Jewish Federation hosts Las Vegas rally in support of Israel
The quiet in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv was shattered on Thursday by air raid sirens that sent people rushing for shelter, Elliot Karp of Las Vegas said.
Rockets were launched at the city from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, which were intercepted by Israel Defense Forces rockets, said the CEO of the Jewish Federation of Las Vegas, who is in Tel Aviv with other Jewish leaders from the United States.
“Tonight, in Israel, there’s no question there’s a tremendous amount of concern,” Karp said during a phone interview. “Hamas is sending airstrikes targeting civilians.”
Israel intensified its airstrikes on Gaza sites Thursday and was mobilizing more than 20,000 ground troops.
Israel is defending itself, Karp said. But a leader for Las Vegas’ Muslim community said both Gaza and Israel are at fault in the violence.
The escalating violence follows the kidnapping and death of three Israeli teenagers in the West Bank. That was followed by the killing of a Palestinian teenager in East Jerusalem, which Palestinian leaders claim was an act of revenge.
Since the strikes began Tuesday, the death toll has reached more than 80 among Palestinians. About 500 people have been injured, including civilians, according to news reports.
No deaths have been reported in Israel. Gaza airstrikes have also reached Jerusalem.
The Jewish Federation of Las Vegas organized a rally to support Israel on Thursday night at the Adelson Educational Campus in Summerlin. More than 300 people attended.
The current situation between Israel and militants in the Gaza Strip is “wrong and is not the solution to any problem,” said Aslam Abdullah, director of the Islamic Society of Nevada.
“I don’t see any hope because people are not acting on the basis of justice,” he said Thursday. “They don’t care about justice. People have forgotten about justice and human dignity.”
Israelis and Palestinians are not seriously interested in resolving the conflict, he said. If they were, the issue would have been resolved by now, Abdullah said.
Although, many Muslims would probably “hold Israel responsible for what is happening and point fingers at them,” both sides are at fault, he said.
“No one is innocent here,” he said. “Both have blood dripping from their hands.”
Hundreds of rockets have been launched against Israel in the last three weeks, Karp said, and they are targeting civilian areas.
“On one hand, it’s tense because Israel has to defend itself, but on the other hand, life continues,” he said, adding there’s no panic in the city.
People do hope Israel won’t have to send its troops into Gaza, Karp said. They hope that “Hamas will realize that they must agree to cease fire.”
Yusuf Sidique, who calls prayer five times a day at the Islamic Community of West Las Vegas, said, “Our position is that no harm comes to either side.”
“We don’t want to see anybody innocent killed,” he said.
Karp is in Israel with other leaders from Jewish federations across the United States.
He was joined by Marla Letizia, vice chairwoman for the board of directors for the Las Vegas federation and Rabbi Yocheved Mintz, chairwoman for the Jewish Community Foundation in Las Vegas.
“Israel has always committed to seeking peace with its Arab neighbors,” Karp said. “Israel has no desire to seek war.”
To Abdullah, it seems that neither Israel nor Gaza are “interested in peace.”
Contact Yesenia Amaro at yamaro@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0440. Find her on Twitter: @YeseniaAmaro.