Friends,
It’s olive harvest season in the West Bank. Horrifically, violent settlers are also treating it as open season on their Palestinian neighbors.
Sickening footage has emerged: A masked Israeli settler beating a woman motionless. A mob descending on a man’s car as he flees for his life.
In dozens of incidents over the last two weeks, armed settlers have burned olive groves, chainsawed trees, destroyed homes and attacked Palestinian families.
Not a single arrest has been made. The military is instructed to stand by. An atmosphere of impunity continues to reign.
Friends, this settler violence is a stain on the Jewish state. It’s a moral abomination, and corrodes Israel’s democracy.
Folks: Please call on your senators to support the West Bank Violence Prevention Act, designed to sanction and deter violent settlers. Read, sign and share the petition here »
The Netanyahu government denies the reality of the settler violence epidemic – and is intent on enabling it rather than deterring it – so it’s up to us to take action.
Over 700 attacks have taken place this year alone. Brave Jewish, Israeli and non-Jewish activists alike are standing with Palestinians on the ground in an effort to deter and document these attacks. It’s time for us to play our part too.
Please take a moment now to sign our petition and contact your senators.
Some would have you believe that standing up to this appalling violence is “anti-Israel” – in truth, it’s anything but.
Together, we must live our Jewish values and fight for the soul of the Jewish state.
Yours in determination,
Adina Vogel Ayalon
Vice President and Chief of Staff, J Street
