Farmington Hills, MI, July 21, 2014 – In this time of crisis in the Middle East, the Society for Humanistic Judaism (SHJ) once again expresses our solidarity with the people of Israel. Our hearts go out to all those who have lost loved ones in this current conflict.
Reaffirming a statement first issued by the SHJ in 2002, SHJ Bonnie Cousens stated “we support ‘the right and responsibility of Israel to defend its citizens. The State of Israel is under attack. We reaffirm our support for the continued existence and defense of Israel. The future of the State of Israel must be secured.’”
That the UN Human Rights Council would adopt a resolution that sharply criticizes Israel while absolving the terrorist group Hamas of having a role or any responsibility for the current conflict is most distressing. The world must recognize and put an end to such terrorism.
The SHJ encourages all involved parties to seek a solution that will bring peace with justice to the entire region. A negotiated solution that assures a secure State of Israel and a demilitarized sovereign Palestinian state must be secured. We encourage the United States and the countries of the world to take a vigorous stand in bringing Israel, Hamas, and other involved parties to the negotiating table. Only then will the region find a lasting peace.
