Jewish Groups Pull Support From Oregon Food Bank for Blasting 'Israel's Violence' in Gaza

[PufPuf23]

Jewish Groups Pull Support From Oregon Food Bank for Blasting ‘Israel’s Violence’ in Gaza


by Shiryn Ghermezian; June 4, 2024; the algemeiner

A total of 12 Jewish organizations based in Oregon, including nonprofits and five synagogues, announced in a joint statement that they will not support the Oregon Food Bank until it retracts its condemnation of Israel’s military actions during the ongoing Israeli campaign targeting Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip.

The local Jewish groups, including the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland, also called on the Oregon Food Bank to issue a new statement “indicating that it will maintain its focus on hunger and its root causes here in Oregon.”

They added, “Until such time we will support other local organizations who are upholding this important mission.”

On April 30, the Oregon Food Bank released a statement that called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire to end “Israel’s violence against Palestinians.” The organization — which collects and distributes food across five main locations in Oregon and southwest Washington — claimed that Israel’s military campaign in the Gaza Strip puts Palestinians in the region “at risk of genocide.” The food bank condemned what it described as “indiscriminate attacks by the Israeli army on Palestinians, including the bombardment of neighborhoods, healthcare facilities, humanitarian aid efforts, and refugee camps.”

more at: https://www.algemeiner.com/2024/06/04/jewish-groups-pull-support-oregon-food-bank-blasting-israels-violence-gaza/

[Maru Kitteh]

1. So the vanity of some privileged administrators will hurt poor families in Oregon

This "helping" thing - YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG.

[Sky Jewels]

5. More like the vanity of delusional former donors is hurting poor families.

They’re trying to gaslight everyone into pretending Israel isn’t committing genocide in Gaza.

[Beastly Boy]

20. When someone deems acceptable to offend you, this is hardly delusional. It is very real indeed.

The local Jewish groups, including the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland, also called on the Oregon Food Bank to issue a new statement “indicating that it will maintain its focus on hunger and its root causes here in Oregon.”

They added, “Until such time we will support other local organizations who are upholding this important mission.”

This is hardly hurtful to poor families, is it? They are merely trying to gaslight everyone into thinking that they will continue their charitable contributions but will choose a more worthy beneficiary. Thankfully, there are some who are so ideologically fortified that they can see right through their insidious gaslighting.

[Oopsie Daisy]

23. Thank you! I see you read the story while others read only headlines and invent a story that fits *

* their own preconceived narrative, or that furthers their gaslighting agenda.

[krawhitham]

125. If refusing to believe reality offends you, you might be delusional

[Beastly Boy]

130. I am not sure I follow you.

If I understand you correctly, your argument goes like this:

Person 1: You refuse to believe in what I think is reality

Person 2: I reject the idea that you determine what reality is. This offends me

Person 1: You might be delusional.

I do indeed find it offensive when someone dictates to me what reality is. However, I consider this to be a sign of sanity in the face of delusion, not vice versa

The argument in post you are replying to, however, goes like this:

Person 1: I want your money because I run a food bank. And it's none of my business, but just so you know: I think Israel is entirely at fault for what happens in Gaza.

Person 2: Your statement is false and politically motivated, and I am offended by it. You will get no money from me: it will go to a food bank that doesn't meddle in politics.

Person 1: You are vain and delusional, and you not giving me your money is hurting poor families.

Person 2: Reacting to your real unwarranted offense doesn't make me delusional. It makes you offensive. Poor families getting food from a different food bank doesn't hurt poor people. It hurts you, and you deserve it for not minding your business and getting your clueless ass involved in international affairs. Get lost, dumbfuck.

Your argument doesn't address anything in my argument, and is too general to address in more specific terms.

Care to elaborate?

[krawhitham]

124. +1

[BannonsLiver]

21. More like the delusion of the food bank folks who put out the statement

I see it here as well, people who have become convinced Gaza is more important than our election (not even close) or that it has relevance in their day to day life (it doesn’t).

[wnylib]

22. Exactly. Iiberal churches in my community have taken

an anti Israel position with so much emphasis that in some cases they appear to be pro terrorist.

Yet I have seen no interest among them in concerns closer to home, like the rise of Christian nationalism, which would definitely affect them directly.

[MorbidButterflyTat]

32. I live in western NY

Could you list these churches, please, that are pro terrorist and have no interest in concerns closer to home?

[brush]

2. Sad. There must be some Jewish orgs in the US who are as upset over...

the netanyahu/likud admin's Gaza policies as the thousands of protestors in Israel are.

Some one has to know Bibi has fucked up the situation entirely. First by not beefing up border security after being warned for months that a big attack was coming, and then the extreme, outright over-retaliation which amounts to collective punishment of an entire population in the enclave.

[yardwork]

64. There are plenty of Jewish organizations that disagree with Netanyahu's policies.

Most of the Jewish people I've known throughout my life disagree with the right wingers, both in Israel and the U.S.

But for a food bank in Oregon to attack Israel with inflammatory language? I would not donate to that organization either. They e lost sight of their mission.

[brush]

69. Thanks for this.

[Mme. Defarge]

3. It makes me want to increase my monthly donations.

[TomDaisy]

4. disgusting

[Mountainguy]

17. Jews don't have agency

in what organizations they support?

