13 February 2020
Dozens of leading Jewish organisations from around the world, including the New Israel Fund, are voicing their opposition to President Trump’s annexation plan in an unprecedented joint statement.
The statement is co-signed by prominent liberal Jewish organisations around the world and includes J Street, the New Israel Fund, the Progressive Israel Network, the British peace movement Yachad, a number of Jewish youth organisations and other progressive Jewish organisations from Australia and New Zealand, the United States, Canada, Europe, South Africa and Central America.
This global coalition calls on world leaders to reject Trump’s one-sided deal, which, if carried out, would make Israel’s occupation permanent and formalise a deeply unjust status quo.
The joint statement reads:
“We are a diverse coalition of Jewish organisations and individuals from communities across the globe. We share a commitment to the Jewish values of justice and peace which can only be fulfilled through a negotiated two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians. We share a commitment to Israel’s security and prosperity which can best be fulfilled through peace agreements with its neighbours.
“For any peace plan to work it must connect with the long-term goals and aspirations of all parties to the conflict. Trump’s one-sided deal does not adequately address Palestinian aspirations for independence in a sovereign state; it gives Israel a green light for the dangerous annexation of Palestinian territory; legitimises settlements constructed in clear violation of international law; and removes the prospect for a viable, contiguous Palestinian state living in dignity alongside a secure Israel.
“We believe that this plan could only be rejected by the Palestinian leadership as it will not bring peace, nor a viable two-state solution. A peace plan in name only, it will perpetuate the occupation and doom the region to a destructive future of more bloodshed and conflict. As Diaspora Jews, we reject this deal as inconsistent not only with international law but with Jewish values, and Israel’s aspiration to be a state living in peace and respect with its neighbours.
“We therefore appeal to Jews around the world, our national governments and all those committed to a just peace to oppose this plan. Instead, we pledge to redouble our efforts to work with Israelis and Palestinians toward a future in which they can live in peace, with freedom, dignity, and security.”
Liam Getreu, executive director of the NIF Australia, the Australian Jewish community’s leading organisation promoting equality and democracy in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories said:
“We want to see a democratic, equal, and just Israel. The Trump administration is offering Israeli officials and the radical settler right a free pass to march in the opposite direction: toward a future of unending injustice and inequality.
“Australian and world leaders must reject this plan which runs counter to international law as well as to the Jewish values of justice and peace.”
The statement can be read and shared at https://globaljewishcoalition.org/
The following organisations signed the statement:
- Ameinu, Australia
- Ameinu, USA
- Canadian Friends of Peace Now, Canada
- Friends of Rabbis for Human Rights, UK
- Habonim Dror, Southern Africa
- Habonim Dror, Aotearoa New Zealand
- Habonim Dror, Australia
- Habonim Dror, UK
- Hashomer Hatzair - World Movement
- Hashomer Hatzair, Australia
- J Space, Canada
- J Street, USA
- J-AmLat, Latin America
- Jcall Europe
- Jewish Democratic Initiative, South Africa
- Jewish Labor Committee, USA
- Jewish Labour movement, UK
- Meretz, Australia
- Meretz, UK
- Netzer, Australia
- New Israel Fund, Canada
- New Israel Fund, Australia
- New Israel Fund, UK
- New Israel Fund, USA
- Noam, UK
- Partners for Progressive Israel, USA
- Progressive Israel Network, USA
- Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association, USA
- T'ruah, USA
- Yachad, UK
For enquiries and further comment, contact:
Liam Getreu
Executive Director
0413 374 401
[email protected]
