Friend --
Last week, for the first time since President Biden took office, the Israeli government carried out major demolitions and confiscation of property in a Palestinian community in the occupied West Bank.
In the village of Homsa al-Baquia, Israeli forces bulldozed several structures, confiscated the community’s tents and livestock pens and ordered the residents to relocate immediately to a new area. Authorities returned to demolish even more of the village this week.
What happened in this village is just the latest example of the Israeli government’s systematic policy of de facto annexation of sensitive areas of occupied territory -- a policy of seizing land, destroying property and displacing residents, all to pave the way for expanded settlements and to make sure these areas can never become part of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel.
This brazen practice of “de facto annexation” had an effective green light from the Trump administration -- but there’s no doubt that it runs completely counter to President Biden’s stated commitment to a two-state solution and his opposition to acts of unilateral annexation and settlement expansion.
That’s why J Street is urging the administration to back up its stated opposition to annexation with meaningful action. If you’re with us in our effort to push back against the relentless expansion of settlements and dispossession of Palestinians, I hope you’ll consider chipping in to support this work today >>
The fact that these actions are continuing now that President Biden is in office is an alarmingly clear sign that the Israeli government intends to proceed with business as usual, without any regard for the US position. And that’s unacceptable.
We know how this has gone in the past. Nearly all previous administrations have been vocal about their support for an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement and their opposition to creeping annexation. Yet, at the same time, the United States has consistently failed to take meaningful steps to hold the Israeli government accountable and impact its behavior.
That’s why J Street is urging the Biden administration to act swiftly and decisively to change this paradigm and establish a new norm. We want them to make clear that if the Israeli government pushes forward with de facto annexation and endless occupation, there will be consequences.
Specifically, we’re calling on them to take the following steps:
- Determine whether any US-sourced defense articles were used in the Homsa al-Baquia operation in violation of the Arms Export Control Act.
- Make clear to the Israeli government that US-sourced defense articles, as well as any materiel purchased with US Foreign Military Financing funds, may not be used in such operations.
- Make clear to the Israeli government that the United States will not use its voice and vote in international organizations to shield Israel from legitimate criticism of such actions and related violations of international law.
Friend, demolitions and other acts of de facto annexation don’t often make major headlines -- but they’re deeply unjust, deeply harmful to the future of both Israelis and Palestinians and taking place on a daily and weekly basis. They’re destroying communities and livelihoods -- and flagrantly ignoring the positions of Israel’s closest ally, the United States.
We can’t afford four more years of 'business as usual' when it comes to the US approach to de facto annexation and deepening occupation. Together, our movement will continue to fight for a different kind of American policy -- one that learns from the failings of the past and is truly responsive to the needs of the present.
Please support our fight with a donation today. We’re about a quarter of the way toward our goal of 100 new monthly sustainers and hope you’ll consider signing up to provide ongoing support. Right now, all new monthly gifts will be matched each month of 2021.
Thanks for your support,
Logan Bayroff
Director of Communications
