The more I think back to October 7 a year ago, the more I have to remind myself about how I felt that day, I was shocked and bothered by the dead Israeli women piled on top of each other at that Israeli bus-stop, and I was asking myself how on the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur war was the Israeli border security so relaxed, even those IDF girls that got slaughtered in their barracks had tried to blow the whistle on the increased Hamas activity, but were ignored. This issue was brought to commanders, postponed overnight during a diminished troop presence and that's when the attack took place.

- I still have to wonder whether Netanyahu deliberately allowed the October 7 attack to happen. I remember interviews from several former IDF saying there's no way possible something like that could've ever happened, and it came out later that Palestinians had been training on paragliders inside Gaza prior to October 7.

Jo Ann Mort, freelance journalist who writes features
and analysis from Israel, the Middle East and the
Jewish World says that we must insist that out of the
October 7th tragedy must come lasting peace.

She tells us that she and her friends were hoping that
out of all the vigils and peace protests could finally
come a peaceful resolution. But she points out that"
Just when you think it can't get any worse, it does".

We're told that in Gaza the massive civilian deaths,
homelessness and hunger resulting from the IDF
invasion after October 7th, even as Hamas fights on
the Netanyahu government refuses to articulate a
viable exit strategy.

We're told that the West Bank is inflamed as Jewish
settlers supported by the most rightwing government
in Israeli history freely and violently attacks
Palestinian villages and fields.

We're told that an extreme Israeli leadership seeking
to expand into Palestinian areas means a complete
eradication of a possible 2 state solution.

We're told that it is urgent that we build alliances
not rip each other apart. It's urgent that we march
with love, not shout or blockade with hate.

cont'd ...

cont'd ...

This past week on Rosh Hashanah at the Brooklyn synagogue
Congregation Beth Elohim their senior Rabbi Rachel Timoner
gave a sermon to several thousand congregants including
at least one leading US political leader and received a
standing ovation. She said:

"We are Jews who stand with the Israelis in the streets,
who stand with the hostages, who count ourselves with
the brave-peace activists who do not give up. Who
continue to fight for a future where all human beings
count".

"We are Jews who will find our way to these difficult
conversations with our neighbours on antisemitism and will
rebuild relationships and make new ones because we know
we cannot go it alone".

"Our synagogue was desecrated with red paint and slogans
after October 7th and our neighbourhood is an epicenter
of ongoing protests against Israel. None of us can go it
alone. But there must be a coming to terms with our
shared humanity. We need to seek practical ways to promote
a constructive US policy moving forward that effectively
spirals the region toward sustainable peace and human
rights for all".

"It means creating a movement of urgency, compassion,
and practicality that would be an impactful way to
commemorate October 7th".

http://theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/oct/07/hamas-war-gaza-israel-october-7-peace-resolution

Hamas fired a significant number of rockets at Israel yesterday to commemorate the orgy of rape and murder they perpetrated last year.

At the same time Hamas and UNWRA are telling us of the humanitarian crisis among all those poor Gazans.

Not enough money to relieve the suffering. More than enough money to get more weapons.

Quick.... the Hamas cheer-squad and antisemites (but I repeat myself) looks the other way.

______________________________________________________________________

Albo was jeered yesterday at the Jewish memorial.
Dutton was cheered yesterday at the Jewish memorial.

Who's on the right side of history?

"when anti-Semitism rears its head, society is in deep trouble." I suspect the antisemites don't care.

Albanese jeered. Dutton cheered. Good to hear. I don't think that Australian Jews will ever believe that Albanese is sincere, after his total lack of interest in them up to now.

In the meantime, Foxy drags up another rabid Lefty for "facts". Foxy represents all the bad things about the first offspring born here of migrants who were probably decent people escaping from people like Foxy in their homeland.

Some of Israel's most ardent supporters are
determined to try to silence all criticism of
Israel with the accusation of antisemitism.

Others resort to predictable personal attacks.

People who can't see both sides of the conflict
tend to ignore facts. They've allowed Israel's
response to October 7th and its decades long occupation
of the West Bank to cloud their judgement and they've
crossed the line into antisemitism.

Criticisms of Israel and the war against Hamas in Gaza
is not antisemitism and as such harms the crucial fight
against this growing threat by this ancient scourge.

Israel's bombing campaign and the ethnic cleansing of
Gaza could result in the death of all of Hamas's
military leaders. Hamas may cease to exist as an
organization. But none of this will solve the
problem.

Hamas was formed in 1980s and ruled Gaza only since
2007. Violence between Israelis and Palestinians long
predates the group's formation.

Violence begets violence.

"Never again," has to mean never against anyone. If this
call is not applied to Palestinians there will never
realistically be any hope that others will apply it to Jews
especially in our era in which so much antisemitism is ignored
because it does not fit into the pro-Israel and pro Palestine
stances.

Hatred must be fought everywhere and in all guises, including
among those whose fight against antisemitism is dependent on
how it relates to this conflict.