Calls & Statements

JAI calls for actions and statements on events and crisis. Calls got sent immediately to the YMCA-YWCA JAI partners and friends for actions and responses.

66 years of ongoing Nakba – Back to Basics

Category: Calls & Statements
Created: 15 May 2014

nakba-66-webThe Right of Return is a national and inalienable right.

On the 66th commemoration of the Nakba, the movement for Palestinian liberation is in disarray. Political parties are divided, the Palestine Liberation Organization is dysfunctional, the Palestinian Authority is dependent on foreign donors with ulterior agendas and a collective national strategy is absent. Institutions do not fulfill their purposes and the Palestinian people's capacity for grassroots mobilization is frayed.

These elements provide an opportunity for the Israeli regime to unilaterally impose 'facts on the ground' and its advocate, the USA, to strong-arm an unjust political solution. Both developments undermine the Right of Return of the Palestinian refugees – the core of the Palestinian cause.

Israel denies the Right of Return to the homes of origin for 7.4 million Palestinian refugees and Internally Displaced Persons. Meanwhile, Israel maintains efforts to resettle Palestinian refugees in exile and its leadership increasingly demands international recognition of the State of Israel as an exclusive Jewish state. As the Oslo negotiations falter forward, Israel attempts to legitimize 'land swaps', annexation of Area C, and control over natural resources especially fresh water. Additionally, Israel displaces Palestinians particularly targeting the Gaza Strip, the Jordan Valley, East Jerusalem and the Naqab.

As a consequence, Palestinians live under military control in the West Bank, under siege in the Gaza Strip, under institutional discrimination within Israel-proper and East Jerusalem, and in heartbreaking conditions throughout the exile.

Palestinians previously seeking refuge in Syria are living a multiplied catastrophe. They are undergoing war, further displacement, and the destruction of their lives in Yarmouk, Nierab, Sit Sainab, Khan Al Shiekh, Dar'a and other locations throughout Syria where Palestinian refugees resided. Palestinians doubly displaced to countries including Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey and Egypt face further humiliation and unbearable conditions leading many Palestinians to attempt escape by sea – a desperate act resulting in the deaths of hundreds of Palestinian refugees and those who disappeared without public acknowledgment.

66 years of continuous displacement instructs the Palestinian people to revert to our fundamental principles of justice and equality, and place faith in our people across the globe rather than incapacitated international and Palestinian institutions. This era calls for a return to the basics.

We, the undersigned organizations, affirm the following:

  1. After 66 years of targeted displacement by the Israeli regime, 66 percent of the Palestinian people are refugees or Internally Displaced Persons. Both in principle and practice, the Right of Return is a necessary condition for achieving self-determination of the fragmented and exiled Palestinian body politic;

  2. International law endows Palestinian refugees with the right to voluntary return to their homes, to restoration of their properties and to compensation. This inalienable Right of Return is not subject to negotiation, bartering, surrender or expiration;

  3. Displaced Palestinians hold the Right of Return collectively and individually. The right is only fulfilled when an individual is able to exercise his or her free choice;

  4. United Nations resolution 181 (1947) to partition Palestine into two states led to the displacement of between 750,000 and 900,000 Palestinians. Thus, the international community codified its responsibility to provide legal and physical international protection, humanitarian assistance and enable the Right of Return to the homes of origin for all refugees and displaced Palestinians through General Assembly resolution 194 (1948) and Security Council resolution 237 (1967);

  5. The Palestinian people's heroic resilience and resistance to Israel's denial of the Right of Return, to ongoing displacement of Palestinians and to absent international protection requires that an institution such as the Palestine Liberation Organization be based on authentic representation and inclusivity.


Longing for freedom and liberation, we say YES to Palestinian representation and holistic international protection, and NO to detracting from any of the rights of refugees.
Signed by the following organizations, institutions and coalitions:

1. BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights
2. Occupied Palestine and Syrian Golan Heights Advocacy Initiative (OPGAI)
3. Defence for Children International - Palestine
4. Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association
5. Center for Defense of Liberties and Civil Rights "Hurryyat"
6. Popular Struggling Coordination Committee (PSCC)
7. Palestinian Grassroots Anti-apartheid Wall Campaign (Stop the Wall)
8. Kairos Palestine
9. Civic Coalition for Palestinian Rights in Jerusalem
10. Union of Health Work Committees
11. Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights
12. Baladna - The Association for Arab Youth
13. Golan for development
14. Alternative Information Center
15. Alternative Tourism Group
16. Joint Advocacy Initiative (JAI)
17. Land Research Center (LCR)
18. Palestine land Society
19. Environmental Education Center
20. The Palestinian Center of Youth Action for Community Development (LAYLAC)
21. Lajee Center, Aida Refugee Camp
22. Popular Committee for Refugees, Qalqeliah
23. Popular Committee for Refugees, Salfit
24. Social Youth Center, Aqbat Jaber Refugee Camp
25. Social Youth Center, Aida Refugee Camp
26. Muntada Al-Tawasol Association, Gaza
27. Shoruq Association, Dhiesheh Refugee Camp
28. Ansar Center, Walajeh
29. Ibda’a for the Development of Children Capacity, Dhiesheh Refugee Camp
30. Al- Rowwad Center, Aida Refugee Camp
31. International Women's Peace Service/ Palestine
32. International Organization for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (EAFORD)
33. Union of Arab Jurists- Geneva
34. General Arab Women Federation
35. Housing and Land Rights Network/ Habitat International Coalition
36. International Youth and Students Movement at the UN
37. Mouvement contre le racisme et pour l’amitié entre les peuples (MRAP)
38. Association Latino-Américaine Nueva Utopía
39. Geneva International Centre for Justice
40. Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel- Spain
41. Red Solidaria contra la Ocupación de Palestina (RESCOP) –Spain
42. Solidarity for Development and Peace (SODePAZ)- Spain
43. Asociacion Palestina Biladi- Spain
44. Slovenia Solidarity Committee- Slovenia
45. Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement- Slovenia
46. Greece Committee for the Right of Return- Greece
47. Association of Tunisians in Switzerland- Switzerland
48. Tamkeen-Arab Group- Switzerland
49. Association Belgo-Palestinienne- Belgium
50. Palestina Solidariteit- Belgium
51. Friends of Al-Aqsa- United Kingdom
52. Boycott Divestment and Sanctions Italia- Italy
53. Palestina Rossa- Italy
54. Fronte Palestina- Italy
55. Rete di Solidarieta’ con la Palestina – Milano- Italy
56. Friends of Sabeel - Sacramento Region- United States of America
57. Palestinian Association of Stockholm- Sweden
58. Committee for Fair Peace in the Middle East (CPJP)- Luxembourg
59. Finnish-Arab Friendship Society- Finland
60. French Jewish Union for Peace (UJFP)- France
61. Society for Austro-Arab Relations- Austria
62. Women in Black- Vienna- Austria
63. Diensten en Onderzoek Centrum Palestina (docP)- the Netherlands
64. Nederlands Palestina Committee (NPK)- the Netherlands
65. Palästinensische Gemeinde Deutschland (PGD) e.V.- Germany
66. Palästinensische Gemeinde Bonn e.V.- Germany
67. Boycott Divestment and Sanctions Group Bonn- Germany
68. Palestine Aid- North Ireland

 

A letter of support and appreciation

Category: Calls & Statements
Created: 05 March 2014

YMCA-YWCA Norway LogoDear sisters and brothers at the YWCA / YMCA Norway,

With profound gratitude and appreciation, the National Coalition of Christian Organizations in Palestine (NCCOP) welcomes the recent launch of your new campaign "Free Palestine", where you are calling for a broad economic boycott of Israel and Israeli products. With this letter NCCOP wishes to extend sincerest thanks for your strong as well as ethical position and solidarity. We appreciate your courage and your commitment to peace with justice in our region.

Your campaign adds to existing church related initiatives that use BDS as a nonviolent tool of resistance. This brings hope to all Palestinians and to all peace-loving people who want to see the end of daily systematic violations of human rights and International Laws.
In the Kairos Palestine document we support the global campaign for boycott, divestment and sanctions; because we believe it is a just, nonviolent and peaceful tool. We are convinced that BDS is a way to put pressure on the Israeli government to abide by the international law, honor human rights, cease its occupation to Palestine and respect the Palestinian rights. Today, BDS is one of the few alternatives left to solve this conflict non-violently. It is a powerful nonviolent movement and must be encouraged and spread as widely as possible. Therefore we hope and pray that not only the YWCA/YMCA Norway, but also other Christian organizations, churches and their members will follow this brave initiative.

