Mein Großvater war jüdisch. Er würde heute mit gebrochenem Herzen sein.
https://politicswithbillcasey.ca/blog/f/my-grandfather-was-jewish-he%E2%80%99d-be-heartbroken-today
Mein Großvater war jüdisch. Er würde heute mit gebrochenem Herzen sein.
https://politicswithbillcasey.ca/blog/f/my-grandfather-was-jewish-he%E2%80%99d-be-heartbroken-today
3 Kommentare
I thought this blog post by Bill Casey would be perfect for this week’s Casual Friday. The beginning and the end of the blog has some really well thought out and well balanced positions on the current War in Gaza.
>The only grandfather I ever knew was a Jew. He was a very distinguished gentleman, well-liked and appreciated by everyone in a town that was predominantly Christian. If he were alive today, I fear that he might now be disrespected and isolated… not because he was Jewish, but because of what the Netanyahu government is doing in Gaza. He would be heartbroken.
>The claims that “antisemitism” is on the rise around the world are misleading. People are not angry at the Netanyahu government because they are Jewish; they are angry because of the attacks on Palestinian children and women first, and now the Israeli blockade of desperately needed food and medicine for Palestinians.
>It is not uncommon for Jews around the world now to be shown scorn and disrespect, not because of their faith, but in the hope that the message will reach the Netanyahu government that what the Israeli government is doing in Gaza is unacceptable. This is not “antisemitism”… it is opposition to violence against innocent women and children.
>No one denies Israel the right to protect itself. No one denies Israel the right to extract punishment for the October 7th murderous attack on innocent Israelis. No one denies Israel the right to eliminate Hamas and retrieve the Israeli hostages.
>However, flattening every building in the entire region of Gaza is not necessary to accomplish any of these goals. In this age of laser-guided rockets, smart bombs, and drones, there is no need to obliterate every single building in Gaza.
>Statements from Prime Minister Netanyahu now suggest a desire for Israel to acquire more land in Gaza. This is no longer just a security and defence issue. It is now also a land acquisition issue.
>…
>I was very pleased to see Prime Minister Carney join with the British and French governments to express deep concerns about the blockade of food and medications for innocent Palestinians recently. In my view, expressing this concern is long past due.
>On the other hand, Israel can be assured that if any country were to subject Israel to a blockade of urgent food and medication for Israelis, Canada would be the first to come to Israel’s aid.
The middle half of Casey’s blog details a few fascinating stories about his numerous travels to Israel, Gaza, the West Bank, and his experience at the UN Malta Peace Conference.
One story I found extremely interesting was one trip where he had been introduced as a “true friend“ in both the Palestinian and Israeli legislatures. Casey also met with the Speakers of both of the legislatures, and he ended up being asked to deliver messages back-and-forth between both Speakers to start a dialogue. After Casey got home, Yasser Arafat ended up calling Casey’s constituency office in Amherst, asking if Casey could get Canada to join the “Quartet Peace Process.” I can only imagine how *that* phone call went.
>I had no idea if Canada could join the Quartet, but I said that I would find out. When I returned to Ottawa, I met with Foreign Affairs Minister Hon Bill Graham. He said, “We would love to join the Quartet, but we’re afraid to ask the Americans because the answer might be No.” I asked if I could meet with the Americans, and he agreed, saying, “You’re in the opposition; it doesn’t matter what they tell you.”
Later that same day, [Casey did another blog where he responded to a person who had called him an anti-Semite](https://politicswithbillcasey.ca/blog/f/%E2%80%9Cthis-is-hate-speech-at-its-worst%E2%80%9D) over his initial blog. Casey’s response is classy:
>I have no desire to get into a major argument about the conflict between Israel and Palestinians, but I will. I’ve made great friends on both sides and appreciate my connections very much. Neither side is squeaky clean in the long history between them. My goal would be to move forward and help find a fair solution for Israelis and Palestinians, if I could.
>However, I do not agree with the Israeli “policy” where Palestinian women and children are denied food and urgently needed medication… as a “policy.”
>Withholding food and medication is not “antisemitism”… it is against common sense and respect for human life.
>This is not a “Jewish policy,” this is an “Israeli Government Policy.” There is no “religious” aspect to it.
Casey then laments how polarized Canadians are about the issue, and explains why a two-state solution is the best for both parties. Both blog posts are worth a read!
I had to stop wearing my kippah and stick to wearing a baseball cap outdoors because of the harassment I’ve gotten on the street. The breaking point was when a man nearly hit me with his car so he could call me a „Dirty Jew“.
But I’m glad that the author of this blog post with his one Jewish granddad is here to tell me that this is all a gigantic misunderstanding.
You see, it’s not antisemitism at all! That time I got spat at and called a „Kike“ on my way to grab groceries? Well, that was simply an expression of displeasure with the Netanyahu government! When my synagogue received a bomb threat? Political activism!
Glad to have been educated by my non-Jewish betters.
My grandmother, the only member of her family to survive the death camps, emigrated briefly to Israel in the 50s. When asked why she didn’t stay she said:
„It was a lie. They told us a land with no people but the people were there“
I think about her often lately.