Act Now: Confront Settler Violence
Thank you to all who joined our CollectiveED event, Forging a Shared Homeland: Confronting Annexation & Settler Violence. Your participation is crucial for raising awareness about the injustices faced by Palestinian communities throughout the West Bank. To watch the recording of the event, click here.
During the talk, Israeli CfP activist and former soldier Elie Avidor shared his firsthand account of the escalating violence faced by Palestinian shepherds in Area C, especially since October 7th. Elie dedicates two to three days a week to providing a protective presence for these communities, traveling over four hours a day.
Itamar Feigenbaum, another dedicated CfP activist, shared about settler violence predominantly carried out by young hilltop youth, often in organized groups, who harass Palestinian families at their homes and grazing sites. This harassment includes direct physical confrontations and even life-threatening violence that can make steadfastness unbearable for Palestinian families.
This violence is not random; it is part of a strategic plan aimed at the ethnic cleansing of Area C, a crucial agricultural area for Palestinians. Jamil, CfP’s Palestinian General Coordinator, shared how the ongoing expansion of settlements, rising violence in the West Bank and Gaza, and a lack of decisive action from the international community have left many Palestinians feeling abandoned.
Right now, we are witnessing a surge of settler violence, land theft, and annexation and there is something we can do about it. As this tide rises, let us as Israeli, Palestinian, and international activists stand firmly at the frontline, confronting this storm head-on:
1. Write Your Members of Congress: Now is the time to make your voice heard! Click below to urge your members of Congress to condemn increasing settlement expansion and settler violence in the West Bank. Encourage them to support the Executive Order on Imposing Certain Sanctions on Persons Undermining Peace, Security, and Stability in the West Bank, issued on February 1, 2024. This Executive Order addresses the urgent need to confront extremist settler violence and forced displacement in the occupied West Bank.
2. Donate to Our Solidarity in Action Campaign: Your support will directly fund our efforts to protect Palestinian communities and strengthen CfP’s nonviolent resistance. Here’s how your contributions will provide justice for shepherds in the Jordan Valley:
Virtual Protective Presence: Help CfP establish a "virtual protective presence" for eight shepherding families in the Jordan Valley. This initiative includes essential tools like cameras and cellular internet routers for real-time documentation of human rights violations.
Water Access: Fund the development of portable water pumps to enable shepherds to access vital water from cisterns, addressing chronic shortages caused by unjust Israeli control over resources.
While the waves of aggression crash around us, our collective action cultivates a powerful force for change. In the face of escalating violence, we deepen our commitment to one another and to co-creating a more just and equitable future for all.