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UK Jewish MP: Israel acting like the Nazis who forced my family to flee from Poland

'My granny didn't die so that Israeli soldiers could murder Palestinian grandmothers'

Friday, 16 January 2009

A veteran British Jewish lawmaker, Sir Gerald Kaufman, has compared the Israeli offensive in Gaza to the Nazis who forced his family to flee from Poland.

Kaufman, who was brought up as an orthodox Jew and Zionist, said: "My grandmother was ill in bed when the Nazis came to her home town a German soldier shot her dead in her bed.

"My grandmother did not die to provide cover for Israeli soldiers murdering Palestinian grandmothers in Gaza.

"The present Israeli government ruthlessly and cynically exploits the continuing guilt from gentiles over the slaughter of Jews in the Holocaust as justification for their murder of Palestinians."

^{Above: Sir Gerald Kaufman addresses British MPs}

He said the claim that many of the Palestinian victims were militants "was the reply of the Nazi" and added: "I suppose the Jews fighting for their lives in the Warsaw ghetto could have been dismissed as militants."

My grandmother did not die to provide cover for Israeli soldiers murdering Palestinian grandmothers in Gaza

He accused the Israeli government of seeking "conquest" and added: "They are not simply war criminals, they are fools."

Kaufman called for a total arms ban on Israel.

“It is time for our government to make clear to the Israeli government that its conduct and policies are unacceptable and to impose a total arms ban on Israel.”

He also branded the Israeli PM, the foreign minister and defense minister as war criminals.

“Is it not an incontrovertible fact that Olmert, Livni and Barak are mass murderers and war criminals?”

In a BBC interview Kaufman said about the rising Palestinian death toll: "Four Jews against 1,000 Palestinians - that is Nazism."

Kaufman, 64, called Israel's actions "not only barbaric but also stupid" because, he said, terrorism could not be defeated by force of arms.

"It failed in Lebanon and it will fail here," he said.

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After watching Lebanon, and 20 years of wicked violence, I am surprised to read this article. And even more surprised to read the comments. It makes me wonder if how we see the world is how it truly is. If only the few were as bold as Kaufman, then perhaps we will see them become many.
Surprisingly, as a muslim, I can say I have been to Israel. I have seen what there was to see. I have also seen that it can be healed. One step, two steps, one bold enough to speak the truth, two bold enough to speak the truth, patience and peace, let us all be free.
Hatred, fear and inequality are the evils of the world today. Mankind the tool, his tongue the fool. It saddens me, but after reading this, I know there's hope. We're all the same, our differences are our fears, and where fear is concerned, courage is needed to save the day. I have no qualms with a Jewish state, as long as it is peaceful, restores and respects the dignity of the Palestinians and what we believe as 'The Holy Lands'.

Posted by A Bashir | 12.05.09, 21:53 GMT

It gives us some hope that people such as Sir Kaufman are prepared to speak up and call Israel's aggression for what it really is. For too long Israel has hidden behind Nazi persecution whilst they themselves carry out atrocities. There is no place for Zionism as distinct from people of the Jewish faith

Posted by Ros | 23.01.09, 02:22 GMT

Here, Here, Its a shame European & US Politicians cannot speak this kind of Honest Language.

Posted by James Swann | 21.01.09, 12:43 GMT

God Bless this man of courage

Posted by oren orensen | 21.01.09, 03:37 GMT

Kaufman is spot on. It is time for all Jews to speak out against the actions of Zionism, which is an evil political creed. The Zionist state cannot be allowed to persist. The only lasting solution in Palestine is the establishment of a single state encompassing the whole of the former mandate territory; a state in which all citizens are treated equally. The state of Israel is illegal under international law because it was established by conquest, without the consent of the Palestinians. The two-state solution is an attempt to legitimise the seizure of Palestian lands by the Zionists. Hamas is right to refuse to recognise Israel and to resist the occupation. Palestine must be freed from the Jordan to the Mediterranean.

Posted by David Levenspiel | 19.01.09, 16:57 GMT

hold up!!!! this guy is a jewish mp living in an area where he won't be getting elected by Jews. pure cheap Politics. typical of an mp trying to keep his job.

Posted by Horse | 18.01.09, 23:44 GMT

Does Gerald have a large Muslim population in his constituency?

Posted by Chris | 18.01.09, 10:34 GMT

well said. Its a shame a few more prominent Jews cant say the same. People too easily confuse hatred for israel with hatred for jews. simply not the case for the vast majority of people

Posted by soarer | 17.01.09, 16:24 GMT