A Warning to Israel's Leaders, Clergy, and Citizens

A Warning to Israel’s Leaders, Clergy, and Citizens"He who remains silent in the face of injustice is a mute devil."
Ali bin Abu Talib  What is happening in Gaza and the West Bank is not only a test for Palestine but also a test for the conscience of humanity. Israeli leaders, you must understand that every decision you make will be recorded in history as a dark stain. Actions targeting innocent lives can never be legitimized by any state or religious authority. The consequences of these decisions will be felt not only by the victims but, in the long term, heavily by your own society as well.   Religious authorities, your responsibility is immense. Guiding society with moral and ethical leadership is a power entrusted to you. Yet granting legitimacy to oppression violates the very essence of faith and conscience. History has repeatedly shown the consequences of silence and misguidance from religious leaders. What is expected from you is not merely spiritual guidance, but active steps to halt oppression and support justice.   And Israeli citizens… Remaining passive in the face of your community’s actions will burden you with the heavy weight of history. Humanity and international law demand that you do not submit to oppression or remain silent before injustice. Your choices will shape the future of your society and the conscience of the world. Every conscious decision you make today can protect both your own community and humanity from catastrophe.   A Call from Your Former Neighbors Remember, Israeli citizens: Your grandparents and parents—neighbors from different regions of Europe and various cultures—were flesh and blood like you, suffered and healed like you, grieved and rejoiced like you. During World War I and II, you endured suffering together, fought together, fell ill together, were treated together, died together, and were buried together. These European neighbors now warn you, reminding you to honor the beautiful memories of the past.   Now, by upholding the legacy of these memories, you have an opportunity to protect your honor and reputation for future centuries. There is still a path before you to travel freely across the world, engage in commerce without hindrance, and live happily while respecting human rights. Take this opportunity; safeguard both the honor and dignity of the Jewish people and of Israel. We, your former European neighbors, as people who still live with human values, deliver this message with utmost force. Do not delay—act immediately.   Do not think, as the Muslim Turkish people, that we fear you. Palestine is a province of ours, and its cities are our districts, formally registered in land records. This message is a warning written for you mercifully, meant to show the traces of the wisdom of an ancient state tradition that governs millions of people across diverse lands in peace and justice. The choice is yours, and the outcomes will be the work of your own hands.