JEWS CONTINUE TO SAY ~ NOT IN OUR NAME!

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE OF THESE AROUND TOWN

FOUR PHOTO ESSAYS OF JEWS IN NEW YORK
DEMONSTRATING THEIR BELIEFS ABOUT ISRAEL AND GAZA!

DesertPeace
September 24, 2009

To anyone who calls me antisemite, not that that word means much anymore, or tells me I hate all Jews, I would like them so see they are wrong wrong WRONG. I have said consistently that not all Jews think the same as their governments any more than all Westerners agree with theirs. It must be under considerable stress from work, family, friends, for the following people to come out onto the mean streets of New York to do this, but here are 4 different demonstrations held by Jews of conscience and humanity in the first 3 photographic essays.

The fourth received much more publicity and press time. You will see why when you watch the little film by Max Blumenthal embedded therein.

DESPITE HARASSMENT,
JEWS CONTINUE TO SAY "NOT IN OUR NAME"

Commentary by Chippy Dee,
Photos © by Bud Korotzer

Earlier this week, during the period that the Jewish new year was being celebrated, often a time of reflection, ‘Jews Say No’ had a quiet demonstration on New York’s upper west side. The participants carried signs saying that they were against the ongoing siege of Gaza, the separation wall, and the occupation.

They also handed out leaflets explaining their positions and introducing themselves as a group of concerned individuals that got together during the Israeli massacre in Gaza in December ‘08 – January ‘09 to express their opposition to the siege of Gaza and Israel’s oppression of the Palestinian people.

They pointed out that “the Israeli government claims to speak and act on behalf of Jews everywhere, but all over the world Jews are saying: “NO, NOT IN OUR NAME”.

The response of the many people passing by was varied. Many thanked us for being there, many gave us a thumbs-up, some glared in disbelief, a few argued, and a couple told us we should all be ashamed of ourselves.

At one point a car stopped and 2 men jumped out. One started screaming that our grandparents were turning over in their graves, we must want another holocaust, and why don’t we all go live with Ahmedinejad.

One of our group told him she had learned about justice as a child in Hebrew school and he demanded to know what Hebrew school she went to. As his anger and frustration level grew he became physical, grabbing a sign from one demonstrator, leaflets from another, and throwing the torn leaflet at yet another.

Immediately most of the demonstrators were on their cell phones calling the police. Two patrol cars arrived on the scene very quickly filled with police, including a plainclothes officer and a sergeant. A long discussion followed. The final result was that the demonstrators, although assaulted, could not press charges because they were not injured. The police suggested that they be informed of future demonstrations so that they could assign an officer to the site.

Another demonstration is being planned for about 2 weeks from now. All participants believed that the response of the public was more positive than it had ever been before.

NEW YORK JEWS CONTINUE TO SAY NO TO THE BLOCKADE

A resounding NO to the Blockade

Photos © by Bud Korotzer

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NEW YORK JEWS TAKE TO THE STREET IN SUPPORT OF GAZA

I have always maintained on this Blog and elsewhere that there is a difference between Jews and Zionists. The following photos are proof of that. Over 1,000 New York Jews demonstrated in front of the Word Zionist Organization and Jewish Agency against Israel’s policies in Gaza. It was a 24 hour long demonstration.

Photos © by Bud Korotzer

Not all are Zionists. Not all are Settler mindset. These are a minority, but they MUST be respected because for them to stand out and up against the vile pack of Abe Waxman's out there must cost them on a personal level quite heavily.

FINALLY WE HAVE THIS DISGRACEFUL
MUCH-TELEVISED EVENT

Pro-Israel Rally Attended by
Big-Time NY Dems Descends
into Calls for 'Wiping Out' Palestinians

By Max Blumenthal,
AlterNet. January 13, 2009

Attendants of a rally joined by Sen. Chuck Schumer and Gov. David Paterson in support of Israel's attacks on Gaza went far beyond the pale

Watch Max Blumenthal's exlusive video of the rally .

On January 11, an estimated 10,000 people rallied in front of the Israeli consulate in midtown New York in support of Israel’s attack on the Gaza Strip. The rally, which was organized by UJA-Federation of New York and the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York in cooperation with the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, featured speeches by New York’s most senior lawmakers. While the crowd was riled to righteous anger by speeches about Hamas evildoers, the event was a festive affair that began and ended with singing and joyous dancing.

Sen. Chuck Schumer highlighted Israel’s supposed humanitarian methods of warfare by pointing to its text messaging of certain Gaza Strip residents urging them to vacate their homes before Israeli forces bombed them.

“What other country would do that?” Schumer shouted from the podium. Gov. David Paterson appeared on stage wearing one of the red hats distributed to demonstrators as symbols of the red alerts some residents of Israel endure when Palestinian groups fire rockets their way. Paterson cited the many Qasam rockets that have fallen on Israel as a justification for the country’s operations in Gaza, a military assault that has resulted in over 800 casualties and thousands of injuries.

Then Paterson highlighted the anti-Semitism that has followed in the wake of Israel’s attack on Gaza, highlighting the beating of a teen-age girl in France. “This kind of anger and hatred spreads like a disease,” Paterson said, “and one thing I've always pointed out is there's no place for hate in the Empire State.”

But hatred was plentiful at the rally Paterson addressed. Right in front of the stage, a man held a banner reading, “Islam Is A Death Cult.” Rally attendees described the people of Gaza to me as a “cancer,” called for Israel to “wipe them all out,” insisting, “They are forcing us to kill their children in order to defend our own children.”

A young woman told me, “Those who die are suffering God’s wrath.” “

They are not distinguishing between civilians and military, so why should we?” said a member of the group of messianic Orthodox Jewish Chabad-Lubavitch group that flocked to the rally.

No one I spoke to could seem to find any circumstance in which they would begin to question Israel’s war. No number of civilian deaths, no displays of extreme suffering -- nothing could deter their enthusiasm for attacking one of the most vulnerable populations in the world with the world’s most advanced weaponry. There are no limits, no matter what Israel does, no matter how it does it.

The rally made me think of a passage in “The Holocaust Is Over, We Must Rise From Its Ashes,” a powerful new book by former Israeli Knesset speaker and Jewish National Fund chairman Avraham Burg:

“If you are a bad person, a whining enemy or a strong-arm occupier, you are not my brother, even if you are circumcised, observe the Sabbath, and do mitzvahs. If your scarf covers every hair on your head for modest, you give alms and do charity, but what is under your scarf is dedicated to the sanctity of Jewish land, taking precedence over the sanctity of human life, whosever life that is, then your are not my sister. You might be my enemy. A good Arab or a righteous gentile will be a brother or sister to me. A wicked man, even of Jewish descent, is my adversary, and I would stand on the other side of the barricade and fight him to the end.”