National Lawyers Guild, Center for Constitutional Rights, New York International Association of Democratic Lawyers, Grassroots International, Rachel Corrie Foundation for Peace and Justice, CODEPINK Greater Boston, Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions, Jewish Voice for Peace, Resource Center for Non-Violence, Citizens for Justice in the Middle East, Chicago Faith Coalition for Middle East Policy, Cincinnati Palestinian Rights Meet-Up, Corvallis-Albany Friends of Middle East Peace, International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network, International Solidarity Movement, Progressive Democrats of America Israel/Palestine Action Group, Middle East Peace Now, St. Louis Palestine Solidarity Committee, Free Palestine Movement, Utahns for a Just Peace in the Holy Land, Virginians for Middle East Peace and Coalition for Palestinian Rights-Minnesota
28 July 2010
Madame Secretary, we respectfully request that your office investigate the arrest, unlawful treatment, and detention of Mr. Makhoul and use its considerable diplomatic influence to bring an end to his arbitrary detention and to ensure that Israel, a leading recipient of US military and economic aid, comply with its commitment under US law and international legal norms. Read more about Groups urge Clinton to intervene in case of jailed rights defender
While prominent protest and boycott organizers from the Palestinian organization Stop the Wall Jamal Juma’ and Mohammad Othman were released last week after nearly one and four months of detention respectively, nightly arrests continue in the West Bank, with eight more arrests on 18 January in the West Bank village of Nilin. Read more about Israel steps up arrests of grassroots activists
A controversial shareholder resolution calling for Caterpillar to investigate whether their sale of bulldozers to Israel violates the CAT “good global citizen” code of conduct received a 3% vote at the annual shareholder meeting today in Chicago. The resolution was backed by investors with holdings estimated to be well over $600 million, including CalPERS, the largest pension fund in the world. Today’s public protests against CAT in over 30 cities and CAT’s 3% drop in stock price today assure that the company will have to deal with this issue sooner rather than later. And if not sooner, then we expect to be back next year with another resolution.” Read more about Proponents of Caterpillar shareholder resolution claim victory on International Day of Action Against Caterpillar
Jewish Voice for Peace, one of the country’s largest and oldest grassroots Jewish peace organizations, applauds the announcement of a cease-fire between Israel and the Palestinians. At the same time, the group says that such quiet can not be sustained without substantial moves toward ending Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Mitchell Plitnick, JVP’s Director of Education and Policy, said, “It’s wonderful that both sides have pledged to stop bombings and shootings. But as long as other forms of violence continue, the cease-fire will be short-lived.” Read more about Jewish Voice for Peace welcomes cease fire, calls for more action to end all forms of violence
Jewish Voice for Peace, a national Jewish-American organization with 10,000 supporters, called for an immediate halt to the massive Israeli invasion of Gaza Strip. The group called for the United States and the international community to intervene to stop the Israeli military operation and prevent the rocket attacks by Hamas that have provided the pretext for it. “Israeli actions have already cost dozens of Palestinian lives, severely injured many more innocent civilians, and has seen the destruction of more Palestinian homes,” said Mitchell Plitnick, JVP’s Co-Director. “The planned invasion is sure to multiply these numbers greatly.” Read more about Jewish American group calls for international intervention to stop Israel's massive military invasion of Gaza Strip
Jewish peace activists protested Caterpillar’s safety record in the Middle East when they disrupted the Caterpillar-sponsored Safety Awards earlier this morning at the MINExpo in Las Vegas, Nevada. They unrolled a banner with a photo of an armored D-9 bulldozer destroying homes that read “What do Cat dozers make possible? Death and destruction for Palestinians and Israelis.” The United Nations, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch, in addition to many faith-based groups, have all condemned Caterpillar’s sale of bulldozers to Israel which endanger the safety of Palestinian and Israeli civilians. Read more about Jewish Activists Disrupt Safety Awards at MINExpo to Protest Caterpillar's Sales to Israeli Army
SAN FRANCISCO, March 2, 2004 — A coalition of Jewish and Israeli groups- including Jewish Voice for Peace, The Tikkun Community and the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions -has issued the following statement demanding the resignation of Israeli Deputy Defense Minister Ze’ev Boim and Likud Knesset Member Yehiel Hazan in response to racist remarks made last week. As Jews conscious of the history of anti-Semitism and the ideas and rhetoric that have fueled it over the centuries, we deplore the recent racist public statements by Israeli Deputy Defense Minister Ze’ev Boim and Likud Knesset Member Yehiel Hazan and call for their immediate resignations. Read more about Jewish and Israeli groups demand immediate resignation of Israeli officials
As the Bush Administration moves to cut financing for Israel’s settlements, the largest grassroots Jewish peace group in the U.S. announced today that it is targeting Illinois-based Caterpillar Corporation for its role in diminishing the chances for Middle East peace. Caterpillar has knowingly allowed its bulldozers to be used by the Israeli military for the demolition of thousands of Palestinian homes, settlement construction, and the building of Israel’s Wall. Read more about Jewish Peace Group Targets Caterpillar Corporation