[ColinC]

53. They certainly do. And I think many are reconsidering their support to the one that's opting for people starving

Over politics.

“Jews” are not a monolith and a Jewish group is not going to be universally supported by most Jewish people just as many Christian groups (focus on the family, heritage foundation, etc) are also not supported by most Christians.

[Mountainguy]

90. Good

Then we agree a Jewish group pulling support for a food bank calling the war in Gaza a genocide is not "disgusting".

[EllieBC]

143. Oh I'm sorry, are they entitled to those donations?

No they aren’t.

[betsuni]

6. "The false accusations [colonialism and genocide] here serve to further fan the flames of Jewish hatred."

The Jewish groups are correct. Find another food bank.

[Voltaire2]

8. You can't have 'settlers' without colonialism. NT

[elias7]

10. Are you talking about Jews who fled persecution to a British controlled land with promise of a Jewish state?

Or are you talking about settlers in the West Bank, which the Palestinians could have declared a state 6 times since the 1930’s but instead have used the area as staging terrorist attacks on Israel?

[tritsofme]

14. Strange how this is always conveniently forgotten.

[Mountainguy]

15. "forgotten"

is probably the better way to write it.

[AloeVera]

16. What do you think that "British-controlled land" was?

Empires and colonizers have always felt entitled to carve up land and resources with no regard to the people living there who rightfully own those lands and resources. See Sykes-Picot, Balfour Declaration, British Mandate.

Interesting fact is that the land was still part of the Ottoman Empire while other imperial powers and Lord Balfour already carved it up or gave it away.

The imperial "granting" of another people's homeland by force and without consultation, to a favoured group who would then become settlers, was a favoured tool of colonization. It was in fact the cornerstone of Israel's formation.

Rejection "6 times", starting in the '30's? The partition plan proposed by the Peel Commission was rejected outright by the 1937 Zionist Congress and later by the British government itself as unworkable. That Palestinians get the sole blame again is not surprising.

As for the other 5 times? Only Palestinians are expected to settle for less than half their original homeland, then 22%, and then eventually, maybe 5-10% at most while also being denied their right of return. The cherry on top is the history of being ethnically cleansed twice (third time now a real possibility), brutalized, dispossessed and occupied. Now Gaza...

It all seems fair and just. No, not really.

[wnylib]

25. "Half their 'original' homeland?"

A large number of Arabs in British Palestine who now call themselves Palestinians came from other Arab nations to work for the British.

As for British favoring of Jewish settlements in Palestine, they wavered depending on which way the wind was blowing. Despite the Balfour Declaration, pressure from Arabs working for the Brits in Palestine and from oil rich Arab nations in the region resulted in Britain denying entry of Jewish refugees from Europe who were fleeing the Holocaust. The ones who did get there were smuggled in by underground resistance groups. But, if caught by the Brits, the ships were turned away, back to Nazi occupied Europe.

This is a good time to point out a common misunderstanding about Britain guaranteeing land for the Arabs in Palestine. In the breakup of the Ottoman Empire, there were many international discussions of what to do about the part of the Ottoman Empire called Palestine by the Romans who had tried to erase the names Judea, Israel, and Samaria from the map.

Some suggestions were to include Palestine in Syria, Jordan, or other nations in the region. The Arabs in Palestine objected to becoming part of those other nations. Britain agreed that they should have a separate identity and land. That was NOT a statement that all the land of Palestine should belong to the Arabs, since Britain had also offered a homeland for Jews. But Palestinian Arabs chose to interpret it as meaning that ALL of Palestine was theirs. They've been using terrorism to support that interpretation ever since.

[AloeVera]

86. It's colonialism.

"...since Britain had already offered a homeland for Jews".

"...there were many international discussions...". Yes, by all the colonial powers! Divvying up what was not theirs and of course never involving the actual people who lived there.

Therein lies the crux. Only arrogant colonial powers, as surely the British Empire and others were, would feel entitled to "give away" land inhabited by another people. In the truest sense of the word, Israel exists because of colonialism.

The fact that the natives' population increased during the mandate through informal immigration from Arab countries, is just that, an interesting statistic. I fail to see how it can be used to argue it somehow diminishes the claim of the native population to the entirety of their homeland, where they have lived for generations. It's counter-intuitive, arguing that native Palestinians deserve less of their homeland because their population increased.

"But Palestinian Arabs chose to interpret it as meaning that ALL of Palestine was theirs.They've been using terrorism to support that interpretation ever since."

Another viewpoint would be that Palestinians chose to not submit to their colonizers' edicts and give-aways and have been resisting their colonization by settlers and occupation by the state of Israel ever since.

[Beastly Boy]

93. Once again, nearly all countries in the Middle East exist because of colonialism.

Israel is the only country, depending on what you mean by “colonialism”, that can legitimately claim an exception: it came into existence because of a UN resolution, not because it was “given away” by an arrogant colonial power.

History is a bitch, there is only so far you can spin it.

