April 14, 2020
Dear Benny Gantz, Chairman of the Knesset,
Passover is a time for Jews to reflect on our commitment to freedom, justice, security, and a yearning for a national homeland. There is now an imminent threat to these cherished values. According to the recent coalition draft, your proposed emergency unity government will introduce a bill in the Knesset within the next three months to annex parts of the West Bank. This will happen without negotiations with the Palestinians, contrary to UN resolutions and international law. A simple majority in the Knesset will end the possibility of a viable twostate solution.
What can we do? We are calling on you to join us in saying, “NO to unilateral annexation”.
Why is this important?
1. Annexation extends the occupation and denies Palestinians the right to self-determination, a desire that was fulfilled for the Jewish people after 2,000 years.
2. Israel has had peace and diplomatic relations with Egypt for almost 40 years and with Jordan for 25 years. The absence of war and the vastly important security relations with these two countries has greatly reduced Israel’s security threats. Jordan and Egypt, as well as Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries, will not sit by and accept this flagrant breach of law and justice. There is also the danger of domestic instability and the outburst of violence among the Palestinians and within Jordan.
3. Israel’s actions flout international law and gravely breach human rights; as a result, they hurt Israel’s own democracy and could strain its relations with democratic countries around the world.
We all hope that the next generation of Jewish young people will share our . deep commitment to Israel.
To sustain such a commitment of progressive Jews now and in the future, you need to say: “NO to unilateral annexation!”
Yours Respectfully,
J-Link Coordinating Committee
Organizational Signers :
Ameinu Australia
Ameinu Canada
Ameinu United States
Canadian Friends of Peace Now
Casa de Cultura (Uruguay)
Habonim Dror South Africa
Hashomer Hatzair World Movement
J-AMLAT (Latin America)
Jcall Europe
Jcall France
Jcall Italy
Jcall Spain
Jcall Switzerland
Organizational Signers
Jewish Democratic Initiative (South Africa)
Jewish Labor Committee (United States)
JSpaceCanada
J Street
La paix maintenant – Peace Now (France)
Meretz Australia
Meretz France
Meretz UK
Meretz Uruguay
New Israel Fund
Partners for Progressive Israel (United States)
Policy Working Group (Israel)
Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association (United States)
Truah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights (United States)
What is J-Link?
J-Link is an international network of progressive Jewish organizations from Israel, the United States, Canada, Europe, Latin America, South Africa, and Australia. We share a love of Israel and a commitment to democracy, human rights, religious pluralism, and a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel. J-Link aspires to work with our respective local Jewish communities, our national governments and international organizations to advocate for our values and vision for Israel.
This letter has been sent also to Gaby Ashkenazi, Amir Peretz and to all the Knesset members from Blue White
