Opinions on the war in Israel differ between Youngstown religious and cultural groups

YOUNGSTOWN - As the war in Israel continues, local groups from both sides are weighing in.
“This is literally the worst thing that has happen to Israel since its inception,” Bonnie Deutsch Burdman Executive Director for the Youngstown area Jewish Federation said.
“The best solution is the solution of freedom where people are given back their dignity,” Suhad Hadi President, Arab American Community Center said.
Both the Arab American Community Center and the Youngstown area Jewish Federation have come out and said they condemn the killings that happened over the weekend, but opinions differed when it came to the Hamas group.
After thousands of Israelis were killed by Hamas in Gaza over the weekend, the Youngstown area Jewish Federation called them a terrorist group.
“This unprovoked attack is an absolute violation of human rights and human dignity,” Deutsch Burdman said.
While those from the Arab American Community Center see them as freedom fighters for what they are calling, 75 years of struggles that Palestinians have endured while living under the Israeli military.
“We have seen Gaza turned into, what is referred to appropriately, an open air prison where they have no access to enter or leave,” Hadi said.
The battle over Gaza has been going on for decades. A solution was almost reached in 2005 when Israelis and Palestinians hoped that Gaza would be separated into two. When that didn’t happen, some Palestinians came under the influence of Hamas and both sides of the border continued to clash - boiling to the point of this weekend's surprise attacks.
Hadi feels the only solution to these tensions is independence.
“Our answer would be to give people their right to live, right to freedom, right to have their dignity back as humans on this earth,” Hadi said.
While the jewish community feels anyone not standing with Israelis is wrong.
“If the leadership, Hamas and others who are so hell bent on the destruction of Israel cared as much about their own people, we would have peace today,” Deutsch Burdman said.
The Arab American Community Center will hold a question and answer session with a panel of people from both sides for the public to ask anything about the war or history between the countries. The event will be held at 15 Belgrade Avenue in Youngstown at 6 p.m. Wednesday, October 11.