This is the text of letter I have sent to my local newspaper. They may or may not publish it..
There is no doubt that Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza. The facts speak for themselves and are undeniable. Yes, Hamas conducted an outrageous act of terrorism against Israel on October 7, 2023. That truth is undeniable too, and there is no excuse or justification for it. All people of good faith must condemn it absolutely, and I do. It does not, however, in any way excuse what Israel has done in Gaza in response. Genocide is genocide regardless of who is committing it. Acknowledging the evil of what the state of Israel is doing in Gaza is, however, not anti-Jewish. The great, ancient faith of Judaism, the world’s oldest monotheistic faith and the mother faith of Christianity, is not the same thing as the state of Israel. I am an ordained Christian minister, and I have nothing but respect for Judaism and God’s people who practice if faithfully. I can do nothing but condemn Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netahyahu and the government he heads. All people of good faith must do whatever they can to stop Israel’s genocide in Gaza and work to restore the horrific damage Israel has done there.