[wnylib]

95. +1000

[Beastly Boy]

36. These are interesting facts indeed.

They remind me that, as a consequence of losing a war, the colonial territories of one empire were taken over by other empires. It goes without saying that Sykes-Picot partitioned the former Ottoman Empire's Arab colonies into spheres of influence under Britain and France has nothing to do with partitioning Palestine. It is also worth noting that, in the context of Sykes-Picot, Balfour had no part in carving up those former colonies or give anything away to anyone. Likewise, let me remind you that it is the Arabs who rejected the recommendations of the Peel Commission prior to its rejection by the 1937 Zionist Congress, just as they rejected the 1947 UN partition, and at least three other offers for creating their own state. You did not dispute them rejecting the offers, did you?

There was no State of Egypt until 1936, no Iraq until 1930, no Jordan until 1946, no Lebanon until 1943, no Saudi Arabia until 1933, no Syria until 1944, and no Israel until 1948. There was no administrative unit called Palestine for 15 centuries prior to the British mandate, an there were virtually no Arabs in the area until 7th century AD, and no such thing as Palestinian State until PLO unilaterally declared itself to be a state in 1988.

And need I remind you how many times the Jews had been ethnically cleansed, in the Middle East alone, since 1948?

So you see, the vast majority of the contemporary Middle East owe their existence to "imperial granting", and your indignant references to it are patently one-sided and all too conspicuously focused, as usual, on a single target for your criticism with complete disregard of the the wider context.

Likewise, there were no separate West Bank and Gaza territories until 1950, when they were annexed by Jordan and Egypt, respectively, and there are 2 million Palestinian citizens of Israel who consider their homeland to be part of Israel.

So what is so "original" about the Palestinians still claiming their homeland "from the river to the sea" despite their noses?

[AlienAsparagus]

126. THIS!

awesome summary!

[Cha]

66. Thank You for Shining the Light

[sheshe2]

72. Food banks work for the community, the entire community.

They depend on the largesse of that community to support them with donations. The patrons are not asked for ID, they are signed in then allowed to shop.

They should be non political. Period.

[betsuni]

79. It's common sense. Apparently they've decided that this is their role now.

Could be an episode of "Portlandia" (if anyone remembers that show).

[canuckledragger]

148. The true allegations you mean, as the far right israeli government earns the hatred by their own genocidal actions

against their neighbours.

[betsuni]

152. There is no genocide.

[canuckledragger]

153. There is.

And you can talk to Chef Andre for some confirmation.

[betsuni]

154. "Not genocide. My favorite part of genocide scholarship is when the scholars ignore every Arab state

or terrorist mass murder of the last half century and somehow find a relatively small, but intense, urban war by Jews is the most flowerly example of genocide since Rwanda. Please do Russia versus Ukraine first. Then follow it up with Syria against its own people. And if you have time, please explain why Hamas's 10-7 mass murdering every living soul wasn't a good attempt at genocide. I'll wait."

Malcolm Nance

[canuckledragger]

155. I love it when apoligists make excuses for genocide.

[betsuni]

156. Not genocide.

[canuckledragger]

157. It's funny how all of the experts say it is.

But apologists and enablers are going to do what they do. That how abuse works.

[pfitz59]

7. The 'Food Bank' over-stepped

and now it hurt it's intended purpose. Whoever made the political declaration should have done it as a private citizen, not food bank rep.

[TomDaisy]

104. free speech needs to be stopped

[BannonsLiver]

131. Free speech and the first amendment apply only to govt censorship

Anything outside of that scope doesn’t apply. But you knew that already, or should have.

[TheKentuckian]

139. No free speech was abridged.

Once again there is a demand for agreement which is not a part of free expression.

Further, people donating money are not the government and even if we pretend they are the organization was not prevented from making their statements.

They didn't get a "hide" much less a punishment from the state.

What are you speaking to?

Do you have it in your mind that if you are supporting a charity but find they are promoting Chump that you are somehow not allowed to stop donating to them and find a more appropriate organization that better reflects your values?

[canuckledragger]

149. Punished for pointing out the truth you mean.

[Beastly Boy]

9. General rule: you never talk politics over dinner.

Last edited Wed Jun 19, 2024, 11:16 AM - Edit history (1)

Especially when your politics are offensive to the people who pay for it.

It's just plain rude. No manners.

[Celerity]

11. They are free to boycott whatever they want, as is the BDS movement on the other side.

[sarisataka]

12. Why is the Oregon Food Bank making such a statement on a distant conflict that it has no connection to?

While I can acknowledge they seemed to try to give an appearance of concern for 'both sides' the awkward language only highlighted their statement was directed at Israel with 'terrorism is bad' included as an afterthought.

I look forward to hearing of the pro-Palestinian groups who will step up to replace the Jewish groups to help feed people of Oregon in need. It would be an overall net increase as the Jewish groups indicated they will support other organizations combatting hunger.

[GreenWave]

35. Why would a food bank care about people starving to death elsewhere?

What is suggested here is don't rock the boat and much like news outlets, never upset our sponsors with things they may find offensive.

[JI7]

44. Then why didn't they say anything about Yemen and Sudan

[tritsofme]

13. Why is a food bank sticking its nose in this issue and alienating donors? Incredibly ridiculous and highly irresponsible

[JI7]

18. Have they said anything about Sudan, Nigeria, Afghanistan etc ?

[betsuni]

19. First time for the food bank to release a political statement on an international conflict.

Why this one? Why suddenly now?

