[Sundaycommunity] Fwd: Israel at War: Making sense of this week's news

Thu Jun 6 08:34:22 PDT 2024

Thank you Helena for not taking my opinion as hostility.  It is big of 
you. I respect your contribution to oneness.

On 6/01/24 11:51 a.m., H. Burns wrote:
> Thank you for sharing your opinion, Art.
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Jun 1, 2024, at 12:57, Arthur Blomme <art at integralshift.ca> wrote:
>>
>> 
>>
>> Helena
>>
>> With respect.
>>
>> Joe Biden can end the slaughter of Palestinians at any time by 
>> withdrawing US military aid to Israel and voting with the rest of UN 
>> nations to sanction Israel for genocide and crimes against humanity.  
>> Empty talk about ceasefires only confuses the issue and deflects 
>> Biden Administration support for the ongoing genocide.
>>
>> There is no war in Gaza. It is an occupation by an ethno- fascist 
>> state who's objective is the ethnic cleansing of the indigenous 
>> populations of what this state considers to be Greater Israel.
>>
>> Not all Jews are Zionists.  Hasidic Jews consider Zionism to be a 
>> heresy and they are being beaten in the streets of New York by IDF 
>> trained police forces when they protest against Zionism.
>>
>> We are all the chosen people of God.
>>
>> Art
>>
>> On 5/31/24 5:03 p.m., H. Burns via Sundaycommunity wrote:
>>
>>> Today Joe Biden announced potential good news for a three phase 
>>> resolution including an immediate ceasefire, a release of hostages, 
>>> a  rebuilding of Gaza,  etc., etc. that you have likely heard on the 
>>> news.
>>>
>>> I have decided to forward this article from Jspace Canada, of which 
>>> I am a member, because it captures the anguish of Israeli liberals 
>>> and captures the ‘heart‘ of the Zionist dream (with which I resonate).
>>>
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>
>>> Begin forwarded message:
>>>
>>>> *From:* JSpaceCanada <info at jspacecanada.ca>
>>>> *Date:* May 31, 2024 at 18:26:53 EDT
>>>> *To:* Helena Burnstein <helena.burnstein at sympatico.ca>
>>>> *Subject:* *Israel at War: Making sense of this week's news*
>>>>
>>>> 
>>>> Shabbat news and update round up
>>>>  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ 
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> 	
>>>> DONATE NOW 
>>>> <https://www.jspacecanada.ca/donate?e=e01a8ccbbbe0751f0a6034ddfd2979fa&utm_source=jspace&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=shabbatemail_may312024&n=1> 
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Dear Helena,
>>>>
>>>> Israel's Channel 12 news *released a transcript 
>>>> <https://www.jspacecanada.ca/r?u=ufdZpdDRfZ5ZIVUnexxpOsqlQltC8D3Q7iwcEsx5lJZYeYcZ5rqXaHr2U3P43kqH9J5o1KI9saSwvuoh8LeQBslHcfHi-i5YxDGVMUYiJnhFlvzB582VTqDpDEyliun9---BQTdMLUIzf2xQ0E8K3XN4NMcbMWlRONgUTLAi618H86XL4H-hDy1oGgwK5GqTcNdQPjJmE_jF2BiE-zU0V_eEAcsTX4Q4FJj0Ml2MDrNitjwZxf-OWk9BtLs3QJl1JK_fFlbvPbNAykKG9x2mV4dzWI62czybEd9vUt1NFTA&e=e01a8ccbbbe0751f0a6034ddfd2979fa&utm_source=jspace&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=shabbatemail_may312024&n=2>* 
>>>> yesterday of a tense meeting between Israel's National Security 
>>>> Advisor, Tzachi Hanegbi, and members of the hostage families.
>>>>
>>>> After one of the hostage family members criticized Netanyahu for 
>>>> refurbishing his pool in Ceasarea during a war, Hanegbi replied 
>>>> "you have no right to have this much hatred and pain."
>>>>
>>>> When the participant replied that she does have the right, and 
>>>> retold her harrowing story of hiding from Hamas terrorists for 15 
>>>> hours on October 7, Hanegbi simply replied "then go ahead and curse 
>>>> me."
>>>>
>>>> At this point, she left the room crying, and as another participant 
>>>> left to comfort her, Hanegbi retorted "are you also going to create 
>>>> drama?"
>>>>
>>>> The callousness of this government reaches new lows seemingly every 
>>>> day, this time also wading into misogyny with Hanegbi's "hysterical 
>>>> women" stereotypes, as if having a member of your family held 
>>>> hostage for almost eight months wouldn't make even the toughest of 
>>>> us completely hysterical.
>>>>
>>>> Hanegbi also admitted that "this government will not reach an 
>>>> agreement to finish the entire war for the return of the hostages." 
>>>> When a hostage family member replied "then we are doomed." Hanegbi 
>>>> replied "correct."
