We are living through this generation's WW2 moment. What will we tell our children when war crimes, including the crime of collective punishment, was committed against the Palestinian and Lebanese people with the complicit support of the United States of America?
War will never lead to security for the Israeli people. IDF soldiers are speaking out, telling us this logic is a lie. Jewish Rabbis are telling us "never again means never again for anyone."
Tens of millions of people are protesting Israel's criminal assault on Gaza, which has killed far more than 40,000 civilians including 16,000 children. Jewish citizens around the world are protesting Israel's actions, saying “Not in my name. Do not weaponize our grief for such terrible crimes against humanity.”
In response to the war crimes committed by Hamas on Oct 7th, which includes killing civilians and taking hostages, you don't kill tens of thousands more civilians to demonstrate to the world that killing civilians is wrong.
Being crushed by a building or blown up by a bomb that US taxpayers paid for is no more just or humane than being killed by a machine gun or rocket from Hamas.
No one can say the thousands of civilian deaths by Israel were accidental while deaths caused by Hamas were intentional. You don't "accidentally" kill 40,000 people, 70% of which are women and children. We must recognize that Israel has a choice.
No person of conscience accepts the excuse that the victims are "human shields" or they are “collateral damage.” Such logic only dehumanizes the victim and the perpetrator.
If a school shooter took a bunch of children hostage, no one in their right mind would bomb the school, call the children "human shields," and then blame the shooter for dropping the bombs, rather than take responsibility for one's own actions.
A majority of American citizens (both Republican and Democrat) want a ceasefire in Gaza. Most also support an arms embargo on Israel, and polls show your action or inaction on this will be the decisive factor for voters in multiple swing states.
Heed the will of the people and shun the merchants and lobbyists of war and destruction!
War will not lead to security and peace for the Israeli people even on their own terms. Oct 7th is proof that Netanyahu's strategy of occupation and military domination are a complete failure.
Our children will remember what we did in this moment. Please do the courageous thing and support a permanent ceasefire and arms embargo on Israel. An arms embargo is the only thing that will reign Netanyahu's extremist right-wing party in. What the American people are asking for is not radical. We are asking the United States to follow it's own laws, which prohibits arms sales to countries involved in human rights violations.
If you don't change course in the next week, Madam Vice President, you are very likely to lose this election,, and allowing a fascist demagogue like Trump to rise to power is a crime on top of a crime.
Sincerely,
Tim Hjersted
Lawrence, KS, USA
To voters: Your voice is worth more than your vote. Use it or lose it. There's potential to force Kamala Harris to capitulate before election day, which will turn the final page on Trump in Michigan.
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Demand no war with Iran. Demand an arms embargo and permanent ceasefire now!