Friend,

This week, the Israeli government continued its ethnic cleansing campaign―demolishing homes and businesses in the occupied East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan.

130 Palestinians were given 21 days to demolish their own homes or pay a $6,000 fine to the Israeli government to demolish it for them.

This is not a ceasefire. These are violations of international humanitarian law.

That’s why I’ve joined more than a dozen of my colleagues in the U.S. House in demanding the prohibition of U.S. taxpayer dollars from being used in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem for military detention, abuse, or ill-treatment of Palestinian children; to support the seizure and destruction of Palestinian property and homes; or to support the annexation of Palestine.

Our tax dollars must not be used to fund non-stop, state-sanctioned ethnic cleansing. Join me by becoming a grassroots co-signer of the Defending the Human Rights of Palestinian Children and Families Living Under Israeli Military Occupation Act to demand human rights and safety of all Palestinians.

According to reports by Al Jazeera:¹

“Israeli forces accompanied by bulldozers entered the Palestinian neighborhood and destroyed a butcher’s shop in Silwan. Soldiers used tear gas and batons to push back residents and Palestinian activists as they carried out the demolition…. There are 20 other units that are in the same situation in this neighborhood.”

In addition to the forced expulsions and demolition of homes and businesses, at least 3,100 Palestinians have been detained by Israeli forces since the beginning of May:

Thankfully, we have allies on our side. Dozens of progressive, anti-war, and human rights organizations have joined our call to action, signing onto this legislation, including the Center for Constitutional Rights, Win Without War, MPower Action Fund, IfNotNow, NGP Action, Jewish Voice for Peace Action, the Movement for Black Lives, Justice Democrats, and more.

Will you join me and our allies by becoming a grassroots co-signer of this critical legislation to demand U.S. tax dollars not be used to terrorize and oppress Palestinians in occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank?

Thank you for fighting for the rights of all people―in the U.S. and abroad. Together, we are holding the apartheid Israeli government accountable for its continued violation of human rights.

Always serving you,

Rashida