Posted on Oct 27, 2023
St. Louisans decry the terror of war in Gaza and Israel
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In the past 18 days of violence between Israel and Hamas that has plunged the region into full-fledged war, people in the St. Louis area have taken to the streets, prayed, held rallies and lobbied their local governments.
Most of the large public demonstrations have been in support of Palestinians bombarded during Israel’s attacks on Hamas targets in heavily populated areas in Gaza, and in support of their decadeslong struggle for a Palestinian state.
Public responses from elected officials — including a majority of the region's congressional delegation — have been largely supportive of Israel and critical of Hamas, which launched an attack on Israeli settlements on Oct. 7, killing more than 1,400 people and taking more than 200 hostages.
Local pro-Palestinian demonstrators and those who gathered to support Israel, despite their differences, share a message: concern for their loved ones.
“I've lost a village. My family is from there. I have in-laws there right now. We're hoping that they stay safe,” Lena Ramadan, whose family is from Gaza, said at an Oct. 15 downtown St. Louis rally for Palestinians that drew close to 2,000 people. “It's dangerous and it's scary and nobody feels safe.”
Most of the large public demonstrations have been in support of Palestinians bombarded during Israel’s attacks on Hamas targets in heavily populated areas in Gaza, and in support of their decadeslong struggle for a Palestinian state.
Public responses from elected officials — including a majority of the region's congressional delegation — have been largely supportive of Israel and critical of Hamas, which launched an attack on Israeli settlements on Oct. 7, killing more than 1,400 people and taking more than 200 hostages.
Local pro-Palestinian demonstrators and those who gathered to support Israel, despite their differences, share a message: concern for their loved ones.
“I've lost a village. My family is from there. I have in-laws there right now. We're hoping that they stay safe,” Lena Ramadan, whose family is from Gaza, said at an Oct. 15 downtown St. Louis rally for Palestinians that drew close to 2,000 people. “It's dangerous and it's scary and nobody feels safe.”
St. Louisans decry the terror of war in Gaza and Israel
Posted from stlpr.org
St. Louis
Palestine
Israel
Violence
Posted 7 mo ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Illinois U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, called the Oct. 7 Hamas attack an “act of violence against religious liberty and democracy” and pledged to support Israel. Republican U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri introduced a resolution that in part would have condemned Hamas.
Democratic U.S. Rep. Cori Bush of St. Louis on Oct. 7 called for "ending U.S. government support for Israeli military occupation and apartheid,” comments that spurred criticism from members of her own party. On Oct. 16, she introduced a resolution that called for an immediate ceasefire.
St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones has condemned the violence in broad terms.
“Attacks on innocent civilians cannot and must not be justified, full stop,” Jones said Oct. 12. “This kind of violence heals no wounds, and my heart is with St. Louisans whose families and loved ones have been caught up in this latest conflict.”
But a response from the Board of Aldermen was not as inclusive and drew the ire of Palestinian supporters.
Daniel Bouch, 46, of Creve Coeur, argues with Progressive Jews of St. Louis’ Alex Cohen, 28, and Elisa Sugar, both of south St. Louis, on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023, during a pro-Israeli rally at the Jewish Federation of St. Louis in Creve Coeur, Mo. “I believe in peace and a two state solution,” Bouch said. “Everyone has a right to land, but I don’t think this is the solution... I believe there can be peace between and with Palestinians but we need to destroy this evil — Hamas.”
Daniel Bouch, 46, of Creve Coeur, argues with Progressive Jews of St. Louis’ Alex Cohen, 28, and Elisa Sugar, both of south St. Louis, on Oct. 15 during a pro-Israel rally at the Jewish Federation of St. Louis in Creve Coeur. “I believe in peace and a two-state solution,” Bouch said. “Everyone has a right to land, but I don’t think this is the solution. ... I believe there can be peace between and with Palestinians, but we need to destroy this evil — Hamas.” Cohen said as a Jewish American, he hopes to engage his community on how to work toward peace. "As long as Israel continues to occupy Palestinians ... as long as Israel continues to operate a system of apartheid against Palestinians ... there won't be peace," he said. "I continue to stand here as a proud Jew, an American Jew, to engage my role in peace."
At its Oct. 20 meeting, 2nd Ward Alderman Tom Oldenburg introduced a resolution in support of Israel, “as it defends itself against the barbaric war launched by Hamas.”
About 40 people attended the meeting hoping to speak out against the resolution. But the board did not allow them to speak, as it does not take public comments in full session when resolutions are introduced. That would have to occur at committee meetings."...
..."Illinois U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, called the Oct. 7 Hamas attack an “act of violence against religious liberty and democracy” and pledged to support Israel. Republican U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri introduced a resolution that in part would have condemned Hamas.
Democratic U.S. Rep. Cori Bush of St. Louis on Oct. 7 called for "ending U.S. government support for Israeli military occupation and apartheid,” comments that spurred criticism from members of her own party. On Oct. 16, she introduced a resolution that called for an immediate ceasefire.
St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones has condemned the violence in broad terms.
“Attacks on innocent civilians cannot and must not be justified, full stop,” Jones said Oct. 12. “This kind of violence heals no wounds, and my heart is with St. Louisans whose families and loved ones have been caught up in this latest conflict.”
But a response from the Board of Aldermen was not as inclusive and drew the ire of Palestinian supporters.
Daniel Bouch, 46, of Creve Coeur, argues with Progressive Jews of St. Louis’ Alex Cohen, 28, and Elisa Sugar, both of south St. Louis, on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023, during a pro-Israeli rally at the Jewish Federation of St. Louis in Creve Coeur, Mo. “I believe in peace and a two state solution,” Bouch said. “Everyone has a right to land, but I don’t think this is the solution... I believe there can be peace between and with Palestinians but we need to destroy this evil — Hamas.”
Daniel Bouch, 46, of Creve Coeur, argues with Progressive Jews of St. Louis’ Alex Cohen, 28, and Elisa Sugar, both of south St. Louis, on Oct. 15 during a pro-Israel rally at the Jewish Federation of St. Louis in Creve Coeur. “I believe in peace and a two-state solution,” Bouch said. “Everyone has a right to land, but I don’t think this is the solution. ... I believe there can be peace between and with Palestinians, but we need to destroy this evil — Hamas.” Cohen said as a Jewish American, he hopes to engage his community on how to work toward peace. "As long as Israel continues to occupy Palestinians ... as long as Israel continues to operate a system of apartheid against Palestinians ... there won't be peace," he said. "I continue to stand here as a proud Jew, an American Jew, to engage my role in peace."
At its Oct. 20 meeting, 2nd Ward Alderman Tom Oldenburg introduced a resolution in support of Israel, “as it defends itself against the barbaric war launched by Hamas.”
About 40 people attended the meeting hoping to speak out against the resolution. But the board did not allow them to speak, as it does not take public comments in full session when resolutions are introduced. That would have to occur at committee meetings."...
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