Not in Our Name

As Jews with a wide range of political, religious, and cultural affiliations, we are committed to the preservation of the human rights of all people.

Since the events at the Temple Mount/Al-Haram al-Sharif on September 29, over 200 Palestinians have been killed and thousands wounded, the vast majority of them civilians.

• Physicians for Human Rights has found that "the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) has used live ammunition and rubber [coated metal] bullets excessively and inappropriately."
• Human Rights Watch has "documented repeated excessive use of lethal force against unarmed Palestinian demonstrators."
• Amnesty International has stated that the IDF has exerted an "excessive and indiscriminate use of force [that] is in contravention of international human rights standards."

It has not only been in recent weeks that the State of Israel has violated international law and contravened internationally recognized human rights standards. Human rights organizations have documented that the State of Israel has carried out such actions in the Occupied Territories since 1967.

According to B'Tselem, the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, both before and after Oslo, the State of Israel has:

• Tortured Palestinians systematically.
• Demolished Palestinian homes.
• Discriminated against Palestinians in planning/building policies.
• Built, supported, and expanded illegal Jewish settlements.
• Restricted Palestinians' freedom to leave, return to, and travel within the Occupied Territories.

We view these actions with grave concern.

We call on the State of Israel to comply with international law and internationally recognized human rights standards.

We call on the United States government to pursue a fair and just policy grounded in international law and internationally recognized human rights standards.

We ask all Jews to engage in critical dialogue on issues facing Israelis and Palestinians.

If you would like to endorse please e-mail notinournames@hotmail.com. Please include your name, institutional affiliation and country/city of residence.