Regarding the Sept. 19 article “Portland leaders say Israel divestment vote was symbolic, but it has divided the community,” it would be interesting to find out why divestment and other efforts to end the suffering of the Palestinian people make some, like the two women quoted in the article, feel uncomfortable and even “like we don’t belong here.”
It is unfortunate because no one ever sought to frighten our Jewish sisters and brothers. The Portland divestment effort was fostered by peace and justice activists, including fellow Jews at the core, who seek equality for all and harm to no one. Not one person involved supports violence or exclusion.
Additionally, divestment is a purely political movement. It has nothing to do with religion and everything to do with ending the system of occupation, apartheid and war inflicted upon Palestinians by the Israeli state. Were white people in the U.S. uncomfortable because the world divested in South Africa to end apartheid there?
No one is in any danger from divestment activists except, hopefully, the Israeli government being in danger of collapsing as South Africa’s government did.
Jen Joaquin
South Portland
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