Progressive Zionists of California stands against the mounting violence in Jerusalem. We call on Israeli, Palestinian, and global leadership to support measures and use language to de-escalate tensions before war breaks out.
To achieve this, Israeli leadership must rein in Jerusalem authorities and mete out consequences for avoidable failures in public policy and policing that have plagued this holy place on their watch. Palestinian leadership must choose to lower temperatures in their communities. Those of us living outside Israel must choose to condemn those pushing for violence, instead of toxic one-upmanship that paints either Israelis or Palestinians as being on the “wrong side” of this conflict.
Let us be clear: None of this violence was inevitable and future violence is not inevitable. It was and remains a choice. This includes Hamas’s indiscriminate rocket attacks on civilians, which constitute a war crime against Israelis. This includes the violence that Jewish extremists perpetuate against Palestinians in Jerusalem.
This violence is caused by deference to Israeli and Palestinian terrorists: Jewish extremists who praise convicted terrorist Meir Kahane, and Palestinians who waive Hamas flags and chant to bomb Tel Aviv. Israelis are giving Jewish terrorism a free pass when the Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem publicly walks city streets with the racist, neo-Kahanist Itamar Ben Gvir.
Words and actions matter. Tensions have risen further because of the dehumanizing rhetoric of right-wing settlers in Sheikh Jarrah, the unjust evictions of Palestinian families, and the escalations at Damascus Gate around access to the Temple Mount/Al-Aqsa Mosque.
It is encouraging that the Israeli High Court delayed its final rulings on the property dispute in Sheikh Jarrah. We hope a new agreement can be negotiated that allows these families to stay in their homes. Jerusalem must be a city for all.
We are inspired by the grassroots peace organizing among Israeli Arabs, Palestinians, and Israeli Jews. There are countless organizations on the ground seeking tolerance and peace against the actions of their governments. We must lift up their voices.
We pray that leaders in all sectors of Israeli and Palestinan society decide to reject division and violence. We pray for justice and peace.
About Progressive Zionists of California
Progressive Zionists of California (PZC) is a grassroots collective of activists and California Democratic Party leaders dedicated to reshaping the discourse around Zionism and antisemitism in California Democratic politics. PZC educates activists about antisemitism and intersectional Zionism with a firm commitment to Palestinian statehood. Our constituents advocate for pragmatic progressive platforms, resolutions, and legislation around domestic and Israel-related issues.
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