Quakers have a long tradition of working alongside Jewish, Arab, and other communities to oppose violence and support peace. FCNL strives to play a similar peacebuilding role in our lobbying in Washington, D.C.
We urge the United States to press for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, full humanitarian access, an end to U.S. military complicity in human rights abuses against Palestinians, and to work diplomatically to resolve the long-standing conflicts that affect the security and well-being of both Israelis and Palestinians.
Where are we now?
Following the devastating assaults by Hamas in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, claiming the lives of over 1,200 Israelis and capturing more than 230 hostages, Israel has responded with a violent military campaign and extensive blockade. This has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of Palestinians, with more than half being women and children, plunging Gaza into a humanitarian catastrophe. Conditions of famine, disease outbreaks, and a severe shortage of medical supplies continue to exacerbate an already devastating reality for over 2 million Palestinians in Gaza. In the West Bank, Israeli settler violence has surged as Palestinians and their villages continue to be attacked on an almost daily basis without consequence by the Israeli police or military.
The war in Gaza has heightened the risk of a wider regional war and increased U.S. entanglement in Middle Eastern conflicts. This includes clashes between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, retaliatory strikes between Israel and Iran, Houthi attacks on ships bound for Israel in the Red Sea, and Iranian-backed militias targeting U.S. bases in Syria and Iraq.
Throughout the war, the United States has provided Israel with billions of dollars in military aid and weapons, raising serious concerns about the potential use of U.S. weapons in alleged war crimes. Furthermore, the United States has halted funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which is the backbone of humanitarian operations in Gaza, while providing basic health and education services for 5.6 million Palestinian refugees living across the Middle East.
Opportunities for change
The U.S. government must lead with diplomacy to halt the war in Gaza and back initiatives that offer Palestinians and Israelis a viable route to peace, security, human rights, and sovereignty. This includes halting weapon shipments and military assistance to Israel and ensuring robust humanitarian access. The U.S. must leverage its influence to urge the Israeli government to end the war in Gaza and end the ongoing occupation and policies that result in the systematic oppression of Palestinians.
The U.S. must leverage its influence to urge the Israeli government to end the war in Gaza and end the ongoing occupation and policies that result in the systematic oppression of Palestinians.
The United States government should also contribute ample funding to sustain UNRWA programming Without UNRWA, millions of Palestinians would face even more desperate conditions than they already face amid conditions of famine, lack of basic healthcare, and emergency services.
The United States must remain committed to long-term peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
The United States should prohibit aid to Israel from being used for annexation of the West Bank. The prospect of unilateral annexation would not only contravene international law and decades of established U.S. policy but also overturn the basic premise that both Israelis and Palestinians have a right to self-determination and security in their homelands.
As Israel expands its settlements, the land available for a future Palestinian state diminishes. Settlements are illegal under international law, and U.S. presidents since 1967 have opposed them. Yet some in Congress want to treat settlements as part of Israel, implicitly recognizing their legitimacy. The United States must reiterate its opposition to settlements and other actions that impede the sovereignty of Israelis and Palestinians.
Finally, the United States must oppose the displacement of Palestinians and ensure that U.S. equipment is not used to assist Israel in violently displacing Palestinians from their homes, or for any demolition activity. These actions would help put an end to the horrific suffering and violence that we witness today and promote long-term and sustainable peace. Israelis and Palestinians alike must be heard at the negotiating table, and the United States should ensure that support for Israel does not equate to more violence toward Palestinians.
Attribution
DAG Photo/FCNL
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