continued from page the justification ….

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the justification of Israel going after those who threaten daily their lives and existence?

How many of these Black pastors identifying with the Palestinians saying “They are oppressed, we are oppressed” have any idea of the history of the region and of the conflict?

Oppression means having no choice. Choosing to live in squalor because of refusal to take responsibility for one’s life is not oppression. These pastors might consider doing some homework and learning that Israel was founded by Jewish immigrants, motivated to return to their historic homeland after many, many years of oppression and persecution.

This came to a peak in the Holocaust when 6 million Jews — 40% of all the Jews in the world — were murdered by the German Nazis.

Jews returned to their historic homeland, worked and built, despite ongoing Arab hostility to their settlements.

The situation was resolved by the United Nations in 1947. The U.N. voted to partition the area into two states — a Jewish state and an Arab state. The Jews said “yes.” The Arabs said “no.” And then they attacked.

Despite endless attacks and war, Israelis have shown what taking responsibility for one’s life means. They built from nothing a modern country that today has per capita GDP higher than most European nations.

Saying no and choosing war, as the Palestinians have done, is not oppression. It is stupidity and irresponsibility.

I would remind readers again that Israel pulled out of Gaza in 2005. The Palestinians then could have started to build. They were free to do it.

Instead, they elected Hamas and started more rounds of endless attacks against Israel. The latest and most horrible being what happened on Oct. 7.

We see now the more than 300 miles of hightech tunnels in Gaza that have been constructed since Hamas took leadership, at a cost of hundreds of millions, with the sole objective to attack Israel. Despite billions in aid, resources in Gaza have been focused on eliminating Israel, not on improving quality of life and building a future for Palestinians.

I would remind these progressive Black clergy of the sad but accurate observation of former Israeli prime minister, Golda Meir, that “Peace will come when the Arabs love their children more than they hate us.”

Star Parker is president of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education and host of the weekly television show “Cure America with Star Parker.” Her recent book, “What Is the CURE for America?” is available now. To find out more about Star Parker and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators. com. COPYRIGHT 2024 CREATORS. COM