WASHINGTON, 25 May — Almost everyone knows of the imposing list of American Jewish leaders speaking out against the Bush administration efforts to pressure Israel’s Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to resume the peace talks. Not least among them include Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel, Harvard University law school professor Alan Dershowitz, Anti-Defamation League national director Abraham Foxman, and real estate magnate and media baron and head of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, Mortimer Zuckerman.
What one rarely reads about, however, are the organizations that emphatically oppose the Israeli occupation. For example, the newest national American Jewish organization, Brit Tzedek v’Shalom, or the “Covenant for Justice and Peace,” calls itself a “pro-Israel, anti-occupation organization.” Its co-founders are Claire Clingburg, editor of the national journal, Bridges, and Marsha Freedman, former member of the Israeli Knesset.
“We are representing the unheard voice in the (American) Jewish community,” said Marcia Freedman, now a member of the Meretz Party in Israel. “Brit Tzedek does not support the policies of the current Israeli government ... and believes lots of Jews think this way.”
Brit Tzedek is based on what it calls its seven founding principles. These include: A complete end to the Israeli military occupation of the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem with border adjustments agreeable to both parties along with the establishment of a viable Palestinian state based on the pre-1967 borders with Jerusalem as the capital of both states; a just resolution of the Palestinian refugee problem that takes into account the needs and aspirations of both peoples and acknowledges Israel’s share of responsibility for the plight of Palestinian refugees while respecting the special relationship between the State of Israel and the Jewish people; bringing home safely to Israel the settlers from all existing settlements except those in areas that will be included in an exchange of territories in determining final borders, and the termination of both Israeli state-initiated violence and terrorism for achieving political goals.
Brit Tzedek is only one of several national Jewish organizations in America protesting Israel’s Palestinian policies.
“We’re doing what we feel will help Israel wean itself off of its self-destructive path,” said Joshua Ruebner, co-founder of the Washington, DC-based Jews for Peace in Palestine and Israel, or JPPI.
“It’s not important which organization carries out the work, what is important is that there should be an effective, national, Jewish organization committed to helping establish a just peace between Israel and Palestine.”
Ruebner said the real success of these groups is by working with everyone who wants a fair and just peace in the Middle East.
“We are working closely with many Arab and Muslim organizations. It is very important show decision-makers in this country that there can be common ground between Jewish, Arab and Muslim communities regarding the best way to achieve a just peace in the Middle East,” said Ruebner.
“Our organization is very encouraged by the diplomatic efforts undertaken by Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah, we think that his initiatives represent a huge step forward towards solving the Arab-Israeli conflicts in a peaceful way,” said Ruebner.
“We are also very appreciative of behind-the-scenes efforts of Saudi Arabia to reign in acts of terrorism committed against Israeli civilians.”
Freedman, who now divides her time between Berkeley, Calif., and Israel, said these groups’ principles are not controversial. They were proposed by President Bill Clinton, she said, and accepted by the two sides during the Taba talks. (Those talks, which took place a few months after the Camp David negotiations in late 2000 and early 2001, did not lead to an agreement.)
Brit Tzedek organizers say a significant segment of the Jewish community supports its position. According to recent US polls, they note, about two-thirds of Jews favor a “two-state solution” for Israel and the Palestinians.
Brit Tzedek member Deborah Hyams says that while she does not condone suicide bombings, she personally believes they “are in response to the occupation.”