[Celerity]

24. None of those claim to be the staunchest of US allies, nor does anyone remotely claim they are advanced democracies.

The US is also not willingly arming the forces committing mass murder atrocities in those nation states.

[The Magistrate]

27. But Isn't The Mass Of Suffering The Focus Of Humanitarian Concern, Ma'am?

That is hardly affected by what political system a country may maintain, or who it is allied with, or even who supplements the produce of its own arms industry.

[Celerity]

28. It is chalk and cheese because the US enables the forces in Israel who are committing the atrocities. The US doesn't aid

the forces of murder and mayhem in the other nation states.

Israel is only being held to a standard that they themselves claim they embody.

I have posted on the horrorshow in Sudan multiple times, and the posts ususally drop like a rock. They certainly were not flocked to by many posters (a few did and hats off to them) who love to bring up Sudan only as a counterpoint to Israel.

[The Magistrate]

31. I Agree Posts On Sudan Will Generally Sink Like A Stone

And if concern for human suffering is the point of protesting the conduct of a war, they really ought not to.

I don't expect Israel to meet any standard I would not expect of any belligerent, and certainly see no call to hold one party to a war to a higher standard than the other. It may be politically or diplomatically wise for one party to strive to seem more humane than the other, but the opposite conclusion is possible, and can be defended. What a belligerent seeks by violence is the important thing, to my mind, and is the basis for my taking sides in a conflict, when I do.

[JI7]

37. Then have they said anything about China

and the Uighurs ? China may not be a friendly ally but we do fund them with all the crap we buy.

And we support Saudi Arabia which is involved in Yemen .

[Celerity]

40. Same reply: China is not an ally, nor a democracy, and the US government certainly does not directly prop them up.

Israel, a tiny, tiny nation, is BY FAR the largest recipient on the planet of foreign aid from the US from 1946 to the present, the vast majority of it being military.

[JI7]

42. The US is a huge part of why China is wealthy

And it us direct with all the crap we buy.

We directly buy sweatshop made products.

[Celerity]

46. You are conflating direct US government aid with private commerce/trade. If people want to destroy the US economy,

then get into a all-out trade war with China. That is what the idiot Trump could end up doing.

[JI7]

47. How would a food bank ommenting do any of that ?

[Celerity]

48. You are the one that brought up the other foreign nations angle, not me. One food bank simply posting criticism

of Israeli war actions is going to affect nothing of any real import, other than things like DU arguing over it, and certain groups pulling their funding from said food bank.

[Ping Tung]

26. Condemning war crimes is an act of humanity.

Withdrawing support for those who feed the hungry in Portland isn't. Of course, withholding food or medicine during a war is a War Crime in itself.

[lapucelle]

29. Did you read the story you posted? The groups are not "withdrawing support for those who feed the hungry."

They are withdrawing support from one particular food bank.

A total of 12 Jewish organizations based in Oregon, including nonprofits and five synagogues, announced in a joint statement that they will not support the Oregon Food Bank until it retracts its condemnation of Israel’s military actions during the ongoing Israeli campaign targeting Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip.

The local Jewish groups, including the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland, also called on the Oregon Food Bank to issue a new statement “indicating that it will maintain its focus on hunger and its root causes here in Oregon.”

They added, “Until such time we will support other local organizations who are upholding this important mission.”

https://www.algemeiner.com/2024/06/04/jewish-groups-pull-support-oregon-food-bank-blasting-israels-violence-gaza/

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Any word on whether Doctors without Borders or the Red Crescent Society have demanded access to the hostages yet?

[Ping Tung]

34. There is no mention of hostages in the article (I didn't post).

If Doctors without borders (an outfit I've been donating to for years) the Red Crescent were requesting access to the hostages I would back them. Would you?

I understand that many Israelis are protesting against the war because of the criminal methods used by the IDF and Hamas. Do you?

Any word on Bibi turning himself into the ICC yet? AFAIK the members of Hamas also aren't turning themselves in. Could it be that all those accused of War Crimes aren't responding because they are afraid of being found guilty.

[lapucelle]

38. There was no mention of the Jewish groups "withdrawing support for those who feed the hungry"

in your link.

The local Jewish groups, including the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland, also called on the Oregon Food Bank to issue a new statement “indicating that it will maintain its focus on hunger and its root causes here in Oregon.”

They added, “Until such time we will support other local organizations who are upholding this important mission.”

------------------------------------------------

Do you have a link for the claim that *this* is why Israeli's are protesting?

many Israelis are protesting against the war because of the criminal methods used by the IDF

-----------------------------------------------

Thank you for acknowledging the absolute silence on the part of Doctors Without Borders and the Red Crescent Society concerning the hostages. That silence is disgusting and creepy.

--------------------------------------------

It appears that you may have fallen prey to misleading stories on social media.

Fact Check: ICC has requested, not issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Hamas leaders

Widely viewed social media posts, opens new tab suggesting the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for the leaders of Israel and Hamas are misleading.

Karim Khan, the court’s prosecutor, released a statement May 20 requesting arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and three senior Hamas figures, including leader Yahya Sinwar, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity since October 2023.

