Stop Home Demolitions in the West Bank
Tell Secretary of State Antony Blinken: U.S. Must Intervene
The Biden Administration must use all possible pathways to urge Israel to stop the demolitions of homes in the West Bank. A recent court ruling has allowed evictions and demolitions to move forward in Masafer Yatta in the southern West Bank, potentially displacing over 1,000 Palestinians, while demolitions continue in Al-Walaja on the boundary with Jerusalem and elsewhere — as they have for decades.
These demolitions destroy the lives of Palestinians, while doing nothing to make Israel safer. In addition to the unnecessary cruelty of evictions and the growth of settlements, demolitions expand and entrench occupation, making it even harder to achieve the just, negotiated agreement we all seek. The Biden administration must intervene before these actions forever shatter hopes for an independent Palestinian state alongside the State of Israel and the end of this conflict.
This intervention should begin with ensuring that Israel freeze all demolitions. Israel must also allow residents ample, necessary time to develop a zoning plan that will allow for the long-term stability, health, and safety of the residents by enabling them to receive permits to build on their lands.
When President Biden visits the region in the coming months, he should use the opportunity to push for an end to demolitions and settlement construction throughout the West Bank and East Jerusalem, in keeping with decades of U.S. policy.
Our foundational sacred texts insist we not turn away from injustice. The Torah warns, “You shall not render unjust decisions” (Leviticus 19:15). We are commanded to treat each person fairly, no matter their status in society.
Will you take action with us today to ensure a future where every person in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories — Jewish or non-Jewish — has the same basic rights?
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