of Palestine and opposition to the slaughter of innocents is not hatred. In fact it is motivated by compassion and our caring for our fellow humans.

We support a just settlement to the longstanding conflict in Israel/Palestine. We unequivocally condemn the actions of Hamas and its allies on Oct. 7, 2023. We likewise condemn the disproportionate, genocidal actions of the Israeli military, including the bombing of civilians and the enforcement of a blockade that's led to starvation and illness, including the stunting of development of infants and children in Gaza. These are unacceptable war crimes.

Adding insult to injury, these crimes have been carried out on our dime, so to speak. U.S. taxpayers—we that is—are paying for many billions in arms and munitions, with most of the money going to U.S. military contractors. This war, which we've underwritten, has gone on far too long. It has cost far too many lives, severely injured many more, traumatized millions, and cost tens of billions. It must be stopped.

In closing, allow me to reiterate: We are voices for peace. We reject the attempts to smear our non-violent movement. Rodriguez does not represent the peace movement by any stretch of the imagination.

Our message: End the war. Free the hostages and prisoners. Feed the starving and provide the sorely needed medical care. Support a just and lasting peace.