It led to posts on social media suggesting the ICC had issued arrest warrants for them. One, on X, was viewed 2.4 million times.

https://www.reuters.com/fact-check/icc-has-requested-not-issued-arrest-warrants-netanyahu-hamas-leaders-2024-05-21/

[questionseverything]

30. Withholding food seems the go to solution, which most of us couldn't do to an animal

Let alone people

[JI7]

39. They aren't withholding food. They are donating to other groups

[Mossfern]

41. Sometimes I wonder

whether people actually read the text of articles posted here.
It distinctly says that those Jewish groups are donating to other aid sources - just not that particular one.

[questionseverything]

45. I read the entire article, it doesn't name any group they will donate to

They could be donating to themselves for all we know if they aren’t openly lying

Withholding food from hungry mothers and children is disgraceful and disgusting

To feel the need to brag about it shows a lack of empathy and understanding

[Mossfern]

60. Honestly

They added, “Until such time we will support other local organizations who are upholding this important mission.”

Notice the word "other" in the quote.
They are NOT withholding food!

[tritsofme]

81. Blood libel is much more fun though.

Why bother reading?

[sheshe2]

80. ...

[betsuni]

88. Protocols of the Elders of Oregon.

Lying, donating to themselves (the money thing), plotting and scheming to starve poor women and children everywhere and boasting about it, no empathy.

Right out in the open! Not even trying to hide it. Wow.

[Hekate]

105. That's what I'm getting out of this thread, all right. When I want to donate to foreign nations...

… I send my dough to specific agencies who work there. I don’t jump up and down trying to shame agencies that work in my own town, much less local donors doing good here.

But no no no — let’s just blame American Jews for not being superhuman. This is just disgusting, with a heaping helping of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion stirred into the hot mess.

[Mountainguy]

91. These are antisemitic tropes.

Several actually.

[Hekate]

106. Indeed. Well spotted.

[DaBronx]

128. Why don't you call them

It seems no matter the response , you have one goal in mind: an anti Jewish donation comment. Why is that?

[Beastly Boy]

49. Taking hostages is also something most of us couldn't do to animals. But that too has nothing to do with

the donors. They are not withholding food and they are not taking hostages. Nor are they killing cute puppies at the ASPCA or nuking endangered whales, or using the blood of Christian newborns for religious rituals.

...Just making sure we are on the same page.

[questionseverything]

51. Ending support for a group of food banks is indeed withholding food

Heck, they are proud of it, they got together and made a big announcement!

[Beastly Boy]

55. No itt is not.

Unless one insists on pretending that delivering food to a different destination amounts to withholding food.

If one doesn't get food from Source A and instead gets food from Source B, it doesn't make one go hungry.

...You did read the OP, didn't you?

[questionseverything]

61. Like people that use food banks have time or transportation to chase changing locations

If the same people were going to be served, what is the point of the change?

Again since they haven’t named a replacement agency, I will assume they are “donating within house”

[Beastly Boy]

77. There is a hell of a lot of completely unreasonable assumptions you are making.

Like cutting funds for a food bank that doesn't focus on food is a bad thing. Or redistributing resources being equal to withholding resources. Or the whole idea of what you consider animal abuse.

Did you ever notice that food banks don't operate in the same way grocery stores do? Did you ever notice that food banks do not operate out of storefront properties? Did you ever notice that food banks deliver food from warehouses to distribution centers on the daily basis? Did you ever notice that food distribution centers are usually located in local houses of worship? Did you ever notice that in every locality there are more neighborhood churches than food distribution centers? Did you ever notice food trucks distributing meals to those who can't get them from a local distribution centers?

No?

You are so lucky. You have no idea how food banks operate or how to get food from them when you need it.

[JI7]

73. No it's not. It's like saying funding to a state democratic party instead of to a democratic

Last edited Thu Jun 20, 2024, 12:13 AM - Edit history (1)

candidate directly is withholding support for Democrats.

The money and food is still being donated to other local food banks.

[betsuni]

54. The food bank says they "do not anticipate any operational challenges" -- there is no withholding food.

[TheKentuckian]

140. By this twisted reckoning virtually everyone on the globe

is withholding food, including me and plausibly yourself as well since it has been determined from on high that if one isn't DONATING (donation should be a clue too but whatever) to this specific organization that we are by definition starving folks.

No one is mandated to donate a damn thing and if they do they have zero obligation to do so specifically to this group to avoid what is coming across as blood libel to me.

Do you really believe that if you find that a local food pantry is promoting Chump that you have no right (or even a responsibility) to redirect those resources to another group that isn't pushing a fascist on desperate people?

[Behind the Aegis]

33. Good for them.

[Hekate]

43. I send my local food banks several hundred dollars a year. They are apolitical -- & had best remain so

We have problems HERE, and the food bank needs to FOCUS on their mission, which is LOCAL. Also, knowing something about grant funding, I can assure you that they have applied for and are receiving grant money from as many private and public entities as they can.

I want to be clear about this: any paid employee, any manager, any Board member, any volunteer is free to express their religious or political opinions elsewhere under their own names. That is their right.

But suppose the Board as a whole declares that the Food Bank from now on is an Evangelical enterprise and that every box of food given will be accompanied by a prayer meeting, and that recipients will have to assure the givers that Jesus Christ is their Lord and Savior.

