Situation in Israel prompts sadness, protests in Kansas City area
As the violence continued between Israel and the Palestinians, local organizations and commentators lamented the casualties and tried to make sense of this latest round of fighting.
“We grieve the loss of life and join members of the international interfaith community in calling for an end to all violence in this region that so many of our members hold sacred,” the Greater Kansas City Interfaith Council said in a statement.
The Rabbinical Association of Greater Kansas City also expressed its “deep concern for the safety and security of the citizens of the State of Israel” and said members were “saddened by the report of loss of lives on both sides of the conflict and by the escalation towards civil conflict within Israel.”
The association added:
“As spiritual leaders, we are committed to the teachings of our tradition to ‘Be of the disciples of Aaron, loving peace and pursuing peace, loving the creatures and bringing them closer to Torah.’ We deplore all acts of violence and distance ourselves from extremist religious views that foster a climate of discord and enmity among our people.”
On Saturday, supporters of the Palestinians rallied on the Country Club Plaza. The Kansas City Star reported more than 200 people attended the rally. At one point, according to the report, protesters tore down an Israeli flag flying on a post alongside Ward Parkway.
In response, the JCRB|AJC issued a statement supporting the right to peacefully protest but said it was “horrified by the destruction of the Israeli flag at the protest on the Plaza … and will work to ensure it is replaced swiftly.”
The JCRB|AJC statement also said, “Our hearts are breaking for our brothers and sisters in Israel who are once again the victims of rocket attacks that specifically target civilians. Our hearts also break for the citizens of Gaza.”
Agency officials added: “There are no winners when people die and terror rains down from the skies.”
The agency has posted a resource page regarding the violence on its website at (https://jcrbajc.org/resources/antisemitism-and-israel-resources/resources-on-antisemitism-and-israel.html)
Printed below are two other commentaries on the violence.