WILLIAMSON
FOR
U.S. CONGRESS
Democrat
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 6
“The Future Can Be Ours.”
480-607-9726
Dear Friend,
In 1948, the modern state of Israel was established by the Jewish people
so that, after the Holocaust in World War II, they could have a country
that they could call home. Unfortunately, in the process of achieving that
understandable and worthy goal, the indigenous Palestinians who lived on
that land were displaced and have not had a country they could call their
own since. (“Who Bears More Responsibility for the War in Gaza?”, John B.
Judis, The New Republic, July 25, 2014, www.newrepublic.com).
The Gaza Strip–a scene of the latest violent conflict between Israel and
the Palestinians–used to be part of Israel, but was given back, sort of,
to the Gazans in 2005 by Israel. It is located on the Mediterranean Sea
just northeast of Egypt. Israel has been governing it since as a colony
still under their jurisdiction. In that process, the Gazans have been
subject to what some people have characterized as harsh governance by the
Israelis, partly in the form of a blockade of goods and services that the
Gazans need to maintain an adequate quality of living. (Ibid.)
The creation of an independent Palestinian state is the only way that I
see for finding a long-term solution to the current conflict between
Israel and Hamas. The sooner that Palestinian state can be established,
the sooner the hostilities, I believe, will end.
The Future Can Be Ours if we seek diplomatic and political solutions to
problems that do not lend themselves to successful long-term military
solutions.
The current Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, made a statement
in early July of this year that seemed to show he does not support the
creation of a Palestinian state. “I think the Israeli people understand
now what I always say,” he said. “There cannot be a situation, under any
agreement, in which we relinquish security control of the territory west
of the River Jordan.” … David Horovitz, the editor of the Times of
Israel, wrote in a column about Netanyahu’s statement, “He wasn’t saying
that he doesn’t support a two-state solution. He was saying that it’s
impossible. This was not a new, dramatic change of stance by the prime
minister. It was a new, dramatic exposition of his long-held stance.”
(Ibid.)
Yes, Israel of course has the right to defend its civilians from Hamas
rockets, but the long-term solution is not military. The Israeli blockade
of Gaza has not contributed to a peaceful solution. This has merely
increased the frustration of civilians in Gaza to the point where some may
see military activity as the only way to cope with the situation.
The Israelis, as represented by Prime Minister Netanyahu, would do well to
consider, I believe, that it is in their own self-interest to expedite the
creation of a Palestinian state. When that happens, the displacement of
Palestinians from their own land that occurred in the late 1940’s can
finally come to an end. They can have their own country again.
When that happens, extremist groups, such as Hamas, will no longer have
the appeal they do now to those who have grievances against Israel.
My view is that, in return for an end to the Israeli blockade of Gaza,
Hamas must allow international inspectors to monitor on a daily basis
whether or not tunnels are being rebuilt or weapons are being reinstalled.
A certain number of these inspectors would be representatives from Israel
who could verify to their government that no rocket-launchers are being
installed that would pose a threat to civilians in Israel.
Whoever “wins” the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict may achieve a
Pyrrhic victory. Pyrrhus, of course, was the Greek king who, in A.D. 279,
won a victory, with many casualties however, over the Romans at Asculum.
He is said to have stated at the end of the battle: “Another victory like
this and we’ll be ruined.”
As your congressman, I will support the efforts of the United Nations and
of our secretary of state John Kerry to achieve a just and lasting peace
in the Middle East between Israel and the Palestinians. I support the
creation of a Palestinian state as soon as possible so that a long-term
solution to the terrible loss of life–both civilians and military–may
have a better chance to be found. I support a diplomatic and political
solution to this problem.
If you would like to contribute to my campaign, please check out my
website at williamsonforuscongress.com. Click on “Make a Donation,”
and, by means of safe and secure PayPal, donate to support a Democratic
candidate who advocates a diplomatic solution to the conflict between
Israel and the Palestinians.
I want to thank deeply those who have contributed to my campaign so far.
Your contributions are greatly appreciated and have helped a lot. Thank
you!
The Future Can Be Ours if we advocate for a diplomatic and political
solution to the terrible conflict between Israel and the Palestinians in
the Gaza Strip. Attitudes of revenge and retribution are not contributing
to a long-term solution to this humanitarian crisis involving two peoples
who wish to have sovereignty and self-determination. Let us ask ourselves
this: What is in the best interest of the civilians–both Israelis and
Palestinians? Certainly not what is happening now: Israelis living in
terror that a rocket launched by Hamas will get through Israel’s Iron Dome
missile defense system. Or Palestinians seeking shelter in a hospital
terrorized that an Israeli rocket may strike, perhaps mistakenly, even that
humanitarian location. Peace is a two-way street; each side will need to
compromise so that the destruction and loss of life may end. It is, in my
judgment, in both sides’ self-interest to do so.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
John
W. John Williamson
Scottsdale, Arizona