NCCOP is proud to walk with you along the path of peace with justice. We firmly stand with you against any criticism you might incur because of this bold stance and clearly say that your campaign is both ethical and legal and reflects our true Christian beliefs and values in resisting evil and injustice. Speaking out prophetically is never easy.

Once again, we express our most sincere gratitude for your steadfast commitment to peace and justice.

Member organizations
Jerusalem

  • Arab Catholic Scouts Group
  • Arab Orthodox Society – Jerusalem
  • Caritas- Jerusalem
  • Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees- Middle East Council of Churches
  • Greek Catholic Sayedat AlBishara Association
  • International Christian Committee
  • Laity Committee in the Holy Land
  • National Christian Association
  • Pontifical Mission Palestine
  • SABEEL – Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center
  • Union of Arab Orthodox Club - Jerusalem
  • Young Men's Christian Association – YMCA
  • Young Women's Christian Association – YWCA

Gaza

  • NECC office

Bethlehem

  • The East Jerusalem YMCA /Beit Sahour Branch
  • The Arab Educational Institute,
  • Holy Land Trust, Bethlehem
  • Joint Advocacy Initiative (JAI)
  • Wi'am Center, Bethlehem
  • Saint Afram Assyrian Society,
  • Holy Land Christians Ecumenical Foundation, Bethlehem
  • Al-Ihsan Arab Orthodox Society, Beit Jala
  • Arab Orthodox Club, Beit Sahour
  • Arab Orthodox Club, Beit Jala
  • Arab Orthodox Club, Bethlehem
  • The Arab Orthodox Charitable Society, Beit Sahour
  • Bethlehem Bible College
  • Siraj Center for Holy Land Studies
  • Alternative Tourism Group, ATG, Beit Sahour
  • Senior Citizen Charitable Society
  • Environmental educational Center, Beit Jala
  • Saint Vincent Charitable Society, Beit Jala
  • Shepherds' Children Society, Beit Sahour

KAIROS PALESTINE

 

JAI Call for Peace and Justice in the Middle East Region

Category: Calls & Statements
Created: 31 August 2013

31st, August 2013

We, the YWCA OF Palestine and East Jerusalem YMCA represented by the JAI and as organizations that have a long history of working on issues of peace with justice,and stand in search for lasting and durable peace with justice for all the people in the Middle East, are deeply concerned about the escalating situation in the Middle East, and the increasing foreign military presence. We are very concerned about the threats made in the last few days by the USA and some European countries to directly attack Syria following the accusation of the Syrian Government of using chemical weapon against civilians. Although we do not support the use of any military force and prohibited weapons, we also recognize that any attempts to strike Syria will definitely and only cause more killings and suffering to the Syrian people in addition to more destruction of the country, and more refugees and displacements in the whole region. This direct foreign military intervention in Syria will escalate the situation in the entire Middle East and more countries might join and might cause a regional war that will claim lives of more civilians from all the surrounding countries. We as women and youth organizations recognize that women, youth and children suffer most in times of war, and will have to bear for generations to come all the negative consequences of house demolishing, displacements and trauma.

We commend the UN's initiative to send the UN inspectors to investigate the use of chemical weapons, and urge all parties for self-control until the mission submits their reports to the UN, with the hope that the UN will become the broker for peace and security in the world, rather than war.

As we express our deep appreciation to all the peoples in the world, civil society organizations, churches, Church leaders, who expressed through different measures their concerns, and /or demonstrated against such threats in the last few days asking their governments to take their hands off Syria, we urge all our partners, friends, and peace-loving people worldwide to immediately and urgently intervene stop the attempts made by the USA and the other counties to attack Syria, and lobby their governments to refrain from any military intervention in Syria.

Military aggression will only lead to more displacement, more refugees and more internal conflict in the countries of the region. Already Syrian refugees are fleeing to Jordan and Lebanon, creating a stressful internal situation and instability, as well as competition over limited resources. Until today, the Iraqi situation and war in Iraq has not yielded peace, and governments are not learning the lesson that: War does not make Peace.

The failure to create peace by Western governments and the UN System and the lack of understanding that there can be no peace as long as the basic rights for selfdetermination for people and sovereignties of governments are abused, will continue to threaten the regional and world peace.

