Washington, D.C. – JVP Action endorses and celebrates the introduction of Representative Betty McCollum’s historic legislation to restrict U.S. military funding so that it can no longer be used by the Israeli government to violate Palestinians’ human rights. The bill has received overwhelming support from progressive movements, with more than 70 endorsing organizations. In particular, the landmark bill condemns the Israeli government’s imprisonment and torture of Palestinian children, theft and destruction of Palestinian homes and property, and any further annexation of Palestinian land.
The Palestinian Children and Families Act was introduced with 13 original cosponsors, including the full squad: Jamaal Bowman (NY-16), Cori Bush (MO-01), Andre Carson (IN-07), Danny Davis (IL-07), Chuy Garcia (IL-04) Raul Grijalva (AZ-03), Marie Newman (IL-03), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Bobby Rush (IL-01), and Rashida Tlaib (MI-13).
The groundbreaking legislation states: “The United States rejects any undemocratic system or act of aggression in which Israel unilaterally exercises permanent rule over a Palestinian people denied self-determination and human rights.” The bill makes clear that claiming to oppose human rights violations without demanding accountability enables abuse and oppression.
“This legislation could not come at a more critical moment. The pandemic has exposed and intensified brutal systemic injustices around the world – and Israel is no exception. The Israeli military has continued to imprison Palestinian children and, horrifyingly, at a time when we are all asked to stay at home, the Israeli government has actually increased the rate at which it is demolishing Palestinian homes. It could not be clearer: Congress needs to stop funding the Israeli government’s oppression of Palestinians.”
Beth Miller, Senior Government Affairs Manager of JVP Action
“True peace can only come with justice and accountability. The Palestinian Children and Families Act forces us to reckon with how we spend our money. Why, when millions of Americans live without healthcare and struggle to make ends meet, does Congress send $3.8 billion in unconditional military funding to the Israeli government? This hurts us all.”
Stefanie Fox, Executive Director of JVP Action
The bill is endorsed by a powerhouse group of over 70 organizations ranging from well-known Palestinian rights groups such as Defense for Children International Palestine, the Adalah Justice Project, the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights, American Muslims for Palestine, and the American Friends Service Committee, to organizations leading on a range of social justice movements such as the Working Families Party, the Movement for Black Lives, United We Dream, and Justice Democrats.
JVP Action staff are available to speak with the media
Endorsing orgainzations: Adalah Justice Project, Al-Haq, Americans for Peace Now (APN), American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, American Friends Service Committee, American Muslims for Palestine, Arab American Institute, Arab Resource & Organizing Center (AROC), Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, Center for Constitutional Rights, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Christian Jewish Allies for a Just Peace in Israel/Palestine, Churches for Middle East Peace, Church of the Brethren – Office of Peacebuilding and Policy, Coalition of Palestinian American Organizations, CODEPINK, Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), DAARNA, Dallas Palestine Coalition , Defense for Children International – Palestine, Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN), Detention Watch Network, Disciples Israel Palestine Network, DSA BDS and Palestine Solidarity Working Group, The Episcopal Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Eyewitness Palestine, Freedom Forward, Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL), Friends of Sabeel – Colorado, Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA), Good Citizens Of DFW, Grassroots Global Justice Alliance, IfNotNow, Institute for Policy Studies – New Internationalism Project, Israel Palestine Mission Network of the Presbyterian Church (USA), J Street, The Jerusalem Fund, Jewish Voice for Peace Action, Jews for Racial & Economic Justice, Justice Democrats, MADRE, Massachusetts Peace Action, Middle East Children’s Alliance, Movement for Black Lives, MPower Action Fund, National Council of Churches USA, National Lawyers Guild, National Union of Palestinian Youth, New Generation for Palestine, NGP Action, Norwegian Refugee Council, Palestine American League, Palestinian Christian Alliance for Peace, Palestine Legal, Peace Action, Presbyterian Church (USA), Progressive Democrats of America, Rachel Corrie Foundation for Peace and Justice, Rebuilding Alliance, Reformed Church in America, ReThinking Foreign Policy, Sacramento Democrats for Justice in Palestine, Sacramento Regional Coalition for Palestinian Rights, Tree of Life Educational Fund, U.S. Palestinian Community Network (USPCN), Unitarian Universalists for Justice in the Middle East, United Church of Christ, United Church of Christ Palestine Israel Network, United Methodists for Kairos Response, United We Dream Network, US Campaign for Palestinian Rights (USCPR), US Palestinian Council, Veterans For Peace, Virginia Coalition for Human Rights, War Resisters League, Win Without War, Working Families Party