To work for justice and peace for Israelis and Palestinians. As the Jewish New Year, 5771, comes upon us, we invite you to participate in the ritual of teshuvah, or turning, toward a new hope and a new world. Please share your hopes and commitments that will bring an end to injustice. Shanah Tovah, have a sweet and good year!
I promise to give my wholehearted support to JVP in whatever way I can.
My promise is to continue to speak out against the growing influence of Zionism in the United States and to expose the so-called “Left” who excuse this racist ideology. A major reason for the War on Iraq has been Zionism’s raising influence while many Leftist “icons” used their influence to divert activists claiming the war was for “oil”.
My promise is to ferociously bring the truth and engage “disobedience”.
In May I went to Israel/Palestine with a group of storytellers to do work with some peace intiatives including Combatants for Peace, and to perform at the Healing Words Peace Festival in Galilee. One thing I realised is that there is conflict in the hearts of everyone, no matter where we live in the world, but most of us are fortunate enough not to be tested daily. I was really moved by the courage, openness and self-control of the people we met, both of those who are working for peace and those who were meeting people from the other community for the first time. If anyone is interested there is an article about it entitled ‘Healing Words’ on my website at the bottom of my blog page at: http://www.umisinha.com
My promise for this year, and for the rest of my life, born from the realisations I had on the trip is at the end of it: To try to live Mahatma Gandhi’s words, ‘Be the change that you wish to see in the world.’
I am working for universal healthcare.
I’ll go on supporting the boycot of Zionist Apartheid Israel
I met a wonderful 18 year old Jewish boy named Avi on a flight a year ago. He was just entering the army. He looked like a man, but was really he was just a boy. I pray he is still alive and that he brings no harm to the people of Palestine.
I promise to make my utmost for peace in the Middle East and elsewhere. I thing at this region it is the common upheaval of jewish and arab democratic, that is to stay antitolarian forces could create a system replacing hostility and wars by the spirit of cooperation in economic and every other fields. And I must tell that though Israel must be criticized, it is harmful to present the Arabs as pure victims.
They did not recognize the Jewish state’s right to existence, and their systems are not only dictatorial but parasitic as anacrhonystic as well with their apparitchiks being caricatures of those of so called communist dictatorships and first of all with their clergy. In Israel at least there is economic development, there are some traces of democracy and those wanting peaceful agreement can at least speak up, in contrast to Arabs.
So, I think, while fight for democratic transformation and against chauvinism must be continued in Israel, in Arab countries revolutions are necessary, including on Palestinian territories.
Yours faithfully
János Arató
As a Jew, as a human being, I commit myself to working towards peace and dialogue between Jews and Palestinians, to promoting real discussion within my community in a spirit of respect and empathy, to insisting in all my actions on a recognition of the humanity, equality and dignity of every person caught up in the conflict, to speaking out when I see injustice or inhumanity, to examining how my own actions may have contributed to misunderstandings, and to remaining hopeful that we can achieve peace.
The aspects of life & culture that bind the Palestinians and Israelis to each other are more numerous and deeper than those that separate them, regardless of what the rabble-rousers on both sides claim.
This needs to be emphasized on a regular basis. Peace in the New Year.
I want to start beng able to give to the homeless, by carrying some items of food around with me whenever I go through town, at most, when my student loan comes in. If I can start practicing what I preach at home, then people will give me more respect when I talk to them about the injustices of the world, such as that happening in Palestine.
Ihave been working all my life for peace and justice, joining peoples all over the world in the defense of their fundamental rights and against the violation of them. My impotence and desperation has always been momentarily as I believe in God and in His love for mankind and in the reverse I believe in mankind and its aspiration to reach the Truth. I wish all of you who make a symbol of a date and all of us who, as mankind were present 5770 years ago as well, a new prosperous year in which peace may be the first word on our tongue and brain. What is my promise. Well, I received a message which I turn to you all because , as it appears, it is of the maximum urgence. Please tell me the way to help them to solve the problem they ask me to. My promise is to help them to have water which is their first need and symbol of life for all but I don’t know whom to apply to in a very quick way.
I received this letter from the coordinator of a mouvement in dfense of human rights.
