US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urges Israel and the Palestinians to exercise restraint after an increase in violence in the area.

We grieve the heartbreaking loss of life, and we rage at the root causes of all this violence – the Israeli government’s brutal apartheid and settler-colonial rule over Palestinians. To stop the violence we must stop ignoring the massive disparity of power between the Israeli government and the Palestinians it targets.

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Backed by $3.8 billion in annual military funding from the US government, the Israeli government controls, dominates and dispossesses Palestinian lives and lands. The US backed the Israeli government making Jerusalem the capital city, ignoring the fact that it has ignored the feelings of the Palestinians.

Those of us who know how the Palestinians are treated are labelled “antisemitic”, when we dare to mention the truth about the actions of Israel.

I say to the Israeli government STOP THE VIOLENCE, STOP TRYING TO ERASE A PEOPLE who have lived in the area for countless thousands of years.

I am not antisemitic, I am pro-justice.

Margaret Forbes
via email