http://indymedia.org.il
A Pro Israeli seeking PeaceMonday 20 Jan 2003
author: Sarah
First of all, I want to say I am an Israeli Citizen, and I love Israel, and it is due to my love of Israel and respect for the equal rights which should be afforded to everyone that I seek a peaceful resolution to the conflicts in the Mideast. I am not the most religious of Jews, but when I do go to Synogogue, I pray for the end of the occupation, and when I see that is not enough I protest.
But, that does not mean I am willing to disregard the crimes committed against Israeli's, being Israeli Jews and Arabs. Independence in 1948 was not a mere handing over of the keys to the Jews, which was taken as an excuse for ethnic cleansing. There are certainly Jews who were and are guilty of crimes against the Palestinian people, including all out massacres. But, 1948 was a war. Innocent civilians died on both sides, both sides committed genocide. I don't mean they cancel each other out, but they both must be regarded. When Israel was granted independence, all the countries surrounding declared war against the Israelis.
I don't want to excuse any acts of violence, but I also don't want to dismiss any. However, if we want to be digging up pages of history in the current seek for peace, lets begin in the 1970s, when Israel looses a great deal of respect in my eyes, by accepting US miliary funding.