Amidst another week of deadly
Israeli-Palestinian violence, fifteen faith leaders representing U.S. churches
and faith organizations have called on Congress to condition U.S. military aid
to Israel upon Israel’s “compliance with applicable U.S. laws and policies.”
These leaders--representing Baptist, Lutheran, Catholic, Presbyterian,
Methodist, Orthodox, Quaker and other major Christian groups--agree that
unconditional U.S. military assistance to Israel has contributed to “sustaining
the conflict and undermining the long-term security interests of both Israelis
and Palestinians.” [SEE LETTER BELOW]
As a Quaker peace lobby that has
advocated for Israeli-Palestinian peace for decades in Washington, the Friends
Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) is proud to be a partner in this
effort.
These organizations draw upon
their decades of experience in the region, during which they have collectively
witnessed the horror of suicide bombing, rocket attacks, shootings of
civilians, home demolitions, forced displacement, and other widespread human
rights violations. These faith groups “recognize that each party —
Israeli and Palestinian — bears responsibilities for its actions and we
therefore continue to stand against all violence regardless of its source.”
Unconditional U.S. military aid
has become one of those sources fueling violence and further entrenchment of
Israel’s military occupation of the Palestinian territories. This statement
highlights the United States’ responsibility to hold Israel accountable for “a
troubling and consistent pattern of disregard by the government of Israel for
U.S. policies that support a just and lasting peace.”