jewish voice for peace

American Jewish activists protest outside the Birthright offices in New York, April 5, 2019. (GIli Getz)

In these dark times, young American Jews are a ray of hope

The recent campaigns taking aim at Birthright and the American political establishment are more than symbolic — they are sowing the seeds of a powerful resistance movement against Israel’s occupation. By Oren Kroll-Zeldin Passover is a celebration of freedom, justice, and liberation. In Hebrew it is referred to as zman heruteynu, the season of our freedom.…

By +972 Magazine April 24, 2019

Rebecca Vilkomerson, Director of Jewish Voice for Peace, at the organization's offices in Brooklyn, NY, January 23, 2019 (Kevin Hagen for +972 Magazine)

JVP just declared itself anti-Zionist and it’s already shifting the conversation

‘We often play the role of being able to say things that the rest of the movement cannot,’ Jewish Voice for Peace director Rebecca Vilkomerson says in a wide-ranging interview about the group’s decision to come out as opposed to Zionism, how to fight the conflation of anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism, and recent attacks on Black-Palestine…

By Michael Schaeffer Omer-Man January 30, 2019

Members of Jewish-American anti-occupation group IfNotNow protest Trump's decision to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, Washington D.C., May 14, 2018. (Gili Getz)

Fed up with myths, these American Jews are challenging their Israel education

They grew up on the myths of a heroic Jewish state, joined Zionist organizations, and learned the talking points. But something along the way made them question everything. By Tom Pessah Some of the strangest encounters I had in the years I spent living and studying in the United States were with American Jews. I often felt…

By +972 Magazine January 13, 2019

Latest

A Palestinian woman walks by a grafitti sign calling to boycott Israel on a street in the West Bank city of Bethlehem on February 11, 2015. (Miriam Alster/Flash 90)

When support for Israel means abandoning universal values

On a recent trip to Germany, Jewish Israeli filmmaker Udi Aloni finds himself defending the Palestinians’ right to resist Israeli apartheid and occupation. Before pledging unconditional loyalty to Israel, he says, people should ask themselves what values they are helping promote. By Udi Aloni My daughter Yuli and I set out on a journey in Berlin…

By +972 Magazine September 14, 2018

Joint List MK Yousef Jabareen seen in the Knesset. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)

Knesset bars Arab MK from JVP-sponsored trip to U.S.

MK Yousef Jabareen was supposed to travel across the United States for a series of lectures on the political reality in Israel. The Knesset decided to put the kibosh on the trip — because it is sponsored by Jewish Voice for Peace. The Knesset has forbidden an Arab member of Knesset from traveling to the…

By Edo Konrad March 14, 2018

Israeli BDS activists take part in an anti-corruption demonstration in Tel Aviv's Habima Square, December 9th, 2017. (Hagar Shezaf)

Why has Israel banned Jewish leftists but not members of Nazi-linked groups?

Israel has banned leaders and key activists from Jewish Voice for Peace, the American Friends Service Committee, and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, among other groups that support BDS, from entering the country. So why doesn’t it extend the same restrictions to members of Nazi-affiliated groups? Israel’s latest step in its self-described “offensive” against the Boycott, Divestment…

By Natasha Roth-Rowland January 8, 2018

Palestine solidarity protesters supporting the BDS movement, 2010. (Photo by Stephanie Law/CC, cropped)

Israel to bar U.S. Jewish group from country over BDS support

As part of Israel’s anti-BDS campaign, officials say members of Jewish Voice for Peace, one of the fastest growing Jewish organizations in the U.S., will not be able to enter Israel. An Israeli government ministry confirmed on Saturday that the American Jewish organization, Jewish Voice for Peace*, is among 20 organizations from around the world that have been placed…

By Mairav Zonszein January 7, 2018

Linda Sarsour participating in a Passover protest organized by Jews for Racial and Economic Justice, New York, April 14, 2017.

Linda Sarsour: ‘We must all commit to dismantling anti-Semitism’

A storm of protest failed to overshadow a diverse, progressive panel on anti-Semitism held in New York, featuring Linda Sarsour and Jewish Voice for Peace head Rebecca Vilkomerson. In the end, the controversy, threats, protests and endless scandalized op-eds were unable to derail a diverse, progressive panel on anti-Semitism that took place in New York on…

By Natasha Roth-Rowland November 29, 2017

A member of Jewish Voice for Peace is arrested during a protest action at the Anti-Defamation League's offices in New York, November 9, 2017. (Courtesy of JVP)

Why I got arrested at the ADL

Jewish Voice for Peace activists are arrested protesting ADL exchange programs that bring together American law enforcement with Israeli military and police, a swapping of ‘worst practices’ that strengthens the repression of communities of color in both places. By Talia Baurer In my professional life, I teach workshops about healthy relationships and consent to middle…

By +972 Magazine November 10, 2017

Professor Gerald Steinberg is seen at a conference organized by NGO Monitor at the Knesset, June 20, 2016. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)

How I stopped ignoring NGO Monitor and started fighting back

For years I have remained silent as Gerald Steinberg and NGO Monitor have harassed anti-occupation groups in Israel-Palestine, spreading falsehoods about us in order to shut us down. Now is the time to speak out. By Michael Sfard (translated by Sol Salbe) Around a decade ago, a new Israeli organization appeared out of nowhere. It…

By +972 Magazine August 30, 2017

A group of queer Jewish activists disrupts the Celebrate Israel parade in Manhattan, New York City, June 4, 2017. (Jewish Voice for Peace)

Queer Jews should think again before celebrating Israel

We were labeled homophobes and racists for disrupting a group of queer Jews at a pro-Israel parade this month. But as queer Jews ourselves, we could not stand aside while being used to distract from Israel’s treatment of Palestinians. By Stephanie Skora Just under two weeks ago, on the eve of the 50th anniversary of Israel’s occupation, members of Jewish…

By +972 Magazine June 18, 2017

Jewish protesters are arrested after disrupting the Celebrate Israel parade in Manhattan, New York City, June 4, 2017. (Jewish Voice for Peace)

Jewish activists arrested for protesting New York pro-Israel parade

New York’s annual, lavishly-funded Celebrate Israel parade was interrupted by scores of American Jewish activists, several of whom were arrested in the process. Seven Jewish protesters were arrested in New York on Sunday afternoon as over 100 activists disrupted the annual Celebrate Israel parade. The event, which sees thousands of participants march down Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue accompanied…

By Natasha Roth-Rowland June 5, 2017

J Street U students take part in an anti-BDS summit at the United Nations, March 29, 2017. (Gili Getz)

Can J Street coherently fight both boycott and occupation?

After J Street U students were attacked at an anti-BDS conference this week, the lobby might want to reconsider the effectiveness of seeking common ground with extremists. Things got ugly at an anti-BDS conference at the United Nations this week when participants turned on a group of liberal university students in attendance. The conference, organized by…

By Noa Yachot April 1, 2017