Contact: Lauren Theodore at 212-650-4154
New York, NY; April 9, 2018 - Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism, issued the statement below in response to recent violence in Gaza:
The ongoing escalation on the Gazan border is tragic and dangerous for both Israelis and Palestinians. There appears to be no doubt that Hamas has made cynical and violent use of those Gazans who seek a more hopeful future.
But, at the same time, we call on Israel to take all necessary and effective precautions so that innocent civilians will not be harmed. Additionally, the press—especially when marked clearly as such—must be protected as non-combatant civilians.
We are concerned about the lack of a hopeful timeline for Gazans to experience a different future. Israelis on the Gazan border deserve, too, the guarantee of a peaceful life. The continued tragedy of Gaza shows the strong need for a regional agreement, including Egypt and other Arab states, and for the U.S. to play an arbiter’s role in finding a just solution to the Israeli-Palestinian situation.
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