Brit Tzedek v'Shalom

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Brit Tzedek v’Shalom, the Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace is to educate and mobilize American Jews in support of a negotiated two-state solution of the Israel-Palestine Conflict. The organization announced, in October 2009, that it would join its estimated 50,000 grass-roots members and 1,000 rabbis with the lobbying and political organization, J Street. [1]

Initial goals

When it was formed in 2002, its fundamental principles were:[2]

  1. "The evacuation of Israeli settlements in the Occupied Territories. These settlements are a major obstacle to peace, a tremendous financial burden to Israel and do little, if anything, to enhance Israel's security. ... We call for bringing safely home to Israel the settlers from all settlements except those included as part of a negotiated and mutually agreed upon exchange of territories between Israel and Palestine in determining the final borders of both states.
  2. "The termination of terrorism and state-initiated violence against all individuals with special care being taken to avoid harming civilians. ...
  3. "A complete end to the Israeli military occupation of the territories occupied since 1967 in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem with border adjustments agreeable to both parties," leading to
  4. "The establishment of a viable Palestinian state based on the pre-1967 borders alongside Israel with both states guaranteed the ability to maintain secure and recognized boundaries free from threats or acts of force.
  5. "The establishment and recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of both states. Such recognition must also insure unfettered access to all religious sites in Israel and in the future Palestinian state to all Jews, Muslims and Christians, regardless of the nationality or sovereignty of the sites.
  6. "A just resolution of the Palestinian refugee problem ... that acknowledge[s[ Israel's share of responsibility for the plight of Palestinian refugees while also respecting the special relationship between the State of Israel and the Jewish people."
  7. "The recognition that as Jews and U.S. citizens, we have a special responsibility to urge our government to pursue policies consistent with the requirements of a just peace for Israel and the Palestinian people."

Palestinian accountability

It also, however, acknowledges Palestian responsibilities in the conflict, [3] specifically supporting President Obama's statement “Palestinians must abandon violence. Resistance through violence and killing is wrong and it does not succeed.”

Lobbying

Along with the American Peace Network (APN), in August 2006, it was the first Zionist group to directly challenge legislation strongly supported by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), focused on restricting aid to the Palestinian Authority. According to the Jewish Telegraph Agency, which reported was "the first time in memory a dovish group went toe-to-toe with" AIPAC. Some House members reported a 3-1 ratio of calls in opposition, JTA reported. APN publicly challenged AIPAC on the facts of the issue.[4]

In May 2009, however, it opposed AIPAC from the left while the Zionist Organization of America attacked AIPAC for supporting a Palestinian state. Brit Tzedek v’Shalom, APN and J Street argued AIPAC had not fully supported Barack Obama's peace initiative. [5]

Merger with J Street

Veteran organizer Laurie Moskowitz will be senior adviser and Carinne Luck will run run day-to-day operations.

References

  1. 50,000 Brit Tzedek Activists, Rabbinic Cabinet to Ally with J Street’s National Grassroots Program, Brit Tzedek v’Shalom
  2. Founding Principles, Brit Tzedek v’Shalom
  3. Palestinian Accountability, Brit Tzedek v’Shalom
  4. Bruce Ticker (August 2006), "OpEd: The Lobbies — AIPAC skirmishes with APN and Brit Tzedek v'Shalom.", Philadelphia Jewish Voice
  5. Ron Kampeas (7 May 2009), "Sitting between Bibi and Obama, AIPAC criticized by left and right", Jewish Telegraph Agency