I want to address you, the citizens of Israel, because you bear responsibility inasmuch as the government is committing crimes, perpetuating injustices, and sowing despair in your name. You bear a responsibility because you have a voice and you have the freedom to elect your representatives. And you bear responsibility because you can stop being fooled by this government of deception; by those who derive political and economic capital out of this escalation; by those media that incite against the democratic leadership of the Arab population; by those in the “Shabak” (General Security Service) who call in pupils, young girls, for interrogation after they wrote a private post online; by those who believe that the wholesale arrest of uninvolved children and civilians is the solution; by those who call for Jewish citizens to bear arms, a call which borders on incitement to violence against the Arab community! I turn to you, citizens of Israel, to replace this dangerous government. Take responsibility for your own destinies and throw aside this government and elect representatives who will be willing to put an end to the deterioration, to correct the wrongs, to be speak honestly as equals with the Palestinian leadership; a government which will understand that the Palestinian people deserve the same rights and the same opportunities as Jews. Equality and respect and a decent life are the only things which defeat all despair and halt radicalization. I want to conclude in a call to Jews and Arabs: In difficult times like these, let’s stride together towards a better future for all of us; a future based on the recognition that we are all equal as human beings and as citizens; a better future in which Palestinians will also enjoy self-determination within the ’67 borders. An authentic peace will bring prosperity. The governments of Israel have tried everything; only peace they have yet to try.

Yesterday, members of the Baltimore chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace interrupted a Yom Ha’Atzmaut party held at a downtown bar, denouncing it as a celebration of ethnic cleansing and confettiing it with educational flyers about the Nakba.

The “Israeli Independence Day” party was hosted by IMPACT and Charm City Tribe, organizations which program events for Jewish young adults in service of the agendas of the Associated and the JCC, their respective sponsoring institutions.

Grant Smith: How big is the Lobby and what does it do? An overview of the 501(c) universe. MP3

Seth Morrison: From the Jewish National Fund to Jewish Voice for Peace and BDS. MP3

Jeffrey Blankfort: The ADL: Covert action, censure, and courting law-enforcement

Jewish Voice for Peace Executive Director Rebecca Vilkomerson: “The controversy sparked by Prime Minister Netanyahu’s speech provides an important opportunity to highlight the real problem, the US/Israeli special relationship. Unprecedented financial and diplomatic support from the United States has long enabled Israel to defy international law and commit human rights abuses with impunity. It’s time for our elected officials to catch up with the increasing number of voters who believe that Israel’s policies of occupation, systemic discrimination, and incessant settlement building are the key barriers to peace.”

Yesterday the US Campaign—along with American Muslims for Palestine, Code Pink and Jewish Voice for Peace—flooded Members of Congress with thousands of letters and petition signatures from constituents like you calling on them to #SkipTheSpeech of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In 2005 when I did a lecture tour, Jewish Voice for Peace had seven chapters, Today they have more than forty chapters. They represent the future and the new generation of Jews in the US.

The BDS movement is not waiting for the politicians. Millions of people in Europe, in the US, in the rest of the world support us. Maybe compared to Israeli Jews, I’m still a minority, but overall, in the world, there is growing support. And it’s not against Jews and it’s not against Israelis. It’s for future mutual existence in this piece of land. And for the question of one state or two states — there is already one state. The only question is whether it will remain an apartheid state or if it will to be an equal place for everyone.

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I just got back from an astounding trip to South Africa where, among other things, I was privileged to meet Archbishop Desmond Tutu. I also spent quite a bit of time with members of the nascent group South African Jewish Voices for a Just Peace in Cape Town and Johannesburg–really fabulous people. Lately, for instance, they read out the names of children killed in Gaza at an action at Constitution Hill, an iconic historical site that symbolizes the destruction of apartheid and the rule of law.

„As members of the Atlanta chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace, we were extremely disturbed by the racist and dehumanizing Rosh HaShanah sermon delivered by Rabbi Shalom Lewis of Congregation Etz Chaim in Marietta, Georgia. We were also dismayed by the lack of response from the rest of the Jewish community after the sermon became public.

Because we believe strongly that people of conscience must speak out to challenge bigotry in all its forms, we decided to send letters to Atlanta area Rabbis, to the Atlanta Jewish Federation, and to the board of trustees of Congregation Etz Chaim calling on them to repudiate Rabbi Lewis’s sentiments and to take a stand against anti-Muslim and anti-Arab racism in their synagogues and organizations.“

(21. August) Jewish Voice for Peace Executive Director Rebecca Vilkomerson said: “Jewish communal leaders have lost touch with many American Jews, especially the younger generation. We are increasingly opposed to Israel’s occupation and the massive bombing of civilians trapped in Gaza, while they remain either silent or cheerlead illegal and immoral Israeli policies. That’s why we are going to Jewish leaders in every city to demand they show true ethical leadership and call for an end to the Israeli occupation.”

Today, a special with Henry Siegman, the former executive director of the American Jewish Congress, long described as one of the nation’s „big three“ Jewish organizations along with the American Jewish Committee and the Anti-Defamation League. Henry Siegman was born in 1930 in Frankfurt, Germany. Three years later, the Nazis came to power. After fleeing Nazi troops in Belgium, his family eventually moved to the United States. His father was a leader of the European Zionist movement, pushing for the creation of a Jewish state. In New York, Siegman studied and was ordained as an Orthodox rabbi by Yeshiva Torah Vodaas. He later became head of the Synagogue Council of America. After his time at the American Jewish Congress, Siegman became a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. He now serves as president of the U.S./Middle East Project.

This is an incredible speech about Jewish excommunication and the code of silence on criticizing Israel. On August 6, Arielle Klagsbrun went on to the dais at the St. Louis Central Reform Congregation with a delegation from the non-Zionist group Jewish Voice for Peace. She was introduced by Rabbi Susan Talve with generosity: “She really represents the next generation… that generation of young Jewish Americans who feel passionately about social justice.”

New York, NY (August 20, 2014)—A group of 30 members of Jewish Voice for Peace visited the UJA-Federation of New York offices on Wednesday to demand that the institutional Jewish leadership take a public stand for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the blockade of Gaza that makes life unbearable for Palestinian residents. Activists delivered a petition signed by over 30,000 concerned members and supporters of Jewish Voice for Peace calling on Federation President Jerry Silverman to make a public statement in support of ending the siege of Gaza.

Palestinian student in the U.S. describes Israel killing civilians, including his brothers, in Gaza. At Judson Memorial Church, Aug. 7, 2014, at behest of Jewish Voice for Peace

Prominent Jews and Palestinians and others stand for Palestine in this heartbreaking video with Jonathan Demme, Gloria Steinem, Tony Kushner, Diana Buttu, Chuck D, Eve Ensler, Brian Eno, Roger Waters, Mira Nair, Wallace Shawn, Naomi Klein, Mira Nair, Raj Patel, Noura Erakat and many others. To learn more or take action, visit freedom4palestine.org. Project of JewishVoiceforPeace.org with assistance from IMEU.org (Institute of Middle East Understanding)

Protests in response to Israel’s assault on Gaza have drawn hundreds — and in some cases thousands — around the world. On Tuesday, members of Jewish Voice for Peace and Jews Say No! occupied the New York City office of the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, a nonprofit group that raises money in the United States to send to the Israeli military. For about an hour, activists read the names of the more than 600 Palestinians killed and demanded the organization stop its fundraising for the military attacking Gaza. Nine were arrested when they refused to leave the premises. We get a video report from the protest.