Lee Heidhues 10.18.2023
Hamas and Israel are two scorpions in a bottle with the citizens of The Gaza Strip fatally trapped by these venomous combatants.
It’s reassuring to know that The People in America coast to coast are taking to the streets in support of the Palestinian people.
The action moved to Washington DC while President Biden was in Israel making nice with Bibi Netanyahu. America’s political ruling class has stood by Israel for historical and geopolitical reasons. The ruling class must be shown there are limits in standing up for Israel.
The Israeli government has decided there are no innocent bystanders.
There must be limits to the American support for the draconian Israeli military crackdown against the people of The Gaza Strip. The Israeli brutal reaction to the murderous assault by Hamas on Israel two weeks ago. Which has resulted in the deaths of thousands of Palestinian men, women and children by the American funded Israeli military.
Excerpted from The New York Times 10.18.2023
Hundreds of demonstrators descended on a congressional building in Washington on Wednesday afternoon to demand a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war, resulting in an estimated 300 arrests and restricting access to Capitol Hill.
The rally was organized by two Jewish anti-Zionist groups, Jewish Voice for Peace and If Not Now, and about 400 of their members assembled inside the rotunda of the Cannon House Office Building, led by about 25 rabbis reading testimonials from Palestinians in Gaza and reciting prayers. Outside, hundreds more chanted, “Cease-fire now” and sang in Hebrew and English.
Demonstrations are not permitted in congressional buildings. About 300 protesters were arrested, organizers estimated, though the Capitol Police would not comment on the number beyond saying on the social media platform X that three were charged with assault on a police officer. Protesters were restrained with zip ties and led into police vans.
Linda Holtzman, a rabbi from Philadelphia, said she was protesting because of her faith, values and Jewish history, a theme other attendees echoed. Rabbi Holtzman, who said she was concerned about violence intensifying against civilians in Gaza, said that her grandmother survived the Holocaust and that she was taught to fight for all human life.
“Where there is no justice, I have to be a voice for justice,” she said.
Lee's Perspective 