Media Roundup: “Palestine calls us to affirm our morality and our solidarity.”

As the Israeli government digs even deeper into its genocidal plan, so too does our organizing to oppose these horrors grow and deepen. Across the country, JVP members are making the case for an end to Zionism in national outlets and local papers. We’re organizing relentlessly to demand divestment from the Israeli state, to defend Gaza solidarity encampments, to call for an end to all U.S. weapons to Israel, and to move our communities into a Judaism against, and beyond, Zionism.

Drawing the link between those struggling in our own communities and the billions that the U.S. government is sending to arm Israel’s genocide, JVP members are living out the principle of solidarity, recognizing that our fates are truly tied up together. We demand an end to U.S. arms to Israel — because we know that the lives of Palestinians and a safe future for all of us demands this.

Holy Land, Holy Life, the Seventh Wave, June 5, 2024.

“Growing up, I was taught the most Jewish thing you can do is to ask questions, to think critically and deeply, and to speak out against injustices. To that end, it is in honor of my Jewish heritage — not in spite of it — that I support Palestinian life.”

Kayla Blau, JVP-Seattle 

My Father and the Withering of Liberal Zionism, NY Mag, June 27, 2024.

“The only way I could honestly say those words this year was while I was literally carrying food provisions toward the Gaza border.”

Rabbi Brant Rosen, JVP Rabbinical Council

Lessons From Pitzer’s Gaza Solidarity Encampment, Yes Magazine, June 13, 2024.

“Suddenly I was surrounded by people discussing books from the encampment library and sharing food, family histories, and visions of a freer world. We made decisions and led the encampment as a community, guided by a shared commitment to embodying the social justice values we learned in the classroom.”

Bella Jacobs, JVP-Claremont

Providence councilors propose Israel divestment, prompting condemnation from some Jewish groups,

“As Jewish, Providence residents dedicated to our deeply held Jewish value of tikkun olam, or ‘repairing the world,’ we believe that our city government should focus on making sure our communities can thrive here locally — not invest in foreign genocide and war.”

Zack Kligler, JVP-Rhode Island

200 Jewish Americans Lobby Lawmakers to Stop Arming Israel, Al Jazeera English.

“I am a rabbi calling on my elected officials to stop arming the Israeli military as it wages a genocidal campaign in Gaza. The Jewish tradition teaches us the most holy commandment is pikuach nefesh – saving a life – and I am calling on my representatives to do all that they can to save lives now.”

Lonnie Kleinman, JVP-Philadelphia

Thousands Form “Red Line” Around White House to Demand End to Gaza Genocide, Truthout, June 9, 2024.

“Jewish Voice for Peace and the Jewish Contingent joined thousands of people today to form a red line around the White House. We demand an immediate end to the genocide in Gaza. Stop arming Israel!”

JVP-DC Metro

‘Allow me to share a story that touched me deeply’ — Harry Soloway on Palestinian resistance, Mondoweiss, June 9, 2024.

“As with all justice movements past and present, Palestine calls us to affirm our morality, our humanity, and our solidarity.”

Harry Soloway, JVP-Westchester

Bipartisanship or Republican meddling? AIPAC is biggest source of GOP donations in Dem primaries, Politico, June 9, 2024.

“’AIPAC can’t actually claim that they represent Democrats and Republicans in the same way. That veneer of bipartisanship is gone.’”

Beth Miller, Political Director, JVP Action

Inside the UCLA Palestine Encampment, Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, June 8, 2024.

“Benjamin Kersten, an organizer with Jewish Voice for Peace at UCLA, said students will keep pressure on the university until it makes meaningful commitments to divest from companies such as BlackRock, an investment firm that has ties to Israeli weapons manufacturing.”

24-hour demonstration for Palestine sets up in downtown Northampton, Mass Live, June 8, 2024.

“We are absolutely horrified that the United States government continues to fund and really encourage this genocide. We are calling for a full arms embargo, no more money to Israel.”

Molly Aronson, JVP-Western Mass

Activists form ‘red line’ around White House decrying Israel’s Rafah invasion, the New Arab, June 9, 2024.

“As a Jewish person, I was raised on the concept of pikuach nefesh [in Hebrew], the importance of all life, the saving of all life. Life being sacred, all life being sacred, is to me a central motivator for us as Jews coming out.”

Scout Bratt, JVP-Chicago 

Report: AIPAC Is Funneling GOP Donor Money Into Democratic Primaries, Truthout, June 10, 2024.

“AIPAC is using this issue as a way to attract Republican dollars, to then try to oust to a broader progressive agenda as well.”

Beth Miller, Political Director, JVP Action

Jewish Voice for Peace: Judaism and Zionism are not synonymous, Brattleboro Reformer, June 17, 2024.

“We choose to fight to stop the horrors of genocide from happening again to anyone and that is why we will continue to organize, march, and take action as Jews in support of Palestinian liberation.”

JVP-Vermont/New Hampshire

President Biden attends star-studded, high-dollar fundraiser in downtown LA, ABC 7, June 16, 2024.

“We call on the United States to impose an arms embargo on U.S. weapons sales to Israel immediately and end the ongoing genocide against Palestinians.”

JVP-Los Angeles

JVP Activists Disrupt Crucial Biden Fundraiser In Hollywood, the Real News, June 17, 2024.

“President Biden has overseen the transfer of billions of dollars in military aid to the Israeli government… and he has done so and others have done so by claiming that support for Israel is synonymous with support for Jewish safety.  Many of us know as Jews that our safety actually comes from solidarity, and not from state violence and militarism, and we have a political and moral obligation to [stand against] the actions that Israel has taken against Palestinians.”

Benjamin Kersten, JVP-UCLA

Jewish Voice for Peace teach-in backs calls for cease-fire, embargo, Daily Hampshire Gazette, June 14, 2024.

“Our message right now is very clear, and it’s to stop arming Israel.”

Molly Aaronson, JVP-Western Mass

The Crackdown on Campus Protests is Just Beginning, In These Times, June 20, 2024.

“At least a dozen colleges and universities have changed their policies to make it harder to protest the war on Gaza.”

Providence must divest city funds from the Israelis, the Providence Journal, June 23, 2024.

“If our leaders truly love and support Jews, and believe in freedom for all people, they will join us. Join us in holding the Israeli government accountable for its crimes, in showing Palestinian and Muslim neighbors that our city belongs to us all, in protecting Providence’s financial future and creating a model for cities across the country to align their investments with their values.”

Zack Klingler, JVP-Providence

Expensive New York primary race between Jamaal Bowman and George Latimer marks schism in Democratic Party, ABC News, June 25, 2024.

“The Jewish community is not a monolith. And that’s true nationally, and it’s true in the district, as well and no one can really claim to speak for the entire Jewish community.”

Beth Miller, Political Director, Jewish Voice for Peace Action

Progressives on AIPAC’s Defeat of Bowman: “Now We Know How Much It Costs To Buy An Election”, the Intercept, June 26, 2024.

“Congressman Bowman’s progressive platform — which includes defending Palestinian rights and halting weapons to the Israeli military — is popular among Democratic voters.”

Beth Miller, Political Director, Jewish Voice for Peace Action

Bryn Mawr College trustees to meet with students to address investments following a semester of pro-Palestinian protests, Philadelphia Inquirer, June 27, 2024.

“We’re fairly disappointed that the most we could get our school to commit to was a conversation. That feels like extremely bare minimum to us.”

Elez Beresin, JVP-Bryn Mawr College