Voice of the Jewish News: Still no end game
This week's editorial focuses on the ongoing scuffles on the Gaza border and says we hope and pray that nothing starts, and if it does, that it is over quickly.
Just over 100 years ago, in November 1917, the British and Ottomans fought what is known as The Third Battle of Gaza, the first and second battles having taken place months earlier. This small strip, alas, has known as much war as it has peace.
Now, approaching summer 2018, we may be about to see a fourth war in 10 years.
What to do? What would any country do if it were being shot at by terrorists? News this week of rockets fired at Israeli school nurseries tell their own story.
The people of Gaza know what is coming, yet still they fire at Israel. It is as inexplicable as it is cowardly.
But what is the end-game? Surely it cannot be more of the same, to
continually quell a restive land with short bursts of devastating destruction?
There must be a plan, and that plan must be to develop the strip in return for demilitarisation, achieved through a series of confidence-building steps. A people with something to live for don’t endanger their existence.
In the meantime, the British Jewish community stands ready and willing to defend Israel as Israel defends itself.
We hope and pray that nothing starts, and if it does, that it is over quickly.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
