Stars for Slaughter

Over 300 Hollywood stars, directors, other industry figures, has-beens, and related celebs signed NYT ad, which ran yesterday on A7, specifically defending Israel bombing schools and hospitals in Gaza, which led to dozens of civilian deaths among a total of 550 kids and over 1000 other civilians during the air campaign.  Since they accept the targeting of schools (shelters) and hospitals, one presumes they're okay with the bombing of apartment towers, entire city blocks and neighborhoods, and so forth.

Yes, the list includes the GOP likes of Sylvester Stallone, Kelsey Grammer and Arnold S but also noted liberals Sarah Silverman, Josh Charles, Aaron Sorkin, Bill Maher and Roseanne Barr.  And Ziggy Marley! Also Harvey and Bob Weinstein.  "Hospitals are for healing, not for hiding weapons. Schools are for learning, not for launching missiles. Children are our hope, not our human shields.”

It should be noted:  Unless I missed it, there has not been one clearly documented case of any rockets launched from an occupied, as opposed to empty, school or shelter.  But schools that were used as active shelters were targeted with Israeli bombs, killing dozens of children and other civilians. 

But the whole Israel-Palestinian question is quite simple!  Just listen to David Lonner, board member of group sponsoring ad: “There’s been a lot of confusion in the media of what’s actually going in the Gaza strip, but for those of us who go to Israel, it’s not complicated at all. So there’s been a feeling for a while now of how to get a message across and uncomplicate matters, and we think this is a step in the right direction to do that.” Right--simple!

More names: Tom Arnold, Lou Adler, Carol Bayer Sager, William Friedkin, Sherry Lansing, Jon Lovitz,  Jamie Lynn Sigler, Rob Morrow, D.B. Sweeney,  Fisher Stevens, Jerry Weintraub.  Full list.