“True progressives stand up for Palestinian rights”
Jewish Voice for Peace Action stands alongside Representatives Ocasio-Cortez, Tlaib, Jayapal, McCollum, Senator Sanders, and the eight other members of Congress demonstrating where all progressive offices should be on the issue of Palestine/Israel: Backing human rights, international law and a future where all people are free and equal, no exceptions.
The Dear Colleague letter stands apart from the crowd of many previous weaker Congressional statements in response to Israel’s plans to annex parts of the Palestinian West Bank. Signers of the letter are demanding action from Secretary of State Pompeo to stop Israel’s illegal annexation and making a bold commitment to condition the $3.8 billion in funding we send to the Israeli military every year.
The full list of signers includes: Representatives Ocasio-Cortez, Jayapal, McCollum, Tlaib, Carson, Davis, Garcia, Grijalva, Omar, Pressley, Rush, Velázquez, and Senator Sanders.
These 13 members of Congress are paving the pathway toward a future of safety, freedom and equality for all Palestinians and Israelis.
Stefanie Fox, Executive Director of Jewish Voice for Peace Action: “American Jews across generations are an integral part of the huge, diverse and growing movement for Palestinian rights, and it’s well-past time that Congress got on board. For decades, the U.S. government has supported Israeli violations of Palestinian human rights — unconditionally funding the Israeli military and shielding the Israeli government from international censure. This letter marks a profound shift by upholding the truth that Palestinians and Israelis deserve to live with equal rights, freedom and safety. The signers of this letter remind us that true progressives stand up for Palestinian rights.”
Beth Miller, Government Affairs Manager for Jewish Voice for Peace Action: “Right now every member of Congress has a choice to make: They can either take a stand or they can go down in history as having been complicit in the formalization of 21st-century apartheid. The 13 lawmakers who signed this letter have chosen the side of justice. They are putting people and values above all else, and building towards a peaceful and sustainable future.”
The letter was supported by: American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), Arab American Institute, American Friends Service Committee, American Muslims for Palestine, Center for Constitutional Rights, Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP), CODEPINK, Defense for Children International Palestine, Demand Progress, Emgageaction, Freedom Forward, Friends Committee on National Legislation, Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ, IfNotNow, Jewish Voice for Peace Action, Just Foreign Policy, Maine Voices for Palestinian Rights, New Internationalism Project (a project of Institute for Policy Studies), SumOfUs, US Campaign for Palestinian Rights
Fox and Miller are available to speak with the media