Are all you folks okay with that?

Do I need to go on?

[PufPuf23]

50. Who do you mean by "all you folks"? We all allegedly support the Democratic Party.

Why is there more attention to a post arguing against a Food Bank in Oregon that does not support Israel's current actions than about Netanyahu criticizing POTUS Biden about weapon deliveries?

[Hekate]

56. Because I was not addressing you in particular but the multitude that seemed to want to argue the point...

…that local people wanting to give to local charities should be shamed for wanting the local charities to stay out of international politics.

[AloeVera]

99. Or the finding Israel is guilty of a multitude of war crimes

By a UN commission. Report was released today.

[The Magistrate]

100. The 'Dog Bites Man' Headline Of Global News Is 'UN Condemns Israel'

It doesn't make today any different from other days, or add a feather'sweight to the credibility of the charges, that they are parroted by a UN body at a press conference some hours ago.

[AloeVera]

102. May I ask if you read the report?

[AZSkiffyGeek]

133. May I ask what the report says about food banks in Oregon?

[AloeVera]

103. Excerpt of Executive Summary with a link to report here.

GENEVA (12 June 2024) – Israeli authorities are responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the military operations and attacks in Gaza since 7 October 2023, the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, said in a new report today. The Commission also found that Palestinian armed groups are responsible for war crimes committed in Israel.

The Commission’s report – the UN’s first in-depth investigation of the events that took place on and since 7 October 2023 – is based on interviews with victims and witnesses conducted remotely and during a mission to Türkiye and Egypt, thousands of open-source items verified through advanced forensic analysis, hundreds of submissions, satellite imagery and forensic medical reports. Israel obstructed the Commission’s investigations and prevented its access to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

SNIP

In relation to Israeli military operations and attacks in Gaza, the Commission found that Israeli authorities are responsible for the war crimes of starvation as a method of warfare, murder or wilful killing, intentionally directing attacks against civilians and civilian objects, forcible transfer, sexual violence, torture and inhuman or cruel treatment, arbitrary detention and outrages upon personal dignity.

The Commission found that the crimes against humanity of extermination, gender persecution targeting Palestinian men and boys, murder, forcible transfer, and torture and inhuman and cruel treatment were also committed.

Much more at link...

https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2024/06/israeli-authorities-palestinian-armed-groups-are-responsible-war-crimes

[JustAnotherGen]

110. That has nothing to do

With food insecure people in local communities.

[The Magistrate]

114. 'Dog Bites Man! Details At Ten!"

This boilerplate could be compiled by cut and paste from a couple of decades' worth of similar nonesense emitted by various UN agencies.

[AloeVera]

115. In that case, carry on with the slaughter and starvation.

There are no rules, no laws. No questions of humanity or morality. It's a dog eat dog world.

Except attention is paid to the UN when it comes to the crimes of countries we don't like. The hypocrisy is noticed outside our Western bubble.

[Beastly Boy]

116. And just like that...

A deflection into generic performative outrage, via a UN nothingburger, from an article about a food bank in Oregon that lost its funding due to its maladroit incursion into international politics at the expense of their mission of feeding people.

Exactly what I had full expectation of happening if I only waited long enough. Never a disappointment.

[betsuni]

129. +1

[The Magistrate]

121. You Seem To Think You Made Some Devastating Point: You Did Not

You have merely managed, perhaps for the very first time, to acknowledge the world around you, as it actually is.

And to spare a moment for some triviality, I assure you I pay no more attention to any UN disapproval directed to states I don't approve of than do the states addressed.


"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it."

[yagotme]

118. From your post:

intentionally directing attacks against civilians and civilian objects,

When Israel attacks "civilian" building, with "civilians" residing in it, to free hostages, who are being held by "civilians", I guess one could say that sentence is correct. Wrong, but correct.

Edit: Highlighted.

[AloeVera]

119. Are there hundreds of thousands of hostages?

If there are not, then by your logic the accusation seems accurate.

I gather the report made no impression on you. Too bad.

[yagotme]

120. Does Hamas use civilian infrastructure to hide their dirty deeds?

If yes, (and it IS yes), then for Israel to attack Hamas, they must attack civilian structures. Hamas hides itself amongst the population, and the many Hamas supporters (those who hide hostages for Hamas, for example), are viewed as civilians, but a lot of them provide direct support to Hamas, putting themselves under the crosshairs. Have you not noticed this?

[AloeVera]

123. The UN investigated and found otherwise.

That's good enough for me. But I did not need a report to understand very early on that the destruction of homes and structures was destruction for its own sake, and Israel's rationales were largely bs. There is no reason to use 2000 lb bombs in civilian areas unless you want to inflict maximum damage. The amount of bombs dropped on Gaza far exceeds the firepower of multiple major air campaigns of WWII.

Every week there is another excuse why civilians are not civilians. "There are no innocents in Gaza" was the theme of a post on Xitter recently from the GOVERNMENT OF ISRAEL's account. It was quickly deleted. Trial balloon, didn't go over well I gather. It's very disturbing.

