Nasser Nasser / AP
Demonstrators run for cover during an exchange of fire between Palestinian gunmen and Israeli troops at the northern entrance of the West Bank city of Ramallah, Tuesday, May 18, 2021.
Friday, May 21, 2021 | 2 a.m.
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Even as we watch with terrible dismay at the ongoing eruption of violence in Israel and Gaza, those of us in the Jewish community here in Nevada were distressed by the biased and inflammatory comments of Nevada Democratic Party Chair Judith Whitmer, who last week issued a unilateral and — in the view of many members of her own party — inappropriate and irresponsible statement on the conflict.
In an entirely one-sided attack, Whitmer accused the Biden administration of acquiescing in the perpetration of “atrocities and human rights violations against the Palestinians” by the Israelis. Whitmer said nothing about the powerful rockets — more than 3,750 to date — launched by Hamas, a militant group that is utterly dedicated to the eradication of Israel. Nor did she mention that Hamas deliberately puts Palestinian civilians in danger by firing rockets from and storing weapons in civilian areas, including in and around homes, schools and hospitals. By contrast, the Israel Defense Forces make it a practice to warn of impending attacks to avoid civilian casualties — for example, a Palestinian TV reporter described the warnings, and there is footage of a warning being given.
By reducing this complex geopolitical conflict, in which long simmering and legitimate grievances have festered on both sides for decades, to a simplistic indictment of the Israelis, Whitmer has already done damage. Howard Beckerman, the state party’s treasurer, was so disturbed by her comments that he resigned from his post on May 15, saying that foreign relations is beyond the purview of the state’s Democratic Party. And a group of 27 Nevada Jewish Democrats were so taken aback by Whitmer’s statement that on May 17, they issued their own in opposition to hers, saying that they expect the leaders of their party “to promote words of unity and stand for equality and peace for all peoples.”
Whitmer’s overheated rhetoric is divisive at a time when we desperately need to find common ground in our approach to this conflict. By chastising and condemning, rather than presenting a balanced view, Whitmer undermines her own case. It is impossible to advance the cause of peace by being confrontational, by being one-sided, and by having a reckless disregard for the truth.
The only line in her statement that we can agree with is when she says that “Palestinians have the right to live in peace.” But so do Israelis. And until the two sides can find a way to live side by side, these awful cycles of violence will continue, causing unimaginable pain to both Israelis and Palestinians. We in the United States need to do all that we can to support the cause of peace. Indeed, it is gratifying to us that President Joe Biden has affirmed our nation’s support for Israel during this crisis.
We hope these hostilities will cease very soon and that both Israelis and Palestinians can resume their daily lives free from fear. We look forward to the time when, as the Prophet Isaiah wrote, “They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” (Isaiah 2:4).
Josh Pianko is chairman of the board at Jewish Nevada, an organization that represents more than 70,000 Jews in the state.
