11/20/12

Jews for a Just Peace NC co-sponsor Vigil Against Israel’s brutal attacks in Gaza

Members of Jews for a Just Peace participated in demonstrations in Durham opposing the attacks on civilians in Gaza, U.S. military aid to Israel, and the occupation.

A coalition of Triangle groups will hold a silent candle-light vigil tonight, Monday November 19 at 7 pm in Durham at Brightleaf Square, at the intersection of Main and Gregson Streets, to protest the latest Israeli attack on Gaza and the ongoing US military aid enabling Israel to continue its illegal and immoral military, economic and propaganda aggression on the Palestinian people.

There has been excellent news coverage of the event: NBC-TV, WTVD.

Jews for a Just Peace NC members have been actively supporting the Church of the Reconciliation's bus ads featuring our friend, ICAHD's Jeff Halper, and questioning U.S. military aid to Israel.

.Read the church's press release.

We sent this letter to the Chapel Hill Town Council.

Dear Mayor Kleinschmidt and Chapel Hill Town Council Members,

We are Chapel Hill, Durham, and Raleigh members of Jews for a Just Peace, NC. We contributed financial support for the thoughtful ad sponsored by the Church of Reconciliation and displayed on Chapel Hill buses. The ad features an Israeli and a Palestinian saying “Join with us. Build peace with justice and equality. End U.S. military aid to Israel.” We support the ad’s message, and feel strongly that criticism of US policies is not unpatriotic, as criticism of Israeli policies is not anti-semitic. Yet others want all political ads banned because this one “offends our Jewish citizens” or is “divisive and emotionally charged material.” The answer to those concerns is not to violate our First Amendment rights by banning all political ads from buses – rather we should be encouraging more speech on matters of public concern. This is how we grow and thrive as a community, one that rightly values its commitment to diversity and open dialogue. This type of ad helps do exactly that: it takes the reader from place A to B intellectually, just as the buses do physically.

Thank you for your attention,
Signed by members of JFAJP-NC

Who we are

In late 2001, twenty-five North Carolina Jews from Durham, Raleigh, Chapel Hill, and Carrboro came together to discuss their frustration, anger and fear regarding the continuing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Those present at the meeting decided that a new organization was needed in the Research Triangle in order to actively oppose the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, and to work, as Jews, for a just resolution of the conflict.

Since that time, we have both sponsored a variety of forums and events and collaborated and provided support to other organizations that are concerned about these issues.

JFAJP-NC Mission Statement

As American Jews we are deeply committed to a peaceful and just resolution to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, a resolution that will provide safety, security and freedom for Jews and Palestinians and all others living in the region. We believe that such a peace can only be achieved when Israel withdraws from its settlements, ends the occupation of the Palestinian territories and addresses the legitimate national and human rights of the Palestinian people.

We do not accept that Jewish survival depends upon unconditional support for the Israeli government and its policies; rather, we believe that the future safety and survival of our people rests on our ability to live in peace with our neighbors and to work to ensure justice and security for all people.

More information

In the past, we have attempted to maintain links to organizations and websites that provide information about Israeli-Palestinian issues. However, rather than duplicate work that others do better, we refer you to the American Jews for a Just Peace website, The organization was founded in 2008 in Boston and they maintain excellent bibliography and weblinks pages.

We also recommend MERIP's (Middle East Research and Information Project) Primer (pdf or html) for those who want a well-researched history of the conflict, although it only covers through 2000.