Jewish Diaspora - Speak Up For Palestinians

 “When crime becomes authority

And hunts down people branding them criminals

Everyone with a voice and keeps silent

Becomes criminal himself.” (Poet Varavara Rao)

 

About time middle class Jews

Spread across the world

Break their silence

And speak up.

 

While you sought greener pastures in the west

Got exposed to democratic, secular ideals

Your elected government back home

Created a monstrous, theocratic state.

 

Of what use then

Your exposure to progressive, liberal ideas

While fundamentalism rules the roost

In Israel.

 

Enterprising and economically well off

Jewish establishments control the world media

Brutally manipulating news and views

To serve its political interests.

 

Judiciary - the last bastion of justice

Being systematically subverted

Under pressure

From ultra-right wing coalition partners.

 

Courts regularly legitimise

Demolition of Palestinian houses

And hand over vacant land

To right wing Israeli settlers.

 

In Shakespeare’s ‘The Merchant of Venice’

Shylock demanded his pound of flesh

Ensure this politically incorrect image of Jews

Remains buried six fathoms deep.

 

Let Netanyahu not exhume it

And revive it by revengeful acts

Jews abroad break your silence

Speak up before it is too late.

 

Netanyahu now demands his pound of flesh

Total elimination of Hamas, the fighters

Can he assure that it will be just a pound of flesh?

No more, no less; not a drop of civilian blood?

 

Present turbulent times cry out

That middle class Jews world-wide

Should collectively don the role

Of a Daniel come to judgement.

 

By roaring publicly for a ceasefire in Gaza

Urging for immediate lifting of siege of millions

And ensuring peaceful return of land

To its rightful owners, the Palestinians.

 

P.S. Sahni