Brit Tzedek v'Shalom, the Jewish Alliance For Justice and Peace, is the largest American Jewish grassroots organization dedicated to promoting a negotiated two-state solution of the Isreali-Palestinian conflict. For Brit Tzedek, this means advocating for a U.S. foreign policy which supports Israel, the Palestinians, and the Arab states in making difficult compromises that are needed for a negotiated solution. Through on-line activism, national and local educational seminars, and local advocacy from chapters in many U.S. cities, Brit Tzedek seeks to educate and organize the American Jewish community for Israel's long term interest in peace.
On March 28th, Brit Tzedek v'Shalom released an action alert requesting its members contact Secretary of State Hillary Clinton regarding the need for strict enforcement of a freeze on West Bank settlement expansion.
Brit Tzedek has been very supportive of the Secretary's statements, made during her recent Mid East visit, arguing for the end of food aid restrictions into the Gaza Strip, as well as offering strong objections to the demolition of homes in East Jerusalem. They believe that the continued expansion of settlements creates serious challenges to the two-state solution.
According to Karin Laub of the AP, this February, the Israeli government took control of a large amount of land near the West Bank settlement of Efrat. Located south of Jerusalem, Efrat is situated in one of three major settlement blocs that Israel expects to hold in any final peace deal. The mayor of Efrat, Oded Revivi stated that the Israeli military designated 172 hectacres (425 acres) near Efrat as state-land following a long appeals process by Palestinian landowners. According to the Mayor, 2,500 homes will be built on the land, but several steps of government approval, which could take years, would still be needed before construction begins. Eventually, he feels that Efrat would grow to a city of 30,000 people.
In early March, Peace Now issued areport documenting the Israeli Ministry of Construction and Housing approval of 15,000 housing units and the plan for an additional 58,000 units. The information for this report was found by examination of the Israeli government website that contains maps and information from the Ministry of Housing. 17,000 units are planned outside existing settlements in the Gush Etzion area, and 19,000 units are planned in settlements that are beyond the constructed path of the Separation Fence. If the plan is realized, the number of settlers in the Occupied Territories will be doubled with an approximate addition of 300,000 people.
According to a Jerusalem Post article from March 22nd, Defense Minister Ehud Barak notified the Isreali High Court of Justice that he would not order residents of nine buildings in the settlement of Ofra, which were registered in the names of Palestinians and built on Palestinian land, to evacuate. Also, he stated that the houses will not, presently, be cut off from water, electricity, and sewage services. Minister Barak mentioned that he is following an injunction by the High Court in June 2008 that instructs the state not to populate the buildings or make any use of them. However, he added that the injunction did not instruct the state to evacuate buildings that were already occupied before the injunction was issued, and it did not contain instructions to disconnect the houses from electicity, water, or other services. A follow-up article, from March 25th, notes that the High Court rejected Minister Barak's position, criticized settlers for trying to create new facts on the ground, and has given the state 60 days to explain why it won't evacuate these settlers.
On March 25th, it was reported in Haaretz that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu struck a deal with Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman for construction on West Bank land known as E1. A source close to the negotiations told Army Radio that the plan was agreed upon even though it did not appear in the official document detailing the coalition between Likud and Yisrael Beiteinu. The plan is for the West Bank settlement of Ma'aleh Adumim to build 3,000 new housing units on the territory and create contiguity between the settlement and Jerusalem. This action, which has been opposed by several U.S. Administrations, would prevent Palestinian construction between East Jerusalem and Ramallah, as well as make it difficult to reach an agreement on the question of permanent borders.
In addition to Brit Tzedek v'Shalom, the problem of the settlements as a barrier to peace and a request for their freeze has been recently discussed by Americans For Peace Now, American Task Force On Palestine, The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, J Street, Churches For Middle East Peace, and The Carter Center. Even strong pro-Israel Congressional Members, Gary Ackerman (NY-05) and Robert Wexler (FL-19), publicly discussed the problems of settlements during a February 2009 Subcommitee on the Middle East and South Asia Hearing on Gaza. While not the only major issue, the leadership of Brit Tzedek realizes that the Obama Admininstration must take immediate and decisive action with the new Israeli government to freeze settlement growth in order to move the peace process forward.
To help support Brit Tzedek v'Shalom, please consider:
- Signing their letter to Secretary Clinton asking her to advocate for a complete settlement freeze in the West Bank.
- Joining or starting a local chapter to help grow the organization, educate others, and lobby Legislators.
- Signing up for weekly updates concerning recent issues, events, and action alerts.
- Becoming a dues-paying member in order to support their work.
- Contacting the Chicago or Washington Staff with any constructive or supportive comments regarding this campaign, as well as any questions regarding their work.
Hat Tip to Deepa Domansky and Sue Swartz at BTvS