The Trump administration’s recent actions toward the Palestinians demonstrate an utter disregard for their human rights, a dangerous lack of understanding of the Middle East, and an irresponsible willingness to destroy the peace process and to put both Israeli and Palestinian lives at risk.
In the course of just a few weeks, the U.S. administration has eliminated all funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA); redirected other aid meant for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank; slashed funds for an East Jerusalem hospital that is the only place Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza can receive specialized care — including cancer care; and shuttered the Palestinian diplomatic mission in Washington, DC. All this, as the administration promises it is on the cusp of announcing a comprehensive Israeli-Palestinian peace plan.
These moves, intended to strong-arm the Palestinians into accepting whatever terms Israel and the United States seek to impose upon it, are extremely dangerous both for Palestinians and for Israelis. Without UNRWA and other aid, the desperate humanitarian crisis in Gaza will only worsen. And shuttering the diplomatic mission not only humiliates Palestinians and hinders communications, but creates additional obstacles to negotiating a peace agreement.
By refusing to engage with Palestinians or hear their concerns, the administration only fosters hopelessness and extremism.
Ultimately, only a negotiated two-state solution will guarantee the safety, security, and human rights of both Israelis and Palestinians. The Trump administration’s actions threaten to sabotage this long-term solution, while also doing great damage in the short term.
The Rosh Hashanah liturgy, which we just recited, imagines God casting judgment not only on human beings, but also on countries, “which of them is destined for the sword, and which for peace; which for famine, and which for abundance.” God does not act alone, but rather entrusts us — as creations in the divine image — to act in such a way as to bring about justice for all nations and all people. This includes working to ensure that Israelis and Palestinians are both destined for peace, not war; and that Palestinians in Gaza and elsewhere are not destined for famine.
T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights mobilizes a network of almost 2,000 rabbis and cantors from all streams of Judaism that, together with the Jewish community, act on the Jewish imperative to respect and advance the human rights of all people. Grounded in Torah and our Jewish historical experience and guided by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we call upon Jews to assert Jewish values by raising our voices and taking concrete steps to protect and expand human rights in North America, Israel, and the occupied Palestinian territories.
To learn more or to speak with T’ruah Executive Director Rabbi Jill Jacobs, contact Julie Wiener at jwiener@truah.org