Dear All,
This call I forward to you, was received by Mr. Sami Sadek the mayor of a palestinian village called Aqaba, this small village is situated in Tubas district Area c, suffers from lack of drinking water, as a result of the israeli policy that refuse to connect the village with the pipelines, any action to stop this suffer will be appreciated, if you canno’t take a direct action think about who else can make a change in those villagers lives, think in which way this cruel israeli policy can be stopped, to respect the needs of this village and other villages in Area C.
Regards
Diana
Second Call to the Live Consciences
After forwarding our urgent and critical call for help before many days ago to the live consciences, local and international human rights and humanitarian organizations.. And after attending who attended, phone calls, faxes and e-mail messages.. Unfortunately, no solutions for drinking water were taken. It was become one of intractable issues that are difficult to resolve, at a time when the citizens live in thirst waiting for relief from the god.
Why deprive Al Aqaba Village, its people, their children and livestock from drinking water which it is the backbone of life and lifeblood?! Where are the live consciences? Where is the international and humanitarian justice? Is that because it is a small village, so it does not deserve to live in peace and security? Or should the inhabitants leaving and displace again in pursuit of drinking water? Is that because it fall within the Area “C” a closed military zone which similar to southern Lebanon? Is this its biggest catastrophe? Are the 130 children of its kindergarten not deserve even drinking water? Where are the consciences?
Where are the international laws that safeguard the right of civilians to receive services, especially drinking water? Are we not deserve to drink from the water company Mkrot that feeds settlements, camps and farms? Why the training camps and settlements enjoy Mkrot water and we deny in Al Aqaba Village? Is it not time to wake up the live consciences and apply the international laws, protect civilians and reserve their water rights? Why Mkrot Company make water available before the establishment of camp, settlement or a farm near Al Aqaba Village, At the same time depriving Al Aqaba Village from drinking water until now?
Where are the Water Authority and the Joint Commission from providing drinking water to Al Aqaba Village? It is true that it’s a small village, but it does deserve to live and this is the will of God Almighty. Even the livestock are deprived of drinking water and grazing where they are arrested by the camps if approaching from it. It arrested and imprisoned because it looks for something to eat near these camps to meet the urgent need for food.
Where are humanitarian organizations that provide fodder for all regions except Al Aqaba Village? When the livestock owners received a feed before 10 years in 1999 for the first and last time from Agricultural Relief Organization. By the livestock owners believe that their 1500 head of cattle live the Area “C” a closed military zone which similar to southern Lebanon, and what happened to the deprivation of its people, especially drinking water happened for their livestock were deprived of feed and drinking water.
Where are the international organizations that maintain the rights of animals which created by God to live the life, not to the deprivation and death.
Fear and obey God.. O slaves of God..
We hope to God that we find listening ears and echo to this humanitarian call.
God Bless You All,
Al Haj Sami Sadeq
Al Aqaba Village Council
Tel.: + 970 92572201
Fax: + 970 92572185
Mobile: + 970 599068808
E-mail: aqaba2006@yahoo.com
I thank you all for what you can do to fulfill my promise.
Magda Tomei
I am not Israelian neither Palestinian, but I promise to support yor efforts for Justise and Peace in Palestine.
I was brought up in a mennonite, unconditionally pro-Israel family. I wasn’t accepted as an AFS-student in the US back in 1967, because I dared saying that this war was just as evil as all wars and that palestinian children have the same right to live. Later I worked in a kibbuz ans was critisized because I talked with palestinians. I work as an interpreter (Noam Chomsky, Marc Ellis and many others) and I promise voicing for the poor and opressed and a turn-around of the ongoing evil politics worldwide on any occasion, even if it costs me jobs.
Margrit Pfister, Switzerland
” Be the change you wish to see in the world”…
Mahatma Ghandi
I will do what I can to free American policy in the Middle East from total support of Israel, and end the injustices our support sustains.
Par mes origines familiales maternelles je sis juif, mais je suis de conviction catholique alors que ma famille paternelle est plutôt protestante. Vous pouvez donc imaginer la distance que j’ai pu prendre par rapport au dogmatisme religieux même si je suis croyant. Ces quelques mots pour vous dire mon profond attachement à l réconciliation palestino-israëlienne et je consacrerai mes réflexions (certains disent prières) de la tsuvah de cette année 5770 à cette réconciliation, à ce qu’en Israël en particulier on puisse se saluer dans la rue libéré des habits trop lourd des identités meurtrières.
