In response to the Jewish National Fund-Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael (JNF-KKL) Executive Board vote that would allow it to purchase land in the West Bank in order to expand Jewish settlements beyond the Green Line, eight organizations from the Progressive Israel Network released the following statement:
Members of the Progressive Israel Network join the broad chorus of American Jews who are deeply troubled that Israel’s JNF-KKL’s Executive Board will vote today to make Palestinian dispossession into its policy.
The vast majority of American Jews want to be part of building a state of Israel that respects its neighbors, upholds democracy, and seeks peace. Buying land to expand West Bank settlements is antithetical to Israel’s future as a democracy, and only serves to entrench occupation and to make the lives of Israelis and Palestinians on both sides of the Green Line less safe.
Progressive Israel Network members are hopeful that JNF-KKL’s general voting body will reject the decision to participate in settlement expansion when the decision comes to a final vote on April 22.
The Progressive Israel Network is a coalition of leading organizations representing Americans committed to pursuing democracy, equality in Israel and peace between Israelis and Palestinians. The network members signed on to this statement, in alphabetical order, are Ameinu, Americans for Peace Now, Hashomer Hatzair USA, J Street, Jewish Labor Committee, The New Israel Fund, Partners for Progressive Israel, and T’ruah.
PIN’s statement of principles can be found here.