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Unprovoked Rocket Attacks from Gaza Must Cease

July 11, 2014 – New York: Stuart Appelbaum, President of the Jewish Labor Committee, issued the following statement today:

As there is no let up in the unprovoked rocket attacks from Gaza on Israeli towns and cities and as Israel considers enhanced ways to stop the assault, the Jewish Labor Committee expresses its solidarity with people, government and defense forces of Israel.

The Government of the State of Israel has both the right and the obligation to defend the country against a barrage of rockets from beyond its borders. Indeed, no country would be expected to do otherwise. It is the responsibility of the Government to defend all who live and work within the country.

After a long period of relative quiet in terms of rocket fire from Gaza, the most recent escalation by Hamas has placed the lives of Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, and Israelis in mortal danger, and we condemn the leaders of Hamas for their actions.

Having joined the government of the Palestinian Authority, Hamas has made it nearly impossible for the PA to continue to pursue a negotiated peace with Israel.

Hamas has endangered Palestinians by deliberately embedding rocket and missile launchers in civilian population centers, near homes, schools and medical facilities, placing a high proportion of the Palestinians in Gaza at risk when the Israeli Defense Forces respond to rockets and missiles fired indiscriminately at civilian centers within Israel.

We hope that Hamas will immediately cease firing rockets and missiles into Israel, and that as a result Israel will cease its retaliation

Our heats go out to the innocent victims on both sides of this confrontation. The death and suffering produced by this most recent round of military conflict must end. Irresponsible decisions will only lead to more of the same, and further harm the chances for a mutually-agreed upon two-state solution to the legitimate needs of the Palestinians and the Israelis.