Jewish Voice for Peace statement on Trump 'peace plan'

Jewish Voice for Peace has on 29 August 2018, issued the following statement on the forthcoming peace plan by the Trump administration:

Trump’s 'peace plan' promises to be everything that the Trump administration is: dishonest, inhumane and ineffective. Under the Trump administration, the US has no right in claiming to be a peace broker. There is no possibility of a just, equitable and durable peace plan without the right of return for Palestinian refugees and their descendants. This question is foundational, on par with the status of Jerusalem, equal rights for Palestinian citizens of Israel, and an end to the 1967 occupation of Palestinian lands.

This alleged 'peace plan' is just more political theatre by Trump as he continues to court his conservative, evangelical and right-wing constituency, who support Israeli domination over Palestinian lives and land.

While no 'peace plan' has been officially released, recent indications of its content are highly concerning. On Friday it was announced that the US was reducing its aid to Palestinians by $200 million; yesterday rumours surfaced that the Trump administration is planning to end all future aid to UNRWA, the UN agency dedicated to assisting Palestinian refugees. On Saturday, it was alleged that the Trump administration proposes reducing the number of Palestinian refugees to only half a million – one tenth of the UN’s current tally of 5.3 million. Most recently, US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley stated her opposition to the Palestinian right of return.

Jewish Voice for Peace reiterates its commitment to supporting the right of Palestinians to return to their homes, and opposes the withholding of humanitarian aid for political gain.

JVP Deputy Director, Rabbi Alissa Wise, said: “Trump and Netanyahu think it’s a good idea to claim that Jerusalem belongs to Israel. Trump and Netanyahu think it’s a good idea to tell refugees that they’re not refugees. Trump and Netanyahu think it’s a good idea to withhold millions of dollars in humanitarian aid and force people to the negotiation table. Their shared racist disregard for human rights demands our urgent attention and action.”

JVP Government Affairs Liaison Rabbi Joseph Berman said: “There is a moral, religious, and legal obligation to protect the rights of refugees. Trump has denied refuge to those in need at the borders of the United States with hateful policies of separation and deportation. Now Trump is exporting his vitriol to Israel/Palestine by denying the very existence of Palestinian refugees and trying to strip them of their internationally recognised right of return.”

* Jewish Voice for Peace is a national US organisation inspired by Jewish tradition to work for a just and lasting peace according to principles of human rights, equality, and international law for all the people of Israel and Palestine. JVP has over 200,000 online supporters, over 70 chapters, a youth wing, a Rabbinic Council, an Artist Council, an Academic Advisory Council, and an Advisory Board made up of leading US intellectuals and artists. https://jewishvoiceforpeace.org/

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