US Vetos Security Council Sanction of Israeli Attorcity in Gaza

Children hurt in the Israeli shelling in Gaza last Wednesday

The United States vetoed a draft UN Security Council resolution condemning Israel for the shelling of in Beit Hanoun in Gaza, further establishing the US bias in the Middle East conflict.

"The veto will only increase anger" said Amr Musa, Secretary General of the Arab League. Ghazi Hamad, the spokesperson for Hamas said "Such a decision was expected, because the US have already given the green light for Israel to carry on these massacres."

John Bolton, the US ambassador to the UN, described the text of the resolution as "unbalanced" and "biased against Israel and politically motivated." The American Jewish Committee agreed calling it a one sided resolution.

"It is inexplicable that a veto can be used to protect Israeli actions against civilians," said Amr Musa. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, the Egyptian foreign minister, added that America's action would "only lead to impose the situation that Israel wants, and increase the frustration of Palestinian people."

Last Wednesday, Israeli artillery shells slammed into five apartment blocks in Beit Hanun at dawn Wednesday, killing eight children, five women and five men and wounding 58 people, according to the Palestinian health ministry.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert apologized saying it was a "technical failure." But Mr Olmert also warned that Israel would continue with military operations as long as rockets were launched into Israel and that, while every effort would be made to prevent mistakes, further such tragedies "may happen."

In an editorial fiercely denouncing the shellings entitled "Cease-fire in Gaza" the Haaretz declared: "No excuse can justify this atrocity. When artillery batteries aim their shells near a residential neighbourhood, such a disaster is inevitable, even if its unintentional."

In the meantime, South African Nobel laureate Desmond Tutu condemned an Israeli attack. "It is an outrage that cries out to heaven and we must condemn it unequivocally as we do the atrocities committed by suicide bombers against Israeli civilians," the former archbishop of Cape Town, said in a statement. "We learnt in South Africa that true security does not come from the barrel of a gun," he said, joining the worldwide chorus of outrage and condemnation.

"Therefore we cannot, we dare not, keep quiet in the face of the latest atrocity in Gaza City when about 20 civilians including about seven children were killed whilst sleeping by Israeli artillery." "Israelis and Palestinians can survive only together as citizens of free and sovereign states, can ultimately prosper only together as citizens of such free and sovereign states."

Rabbi Arthur Waskow of the Shalom Center responded by circulating "A Mourner's Kaddish."

MOURNERS KADDISH IN TIME OF WAR

Yitgadal V'yit'kadash Shmei Rabah

May the Great Name, through our expanding awareness and our fuller action, lift Itself to become still higher and more holy;
May our names, along with all the names of all the beings in the universe, live within the Great Name;
May the names of all whom we can no longer touch but who have touched our hearts and lives, remain alight within our memories and in the Great Name;
May the names of all who have died in violence and war be kept alight in our sight and in the Great Name, with sorrow that we were not yet able to shape a world in which they would have lived. (Cong: Amein)

B'alma di vra chi'rooteh v'yamlich malchuteh b'chayeichun, u'v'yomeichun, u'v'chayei d'chol beit yisrael, b'agalah u'vzman kariv, v'imru: --

May Your Great Name lift Itself
still higher and more holy
throughout the world that You have offered us,
a world of majestic peaceful order
that gives life to the Godwrestling folk
through time and through eternity ----
And let's say, Amein (Cong: Amein)

Y'hei sh'mei rabbah me'vorach
l'olam almei almaya.

So therefore may the Great Name be blessed, through every Mystery and Mastery of every universe.

Yitbarach, v'yishtabach, v'yitpa'ar, v'yitromam, v'yitnasei, v'yithadar, v'yit'aleh, v'yithalal -- Shmei di'kudshah, -- Brich hu, (Cong: Brich Hu)

May the Great Name be blessed and celebrated, Its beauty honored and raised high; may It be lifted and carried, may Its radiance be praised in all Its Holiness –-- Blessed be!

L'eylah min kol bir'chatah v'shir'atah tush'be'chatah v'nechematah, de'amiran be'alma, v'imru: Amein (Cong: Amein)

Even though we cannot give You enough blessing, enough song, enough praise, enough consolation to match what we wish to lay before You –

And though we know that today there is
no way to console You
when among us some who bear Your Image in our being
are slaughtering others
who bear Your Image in our being.

Yehei Shlama Rabah min Shemaya v'chayyim { aleinu v'al kol Yisrael, v'imru Amein.

Still we beseech that from the unity of Your Great Name flow great harmony and joyful life for all who wrestle God; (Cong: Amein)

Oseh Shalom bi'm'romav, hu ya'aseh shalom aleinu v'al kol yisrael v'al kol yishmael v'al kol yoshvei tevel -- v'imru: Amein.

You who make harmony
in the ultimate reaches of the universe,
teach us to make harmony
within ourselves, among ourselves --
and peace for the Godwrestling folk,
the people Israel;
for our cousins the children of Ishmael;
and for all who dwell upon this planet.
(Cong: Amein)

Oseh Shalom bi'm'romav, hu ya'aseh shalom aleinu v'al kol yisrael v'al kol yishmael v'al kol yoshvei tevel -- v'imru: Amein.

The Mourner's Kaddish is also available at our Season of Prayer website.