Hats off to Na’amod – British Jews against Occupation
JVL is pleased to pass on this report from Na’amod:
Last night @NaamodUK projected slogans at three symbolic locations to demand action on the Israeli government’s plans to annex parts of the West Bank and it’s ongoing occupation.
The projections, at the Foreign Office, the Board of Deputies and the Jewish National Fund (JNF), are part of Na’amod’s ongoing #ActionsNotWords campaign demanding that British Jewish institutions take action to oppose annexation.
We will be heard. The Occupation will end. Join Us!
Olivia Fletcher writes from Na’amod:
Why did we choose these locations?
- The JNF uses our tzedakah to support the occupation. They have kept silent as their counterpart in Israel attempts to displace a Palestinian family from their home, while celebrating the appointment of Tzipi Hotovely as Israeli ambassador and attacking the Black Lives Matter movement. We demand an end to this. Our charitable donations should not fund oppression.
- The Board of Deputies refuses to stand against annexation and occupation. It does not represent our community and we demand that they show moral leadership by opposing the occupation.
- Our presence at the Foreign Office is a message to wider British society, and to political leaders in Westminster, that British Jews oppose occupation and demand #ActionsNotWords – something the government has refused to commit to.
I’m tired of not being listened to by our community. I’m angry that the human rights of all Palestinians and Israelis aren’t on our communal institutions’ agendas. That’s why I’m glad that last night we got to put our demands on their front doors. British Jews must be listened to, and our demands must be met.
We’re not going to stop making these demands of our communal institutions until they end their support for the occupation. Last night proved that. But, we can’t ensure that Na’amod does more campaigning like this without your help. If you want to see our community end its support for the occupation as much as I do, here’s what you can do.
- Donate. Last night’s action wouldn’t have been possible without your financial support. If you want to help fund more of these actions, you can donate here.
- Share. We need our community to see what we did last night. You can generate change by sharing last night’s action on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, or by forwarding this email.
- Join us. If you’re a British Jew and love what we did, we want you to join us at an orientation so that our movement can grow in power. As a brand new Na’amodnik, I can vouch for how worthwhile this is!
The occupation is a moral crisis. I was proud that we made our community listen to our demands for ending support for it last night. It wouldn’t have been possible without your continued support.
Thank you,
Olivia
Bravo. I hope your action receives media attention.
Pity they didn’t project something on to Labour HQ too. Maybe then they would be embarrassed enough to make a statement about the Annexation. I do wonder what they would say though!!!
Your moral and intellectual courage shines through your actions. Beginning to hope again.
This excellent, well-targeted protest seems to have fallen below the radar. I don’t believe that British Jews make up “a community”, given how polarised we are.
Thank you!
I am not a Jew or a Palestinian but what I am is a person with humanity in my soul, I truly believe that the Palestinians deserve a land to call their own just as the Jews do.
The world MUST not allow this to happen, we MUST stand up against this and NEVER stop until the world does what is just and right.
SOLIDARITY
I look forward to seeing similar projections on the front of Tory, Labour and Liberal HQs, the Houses of Parliament… and on Keir Starmer’s front door.
Excellent initiative and statement. Much needed.
Well done, I will share this article far and wide, keep up the fight.
As a non-Jew, I support his 100%.
Stop the annexation
Terrific work, Na’amod . Keep it up.
Have you heard of the West Eastern Divan Orchestra, based in Andalusia, Spain. It was set up by Daniel Barenboim and Edward Said. It’s a truly remarkable enterprise where musicians from Palestine, Israel, Spain and Arab countries share their live of and skills in music and also share their own experiences back home. It’s often a painful process and the discussions are heated. The members of the orchestra are encouraged to be open and honest. They listen and learn. You can find more information on YouTube. We need such inspiring initiatives in this fractured world of ours.
Brilliant. It feels so good for British Jews to be standing up publicly for what is right
Well done NaamodUK.