All congregational rabbis in Maine signed a statement calling for peace, asking the state’s political leaders to stop using the term «genocide» to describe Israel’s war in the Gaza Strip in public discussions.
The document, titled «A Call for Peace and Responsible Rhetoric,» was released following the Democratic primary, in which several candidates used the term for the first time. The statement’s authors also expressed dissatisfaction with conditions in the Middle East and called on Israeli and Palestinian leaders to work toward a peaceful future for children on both sides.
We call on Maine leaders, and especially its political leaders, to refrain from the irresponsible use of this term when describing the war between Israel and Hamas.
The rabbis argue that using the term as a political slogan does not contribute to peace, blurs moral and legal boundaries, diminishes the very meaning of genocide, and fuels hatred toward the local Jewish community.
The statement was initiated by the Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine.
Source: jta.org
