February, 15 2017, 01:30pm EDT
JVP Statement on Trump and Netanyahu's Press Conference and "Shared Values"
Following the joint press conference between President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Jewish Voice for Peace offers the following statement from Executive Director Rebecca Vilkomerson:
Following the joint press conference between President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Jewish Voice for Peace offers the following statement from Executive Director Rebecca Vilkomerson:
"Today Trump and Netanyahu spoke of their "shared values" of democracy and respect for human rights. These are alternative facts. Their "shared values" are in reality a shared agenda of walls, militarism, xenophobia, racism, anti-Muslim bigotry, and borders closed to refugees. Netanyahu's cynical denial of the real and dangerous anti-Semitism in the Trump administration makes clear that he does not represent the interests of Jews around the globe. Netanyahu and Trump share a vision of the world which paints aspirations for freedom and dignity as security threats and falsely and intentionally pits Islam against the West and democracy. In response to their joint agenda, we will continue to grow the resistance to their anti-refugee, anti-immigrant, and anti-Muslim policies here in the U.S. and in Israel and put forward a vision of true dignity, equality, and justice for all. For this future to be possible, the tactics of boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) will be even more important tools to build a global grassroots pressure against today's one-state apartheid reality."
Jewish Voice for Peace chapters will be protesting to demostrate opposition to Trump and Netanyahu's "shared values" in Washington DC and over a dozen cities today along with interfaith partners. For more details see our press release about the actions. JVP members are also calling on their senators to oppose the nomination of settlement supporter David Friedman as U.S. ambassador to Israel in phone calls this week and at meetings and townhalls in district next week.
Jewish Voice for Peace is a national, grassroots organization 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 U.S. intellectuals and artists.
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U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), whose daughter, Isra Hirsi, was among the Barnard students who were suspended on Thursday for participating in the encampment protest, questioned Shafik about whether antisemitic protests have actually taken place at Columbia, prompting the president to say there have not.
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