[yagotme]

142. If Israel is dropping SO MUCH tonnage,

and casualties are only in the 30,000 range, Israel isn't doing a very good job of wiping Palestinians off the map. Those 2,000 lb bombs work well when there are tunnels underneath the structures that are hiding them.

Every week there is another excuse why civilians are not civilians

Yes, especially when the reports are coming from a hostage, who actually lived it, not a "reporter" or "worker" that gets paid by Hamas.

[AloeVera]

144. No more excuses.

The International and Independent UN Commission of Enquiry has determined Israeli airstrikes systematically violate rules of war and found a pattern of “indiscriminate and disproportionate” Israeli strikes harming civilians in Gaza.

It is but one of long list of war crimes and crimes against humanity detailed in their report. With regard to airstrikes:

The immense numbers of civilian casualties in Gaza and widespread destruction of civilian objects and infrastructure were the inevitable result of a strategy undertaken with intent to cause maximum damage, disregarding the principles of distinction, proportionality and adequate precautions. The intentional use of heavy weapons with large destructive capacity in densely populated areas constitutes an intentional and direct attack on the civilian population.

Personally I trust the UN and the international experts over Netanyahu.

The war crimes are detailed here:
https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2024/06/israeli-authorities-palestinian-armed-groups-are-responsible-war-crimes

[Beastly Boy]

145. No it did not. It didn't find otherwise.

The Commission is aware of reports and ISF allegations indicating that the military wing of Hamas and other non-State armed groups in Gaza operated from within civilian areas. The Commission reiterates that all parties to the conflict, including ISF and the military wings of Hamas and other non-State armed groups, must adhere to IHL and avoid increasing risk to civilians by using civilian objects for military purposes. 

https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/hrbodies/hrcouncil/sessions-regular/session56/a-hrc-56-26-auv.docx
(Par. 106, Page 19)

The UN is fully aware that Hamas hides itself amongst the population.

[TheKentuckian]

146. You were the OP so if you wanted the conversation to be about

weapons shipments then why didn't you make the thread about that rather than Jewish groups in Oregon redirecting their own money to groups not lying about genocide and propping up terrorists?

This is the first time I can recall an OP complaining about staying on the very topic they started.

Why are people not derailing my topic is quite an odd complaint.

[canuckledragger]

150. So telling the truth about the far right Israeli government's genocide is propping up terrorists?

That's some twisted logic right there.

[TheKentuckian]

158. You cannot be telling the truth because your premise is false.

Not to mention your complaint was about the thread not be derailed.

[canuckledragger]

159. So you're accusing me of being a liar for standing against the far right Israeli government's genocide?

That tells me you have no truthful rebuttal against facts and are just resorting to persoanl attacks now. which will be reported.

[ColinC]

52. "Let people starve"

Here and in Gaza?

[Hekate]

57. There are other hunger groups right here at home. Truly there are.

[JustAnotherGen]

59. "Let people starve here . . . "

They aren't doing that. They are redirecting their financial support to local organizations focused on hunger in their community. That's the mission of local food banks.

The local Jewish groups, including the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland, also called on the Oregon Food Bank to issue a new statement “indicating that it will maintain its focus on hunger and its root causes here in Oregon.”

They added, “Until such time we will support other local organizations who are upholding this important mission.”

[betsuni]

62. This is now a conspiracy theory that Oregon Jews are starving all the poor people of the Pacific Northwest.

[tritsofme]

82. This is modern day blood libel. Absolutely disgusting to see here.

But tragically not surprising given the direction some have been moving.

[betsuni]

83. It is. So much hate.

[JustAnotherGen]

87. In total agreement

Last edited Wed Jun 19, 2024, 10:11 PM - Edit history (1)

This type of language has historically lead to pogroms and the shoah.

[AloeVera]

101. How quickly the accusations of blood libel flow.

I'm always amazed by it.

People are disgusted and fed up with Israel's war crime of starving civilians as a tool of war. A UN Commission has flat-out confirmed this, we are not wrong.

Expect a lot more push-back from people who are really angry at how the whole Gaza horror has been defended, excused and minimized, including the starvation. It is not blood libel to express that disgust, especially in a situation where the spectre of MORE hunger, albeit local, is a possibility.

There is such grim irony in the Jewish groups response that is entirely missed by the pro-Israel crowd but is not lost on the rest of us.

[Hekate]

107. And your excuse for attacking & defaming your fellow Americans is what, exactly?

And yes, just because you refuse to recognize the blood libel when it rears its ugly head, does not mean it isn’t happening.

[AloeVera]

108. Attacking and defaming?

Why would you say that?

[JustAnotherGen]

111. It is a blood libel

And it is how it starts.

Rats, lice, cockroaches, foxes, vultures – these are just some of the animals the Nazis used to deride and dehumanize Jews. They used words too. In a new linguistic analysis of dozens of Nazi speeches, articles, pamphlets and posters, researchers show how this process of anti-Semetic dehumanization, which began before the Nazis took power and helped fuel the party’s popularity, was modulated to justify atrocity: in the years before the Holocaust, Jews were represented as a being incapable of human feeling. Coinciding with the Nazis’ early efforts to exterminate them, European Jews were depicted as agents of evil, as demons, as a nefarious cabal scheming up threats. The consequence, whether intentional or not, was to overcome the moral barriers to their mass elimination. By the end of the war, the Third Reich had systematically murdered six million Jews.

https://english.elpais.com/society/2022-12-04/how-nazi-propaganda-dehumanized-jews-to-facilitate-the-holocaust.html

Are there no hungry people in Oregon who are Jewish?

