Letter: Transition is needed in Middle East

Israel’s sledgehammer approach to stopping Hamas requires financial support from the U.S., which we need to withdraw. Lots of folks worldwide, including most U.N. countries, want them to stop the bombing. They are also calling for full democratic rights for Palestinians.

Criticizing the Israeli government for its horrific cruelty in Gaza is not antisemitic, just as criticism of Hitler is not anti-German. Criticism of Hamas is not about all Palestinians.

Yes there are people who hate all Jews. Unfortunately, the attacks on innocent Gazans will make that worse.

How can we go from here to a peaceful, multiethnic, one- or two-state Israel/Palestine? It will take a cease-fire and a release of all political prisoners and hostages on both sides. It will take water turned on, walls coming down, and an end to Israeli settlers grabbing homes and farms from Palestine.

The transition will be challenging, given the distrust on both sides. But however far you’ve gone down the wrong road, you still have to turn around. Let’s start by pulling the United States funding for weaponry. These bombs aren’t helping any of our problems, environmental or social. Mainly, they are making arms dealers rich.