We therefore call on YWCA movement worldwide, and the YMCA's and the International community, churches, civil society and non governmental organizations to:

  • Organize and join peaceful demonstrations in your countries against war and are in favor of peace and political solutions for any type of conflict;

  • Write to your MPs encouraging them to seek peaceful measures for conflict resolution: We want Peace not War;

  • Continue solidarity campaigns within your communities and societies and with your governments for Peace in the Middle East

We urge you to continue to support us and all the peoples in the region as we seek to find peaceful solutions, and a long lasting peace that is based on justice for all, and respects and adheres to all principles of human rights, and promises improved livelihoods . Investing in war has only reduced resources available for investing in human development, and is making the mission of civil society organizations, the UN and governments in its fight against poverty and displacement almost impossible.

LET US JOIN FORCES FOR PEACE
LET US CREATE A BETTER FUTURE FOR OUR CHILDREN

LET US KEEP HOPE ALIVE

 

UN International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People - 29 Nov. 2013

Category: Calls & Statements
Created: 15 November 2013

26th, November 2013

Statement

ISDThe World Young Women's Christian Association (World YWCA), the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) and the General Arab Women Federation, join women and men throughout the world in observing the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.

The Israeli Occupation and the separation wall continue to severely violate the Palestinian People's human rights. All Palestinians are routinely harassed, intimidated and abused by Israeli soldiers at checkpoints and gates. Palestinian women, in particular, are humiliated in front of their families and subjected to sexual violence by both soldiers and settlers. Restriction of movement due to the occupation severely impedes their access to education and health. Restrictions on movement and harassment on checkpoints has seriously affected their feeling of safety, and limited their opportunities for independence. The number of women seeking formal education or employment outside of their direct settings has reduced. Women's health has suffered as a result of their inability to access health services. Pregnant women are vulnerable to long waits at checkpoints, which has led to a number of unsafe deliveries in which both mothers and infants have died at checkpoints. Between 2000 -2005, 68 women were forced to give birth at checkpoints as a result 34 new born babies died.1

Poverty levels in the West Bank and Gaza continue to soar due to these imposed physical restrictions by the Israeli Occupation. 57% of Gaza households are food insecure and about 80% are aid recipients2. Although thousands of young men and women are graduating from Universities annually, yet the potential for them to get jobs is very limited, thus adding to their sense of hopelessness and frustration. Young people in Palestine cannot see a bright future, which in the long run could create a major civil unrest.

Since the adoption in 1977 of November 29th as the annual observance of solidarity with the Palestinian People, we have stood firm that human rights and international law be protected and affirmed for all. In addition we affirm the role of women in peace building and conflict resolution as enshrined in the UN Security Council Resolution 1325. We also reaffirm our commitment to working for the Right of Return for refugees as enshrined in United Nations resolutions 181 and 194. Also, during this time of renewed peace talks, we support Palestine's right for self determination as enshrined in UN resolutions 242 and 338 and we call for peace with justice to prevail in the entire region, including in Syria and Egypt.

We ask that these resolutions and international law be implemented and that all measures including economic ones be considered including corporate responsibility in relationship to the illegal settlement building and the selling of its products.

We support and welcome Palestine as a non-member observer state to the United Nations but continue to hold Israel accountable for its ongoing occupation, actions that undermine peace negotiations, and obligations to international law as an occupying power. We therefore share this statement with deep pain and anger over Israel's ongoing settlement building project destroying more and more Palestinian farms, confiscating more and more land, and displacing more and more Palestinian families from their homes. Earlier this month on November 12 just before the peace talks were about to resume, Israel's Ministry of Housing and Construction announced plans to construct 20,000 new settlements units in the West Bank.

Finally, we are distressed that Gaza continues to be under siege (since 2007) and that a humanitarian disaster exists with essential power companies operating less than 8 hours a day and some services not operating at all at the writing of this statement.

On this special day we call on governments and civil society to take every necessary step to achieve:

  • An end to the siege, an urgent response to the humanitarian disaster in Gaza and a prompt recovery in the provision of disrupted services;

  • An end to the building of new settlements;

  • Implementation of all agreed upon United Nations resolutions on the question of Palestine, as well as implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1325, as the basis for building peace with justice in the entire region;

  • Support for the popular boycott, sanctions and divestment movement against Israel until it respects international law;

  • An end to the Occupation and the necessary steps needed to begin the construction of peace based on justice for all in the region.


