HomeMy WebLinkAbout112023 email Supporting Israel and the Jewish CommunityALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
Dear Greg,
My organization is dedicated to the mission of educating about Israel and fighting antisemitism. This is an open letter to the leaders of all county governments in Washington state regarding
the war between Hamas and Israel, as well as the impact on Jewish Americans and those who support us.
You likely already know of the shocking October 7 Hamas terror attack on Israel that plunged the region into war. Hamas brutally murdered 1,200 Israelis, individually, in a matter of
hours; wounded over 5,000; took 240 hostages (Israelis, Americans and others), and has fired over 9,000 rockets at Israeli civilians, hospitals and schools since then.
You likely also know of the many casualties in Gaza resulting from Hamas’ use of Gaza Palestinians as human shields against Israel’s military response. This has caused some people to
call for Israel to be isolated, boycotted, and punished as an aggressor. Now is a time for moral clarity.
Along with President Biden and the overwhelming majority of both Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. Senate and Congress, we ask you to recognize that Hamas -- a genocidal terror group
openly committed to Israel’s annihilation -- is to blame for this suffering.
On Washington state campuses, we have seen students chant “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free” and “There is only one solution, Intifada revolution,” both of which are
calls for violence against Israel. These slogans have been shouted by students at the University of Washington <https://mynorthwest.com/3936644/rantz-uw-seattle-activist-declares-we-dont-want-israel
-to-exist/> , Western Washington University <https://socialistrevolution.org/events/intifada-until-victory-bellingham-rally-for-palestinian-liberation/> , and even at Whitman College
<https://www.union-bulletin.com/news/local/education/whitman-college-sit-in-ends-students-to-meet-with-trustees/article_77ae590a-8326-11ee-81bd-1b2b84bf4b97.html> , where students staged
a four-day “sit-in” and refused to move unless the administration caved to their demands.
The Middle East has a long and complex history, which defies the simplistic concepts to which some try to reduce it. Israel is by far the region’s most progressive nation, yet some
so-called “progressives” instead choose to stand against Israel and to join with some of the world’s most anti-progressive entities (like Hamas and Iran) in condemning it.
Misinformation on Israel is rampant. As a nonpartisan Israel education organization, we would like to offer you an accurate summary <https://www.flipsnack.com/59DEA577C6F/faq-the-hamas-war-against-is
rael/full-view.html> of key points about the current Gaza crisis and its history. We can also advise you on best ways that your county government can offer support to the Jewish community,
even if you have a small population of Jewish citizens.
Three actions you can take today are:
1. Pass a resolution to condemn antisemitism and to formalize your county’s adoption of the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism. See Lynnwood Times’ coverage of Snohomish County’s
resolution here <https://lynnwoodtimes.com/2023/01/18/antisemitism-definition-01182023/> . This will send a strong message of support, while also assisting law enforcement in determining
if a crime had antisemitic intent or not. This definition is what’s used by the U.S. Departments of State <https://www.state.gov/defining-antisemitism/> and Education <https://www2.ed.gov/about/off
ices/list/ocr/docs/qa-titleix-anti-semitism-20210119.pdf> .
2. Resist attempts to call for a ceasefire until the hostages have been freed and until Hamas no longer has the capability to harm Israelis.
3. Reach out to us if you would like to learn more about the Jewish experience, Israel, or the conflict. We would be happy to spend time with you individually or as a group.
Thank you for your time and consideration. May we see more peaceful times ahead.
Regards,
Randy Kessler
Regional Director
StandWithUs Northwest
206.686.3419
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