Tell Defense Minister Gantz: Stop Settlement Expansion into E-1
Background
Though Prime Minister Netanyahu has suspended plans to formally annex the West Bank, de facto annexation continues unabated. Right now, his government is advancing plans for a major new settlement project in the controversial E1 area which would devastate prospects for peace.
E-1 is a narrow piece of land between East Jerusalem and the West Bank settlement of Ma’ale Adumim. The international community has long viewed settlement construction in E-1 as a redline, as it would undercut the viability of a Palestinian capital in East Jerusalem and prevent the creation of a contiguous Palestinian state.
August 28 has been set as a deadline for submitting objections to the construction plan. Right now, thousands of Israelis, supported by progressive civil society organizations like Peace Now, Ir Amim and the Association of Environmental Justice in Israel (AEJI) are mounting a major opposition campaign.
Add your name in solidarity with the Israeli activists fighting to block this plan and preserve prospects for a just and viable solution to this conflict. We'll be submitting this petition to Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz, who has the authority to block this plan from moving forward.
Petition Text
Dear Alternate Prime Minister Gantz,
We write to you deeply concerned about your government’s intention to approve the construction of a massive Israeli settlement housing project in E-1.
As Americans who care about Israel’s security and democracy and about its ability to make peace with its Palestinian neighbors, we call on you to immediately halt plans to expand settlements in E-1. And we stand with the thousands of Israelis who have registered their objections to the E-1 construction plan.
As you are well aware, settlement construction in this area would split the northern part of the West Bank from its southern part, thereby undermining hopes for a two-state solution and the long-term peace and security of Israelis and Palestinians.
Earlier this month, the Government of Israel publicly agreed to suspend its immediate plans for de-jure annexation of parts of the West Bank. This is a welcome announcement for anyone who yearns for a future in which Israel can live in peace with all its neighbors, including the Palestinians. Unfortunately, construction in E-1 could forfeit that future, by annulling the very possibility of a two-state solution.
Construction in E-1 would convey to the world that Israel is not committed to making peace; and instead intends to control the lives of Palestinians in perpetuity.
As the Minister of Defense, you have the formal authority to approve, suspend or reject any planned Israeli construction in the West Bank.
We call on you to use your power to immediately halt plans to build in E-1.
Signed,
[ADD YOUR NAME]
This petition is sponsored by the Progressive Israel Network.
Grounded in our Jewish and democratic values, the Progressive Israel Network calls to action all those who are committed to Israel’s future as the national homeland of the Jewish people and as a democracy that lives in peace and security with its neighbors.
This petition is sponsored by the Progressive Israel Network.
Grounded in our Jewish and democratic values, the Progressive Israel Network calls to action all those who are committed to Israel’s future as the national homeland of the Jewish people and as a democracy that lives in peace and security with its neighbors.