The root cause of the Palestine-Israel conflict is clear. During the 1948 war, 750,000 Palestinians fled in terror or were expelled from their ancestral homeland and turned into refugees. The state of Israel then refused to let them return and either destroyed their villages entirely or expropriated their land, houses, orchards and business possessions. They then turned around and blamed the victims for resisting their dispossession. If you run into someone’s car, for whatever reason, simple justice demands that you repair it. This is what the Jewish faith preaches, basic ethics. Any criticism of Israel is seen by Americans, and especially American Zionist Christians, as harmful to the Jewish people and antisemitic, even if the criticism is true. But once you go down that slippery slope, where the end justifies the means, you have left all claim to morality.  

For decades Palestinians have waited in vain for a life of dignity. What they see now is a double standard. Those who stand with the occupied Ukrainians are standing with the Israeli occupiers. Innocent Gazans have experienced four wars that Israel has led against their narrow strip and left them with no hope.  

The occupation is the reason for this war. No one can relinquish a people’s quest for freedom. Without justice there will never be peace.  

Stan George, Reedley, Calif.