A South African Jewish Declaration of Conscience

Sign our South African Jewish Declaration of Conscience! In response to the anti Israel "Call by Concerned Jews" (and now Lebanese) which lays all blame on Israel for the Lebanon crisis we call on South African Jews to publicly support our alternative declaration by posting their name and/or personal message in the comments section below.

We declare that that all peoples of the Middle East, be they Jewish or Arab, have the right to live in free and prosperous societies. Terrorist organisations, such as Hamas and Hizballah, are the greatest obstacle to realizing this vision. Their incitement of hatred and indiscriminate acts of violence against Israel, do not only destroy the lives of the Jewish people that they so hate, but also poison the Arab societies within which they operate. Thus all terrorist organisations must be dismantled for there to be any hope of a better Middle East.

The Jewish state has consistently sought peace with its Arab neighbours. To this end, it has made painful concessions. In terms of its 1978 peace agreement with Egypt, Israel relinquished the entire Sinai Peninsula. In 1993, it entered into the Oslo Peace Process with the Palestinians and under these accords handed over much of Gaza, Judea and Samaria (West Bank) to PLO control. Israel unilaterally withdrew from Southern Lebanon in 2000. And most recently, it disengaged from all of the Gaza almost one year ago.

Yet despite these unprecedented gestures, Israel has not received peace. Terrorist organisations and certain rogue states throughout the region have continued their campaign for Israel’s destruction. And we support Israel’s right to defend itself against this unprovoked aggression.

We regret the loss of all innocent life on both sides of the conflict. However we recognise that there is a moral distinction between terrorist organisations that deliberately kill civilians and the Israeli Defense Force that inadvertently does so.

The terrorist organisations that use their civilians as human shields in blatant contravention of international law bear much of the culpability for Arab civilian deaths.

South Africa, with its significant accomplishments in nation building, could play a meaningful role in the development of sustainable Arab democracies in the region. Its vast experience in reconciliation could also serve to help counteract decades of anti-Jewish hatred that has permeated the Arab world.

We believe that a just and lasting peace between Israel and its Arab neighbours is possible. Israel’s peace agreements with Egypt and Jordan attest to this. But peace cannot cohabit with terrorism. Thus it is the duty of all who long for freedom and prosperity in the Middle East, to support the eradication of this scourge.

Update
The views in the comments do not necessarily represent the views of It's Almost Supernatural.

Admin Note: This entry will remain at the top of the blog for the next while. Normal blog posts appear under this entry.

Update @ 11/08/2006
A small number of Lebanese have now joined the terror supporting "Jews for peace". Read about the updated petition which apportions all blame for the crisis on Israel here.

Comments

[Wally Miller]

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*Editor's Note:

Please scroll to the top of this page to read our declaration and scroll down to the bottom in order to post your message of support.

If you are struggling to post your message of support then please send an email to almost.supernatural@gmail.com and we will post it for you.
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Support

[Jacob Miller]

Support (South African living in Canada)

[Candice Miller]

Support

[Gareth]

Support from a non-Jew (but from a Jewish family)

[Roy]

I support

[Frances]

I support

[Michael Kransdorff]

strongly support

[gary shapiro]

I support Am Yisrael

[Justin Blend]

I support.
2 lines- If the Terrorists laid down their weapons today there would be immediate peace.
If Israel laid down their weapons, their would be no more Jews in this world.

[leanne salant]

I support Israel, and the fight to retain Israel's existence!

[Shirley Rubenstein]

Very strongly support Israel's right to live in peace and to defend itself

[Steven Magid]

I support this declaration.

[Dalit Marom]

Strongly Support

[Sihle Phule]

You have my support - from a Christian who doesnt support any side over the other but just wants peace.

[Gabi B]

Support

[David Ronthal]

I stongly support Israel's defensive action in Lebanon, May G-d bless all the brave soldiers of the IDF.

[gersh]

support,.

[Brett]

I FULLY SUPPORT ISRAEL !!!!

[Maurice]

I support Israel's defensive action in Lebanon

[Andrea]

I strongly support Israel!

[Jonathan Lurie]

Strongly support

[Saul]

Support

[Galia Durbach]

Support

[Stephen K]

i support Israel's right to defend its people and country

[Benny M]

Support