Councilor should be praised for denouncing Israel's atrocities

Editor,

I was not at the protest against Israel's bombardment of Gaza on Jan. 10, but I was there in spirit with the other Jews, and I commend and fully support council member Isaac Benton for speaking out against the Israeli government's actions.

I am a 52-year-old disabled Jewish woman, and I absolutely do not back Israel's murderous policies. I am glad Benton spoke up publicly. Benton has far more support for speaking out against the Israeli atrocities than the Albuquerque community may think. Personally, I think the Israeli government is committing a slow genocidal act. Just because it is being done slowly does not justify it.

There are many underlying issues to the region's problems. What the world does not hear about between wars is what influences the politics of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Demographics are a big issue for Israel. The less Palestinians to deal with, the more justification to expand illegal settlements and more. The people of Gaza are slowly being choked out of existence. Call it what you will. Semantics aside, it is a massacre of human beings. This is a humanitarian issue. On behalf of myself and countless other Jews locally and nationwide, thank you, Benton.

Guida Leicester

UNM student