Palestinians have rights

Letters

Editor: Why, as Jewish people, might we support a petition that honors the Palestinian right of return? And, furthermore, why might we who believe in the right of return for Palestinians also believe that such a belief is a defence of Jewish people around the world?

For decades, debate about Israel and Zionism has been disallowed in the Jewish community. Those of us who believe not only that Israel is a colonial and oppressive state against the indigenous people of Palestine, but also that Israel represents a turning away from Jewish values and ethics, are always silenced, frequently scorned and often harassed for our beliefs.

As a Jew, I find it unbelievable that I, who only once stepped foot in Israel, could automatically become a citizen, while Palestinians born in Palestine are denied the right of return and those who remain within Israel proper are condemned to second-class citizenship. As a Jew of conscience, I believe that the only hope for world Jewry is the democratization of Israel and the end to the occupation, which includes evacuating all settlements that were illegally established under the Geneva Conventions. When Jews give up our "empire building" strategy as a way to end anti-Jewish oppression, then and only then can we build a secure place for us as Jews and for all those who have been hurt by European-style colonialism and oppression.

I, too, as a Jew, stand by the petition in support of the Palestinian right of return and reparations for the decades in which Palestinians have been denied self-determination economically, socially and civilly.

Carla Schick
Oakland, Calif.

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