Local perspective on current conflict in Israel

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) - It has been a difficult week for Dale Spencer and other members of the Temple Emanuel Synagogue in Pocatello.

"Like most of the world, I was shocked and horrified by the events in Israel starting over the past weekend and that continue to this day," Spencer said.

Spencer says the recent attacks from Hamas on Israel was no doubt a terrorist attack.

"To attack Israel on a high holiday, the holiday of Shavuot Torah, the giving of the Torah on the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, is very much a timed hate crime," Spencer said.

Spencer also says the ongoing doesn't help anyone on both sides.

"This is directed at Israel in the name of Palestine, but this is not helping the Palestinians at all," Spencer said. "Palestinians are as much victims of this as I believe the Israelis are. They cannot do anything about it. They are being held captive. And if they disagree with Hamas, the terrorist organization that runs their territory, they will be killed."

Spencer says he is worrisome on the hate people have toward his people.

"As much as this country reeled at 9/11 with the hatred directed at us, we as supporters of the community of Israel reel from the hatred directed at Jews and also look and go, what else is going on out there that what causes such hate," Spencer said.

Spencer says he and his congregation have many friends and family that are in currently in Israel during the conflict.

"My daughter and grandchildren live there and my son-in-law has been called up, and they are safe," Spencer said. "The video message that she sent late Saturday night, early Sunday morning our time, you could hear the jets screaming in the background. You could hear the rumble of bombs going off in the background and there in the middle of the country. They're not down near the Gaza Strip or down where it's supposed to all be intense. It's intense everywhere."

Here is a statement for Temple Emanuel Synagogue Rabbi Sara Goodman:

"Jews around the world are reeling from what has happened and is currently happening in Israel. The terrorists brutality towards innocent children, civilians, men, women and the infirm has shaken the world. The pride with which they humiliate, murder, terrorize, massacre, rape and behead and further desecrate their victims and to video themselves to share the world is witness to the essence of the evil, evil to the core. God help us all. There's evil such as this in the world. There is space to support both Palestinian statehood and decry these gleeful crimes of hate. To make excuses for the abhorrent behavior is to justify it as a means to freedom is simply a declaration of support for massacre and genocide. This is simply a war against terrorism and Israel's fighting for her life. The global Jewish community has family, friends and colleagues and connections in Israel. We are them and they are us. The spirit of our people is bound with them. We are so grateful for the support of the peoples, communities and nations of the world."

Despite the ongoing tensions, Spencer believes the conflict can one day be resolved.

"There is room for a two state solution," Spencer said. "There is room where we can all live together. We just need to figure out what that takes and stop listening to the agitators. There are agitators on both sides. There are Jewish agitators out there saying that they have no right to be there as much as there are the people in the name of Palestine saying the Jews have the right to be there."

Spencer says he is grateful to see the world and his country coming together to support Israel.

"People want to know what they can do," Spencer said. "Well, if you can support Israel, somehow do that. If you want to pray, pray for peace for the entire region. Don't pray for a victory so much as pray for a peace to come. And so it's a bad situation. And unfortunately, until we figure out a way to root evil out of this world, I think it's going to be there."