What we believe.

• We believe that peace is possible. We support policies that promote a genuine, lasting peace based on dignity, security, and equality for both Israelis and Palestinians.

• We believe that U.S. policy has been an obstacle to peace. By offering unconditional, uncritical diplomatic support and tens of billions of dollars of military aid, our government has failed the interests of Israelis, Palestinians and our own national self-interest. One-sided U.S. engagement has worsened and deepened the conflict by promoting the militarization of a conflict that cannot be solved by arming one side to the teeth.

• We believe that Israeli-Palestinian peace is our business as American citizens and taxpayers. Standing aside and doing nothing or “leaving it to the experts” doesn’t make us neutral, it makes us complicit in supporting policies that have brought decades of injustice and suffering. It is our responsibility as citizens and taxpayers to end our government’s costly and counterproductive policies.

• We believe that our international standing and security are being harmed. For too long, Americans have been asked to believe that Israel’s policies are in our interests. The U.S.-Israel “special relationship” has amounted to blind support for Israel’s policies towards the Palestinians. The international perception of the U.S. as Israel’s financial backer and diplomatic shield have undermined America’s international standing and security in the world.

• We believe that military aid diverts tax money we need here at home. The aid we send to Israel drains tax money from our own precarious economy and underfunded domestic programs such as healthcare, education, housing, and jobs. A full quarter of the aid is spent by Israel within its military industry—that means American taxpayers are funding jobs in Israel’s economy.

• We believe that military aid to Israel is dangerous and counterproductive. Our billions in taxpayer-funded aid have perpetuated Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land and the dispossession of the Palestinian people. Despite Israel’s repeated and ongoing failures to comply with U.S. policy statements, our “no strings attached” unconditional funding of Israel has continued uninterrupted.

• We believe in open debate. Too frequently, critics of Israeli policy have been demonized and marginalized. It is a positive development that growing numbers of Americans (including American Jews) are defying intimidation and baseless accusations of anti-Semitism by Israeli advocacy organizations and demanding open discussion about the morality and legality of Israel’s actions and policies.