More than 950 Israelis sign a petition calling to international sanctions against Israel The petition begins with the statement, “Israeli citizens are calling for actual international pressure for an immediate ceasefire,” and states, “We, Israeli citizens, living in Israel and abroad, are calling on the international community – the United Nations and its institutions, the United States, the European Union, the Arab League and all the countries of the world – to intervene immediately and apply every possible sanction in order to achieve an immediate ceasefire between Israel and its neighbors, for the benefit of the future of the two peoples in Israel/Palestine and of the peoples of the region, and for their right to security and life.”
Israelis for Peace demonstration in front of the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Berlin for a ceasefire in Gaza and against arming Israel, July 2024 (Photo: Israelis for Peace)
“Many of us are veteran activists against the occupation and for peace and coexistence in this country. We are motivated by love for the country and its inhabitants, and we are concerned about their future. We were horrified by the war crimes committed by Hamas and other organizations on October 7, and we are horrified by the countless war crimes committed by Israel. Unfortunately, most Israelis support the continuation of the war and the massacres and change from within is currently not possible. The State of Israel is on a suicidal course and is wreaking havoc and destruction that is increasing day by day. The government of Israel has abandoned its kidnapped citizens (and killed some of them), abandoned the residents of the south and the north, and is abandoning the fate and future of its citizens,” said.
According to the petition, “The Palestinian citizens of Israel are persecuted and silenced by both law enforcement and the general public. The repression, intimidation and political persecution prevent many who share our opinion from signing this call. Every day that passes further away any possible horizon for an agreement and reconciliation, for a future in which Jewish-Israelis can live safely in this space – and in any case, it is a long and protracted process, but the slaughter and destruction must be stopped immediately! The lack of real international pressure, the continued supply of weapons to Israel, the continued economic, security, scientific, and cultural cooperation make most of Israelis believe that Israel’s policies have international backing. Leaders of many countries come back and express shock and condemn Israel’s actions, but the condemnations are not accompanied by any practical action. We are fed up with empty words and statements. Please, for our future and the future of all the inhabitants of the country and the region, save us from ourselves, put real pressure on Israel for an immediate ceasefire.”
Among the signatories well-known Israeli academics, authors, artists and veteran activists against occupation of the Palestinian territories: Anat Matar, Smadar Ben-Natan, Moshe Behar, Tamir Sorek, Rafi Greenberg, Shira Klein, Lior Sternfeld, Ophira Gamliel, Hilla Dayan, Regev Nathansohn, Matan Kaminer, Uri Hadar, Snait Gissis, Amalia Saar, Avishai Ehrlich, Efraim Davidi, Maya Rosenfeld, Avraham Oz, Ronnen Ben-Arie, Leena Dallasheh, Ofer Neiman, Yael Berda, Tamar Berger, Debbie Eylon, Anat Biletzki, Sivan, Smadar Sharon, Uri Shani, Rajuan Shtang, Hannan Hever, Eran Torbiner, Orly Lubin, Raz Chen-Morris, Hannah Safran, Shoham Smith, Revital Madar, Ilana Hairston, Amos Goldberg, Tamar Yaron, Snait Gissis, Amalia Saar, Ronnen Ben-Arie, David Reeb, Sigal Kook Avivi, Avi Mograbi, Nurit Aviv, Miriam Eliav-Feldon, Yael Hedaya, Hedva Isachar, Alma Katz, Joshua Glotman, Michal Aviad, Jerome Bourdon, Oded Goldreich, Sinai Peter, Amira Hass, Areen Qassem, Naftali Kaminski, Avner Ben Amos, Kobi Peterzil, Nitza Berkovitch, Udi Aloni, Gal Levy, Emmanuel Farjoun, Sara Helman, Yuval Yonay, Asad Ghanem, Yigal Bronner, Barak Heymann, Avner Giladi and Alma Itzhaky.