My daughter has been wounded by missiles:
Am I lucky she’s not dead or unlucky because she’s been wounded?
I don’t know and I don’t want revenge, Just END THE CONFLICT.
Traces of our conflicts are even written in the holy books. Don’t wait another 5770 years.
END THE CONFLICT NOW.
May I not bow down to injustice and brutality so as to keep living a “normal life”.
We have a website called http://www.saveourearth.co.uk and we have just started to blog on important issues like animal testing, corporate greed but we also have poetry, inspirational writings and much more. We have also been campaigning to educate people on the importance of the worlds rainforests and for the governments to get off their back sides and save them.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. We saw a programme last night how the Palestinians are surrounded by a wall and can not move about freely, we have not heard any news of this in the west as the media is controlled by the few to control the many. All the information is mainly pro Israeli’s. News should not be biased and everyone should have a voice. Our prayers are with you all.
Its hard for people to understand that we are all the same we come from one source, the Divine Spark and only when we understand what this truly means will there be peace around the world and brothers and sisters will put down their weapons and love each other. I have pure faith that day is coming.
I promise to continue working for Windows for Peace UK to support the work they do in bringing young people together across the divide bth in Israel and Palestine and now between young Jews and Muslims in the UK. I promise to ACT and speak out against injustices as I see them but also to speak out about the good work that is done by many people to help bring peace and reconciliation
At least talk to one another.
In the spirit of tikkun olam, to promote justice for Palestinians and peace in Israel-Palestine. Despite the shocking reality, it really doesn’t have to be that way!
I promise to do anything in my power to promote the ideals of peace and prosperity here and abroad. I promise to fight any injustice, no matter how big or how small, to be a voice for those who have been forced into silence.
I am Russian-born Israeli. I was brainwashed during many years by the smart Israeli propaganda machine. I believed that Israel is just fighting terror committed by the “evil people of Palestinians.” Still being brainwashed, I served in the Israeli Occupation Forces during the Gaza War. But now my eyes are open: during the last half a year I saw the injustices made to Palestinians by the Israeli establishment in East Jerusalem and elsewhere. And now I promise to fight the present-day Israeli dictatorship through civil disobedience, (even under attacks I subjected to in Israel: police, blackmails, violations of my freedom of speech, etc.) and incite the flame of civil disobedience in other people.
I promise to anything in my power to promote the ideals of peace and prosperity here and abroad. I promise to fight any injustice, no matter how big or how small, to be a voice for those who have been forced into silence.
I hope that hate will diminish and that Palestinians and Jews will live peacefully together in their beautiful country.
I promise to support every Israëli who treats Palestinians as living human beings with the right to live in peace and dignity, not as people of a lower kind.
The Middle East is one of the vital chakras of the Earth, so it’s very important that there should be peace in that place! The best way to do that is to raise one’s energy and live in the best way possible. That’s what I’m going to do.
May God bring peace and freedom to the oppressed, so then can be
together in peace and harmony.
As the new year begining and we hope that next year will bring peace and justice to palestenian who is under ocupation nad also peace to the inocent israeli who live in fear becouse of the injust that their own govrment forc onthe palestenia we pary for God to guid the leader of Isrealto theright path and work on solution that give peace and security for bothe and equalety for both poeple we all the son eof abraham.
My hope for a better world for our brothers Palestinian and Israelian.
Jean
I promise to speak out for and defend those who are victims of injustice.
to keep informed and speak out whenever and wherever there is injustice.
I promise not to leave some flowery, saccharine promise on this web page.
I will continue having Muslims among my friends and continue giving $2/mo to JVP and If Americans New.
I will also let people know that I am a Jew that condemns terrorism in all it’s forms – be it wrought by an F-15 or a suicide bomber.
I will continue to sign petitions which promise a better world for all human-beings. we will either learn to live together as human-beings, or we will surely die together as fools. L’SHANAH TOVAH!
I promise to voice my opinion peacefully and without insulting or attacking anyone.
That only peace and respect for each other can usher the era of peace. This precedes the desire to live in peace and it requires genuinely addressing all the wrongs done to both parties as part of the initial reconciliation program.
