LA Jews for Peace - Recent Actions



Demonstrations Against Israel Siege of Israel

LA Jews for Peace organized a protest in front of the Israeli Consulate on Monday, Nov. 24. Another protest was held Dec. 23 at the Westwood Federal Building. Both efforts were successful, with tens of activists who stood in nthe coad for 2 and a half hours getting our message out. Here are some photos from the Westwood demonstartion (thanks to Mike Chickey for the photos).

    
    



Protest at City Council

LA Jews for Peace organized a protest at the Los Angeles City Council meeting on June 25. Twenty-one people each gave a 2-minute presentation objecting to the Mayor and three City Council-persons going to Israel as part of an official delegation, paid for by taxpayer money. By going to Israel, and not visiting Palestine, the Mayor and Council-persons legitimatized the Israeli occupation.



Jeff Halper in Los Angeles

LA Jews for Peace hosted Jeff Halper, director of the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions, on his one-day visit to Los Angeles on June 29. Halper has been resisting the Israeli occupation of Palestine for decades. His latest book is An Israeli in Palestine; Resisting Dispossession, Redeeming Israel. He says:

"We are against the Israeli policy of occupation and displacement. If you create an apartheid situation, if you lock another people into prison, in the end, you cannot develop a healthy, normal, and prosperous society. The Occupation, conflict, terrorism, and settlements all affects the Israeli society and economy. As long as the Occupation continues, Israel itself cannot be free."

Jeff Halper gave talks at three events:

  • Morning event at Rabbi Beliak's study group in the Pico-Robertson area.
  • Afternoon event in Claremont at the United Church of Christ Retreat Hall, cosponsored by Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace.
  • Evening event at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Anaheim, cosponsored by the Cousins Club of Orange County.



  • Sabeel Pasadena Conference

    The Sabeel Conference "From Occupation to Liberation: Voices We Need To Hear" took place Feb. 15-16 at All Saints Church in Pasadena. LA Jews for Peace was a co-sponsor.

    Read a report on the conference by clicking here.

    "A Call for One State " by Marcy Winograd, Speech delivered at the Sabeel Conference From Occupation to Liberation: Voices We Need To Hear February 15-16, 2008, Pasadena, CA.



    Protest to Stop Israel Siege of Gaza at Israeli Consulate

    LA Jews for Peace protested the Israeli siege of Gaza in front of the Israeli Consulate on Wilshire Blvd. on Jan. 25 and April 14, 2008.

    Over 50 people turned out to protest Ithe humanitarian crisis being caused by the Israel siege of Gaza that is holding 1.5 million people at risk of starvation, and killing people who can not exit the Gaza Strip to get medical care. The reduced fuel supplies have caused the Gaza power plant to reduce output and that is causing rolling blackouts throught the Gaza Strip. Israel's limitation of import and export of commercial and agricultural goods destroyed the Gaza economy creating unemployment and pushing people onto relief. LA Jews calls on the U.S. government to withhold its diplomatic, economic, and military support of Israel until the siege ends.

         
         
      



    Discussion of The Israel Lobby

    LA Jews for Peace members presented a critique of John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt's 2007 book The Israel Lobby at the Cousins Club of Orange County on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 7:30 PM.

    See the special section of this web site for critiques and discussions about The Israel Lobby and U.S. - Israel relations. Included is a copy of our critique from the left.



    Protest to Stop Israel Siege of Gaza

    LA Jews for Peace protested the Israeli siege of Gaza on the Santa Monica Third Street Promenade on Dec. 16 & 23, 2007, and Jan. 6, 13, & 20, 2008, in Pasadena on Feb. 16, in Westwood on March 30, and at the Farmer's Market on May 3.

    The siege is putting 1.5 million people at risk of starvation, and killing people who can not exit the Gaza Strip to get medical care. The reduced fuel supplies have caused the Gaza power plant to reduce output and that is causing rolling blackouts throught the Gaza Strip. Israel's limitation of import and export of commercial and agricultural goods destroyed the Gaza economy creating unemployment and pushing people onto relief. LA Jews calls on the U.S. government to withhold its diplomatic, economic, and military support of Israel until the siege ends.

    The protest was supported by Women-in-Black-Los Angeles.

        



    Jerusalem Women Speak

    Three women from Jerusalem - one Muslim, one Jewish, and one Christian - shared their stories and hopes for peace. A lively discussion followed.
    Event took place at the Beverly Hills Library on Sunday, November 18, 2007.
    See the Flyer for identification of the women. Joel Farkas moderated the debate.

    Jerusalem Women Tour was organized by Partners for Peace. The Los Angeles event was co-sponsored by: (1) Levantine Cultural Center, (2) Muslims for Progressive Values, (3) Middle East Task Force of the Episcopal Diocese of LA, (4) American Friends Service Committee, (5) Council on American-Islamic Relations, (6) Muslim Public Affairs Council, (7) Abraham's Vision, and (8) Congregation B'nai Horin.



    Bring Peace to Israel-Palestine

    To help bring peace, security, and prosperity to the Israeli and Palestrinian peoples, we called for an
    End to the Israeli Occupation of Palestine
    and to
    Negotiate Now.
    Photos from Oct. 19 protest in front of the the Museum of Tolerance on Pico Blvd., Los Angeles.



    One-State vs. Two States Debate

    We recreated the debate on a 1-state vs. two-states solution to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict held in Tel Aviv on May 8, 2007. The original debate was between Ilan Pappe and Uri Avnery.
    Introduction to the debate - includes links to an English translation of the full transcript (opening remarks plus question and answers) as well as links to translations of Pappe's and Avnery's written opening statements. .



    Protest Lebanon War

    We called for a ceasefire in the recent Israel-Lebanon/Hezbollah war.
    Photos from our protest in front of the Israeli Consulate
    on Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles.