'Open Letter' to Congress and the Media from the Jersey City Peace Movement, published in The Jersey Journal

http://www.nj.com/opinion/jjournal/letters/index.ssf?/base/letters-3/123416431239830.xml&coll=3

An Open Letter to Our Congresspersons and to the Media:

As of this letter's date, the Israeli military has brutally killed over 784 (and rising) people in Gaza, including countless children and women.

Well over 3,085 Palestinians in Gaza have been "injured." (And remember, when the media says 'injured' it does not mean just a 'scratch'. It means shrapnel in your eyes, limbs blown off, etc.)

Thirteen Israelis (mostly soldiers) have been killed also since the current phase of this conflict.

The Israeli military - the 4th most powerful military in the world backed by the U.S. military - continues to target schools, homes, and places of worship.

Gaza is an occupied, small strip of land of about 1.3 million residents. Many have described it as a 'refugee camp' of a people in their own homeland!

The United States taxpayer provides Israel with, by some estimates, well over $3.2 billion tax dollars every year, more than any other nation, including Egypt and Colombia, the two other largest recipients of U.S. financial aid. The United States also provides military weapons and artillery as well as Caterpillar bulldozers which demolish Palestinian homes and more on a routine basis.

We demand our members of Congress:

C.) Hold Israel accountable for misuse of U.S. supplied weapons pursuant to U.S. law - like the Arms Export Control Act, and the 1952 US / Israel Treaty regarding arms sales, as well as all international laws and United Nations resolutions.

Several members of Jersey City Peace Movement contributed to this letter. Here are some of their statements and opinions:

- One Jersey City businessman and Jersey City Peace Movement member states, " I don't want any U.S. money going towards any military conflict - only for [humanitarian] aid. We can't afford to build schools (here) so we shouldn't give money to help countries destroy schools of other countries."

- Another JCPM member, and union activist, Lisa Marie Palmieri commented: "In my belief, ALL people are created complete and equal in God's eyes. For the sake of world peace, Israel MUST acknowledge this."

- Michael Kramer, a former Israeli soldier and Jersey City Peace Movement activist gave this statement at a New York City press conference recently, "I know full well what genocide is, what racism is. And genocide and racism go hand-in-hand with the Israeli attack in Gaza."

- One Jersey City resident, activist, JCPM member and college student suggests the Web site: www.jewsagainstzionism.com and also reminds us that Israel recently attacked a boat in international waters that was carrying emergency supplies to the people of Gaza. On that boat was former Congresswoman and recent U.S. Presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney, who in her CNN interview after the vessel was attacked, rammed and destroyed, reminded the viewers of another Israeli ship attack several decades ago on the U.S.S. Liberty.

Jersey City Peace Movement is committed to speaking out against and ending war, racism, anti-Semitism and all other forms of bigotry. We at Jersey City Peace Movement stand united with ALL the progressive Jews and others all over the world calling for an immediate end to this conflict.

We demand an end to all Arab, Muslim and Jewish death and suffering.

We are a local peace and justice organization in Jersey City that links the U.S. wars abroad (billions of our tax-payer dollars going to endless war, occupation and oppression) to the wars at home (homelessness, joblessness, lack of healthcare and education, etc.)

JCPM holds an anti-war vigil every last Sunday at noon at the Journal Square 9/11 Memorial Fountain where we feed and clothe the needy as well as distribute free DVD's, flyers and other educational information.

In solidarity:

ERIK-ANDERS NILSSON

ON BEHALF OF OVER 500 MEMBERS AND FRIENDS

DIRECTOR, JERSEY CITY PEACE MOVEMENT