Passages from statements issued by the leaders of Jewish Voice for Peace, condemning both the attacks in southern Israel and the Israeli reprisals in Gaza:
Within hours of the attacks, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said, “There will be a price tag to this event… Gaza will be severely hit.” (Ynet) Israel subsequently initiated lethal air strikes on southern Gaza where an already desperately poor 1.5 million Palestinians live captive with limited access to food, medical supplies and fuel due to Israeli and Egyptian policies. So far 6 have been reported dead. Israel’s “price tag” approach to Gaza, otherwise known as collective punishment, is also a serious violation of international law.
JVP Deputy Director Cecilie Surasky: “Instead of investigating and bringing those responsible to justice based on the rule of law, Israel is responding to the horror of Eilat with collective punishment by bombing a captive and struggling population in Gaza. This escalation is simply wrong and will only lead to the deaths of more Palestinians and Israelis and the continued deterioration of Israel’s standing in the world.”
JVP Executive Director Rebecca Vilkomerson: “Every single death is a tragedy and there can never be an excuse for deliberately killing civilians. Unfortunately, as long as the United States continues to support Israel’s decades-long practice of illegally appropriating land, destroying homes, and using disproportionate force–a policy which has proven to be both morally bankrupt and self-destructive for Israel–neither Palestinians nor Israelis will ever know peace.”