Furthermore, we are calling:

  • The Palestinian Authority and institutions to demonstrate strong, cohesive, inclusive and democratic leadership;

  • Governments and civil society to stand in solidarity with all Palestinians particularly the women who are affected by this ongoing violence and lack of justice in their lives;

  • The international community to support all the above actions.

As organizations that have a long history of working on issues of peace with justice and who have witnessed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict since 1948, we stand in solidarity with our Palestinian sisters and brothers on this day and recommit ourselves to seeking a rights based solution rather than a power based outcome.

Thank you.

 

1 UNFPA, 2007. Checkpoints Compound the Risks of Childbirth for Palestinian Women (accessed 2 January 2013)

2 "THE GAZA STRIP: THE HUMANITARIAN IMPACT OF MOVEMENT RESTRICTIONS ON PEOPLE AND GOODS", OCHA, JULY 2013

 

JAI Christmas Message from the Holy Land - 2012

Category: Calls & Statements
Created: 26 November 2012

26th, November 2012

Palestinian Christmas Greeting CartoonIn this season of Christmas let us remember the story of the shepherds keeping watch over their flock and the visit from the angels of the Lord proclaiming the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ singing songs of peace and hope. While the landscape of the shepherd's field has changed, the message of hope has not. Today, the constant threat of harassment, imprisonment, and land confiscation make seeing hope in this place of the message of hope difficult. However, with this Christmas season the shepherd's field brings a renewed call of hope and peace for the world.

As history has been witness, our struggle has seen periods of reduced violence followed by periods of escalated violence. On November 14th Israel initiated a campaign of aggression towards our people in Gaza. This most recent wave of aggression resulted in 165 deaths (43 children & 16 women) and 1,200 injured. Despite the commitment to a ceasefire agreement the daily threat and damages of the occupation continue.

Just a few hundred meters from, the shepherd's grotto, there exists one such threat. In the place known as Ush Ghrab a group of extremists, the Women in Green, are staging the establishment of a new Israeli settlement. A settlement whose infrastructure and "security measures" will further threaten the towns of Bethlehem and Beit Sahour. Adding to the more than 21 existing and expanding settlements currently surrounding and constricting Bethlehem, the new settlement at Ush Ghrab would further isolate Beit Sahour by occupying the only land available for future growth of the community.

The olive tree, an international symbol of peace, continues to be under direct threat of destruction as Israeli settlers and military forces act to expand their sphere of control over the Palestinian territory. Not dissimilar to Herod's campaign to find and kill the baby Jesus, Israeli policy in the West Bank and Gaza is a campaign to kill the hope and livelihood of steadfast Palestinians who desire to be free in their homeland.

The Joint Advocacy Initiative continues to take an active part in the ongoing effort to maintain and plant trees that have become victims of the occupation. May we suggest the sponsorship of an olive tree through the JAI's Olive Tree Campaign in honor of someone you love this Christmas season. This living symbol of hope will not only help a Palestinian farmer, but will also serve as a visual reminder to the world that hope cannot be killed.

While the situation is bleak, the people of Palestine stand together in proclaiming their right to stay on the land on which they have lived for centuries. Through continued and renewed campaigns of nonviolent resistance, the people of Palestine seek to continue to be messengers of peace, hope and justice

The birthplace of Jesus Christ has become an open-air prison. Without the support and intervention of the international community, there is little hope for this sacred place. We humbly ask our friends and partners around the world to offer a special prayer for the people of Palestine and for our efforts to keep hope alive. We ask you to act against all the injustices we live under so we may be liberated from oppression and live in peace with justice.

We wish all of our friends and partners around the world a happy and joy-filled Christmas season. May we all be blessed to see peace and hope in the world around us. Merry Christmas!

The JAI Team

 

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About Us

A joint program of East Jerusalem YMCA and YWCA of Palestine, works for Peace with Justice in Palestine, based on Humanitarian and Christian Values, by mobilizing the world movements of YMCA and YWCA, churches, church-based organizations, UN agencies, and other relevant organizations to influence decision-makers and prompt actions that contribute to end Israeli occupation and all its violations of International Law.

Contact Us

Joint Advocacy Initiative
YMCA Street - Beit Sahour - Palestine
P. O. Box 19023, East Jerusalem
Tel / Fax: + 970 (0)2 2774540
E-mail: info@jai-pal.org