>>>>
>>>> This goes beyond just these politicians and this government. If the 
>>>> pro-democracy movement pre-October 7 was a battle for Israel's 
>>>> soul, what we are facing now is a battle for Israel's fundamental 
>>>> reason for being.
>>>>
>>>> Israel was created as a Jewish state, to provide safety for Jews, 
>>>> when history repeatedly told us that we are not safe in the 
>>>> diaspora. This promise, that we will be kept safe in Israel is not 
>>>> a promise that is to be stated once at the state's founding and 
>>>> then taken for granted. This is an active promise, it is work that 
>>>> must be done by the state's leaders every single day, to uphold the 
>>>> fundamental purpose of the state.
>>>>
>>>> It is clear that this government failed Israelis on this promise. 
>>>> It failed on October 7, when *Netanyahu ignored the security 
>>>> warnings 
>>>> <https://www.jspacecanada.ca/r?u=7G_TnAG6v_4jUyJcWqkwUzpkueoeG65wu1-ICr0BN8y2W-eRWVwKRCzw7uwZKq78RgWZnQNVhLqdy_mhLrsN4w&e=e01a8ccbbbe0751f0a6034ddfd2979fa&utm_source=jspace&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=shabbatemail_may312024&n=3>* he 
>>>> had received in the months prior. It failed when it put vengeance 
>>>> over the sanctity of life, by deprioritizing the release of the 
>>>> hostages. And it fails time and time again when, after promising 
>>>> equality for all its citizens, it *arrests and intimidates 
>>>> Palestinian citizens of Israel 
>>>> <https://www.jspacecanada.ca/r?u=tdADx8eKtARFyLkuoG3WvrkI4SqgXL_vKRovJWpRP0ehur5ezDsJR1zGDO7NsWOVuTkw1xulqXu5i734Jr67S7N85zKh8zUHT7VNSKR11WlL9bzGzUjPU-v8Yeov0GOpfQs3S2Z4JS7LlveghB1lkoPtojm7ogaAQlelEeW1vU4&e=e01a8ccbbbe0751f0a6034ddfd2979fa&utm_source=jspace&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=shabbatemail_may312024&n=4>* 
>>>> who dare show empathy for the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza.
>>>>
>>>> Establishing statehood, gaining self-determination and sovereignty, 
>>>> was indeed the goal of Zionism. But if that was its only goal, then 
>>>> why do we still identify as Zionists? Why is this identity so 
>>>> crucial to us, and why is our relationship to the state, even as 
>>>> Jews in the diaspora so important to us 76 years after the goal of 
>>>> Zionism was achieved?
>>>>
>>>> It is because it is a movement of dreamers. It is a movement of 
>>>> Jews who believed, even in their darkest most disenfranchised 
>>>> moments, that they could create a better future for themselves. *In 
>>>> that is inspiration*. In that is what connects us to Zionism and 
>>>> tells us that it is not a movement that ends with the establishment 
>>>> of the state it is a movement that was reborn with the 
>>>> establishment of the state, and continues to evolve after all these 
>>>> years.
>>>>
>>>> It also showcases our accomplishments, chief among them no longer 
>>>> being powerless. Acquiring power, through statehood and government, 
>>>> is not synonymous with evil. In fact, once you have power, you can 
>>>> use it to empower those still without.
>>>>
>>>> Unfortunately, once again, the Netanyahu government has used its 
>>>> power mainly to destroy and disenfranchise. The world watched in 
>>>> horror on Tuesday as Gazans taking shelter in a refugee camp in 
>>>> Rafah were burned alive in a fire caused by an Israeli airstrike.
>>>>
>>>> Many Hasbara voices tried to *explain away 
>>>> <https://www.jspacecanada.ca/r?u=GA-QehPCvkLMsdyZvyooQlI9PXh8wz43JDnIfgZIVTPU6uVZHQVMlxFUYoiId1-osunCIsytdwfVsFKyexV9DQ&e=e01a8ccbbbe0751f0a6034ddfd2979fa&utm_source=jspace&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=shabbatemail_may312024&n=5>* 
>>>> or *justify 
>>>> <https://www.jspacecanada.ca/r?u=V3RK0bITQEe0DogD7ULWhd6asTr4PVVr1LRzcfKEp_lDt-GxuRKSscuhsyEjs_MP9tNSoMcm5DpNBQDkUiAN4Q&e=e01a8ccbbbe0751f0a6034ddfd2979fa&utm_source=jspace&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=shabbatemail_may312024&n=6>* 
>>>> this horror, offering excuses or rationales. But there is no 
>>>> excuse, no rationale for children, mothers, fathers, dying. There 
>>>> is no rationale for people who have already lost everything to lose 
>>>> even more. To not have your heart break by the devastation is to 
>>>> lose your humanity. And to not recognize the devastation caused by 
>>>> your misuse of power is to balk at the responsibility that comes 
>>>> with your power.
>>>>
>>>> Having to take responsibility is a privilege. It shows that you 
>>>> have agency and accountability, you are not powerless, you are not 
>>>> without representation.
