Gaza First

Kansas City Star
July 19, 2005
By Allan Abrams

My fellow American Jews and I mourn the loss of life and the shedding of blood caused by last week's terrorist attack in Netanya, Israel. This horrific event demonstrates that the Palestinian use of terror as a political strategy is futile and counterproductive.

For this reason, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his government need America's support as they rightly emphasize the foolishness of such actions.

Achieving joint negotiated agreements with the Israelis, backed by nonviolent, grass-roots, popular mobilization, is the only way a lasting peace will be secured.

American Jews, Arab-Americans, Israeli Jews and Palestinians support the Gaza disengagement 3-to-1. As the people of the United Kingdom are now unfortunately discovering for themselves, we must never allow the acts of a small number of extremists to dictate policy.

I stand with fellow members of Brit Tzedek v'Shalom, the Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace (emphasis added), and call on our government to do its part to see that it is "Gaza First" on the road to peace.

Allan Abrams is the chapter chair of the Kansas City Chapter of Brit Tzedek v'Shalom.