13 Sep, 2017
Jewish Rabbi slags Israel for travel curbs on activists, Palestinians
A female Jewish rabbi has rebuked the Jewish state of Israel for barring inbound travel by pro-Palestinian activists, including herself, as well as for blocking travel in and out of occupied Palestine in general. In a Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur message to global members of the pro-Palestinian group Jewish Voice for Peace, its Deputy Director Rabbi Alissa Wise said, “Attacks on Palestinians and Palestine solidarity activists are on the rise globally, from right-wing Zionist organizations, the Israeli government, and the U.S. government— on the state, federal, and local levels.”
She noted, “In July, myself and four colleagues from the Interfaith Network for Justice in Palestine (INJIP) were prevented by the Israeli government from boarding a plane to Tel Aviv, where I was scheduled to be part of a historic delegation of interfaith partners seeking justice for all people in Israel/Palestine. This was the first time, to our knowledge, that Israel’s new law banning BDS supporters from entering the country was applied to Jews — and from what we’ve gleaned, leaders in Jewish Voice for Peace were specifically targeted.
“This marked a major escalation by the Israeli government in their ongoing, well-funded drive to squash all opposition to their human rights abuses against Palestinians. That’s the story they have been writing for decades.
“Refusing people entry into Israel and Israeli-controlled territory is nothing new. Literally millions of Palestinians from all over the world are refused this basic right — etched in international law — simply for being Palestinian.
“Our opponents are targeting Jewish, Muslim, and Christian leaders who stand with Palestinians because the work we’re doing together is scaring them to their core. But if we want to continue to be effective, we’re going to have to be stronger than ever to face these attacks with equanimity and determination.”
Rabbi Wise’s message accuses Israel, a so-called “democracy”, of “McCarthyite tactics … specifically designed to surveil, scare, and legislate our movement and movement leaders out of business.”
The full text of her message, and appeal for support to continue the resistance, is included below. As the Israeli occupation of Palestine is widely known to be a root cause of global conflict, terrorism and geopolitical instability in the Middle East and many other parts of the world, it is in the interests of the travel & tourism industry to join these activists and help the Palestinians win the freedom, independence and statehood they deserve.
Dear Friend,
Preparing for the High Holy Days, my four-year-old daughter asked me: “Purim has a story about the brave Queen Esther, Hanukkah is about the candles lasting, what is the story of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur?” And I told her: the story of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur is the one that you write. About your past year, your mistakes and your victories, and your dreams and intentions for the year ahead: for yourself, your relationships, and our world.
There is no doubt in my mind that the most significant events of the last year were the victories for those who seek to maintain the status quo of oppression and injustice, in the United States and in Israel. It’s a hard reality to confront.
And in our corner of the resistance, attacks on Palestinians and Palestine solidarity activists are on the rise globally, from right-wing Zionist organizations, the Israeli government, and the U.S. government— on the state, federal, and local levels.
In July, myself and four colleagues from the Interfaith Network for Justice in Palestine (INJIP) were prevented by the Israeli government from boarding a plane to Tel Aviv, where I was scheduled to be part of a historic delegation of interfaith partners seeking justice for all people in Israel/Palestine. This was the first time, to our knowledge, that Israel’s new law banning BDS supporters from entering the country was applied to Jews— and from what we’ve gleaned, leaders in Jewish Voice for Peace were specifically targeted.
This marked a major escalation by the Israeli government in their ongoing, well-funded drive to squash all opposition to their human rights abuses against Palestinians. That’s the story they have been writing for decades.
Refusing people entry into Israel and Israeli-controlled territory is nothing new. Literally millions of Palestinians from all over the world are refused this basic right — etched in international law — simply for being Palestinian.
Our opponents are targeting Jewish, Muslim, and Christian leaders who stand with Palestinians because the work we’re doing together is scaring them to their core. But if we want to continue to be effective, we’re going to have to be stronger than ever to face these attacks with equanimity and determination.
My colleagues from INJIP and I are not the only Palestine solidarity activists to be targeted recently, either: In May, our Executive Director Rebecca Vilkomerson and Hatem Bazian, Board Chair of American Muslims for Palestine, found flyers with their pictures on them, calling them supporters of terror, distributed all over blocks where they live. Activists are routinely harassed online by shadowy anonymous groups like Canary Mission and OutlawBDS Project. Not to mention the rash of unconstitutional proposed legislation at both the state and federal level intended to criminalize Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions.
These McCarthyite tactics are specifically designed to surveil, scare, and legislate our movement and movement leaders out of business. But we have a different story we want to write: one of purpose. Here’s what we’re going to do:
We are going to keep the focus where it belongs: the ongoing denial of Palestinian human rights. Part of what these attacks are designed to do is distract and disorganize us — but what we have to do is stay focused on what we know are the core problems: human rights violations, racism, dispossession, siege, and occupation.
We are going to invest in our digital and physical security. We are obviously being monitored. We don’t have to be scared, but we have to be realistic, smart, and pro-active about continuing to grow our work, with that fact as part of our political context.
We aren’t going to back down. Ultimately, this is a predictable part of what growing stronger looks like. As the saying goes, “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.” They’re fighting us now. What comes next is up to us.
Our story in 5778 is as yet unwritten. I hope we can count on you to help us write it.
May you and yours be inscribed in the book of life for goodness, for health and for justice.
Alissa
Rabbi Alissa Wise
Deputy Director
Jewish Voice for Peace is a national membership organization inspired by Jewish tradition to work for the freedom, equality, and dignity of all the people of Israel and Palestine. Become a JVP Member today.
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