This is not enough – now is the time to build towards Palestinian freedom

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Sonya E Meyerson-Knox | [email protected] | 929-290-0317

As Palestinians welcome a ceasefire in the violence and destruction inflicted on them by Israel, we join with them in saying: “This is not enough.”  

In the past two weeks we have been horrified by the Israeli government’s brutal assault on Palestinians in Gaza: annihilating whole families, destroying homes, hospitals, schools and libraries, wounding many thousands, and displacing nearly 100,000. We grieve for these unthinkable Palestinian losses and for all lives lost—Palestinian and Israeli. The ceasefire may end this current Israeli government massacre of Palestinians in Gaza, but it will not create safety. It does nothing to end the source of violence: 73 years of ongoing Israeli domination and dispossession of Palestinians. 

A ceasefire does not end the illegal blockade against Gaza, stop Israel’s ongoing theft of Palestinian land, or abate the Israeli government’s violent oppression of the Palestinian people everywhere. We cannot and will not go back to the status quo of Israeli apartheid and colonialism—all enabled by the Israeli government, and funded by our U.S. government. 

Now is not the time to look away. Now is the time to build on the momentum for freedom created by Palestinians across Palestine/Israel and throughout the diaspora. Now is the time to bring everything we have to the struggle for Palestinian liberation and a future of equality, freedom and safety for all people. 

JVP staff are available to speak with the media

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Jewish Voice for Peace is a national, grassroots organization inspired by Jewish tradition to work for a just and lasting peace according to principles of human rights, equality, and international law for all the people of Israel and Palestine. JVP has over 500,000 online supporters, over 70 chapters and 15 student chapters, a Rabbinic Council, an Artist Council, an Academic Advisory Council, and an Advisory Board made up of leading U.S. intellectuals and artists.