Against Israeli brutality

As Americans who believe in human rights and in respect for human lives, we feel deep dismay over Israel's use of excessive force against Lebanese and Palestinian civilians. This massive use of the Israeli military is causing immense human misery. It is also turning more Arabs and Muslims against the United States because we are supplying Israel with the bombs, airplanes, fuel and training that already have killed 250 Lebanese civilians and driven the Palestinians well beyond despair, humiliation and poverty. \nIf we stick to our core American values, we should treat a Muslim life equal to a Jewish one, an Arab one equal to an Israeli one. We should not condone the killing of a single human being, let alone the murder of 250 Lebanese civilians by Israel in return for losing eight soldiers. Israel has the right to fight back against Hezbollah and its soldiers, but destroying Lebanon's infrastructure and indiscriminately killing Lebanese civilians is a disproportionate response and in violation of international treaties that protect civilians. Israeli use of napalm, and, according to new reports from Lebanon, white phosphorus bombs, is against international law and particularly revolting.\nIn Gaza, Israel drove Palestinians into famine and despair because they exercised their democratic right in voting Hamas into power. There was no peace process and no light at the end of the tunnel for Palestinians. Israel made Gaza a large prison for Palestinian refugees, whom it had expelled from their homes in the 1948 war, and brutalized them at will. When Hamas attacked a few Israeli soldiers in their tank base, Israel retaliated by destroying Gaza to the point where Palestinians couldn't hope to live normal lives for many years, even if Israel were to withdraw tomorrow. \nWe cannot accept President George W. Bush's unconditional and uncritical support for Israeli violations of human rights and international law. It boggles the mind that Mr. Bush wants to make enemies out of hundreds of millions of Arabs, and one-and-a-third billion Muslims. All of this in support of a state that is violating human rights and international treaties.\nWe cannot accept the argument that Israel's actions are "in defense of democracy." Israel is destroying two budding and promising democracies in Palestine and Lebanon. It is time for our country to uphold its own values of equity and fairness around the world. Upholding and defending our values will earn us friends when applied sincerely and consistently. We can't tell Muslims in Iraq and Afghanistan that we are bringing them justice and democracy when we encourage Israel to destroy Arab democracies, destroy Arab homes and kill hundreds of Arabs with American weapons.\nMr. Bush, please remember and return to our American core values. Please stop our destruction of Lebanon and support negotiations. Please give a chance to the Palestinians to live in dignity. We don't want the world to hate and fight us for decades because of your misguided policies.