It means addressing simple issues that Israel has ignored. These include:
1. The plight of the Palestinian refugees; either return or repatriation for homes and lands lost.
2. Their rights to have their own freedom of choice OR giving them full Israeli citizenship with equal rights.
3. A program to bring them up to speed in terms of equal rights, employment and home ownership.
It also means that Palestinians must:
1. Respect all Jews and live with them as equals.
2. Promise not to use force or violence to address their grievances.
3. Allow Jews to live in Palestinian communities if they choose to as proof of reconciliation.
What I most prefer is a country where both Jews and Palestinians can live as equal citizens. The land has been cut up like a thousand razor cut. It is in both parties interests to make it as a whole again.
If this is done, not only there will be peace in Israel/Palestine but also it will be the envy of every Arab country because non of them have such a democratic country where all citizens have equal rights.
Israelis are educated enough to want such a state. It will remove fear in the whole of the region.
I would love for nothing more than to Jews, Muslims and Christians live in peace; each respecting and honoring the other. I promise to always desire and pray for this in my heart.
What is needed is for the leaders of these communities and for ordinary people who desire such a life, to get together and lay the foundation with such a vision for future generations. I promise to support JVP for their vision and for promoting non-violence as a viable path to peace.
Nothing is beyond the reach of humans who desire love to manifest in all walks of life.
May I always think thoughts of goodwill for all.
May peace prevail in Palestine and throughout the world.
I pray that peace will be achieved between Israel and Palestine, and that Israelis and Palestinians will live and cooperate like good neighbours with mutual respect for life and human rights.
I promise to NOT BE SILENT and continue to work towards Peace and Justice for Palestinians and Israeli’s. I promise to teach my children that we are all created equal and deserve to live with dignity and respect. I promise to work tirelessly to promote true understanding of the conflict. Chicago
I promise to keep trying to build bridges between communities and not to lose hope.
I promise to work for an Israel that restores the Holy Land to the conditions that prevailed there for centuries: to a land in which Jews, Muslims and Christians live together in peace and mutual respect.
One state with equal justice for all – not a radical idea, just an idea for a democracy embracing all the people of today’s Israel, Palestine and the occupied territories.
yesterday, i hosted a lunch reception for trade unionists from the middle east who were in pittsburgh for the afl-cio convention. i work in the civil and human rights department of the steelworkers union.
one of the unionists was introduced to me, and was a palestinian. i held his hand a moment longer than usual, looked him directly in the eyes, and said, “and my name is hilary, and i am a pro-palestininan jew.”
suleih, the palestinian, embraced me, kissed me on both cheeks and we exchanged a sincere “shalom” and “a’salaam aleichem.”
we both spoke of the peace we wish for, the peace we know will come. and i believe i have made a lifelong friend, as well as building global solidarity, worker to worker, union to union.
I will endeavor as a teacher to invite young minds to open. I will be active in the public struggle for justice, by speaking out, standing up, and intentionally breaking unjust laws when necessary. I will try to create works of beauty and love. I will attempt to live according as I would want others to live. (And that’s the hardest.)
I promise to do everything in my power to stand up against bigotry and intolerance, in all of its forms, and to stand for the investigation and punishment of acts of torture, war crimes, and other inhumanities. It is also my pledge to try to raise my two little girls to see all people, from all faiths and ethnicities and walks of life, as simply other people first and foremost, entitled to be treated with the same dignity, respect and decency that I desire my darlings be treated with.
I promise to hold my government responsible for working for justice and resolving conflicts with diplomacy. This means a reminder that our tax dollars should fund education and meet important social needs not fuel war and occupation. I promise to be an active and responsible member of my communities and take a stand against injustice.
i commit to stand up for what i believe and make my point heard by those around me who may not see that we are all connected, important and powerful people, no matter our race, religion, place of birth or language.
I promise to oppose in every possible way the injustice in the world.Cleveland
my hope and prayers are for a just peace for Palestine, an end to the siege and an end to Occupation…..I promise to continue to work for peace and justice.
Dear brothers and sisters
I am determined to stand by all the movements that are aimed to bring justice and peace for Palestinian and Israeli people. Let’s not forget that we are all created from our common ancestors, Adam and Eve. Every innocent blood that is shed is against Gods will and we will be held responsible for our silence to injustice. Let’s stay united to bring injustice to our planet and live in peace.
With best wishes
Mina
I continue to do the best I can for Israel, Palestine and their relationship with the United States.