Is the next step for the Oregon Food Bank to deny Americans who are Jewish in their community access to their Services?

I fear we are in an "Agree to disagree" exchange.

Mahalo and peace.

That is all.

[tritsofme]

117. The best way for one to avoid such accusations is to not to traffic in these blatantly anti-Semitic tropes.

Pretty simple actually.

[JustAnotherGen]

85. Its just sick

[betsuni]

137. Not only are the Jews of Oregon starving everyone in the PNW, in Gaza, too. Next, THE WORLD.

The evil plot to colonial-white-people starve and genocide everyone just for the heck of it is going as planned!

It's crazy.

[JustAnotherGen]

141. We've been here before

As a world. If you can get people to believe absurdities - you can convince them to commit atrocities.

[Cha]

68. "Until such time we will support other local organizations who are upholding this important mission."

The local Jewish groups, including the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland, also called on the Oregon Food Bank to issue a new statement “indicating that it will maintain its focus on hunger and its root causes here in Oregon.”

They added, “Until such time we will support other local organizations who are upholding this important mission.”

Mahalo, Gen!

[JustAnotherGen]

84. Mahalo Cha!

[TheKentuckian]

65. Bogus. They are not donating to the offending organization and redirecting

[JI7]

71. Maybe non Jews should donate

if Jews who make up a very very small number of the population moving their donations to other food banks will result in starvation.

[ColinC]

78. Maybe people who want people to live should donate and maybe this has nothing to do with religion

And everything to do with politics

[JustAnotherGen]

112. Well

The Oregon Food Bank put the Politics Card in the deck.

Now they have to play with the hand they have dealt themselves.

[ColinC]

122. 👍

[JanMichael]

58. Starving seems to be a common theme

[mcar]

67. What an awful thing to say

Starving seems to be a common theme

[JanMichael]

76. Please

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/northern-gaza-starved-families-survive-bread-alone-2024-06-14/

What emoji should is use?

[JustAnotherGen]

113. What does this article

Have to do with Americans who are food insecure in Oregon?

Also - They have shifted their money to non political organizations focused on feeding Americans who can't make ends meet.

[Cha]

109. You're right it is.. Jewish People are NOT "Starving" Anyone.

IDF releases video of armed Palestinian shooting at Gazans while waiting for aid

https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-792075#google_vignette

And this...

Hamas Police Officer Fatally Shoots Boy Approaching Humanitarian Aid Truck to Keep Others Away: Report

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/hamas-police-officer-fatally-shoots-boy-approaching-humanitarian-aid-truck-to-keep-others-away-report/ar-AA1lYRRf

IDF releases recording of Gazan saying Hamas shooting at people trying to flee south

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-releases-recording-of-gazan-saying-hamas-shooting-at-people-trying-to-flee-south/

Hamas militants attacked Israel's main crossing point for delivering humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip on Sunday, dealing a blow to the ongoing crease-fire efforts that appear at an impasse with both sides blaming each other.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hamas-attacks-israel-gaza-border-crossing-cease-fire-talks-continue/

Why Would Hamas do this?

[ForgoTheConsequence]

127. It's not "awful"

What's awful is that people are actually suffering. Collective suffering and punishment seems to be a common thread in this war.

[mcar]

132. Jews were starved during the Holocaust

oh yes, and 6 million were murdered in an actual genocide.

Hamas is responsible for what is happening in Gaza, including withholding food aid to their own people.

So yes, the statement is awful and I stand by it.

[betsuni]

134. +1

[Cha]

70. "Until such time we will support other local organizations who are upholding this important mission."

The local Jewish groups, including the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland, also called on the Oregon Food Bank to issue a new statement “indicating that it will maintain its focus on hunger and its root causes here in Oregon.”

They added, “Until such time we will support other local organizations who are upholding this important mission.”

Please Tell Us How That Is "Starving".

[JI7]

74. Why are non Jews letting people starve?

[JI7]

75. The places where people are actually starving is Sudan and Yemen

how is that the Jews fault ?

[JustAnotherGen]

63. I don't see what the problem is

It's their money and they are choosing to give it to other organizations focused on the community's hungry.

[Iggo]

89. Not All Violence.

[JohnSJ]

92. So in other words the food bank is more concerned about international politics instead of feeding their

community

[tritsofme]

94. No, they are redirecting their resources to more responsible stewards.

[JohnSJ]

96. The local bank should focus on hunger and its causes in Oregon.

[tritsofme]

97. I agree, I misread your post.

[JohnSJ]

98. +++

[sheshe2]

138. Apparently..

[brooklynite]

135. Unless the Food Bank is sending food to Gaza...

…they shouldn’t be expressing a foreign policy.

[Jose Garcia]

136. Why can't people just stay in their lanes

[Iggo]

147. Yep. Just shut up and dribble. (n/t)

[canuckledragger]

151. Yes, how dare anyone stray from the propaganda and call out the far right Israeli government's genocide

against it's neighbours.