The following petition by concerned Jews against Israeli repression and occupation has been officially launched. We invite all Jews who support it to endorse it by signing it online or by emailing.
We, concerned Jews from around the world, continue to view with horror the consequences of military repression and economic blockade of the Palestinians by Israel.
Israel and the Palestinians are not equal partners in a peace process. Israel is a nation state equipped with an army and highly sophisticated weaponry; the Palestinians are a dispossessed people living under Israeli military, political and economic control in a territory fragmented by expanding Jewish settlements.
The calculated act of provocation organized by [Likud bloc leader] Ariel Sharon at Haram el-Sharif, with the agreement and support of [Israeli Prime Minister] Ehud Barak, set the region ablaze. This was possible because the situation was already potentially explosive as a result of the Israeli delaying tactics and refusal to recognize a Palestinian state whose proclamation has been repeatedly deferred.
Israel gains legitimacy for its actions by claiming to act in the name of Jews worldwide. As Jews, we deplore anti-Semitism and all forms of racism. We support the co-existence, on equal terms, of Palestinians, Israelis and all other peoples of the region and call for an end to Israeli aggression and oppression.
We urge Israel to uphold the human rights of Palestinians by:
Only an approach based on these elements stands any chance of leading to the conditions for a just peace in the region.
Sincerely,