At the Oscars, delighted cheers went up for the film “No Other Land,” a documentary about an Israeli and a Palestinian sharing friendship and resistance in the West Bank. The Israeli director, Yuvla Abraham, told the crowd, “When I look at Basel, I see my brother. But we are unequal. We live in a regime where I am free under civilian law and Basel is under military laws, that destroy lives.” Co-director Basel Adra has not been free his entire life. The entire population of Gaza, the majority of whom were forced out of their homes generations ago, is not free — not even to flee 2,000 pound bombs. Gazans are not free to go back to their homes. They are not free to go for hospital care. They are not free to sell and buy goods from the rest of the world. Director Abraham continued, “Can’t you see that we are intertwined? That my people can be truly safe only if Basel’s people are truly free and safe?” It is not possible for Israel to enjoy peace while actively denying freedom to occupied Palestine. Abraham knows that Israel has the power and could choose the path to peace for all. As we approach a vote in our senate to send billions more in bombs to blow the people in Gaza and the West Bank to pieces, we can call our senators. Use your voice to show Basel and Yuval that you support safety and peace.

Janet Simmon

Laconia