Jews against the Occupation condemns, in the strongest possible terms the current attacks on Palestinians in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank.
As we approach the 73rd聽anniversary of the establishment of the State of Israel and the聽consequent聽dispossession of the Palestinian people, we see yet another聽brutal聽chapter in the ongoing Nakba,聽the ethnic cleansing of Palestinian people聽to establish聽and extend an exclusively Jewish state.
The attempted removal of Palestinians from their homes in Sheikh Jarrah by Israeli 鈥渟ettlers鈥澛燼nd the Israeli 鈥淒efence鈥 Force (IDF)聽is聽distinguishable from business-as-usual for the State of Israel only by the fact that the Palestinians are resisting 鈥斅爐heir puny stones against聽the聽rifles of the settlers and聽the聽military聽might of the IDF.
Throwing stun grenades into the Al Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan, the most sacred聽period聽of the Muslim calendar, is a total violation of Palestinian spirituality, culture and humanity.
The current escalation of violence is a typical cynical move by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to prime his political prospects, and is reminiscent of the tactics of fprmer United States' President Donald Trump.
The performance of the Western media in reporting these events is lamentable.
It is reported as a 鈥渃onflict鈥, Hamas against Israel as if they were equals, with equal聽strength and聽legitimacy in their fight. We hear of rockets from Gaza and the IDF 鈥渞esponding鈥 with its customary ferocity.聽The attempted removal of Palestinians from their homes in Sheikh Jarrah is air-brushed out.
But the Israeli court has upheld the settler case, firmly implementing the Nation State law which states Israel is the State of the Jews.
If the law is unjust, then resistance is inevitable.
As with the apartheid regime in South Africa, it is time for the whole world to join Israeli聽human rights organisation B鈥橳selem and Human Rights Watch in聽identifying the State of Israel as an apartheid regime.聽
In particular, the Australian government must speak out in defence of international law and stop military and economic relationships with this rogue聽state.聽
The world must聽condemn and sanction Israel聽until it abides by international law. The time for聽impunity for Israel is over.
[Jews Against the Occupation released the statement on May 13.]