Friends,
When you’re attacking human rights advocates, something’s going wrong.
For years, right-wing forces have worked to harass and delegitimize Israeli and Palestinian human rights groups, and even some security groups, for sounding the alarm about the threat of expanding settlements and indefinite occupation -- for speaking out for the everyday people who suffer from endless conflict and injustice.
Last week, that campaign escalated once again. Israeli authorities raided the offices of several non-profits in the West Bank, confiscating materials, welding doors shut and issuing orders to cease operations.
They’re justifying the raids by claiming -- without substantive evidence -- that the human rights groups have engaged in ‘terrorism’.
In Israel, J Street has joined with dozens of pro-democracy Israeli human rights groups and several Israeli security groups in an open letter condemning this provocative violation of free speech, free assembly and due process:
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As an Israeli who’s worked in the peace movement and served as both a diplomat and IDF Officer, I share the outrage of many of my fellow advocates who fear this marks a significant backward step for Israeli democracy.
Crackdowns on peaceful protest and the right to organize will do nothing to enhance security and stability, and only serve to inflame tensions further at a moment of particular volatility.
The move has rightly provoked criticism from human rights groups, progressive Israeli leaders and more than a dozen US Members of Congress.
For the sake of Israel’s democracy, Palestinian rights and everyone’s freedom and security, we must speak out.
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The United States, the European Union and many others have called on the Israeli government for months to present substantive evidence that would justify the allegations they’ve made -- so far they have failed to do so.
The groups include a Women’s collective, legal aid organizations and a widely respected children’s rights group.
We cannot stand silent. We cannot ignore the damage this does to Israel’s democratic character. And we have seen the deadly escalations such rights violations can spark.
We must encourage the Biden administration to continue to press the Israeli government to present evidence that would justify its actions, or to immediately reverse course.
Please read and share the petition, and add your name today >>
Thank you, sincerely, for your support.
Yours,
Nadav Tamir
Executive Director, J Street Israel
