Memo to Jon Stewart: Glad You're Against Torture, So Why'd You Give Israel a Pass?

Dear Jon Stewart,

I phoned ABC and left a comment for The Daily Show. I hope you got it.

I'm glad you're against torture. I just wish you were also against torture by Israel. I was pretty astounded to hear you chatting with John McCain last night, nodding along as AIPAC-buddy McCain explained that the US should emulate Israel, "which doesn't torture people."

Whew!

Jon, you're a really smart guy. Is it possible that you don't know that there are 8,000 Palestinians in Israeli prisons right now, and that many of them have been tortured, some of them at this very minute? <

Is it possible that you didn't read the article about Mustafa Dirani testifying in an Israeli court for ten hours about his gruesome torture by Israeli interrogators?

Is it possible you've never ever talked to Palestinians, even Palestinian-Americans, and heard their graphic descriptions of the Israeli prison experience?

Jon, I know you're not dumb, and I'd like to think you're not hypocritical, so maybe you just really have missed the boat on this one. Therefore, in thanks for all the great laughs you've given us, I'd like to help you out a bit and invite you to join us on our next trip to the West Bank and Gaza. That way you can learn about things. The trip's on us, and the humus is great.

Sure, Israeli forces may kill or injure us, like they did Rachel Corrie, James Miller, Tom Hurndall, Brian Avery, and thousands upon thousands of Palestinian men, women, and children but, hey, they probably won't.

Cordially,

Alison Weir

Alison Weir is executive director of If Americans Knew. She can be reached at: alisonweir@yahoo.com

P.S. Below is a news report that I think you missed, Jon, but it wasn't really your fault. Although this article can be discovered on some websites, almost no American news media actually printed it.