Lest anyone believe that Jewish world opinion towards Israel’s rightist project to achieve a more nationalistic or extreme Zionist conception of Israel is singular, read below. A kind of rebellion among “Independent Jewish Voices” heard not only in Israel, but around the world is probably more common than is realized. It just doesn’t get the attention it deserves.
When it comes to human rights and social justice, no people, except perhaps Black people in America and other oppressed peoples around the world that momentarily come to mind, know those lessons better than Jewish people. The Holocaust will forever burn in our memories. While some Israelis may have gone astray and found themselves in powerful positions dictating a different, illiberal worldview, “some” is still a minority no matter how powerful and controlling it becomes. My impression is that we are now seeing the upsurge of liberal voices like these coming from Britain, speaking the truth about the Israeli-Palestinian conundrum. They are heard here in America as well. We hope that they keep speaking up. People who know the difference between right and wrong, the bringers of human rights and social justice, shall win in the end.
The text below was issued as a Press Release from Independent Jewish Voices on February 9, 2007
One hundred high-profile British Jews, wishing to state their independence from institutions in Britain which, claiming to represent all Jews,who support Israeli occupation and oppression of the Palestinian people, reject it.
We are a group of Jews in Britain from diverse backgrounds, occupations and affiliations who have in common a strong commitment to social justice and universal human rights. We come together in the belief that the broad spectrum of opinion among the Jewish population of this country is not reflected by those institutions which claim authority to represent the Jewish community as a whole. We further believe that individuals and groups within all communities should feel free to express their views on any issue of public concern without incurring accusations of disloyalty.
We have therefore resolved to promote the expression of alternative Jewish voices, particularly in respect of the grave situation in the Middle East, which threatens the future of both Israelis and Palestinians as well as the stability of the whole region. We are guided by the following principles:
- Human rights are universal and indivisible and should be upheld without exception. This is as applicable in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories as it is elsewhere.
- Palestinians and Israelis alike have the right to peaceful and secure lives.
- Peace and stability require the willingness of all parties to the conflict to comply with international law.
- There is no justification for any form of racism, including anti-Semitism, anti-Arab racism or Islamophobia, in any circumstance.
- The battle against anti-Semitism is vital and is undermined whenever opposition to Israeli government policies is automatically branded as anti-Semitic.
These principles are contradicted when those who claim to speak on behalf of Jews in Britain and other countries consistently put support for the policies of an occupying power above the human rights of an occupied people. The Palestinian inhabitants of the West Bank and Gaza Strip face appalling living conditions with desperately little hope for the future. We declare our support for a properly negotiated peace between the Israeli and Palestinian people and oppose any attempt by the Israeli government to impose its own solutions on the Palestinians.
It is imperative and urgent that independent Jewish voices find a coherent and consistent way of asserting themselves on these and other issues of concern. We hereby reclaim the tradition of Jewish support for universal freedoms, human rights and social justice. The lessons we have learned from our own history compel us to speak out. We therefore commit ourselves to make public our views on a continuing basis and invite other concerned Jews to join and support us.
The list of signatories available from the site is very impressive and includes Tony Kushner, Harold Pinter, and many other dignitaries.
Portions reprinted from the Electronic Intifada with permission:
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article6540.shtml
