Rhode Island reacts to Israeli-Palestine war
“Jewish grief and historical trauma must not be weaponized and used to justify the genocide of Palestinians," said Joel Reinstein of Jewish Voice for Peace - Rhode Island.
In reaction to the latest Israeli-Palestine war, Rhode Island leaders were quick to align themselves with Israel and against the violent attacks by Hamas.
Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse were unequivocal in their most recent joint statement in reaction to the bombing of a hospital:
“After the briefing we received, it is clear that the United States is standing fully with Israel. We must recognize Israel’s right to defend itself from murderous terrorists.
“We are also assured that President Biden has negotiated the flow of humanitarian aid to Gazans. We must minimize harm to innocent civilians in Gaza, even as Hamas uses Palestinian civilians as human shields.”
“The intelligence community has concluded that the tragic explosion at the hospital in Gaza was the result of an errant rocket launched by terrorists and not an Israeli airstrike. Those who are responsible for that horrific attack must be held accountable for the devastation they’ve caused.”
Governor Daniel McKee made the following statement of unqualified support on October 14:
There will be a rally today [1 pm, Saturday, October 21, 2023] on the south steps of the Rhode Island State House organized by nearly a dozen groups demanding “an end to the Israeli occupation and genocide in Palestine.”
Groups organizing and signed on to the action include The Party for Socialism and Liberation Rhode Island; ANSWER Coalition; Direct Action for Rights and Equality [DARE]; Jewish Voice For Peace Rhode Island; Rhode Island Club - Communist Party USA; Providence Democratic Socialists of America; Brown Students for Justice in Palestine; RISD Students for Justice in Palestine; RI Antiwar Coalition; No Endless War or Excessive Militarism; Providence Youth Student Movement; Alliance to Mobilize Our Resistance; SISTA Fire; and the Reform Solitary Coalition.
"We are witnessing ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people - greenlit and funded by our federal government - after nearly a century of violent occupation and displacement,” said Anusha Alles, Executive Director of Direct Action for Rights and Equality. “As Black, Indigenous, Arab, Asian, Latinx, working class, Jewish, and LGBTQ Americans heavily impacted by racism, colonization, and the military-industrial complex, we stand in solidarity with Palestine. We will not tolerate any further support by the American government for the state of Israel."
“We know all too well what happens when people are called 'animals,' as Israel's leaders are calling Palestinians,” said Joel Reinstein of Jewish Voice for Peace - Rhode Island. “Jewish grief and historical trauma must not be weaponized and used to justify the genocide of Palestinians.”
The rally will feature a march and a speaking program.
On Thursday Jewish Voice for Peace - Rhode Island organized a banner drop in downtown Providence to protest both the war and the resolution of City Councilmember John Goncalves condemning Palestinian attacks on Israeli civilians. In a statement, Jewish Voice for Pease wrote:
“At the October 19, 2023 Providence City Council meeting, Councilman John Goncalves will introduce Resolution 42981, which condemns attacks on Israeli civilians. By failing to also address the thousands of Palestinians killed by the Israeli military during its ongoing siege of Gaza, this Resolution contributes to escalating conflict and the dehumanization of Palestinians.
“Jewish Voice for Peace - Rhode Island calls on City Councillors and all people of conscience to act urgently to stop imminent genocide of Palestinians in Gaza. As American Jews, we have been horrified to see the Israeli and U.S. governments rushing to weaponize the October 7 deaths of Israeli civilians to fuel a genocidal war against Palestinians in Gaza, pledging to “open the gates of hell.” We condemn the horrific violence and collective punishment that has since been perpetrated against innocent civilians through bombing and cutting off water, electricity, and food supplies. Not in our name!
“We insist that the root cause of this violence be recognized: this conflict is a continuation of the Nakba of 1948, in which more than 700,000 Palestinians were displaced, and tens of thousands fleeing violence sought refuge in Gaza.These refugees, who have long been denied the right to return to their homes, are now being displaced again. What we are witnessing is a continuation of 75 years of Israeli occupation and apartheid that violates international law.
“We demand all levels of our government, including the Providence City Council, use their platform to urgently advocate for de-escalation. We also demand that our representatives in Congress work to end US support of the Israeli military. We cannot accept complicity in any further death and destruction. A future of peace and safety for all, grounded in justice, freedom and equality for all, is the only option, and it will not be achieved through any military solution. We learn from our ancestors, from Jewish traditions, and from Jewish history that never again must mean never again for anyone.”
In the direct aftermath of the Hamas attacks and Israeli reactions a pair of events in Rhode Island outlined the differences in the public’s reaction. Here is the video from both events:
Free Palestine [Sunday, Oct 8, 1 pm, in front of the Federal Building and Courthouse, 1 Exchange Terrance Kennedy Plaza, Providence, Rhode Island]
From the press release:
EMERGENCY RALLY - Stand with Palestinian resistance!
In recent hours, the Palestinian resistance launched a historic new counteroffensive against the unrelenting oppression, murder, torture and occupation carried out by the Israeli apartheid regime. This Israeli oppression is bought and paid for by U.S. imperialism.
Israel is currently carrying out a massacre of historic proportions against Gaza and all throughout Palestine, slaughtering hundreds. People all around the world are taking to the streets in support of the Palestinian movement.
Rhode Island Jewish Community Prayer Vigil [Monday, October 9, 5:30 pm, Dwares JCC, 401 Elmgrove Avenue, Providence.]
From the press release:
“Over the weekend, and during the holidays of Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah, Israel was attacked by the Hamas terrorist group in a horrific escalation of violence that targeted innocent civilians. The crisis is ongoing, and Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu has declared the country is at war. Rhode Island’s Jewish community stands in solidarity with the people of Israel.
“The community vigil ran approximately one hour and included remarks from Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, Governor Daniel McKee, and several Israelis who live in Rhode Island. The program included a variety of musical selections led by cantors and song leaders in our community and will also have several prayers led by community rabbis.”
as usual, top much polarization, no rallies for compromise, reconciliation, and peace.
Obvious truth: Israelis cannot live in peace without reaching an accommodation with Palestinians, and Palestinians cannot improve their lives without reaching an accommodation with Israelis.
But neither Hamas nor the Netanyahu regimes are capable of that. The former is sworn to annihilate Israel and to kill or expel all the Jews there (and they mean it judging from their savagery and willingness to bring the resulting misery to Gazans) the latter is committed to total domination of the Palestinians, from the river to the sea in both cases. But no matter how many rockets, bombs. BDS resolutions etc neither can succeed, they can only bring misery.
There is no use making demands on only one side, that doesn't work. To actually improve lives there peace loving people, especially in the Jewish ad Islamic worlds, should call for:
Gaza: stop the rockets, release the hostages, Hamas resign to let more moderate forces govern;
Israel: no ground invasion, stop the bombing, restore electricity ad services, Netanyahu's coalition resign and let more moderate forces govern.
I know the haters want the other side to give in, but that wont happen. As the song goes "when will they ever learn, when will they ever learn"
Wow Hamas is the ones that started all this!