An Open (and hopeful) Letter to Barack Obama

Date: Mon, 29 Dec 2008 An Open (and hopeful) Letter to Barack Obama

Attached is an open letter to President Elect Obama which we hope can be circulated widely so that he is made to participate in the debate and come forward with a positive move to end the Israeli operations against Gaza and the Palestinians. This is a crucial turn of the Bush administration in its dying days, selling our reputation down the river and instigating controversy with supporters of the Palestinians' rights. Your transmission of the whole or part of the letter is authorized. I speak as the President of the Sholom Aleichem Memorial Foundation. Our mission is to strengthen and enrich the Jewish Community and assuage anti-Semitism both locally and throughout the world. Sincerely, Sidney J. Gluck President, Sholom Aleichem Memorial Foundation, Inc.

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Dear President Elect Obama,

The Israeli bombing of innocent unarmed Palestinian civilians on the Gaza Strip is taking place with our country's support. The Bush administration has continued to contribute billions of dollars annually to Israel and supplying them with military equipment and bombs which perpetuate a policy of hostility towards Iran and Syria. Yesterday's massacre has resulted in the killing of over 350 people and has wounded thousands who find it difficult to get medical care. Israel's bombing of nonmilitary areas with dense civilian populations which include mosques and universities; particularly the Islamic University of Gaza which has 18,000 students of which 60% are women is appalling and inexcusable. Israel now prepares a final assault on unarmed people blaming Hamas which did respond earlier to provocations which are now being claimed by Israel for its despicable present actions.

As a Jew, I am strongly opposed to Israel's action which is very reminiscent of the Holocaust and the tragedy at Warsaw. Blaming the Palestinians for provoking these actions is an obvious ruse considering the continued policy of Israel to choke off Gaza from the world and blame any defensive actions on Palestinian sources.

We are aware that you have taken a position that Israel is the main ally of the US in the Middle East, though I remember you stating in an address to leaders of the Jewish community in Florida during the nomination campaign [that] you recognized the proposals for a two-state solution[...] You are now being challenged to find a way of promoting this idea before the ultimate destruction of innocent people in Gaza who have until now been subjected to deprivation of food, electricity, healthcare and simple human amenities.

We do not have two presidents functioning. The lame duck is in full support of the current devastation and escalation to all out war with the Palestinians. Members of both parties in Congress have expressed solidarity with Israel. All of this is calculated to take place before your inauguration on January 20,
2009. However, you are the presumptive president who will be saddled when our country has lost all global support. It is time that something positive is said by you and your team that would mitigate the worst and hold the fort for you to deal with it in your highly successful diplomatic manner. I am sure that you understand the situation. It is only a matter of political leadership which is needed to alter the devastating prospects of total destruction of the Gaza people and the involvement of the Golden Heights and the West Bank.

Of all people in the world, your voice would be the most effective, though we are aware of the dangers of your taking such a [...] position. It is up to you to judge your historic role in this treacherous moment. We urge you to find the tone and character of a diplomatic move that could halt military operations.

Sincerely, Sidney J. Gluck, President Sholom Aleichem Memorial Foundation, Inc.