March 16, 2007

As a rank-and-file and non-decision-making member of Brit Tzedek, let me register my brief that Brit Tzedek stumbled over the Palestinian textbooks. While, alas, to err is human, and this applies to all of us - as individuals, organizations and states, including Israel. And just as we know there is a basic difference between Israel-bashing and legitimately criticizing while supporitng Israel because of what Israel stands for, there is also a difference between Brit Tzedek-bashing and legitimately criticizing and supporting - and now enthusiastically joining - Brit Tzedek v'Shalom, because of the courageous cause it stands in helping Israel win a two-state solution.

Let us be clear: We must be morally unambiguous even during conflicts. Palestinian terrorism is wrong. The Israeli occupation is wrong. Palestinian textbook incitement is wrong. And when Brit Tzedek picks itself up after stumbling - and learns something from Charles Jacobs - I hope that Jacobs will see there is much to learn about how to help Israel from the pro-peace and pro-security work of Brit Tzedek v'Shalom.

James Adler
Cambridge