To activists supporting a “permanent” cease-fire: A permanent cease-fire takes two to tango. Currently Hamas is rejecting a cease-fire proposal put forward by Qatar, Egypt, U.S., the EU and other Arab states.

They prefer war. They prefer Gazans to suffer. Historically, Hamas has consistently used terrorism as “dissent” to subvert peace negotiations between the Palestinian Authority and Israel, cynically conducting terror operations including originating half of the suicide bombing events of the second intifada. There is a context to Israel’s response.

A cease-fire that leaves Hamas still in power in Gaza is the former status quo.

Everything that has happened in the last six months is then nearly certain to repeat. Massacres of civilian Israelis. Harsh Israeli response.

If Israel unilaterally withdrew today, it would end at Israel controlling five-sixths of Gaza. They would facilitate its rehabilitation, but on its terms.

If instead, Israel succeeded in removing Hamas military infrastructure and forces from Gaza, there would no longer be a Hamas tyranny in Gaza (death sentence for dissent, absence of all free speech/press/assembly, no elections), thereby freeing both Israeli civilians and Gazan civilians. It would be demilitarized (with then no reason for Israel to invade at all). There would be elections. There would be trade, economic and social development.

While there are Jews that support a cease-fire from rational empathy, there are also Jews in Franklin County that have witnessed the results of Hamas actions in the world and hold a different form of compassion toward the world (protecting it from tyrants).

We appreciate/love Israel for the good that it is, including free speech/press/assembly, vigorous dissent, unique racial/cultural diversity (Israel is not “white”), prosperity, natural beauty, social services. We strongly desire that it be healthy, safe.

I wish that the simple act of pressing Israel to cease-fire would solve everything, even with the magic word “permanent.” But, very sadly, it changes nearly nothing, for Israelis, for Gazans, for the world.

The only success that Hamas has had in this is to inflame. Don’t get played by their cynical propaganda. Realize a real cease-fire, a real permanent cease-fire, that requires mutual respect, clarity, education.

To summarize: Relative to Israel/Palestine, I want change, not the status quo repeated.

I want Greenfield Jews to feel respected, safe in our chosen hometown, not condemned for loving our families, and then ratified as an official statement by the City Council.

Richard Witty lives in Greenfield.