Cry for Hope

We, the Pax Christi International community, write today to express our deep and abiding commitment to stand in solidarity with you, the faithful Christian communities of the Holy Land. We offer our hands and hearts in support of your struggle to achieve a just and lasting peace. And, of course, we pray that you continue to find strength and encouragement during these most difficult days.

At this critical moment, when the world’s attention is understandably consumed by the Covid-19 pandemic, we have not lost sight that you are facing another equally formidable challenge - the possibility of de jure annexation and the on-going military occupation (a de facto annexation) of Palestinian land and resources by Israel. We remain cognisant that the virus has put an enormous strain on your already struggling economy, shrinking what job opportunities existed and causing so many to have to rely on international aid. We know that both the devastating realities of the pandemic and the structural oppression of the occupation pose a dire threat to your well-being and lives.

We, the Rabbinic Council of Jewish Voice for Peace, stand in solidarity with the goals stated in The Cry of Hope released by Kairos Palestine. We see ourselves standing in a shared tradition of the core spiritual values of pursuing justice and seeking peace for all people, and especially the people of Palestine who live under Israeli occupation and subjugation. We stand in solidarity against the misuse of Scriptures to promote occupation and displacement of the Palestinian people and we stand in shared resistance to political policies that promote and institutionalize apartheid and racism. As rabbis who serve the Jewish community, we recognize our obligation to publicly oppose the violations of Palestinian human rights as recognized under international law, and to work toward equality, democracy and freedom for all people.

Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb for the Rabbinic Council of JVP

We write to you with great concern about Canada's silence regarding the plans of the current coalition government of Israel to propose a vote in the Knesset (likely July 1st) on annexing a significant part of the occupied Palestinian territories. These plans constitute a grave breach of Canadian and international law, specifically Article 147 of the IV Geneva Convention, prohibiting the appropriation of property. This silence of the Canadian government is puzzling in light of the recent vote at the UN affirming the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination, Canada’s policy position on Palestine-Israel, and its staunch support for the rule of law.

It is our commitment to the Creator, our love and the depth of our relationships with you—people, churches and communities in Palestine—that cause us to oppose the oppression of Palestinians. We strive to have Micah 6:8 govern our response “to seek justice, love kindness and walk humbly with our God.”

We are writing to you as faith leaders who are deeply concerned by the announcement of Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel that annexation of West Bank land could begin as early as July of this year. President Trump has endorsed annexation in his “Peace to Prosperity Proposal.” As recently as April, Secretary Pompeo has also greenlighted this announcement with his statement that annexation is an Israeli decision.

Greetings in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ! We write at a challenging time for us here in North America—and around the world. The struggle for racial justice in the U.S. has found new strength, tragically impelled by the horrific accounts of the unjustified treatment of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and Raychard Brooks leading to their deaths—evidence of the persistent and sustained racism that we deplore in the strongest terms. We are also in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to staggering numbers of infection and death in North America and around the world, while also revealing the gross inequalities and “pre-existing conditions” of poverty, discrimination, and oppression which result in greater vulnerability to the virus.