Defund Israel's Abuses, Re-fund Services for Palestine

I write to you today with the hope that you and your loved ones are safe and healthy during this time of uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While this crisis is raging, our tax dollars continue to fuel Israel’s human rights abuses, including the incarceration of Palestinian children and the demolition of Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank. 

Not only that -- in 2018, the Trump administration terminated all life-saving humanitarian assistance to Palestinians, including ending the nearly 70-year relationship with the UN agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA. The rationale was political and not based on any discernible humanitarian reason. 

Take action now: Tell Congress to defund Israel’s human rights abuses and re-fund life-saving programs for Palestinians during the COVID-19 pandemic! The Palestinian people need our solidarity now more than ever as they weather this coronavirus storm while also surviving cruel Israeli oppression.

Palestinian children should never be detained in Israeli military prisons, let alone during a global pandemic. Palestinian homes should never be demolished, let alone during this public health crisis. Humanitarian aid to agencies like UNRWA should never be suspended, let alone during the age of the deadly coronavirus! 

It is unconscionable that the US government would choose to spend our taxpayer dollars this way, but we have the power to change the current course of action, and the tide is turning. 

While the leadership in Congress is discussing stimulus packages and appropriating next year’s budget, many members of Congress have requested that UNRWA funding be restored. At the same time, dozens of members of Congress have requested that no US dollars should be used for the detention of Palestinian children or the demolition of Palestinian homes. 

These Congressional initiatives would not have happened without our critical interventions, but we have more more work to do. Please take a minute to contact your Member of Congress now.

While we are maintaining social distance, let’s remain together in solidarity with each other and with the Palestinian people. 

Thanks for taking action,

Raed Jarrar
Advocacy Director