To JVP: Jewish Lives Matter, too

On August 22, 2014, a mortar shell fired from Gaza exploded, filling the Tragerman home in Nahal Oz with shrapnel. Four year old Daniel Tragerman was killed

To Jewish Voice for Peace: Why doesn't the life of  4 year old Daniel Tragerman matter to you? Why don't the lives of Jews in Israel matter to you?

Since 2001,  nearly 16,000 rockets and mortars fired from Gaza  have targeted Israel, terrorizing the Israeli people. Of those, roughly 10% have fallen short of their target and have fallen within Gaza, endangering the Palestinian people. Hamas has fired long range rockets at cities across Israel, including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

Twice since 2005, the IDF has been forced to launch operations in response to heavy rocket fire on Israel’s civilians. Its been a full year since the last  devastating war in Gaza, begun after relentless rocket attacks on Israeli cities.

In response to these rocket attacks, the IDF struck over 1,474 terror targets in Gaza.

According to reports, 936 of the 2,125 Palestinians killed during Operation Protective Edge, or 48.7 %, have been identified as militants. More that two thirds of those militants were affiliated with Hamas, while 201 (or 22%) belonged to the Islamic Jihad. Over 100 (or 11%) were affiliated with other factions.

From British military expert Col. Richard Kemp:

“The actions taken by the IDF were necessary to defend the people of Israel from the ongoing, intensive and lethal attacks by Hamas and other groups in Gaza. It is the inalienable duty of every government to use its armed forces to protect its citizens and its terrain from external attack.”

Tomorrow, the fringe group, Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) will be commemorating the Palestinian dead at Civic Center Park in Berkeley, in what they have the audacity to call "Kaddish". They have deliberately excluded the Jewish dead from their commemoration. To JVP,  Hamas terrorists are to be mourned, while the Jewish dead, including 4 year old Daniel Tragerman are ignored.

This isn't the first time JVP has exploited Jewish culture and traditions.

He who creates peace in His celestial heights, may He create peace for us and for all Israel; and say, Amen.