"[E]ven if we win the war, in the end we won't be able to look ourselves in the mirror."

This is a quote by the Israeli Chief of Staff from 2003 in response to the occupation and the checkpoints. It is a key question. What is this state created in the name of Judaism? Who are these Jews that are oppressing, murdering, and ethnically cleansing another people? Who is this government that has established an apartheid, fascist state?

It is not uncommon for abused little boys to grow up to become abusers (little girls tend to internalize abuse and become self-abusive), relating more to the power of the oppressor than the passivity they read into victimization. To some extent, the Israel is this phenomenon on a macro level. While I understand the heartbreak of learning these facts, it is crucial that American Jews stand up and say "no more" and to refuse to be a part of an ongoing genocide. How often have we imagined what would have happened if the German people had done this 60 years ago? Is there some reason that we do not demand the same of ourselves? It is no longer sufficient to claim "I never knew what was happening." There are books at your local Borders and Barnes and Noble stores, there are films, there are websites, there are Palestinians who will be ecstatic to talk to you. You do not even have to go to Palestine. And once you are educated, you have the responsibility to say "not in my name" and to not be fooled by the "anti-Semitic" labels that are put on each criticism of the state of Israel.

All states are answerable for their actions. All governments bear responsibility to treat human beings with dignity and respect basic human rights. Israel has violated her responsibility to such an extent that she is guilty of the commission of numerous war crimes under international law. These statements and calls for accountability are anything but anti-Semitic. Instead, the call to act as righteous human beings towards another group of human beings should be the only demand any religion can make. No religion should be allowed to hide behind its gods to confiscate land, destroy homes, murder people, separate families, oppress a population, encage a population, or deprive a population of its basic human rights. In this way, Judaism is no different but must be held to the same standards.

Arguably, given our history of oppression, we might demand that we hold ourselves to an even higher standard. Are we not, after all, disproportionately represented in most civil rights movements? Are we not disproportionately represented in unions and other fights for human rights? If American Jews do not stand up and demand that Israel be brought to justice, demand human rights for Palestinians and an end to the occupation, then the only conclusion can be that such disproportionate representation is a cloak to hide and distract the world from the war crimes against humanity the Jewish state is committing.

I thank you for accompanying me on my journey. It is only the beginning of my work for justice for the Palestinians. I hope that you will join me.