>>>>
>>>> We hold so much tension in Judaism - the world was created just for 
>>>> me, but I am but dust and ashes. If I am not for me, who will be 
>>>> for me? But when I am for myself alone, what am I?
>>>>
>>>> And so here, once again, we hold this tension. We are scared, we 
>>>> are vulnerable, we feel fear. But we also have power, we have 
>>>> agency, and we can shape our destiny.
>>>>
>>>> A state was created for us. A state that promised to keep us safe. 
>>>> A state that is meant to use its power and sovereignty for good. If 
>>>> we blindly support the state unquestioningly, what are we?
>>>>
>>>> *In the /Forward, /why recognition of a Palestinian state does not 
>>>> "reward Hamas" and why American Jews should recognize a Palestinian 
>>>> state now.* 
>>>> <https://www.jspacecanada.ca/r?u=RZP2DqGq_HoVGefyzkYODzXXw48blSJZ_uyL8hy7McLzaeh7cD5Ihff0pz3aPKfNqlIZtMX_EoheEvPMLCaFWlaDPkxDPBVz5T2khqIREx7wmCdoRl5NMyZfg9D5l7u4&e=e01a8ccbbbe0751f0a6034ddfd2979fa&utm_source=jspace&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=shabbatemail_may312024&n=7>
>>>>
>>>> *Zack Beauchamp writes about the massacre in Rafah and how Israel's 
>>>> actions are not only slaughtering Palestinians, but destroying 
>>>> Israel in the process.* 
>>>> <https://www.jspacecanada.ca/r?u=8iY3u7fKlhcNkgGSgArBgGuLUsWicLsaFU01ZzZFdBdT-whHLsQcm2tPLF3PkJJ0_0VvFhwxOTuwEkYJN7V2sH5ODQw1Fkbz_IApy8yvY-otNWiM3003x5Do3UYsEIZ1&e=e01a8ccbbbe0751f0a6034ddfd2979fa&utm_source=jspace&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=shabbatemail_may312024&n=8>
>>>>
>>>> *The /Guardian/, in collaboration with /+972 Magazine/ revealed the 
>>>> threats and intimidation from Israel against the International 
>>>> Criminal Court over the past nine years.* 
>>>> <https://www.jspacecanada.ca/r?u=lb-1d5MMiOH4-wVLfg66RGKrH7vMCw4_KaKKf6-f1TQ1-Ow42JT7D-aXJr98y6I1VrC7kuas88d2xCndImFCC-V4ZocZ2rgo0xuu8vHUleYG7GortTSftyEAxkJCUj4xH4cOXJKEMn6F7uEroDXYNg&e=e01a8ccbbbe0751f0a6034ddfd2979fa&utm_source=jspace&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=shabbatemail_may312024&n=9>
>>>>
>>>> *In /Haaretz/, Dahlia Scheindlin argues that the war will not end 
>>>> until Netanyahu and Israel can answer three stark but crucial 
>>>> questions.* 
>>>> <https://www.jspacecanada.ca/r?u=9qFujIoeyobCItbhgVcNfLtPpvPAXVozFLtZazbHGaDm-3Xaeis1r9ux95pKK5VxM1HTXGEn8ZNy_8ag0ihIL3HfplmZWU3kJ-78Q54aO0p8S24FFWdYePkBiwl-RXPv9ZYtNNlCgsWlhwX5QcFi8PMv3D2bjzW7XbROKCKiazaxcE5ARWTRZWKe6EJXfaHklPz7lCfTmys0qxOBYSP9YEzX6Y5eId32Wah0mVJoggVkbfuapTedXBQLcQ6guk_m&e=e01a8ccbbbe0751f0a6034ddfd2979fa&utm_source=jspace&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=shabbatemail_may312024&n=10>
>>>>
>>>> *Two Israeli academics who study fascism write about a new proposed 
>>>> law in Israel aimed at quashing dissent at universities, and what 
>>>> this says about the state of Israeli democracy.* 
>>>> <https://www.jspacecanada.ca/r?u=RZP2DqGq_HoVGefyzkYOD8l7ccVezJnI0O-hZB27-_axcaOlkZ0avQRVEY5KJl-nOqnlY4uQS0iqbPjLe2gcO2xuhSphFiYiMZqfnT47Ynshgo3Ayt7PVJwvLjtL8Cnz&e=e01a8ccbbbe0751f0a6034ddfd2979fa&utm_source=jspace&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=shabbatemail_may312024&n=11>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>         JSpaceCanada
>>>>         110 Eglinton Ave W , Suite 104, Toronto, ON M4R 1A3, Canada
>>>>         This email was sent to helena.burnstein at sympatico.ca You
>>>>         are receiving this email because you have given implicit or
>>>>         explicit consent to receive email from JSpaceCanada·
>>>>         Unsubscribe
>>>>         <https://www.jspacecanada.ca/unsubscribe?e=e01a8ccbbbe0751f0a6034ddfd2979fa&utm_source=jspace&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=shabbatemail_may312024&n=12>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
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