Tell Congress to Stop West Bank Annexation

Tell Congress: US taxpayers must not be complicit in annexation! Palestinians living in the Holy Land face daily injustices and discrimination under the Israeli occupation. Now through newly proposed annexation plans Palestinians face an even more dire situation. On May 28, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel is committed to begin annexation of parts of the West Bank starting in July, in violation of international law and against the urging of the international community. Netanyahu stated that Palestinians living in these areas will not receive Israeli citizenship nor equal rights after the region is annexed by Israel. According to UN human rights experts, annexation, “the acquisition of territory by war or force,” is “inadmissible.” By preventing the creation of a Palestinian state, annexation would institutionalize an undemocratic system in which Israel would rule permanently over a Palestinian people denied self-determination and equal rights. It would have serious consequences for the stability of the region, putting a negotiated peace even further out of reach. Annexation would entrench the continued denial of Palestinian self-determination, human rights, and dignity. Church leaders around the world have joined the global call for justice. On July 1, Kairos Palestine and Global Kairos for Justice, a broad network of allies including Palestinian Christians and Christians worldwide, issued an urgent call to end the oppression of the Palestinian people. “Cry for Hope: A Call for Decisive Action” makes the case that, as Israel announces its annexation plans, a critical point has been reached in the struggle to end the oppression of Palestinians. Rifat Kassis, General Coordinator of Kairos Palestine, determined that “The Body of Christ can no longer stand by as world leaders and the international community trample on the rights of Palestinians to dignity, justice and self-determination under international law. The integrity of the Christian faith itself is at stake.” As Christians in the United States, it is critical that we tell Congress to use its power of the purse to stop Israel’s annexation. Israel currently receives more U.S. foreign aid than any other nation – $3.8 billion a year. U.S. security assistance should not be used to implement actions that will undermine Israel’s democracy, trample Palestinian rights, and harm U.S. interests. Our government should help facilitate an end to the conflict that will result in full equality and human rights for Israelis and Palestinians. On July 2, 12 Senators led by Chris Van Hollen introduced an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act to stipulate that U.S. security assistance cannot be used to implement unilateral annexation in the West Bank. Taxpayers should not be complicit in Israel’s human rights violations by footing the bill for annexation. Tell Congress to support the Van Hollen Amendment! Urge your members of Congress to join Senator Chris Van Hollen and his colleagues in standing up for international law and democracy, by preventing US aid to Israel to fund West Bank annexation.  Click the link below to log in and send your message: https://www.votervoice.net/BroadcastLinks/14onjgrTPyeGUTsoOnD4xQ