(BALTIMORE, MD, 4/1/2024) — The Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, Jewish Voice for Peace Baltimore (JVP Baltimore) and American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) today called on federal authorities to investigate whether an Israeli-based real estate company is planning to encourage or facilitate the purchase of stolen Palestinian land at an event taking place this evening at a Baltimore-area synagogue, and whether the company is refusing access to potential clients based on their religious identity in violation of federal anti-discrimination laws.
SEE: Israel Real Estate Event (Baltimore)
CapitIL Real Estate Events (Multi-Cities)
The Jerusalem-based CapitIL Real Estate Agency and other real estate specialists are advertising tonight’s event at the Congregation Shomrei Emunah synagogue as one of a series of events hosted at locations in different cities to educate vetted participants about “buying their home in Israel.”
Outside the CapitIL event tonight, JVP Baltimore is leading a peaceful vigil supported by CAIR, AMP, Justice For All and other groups to protest the ethnic cleansing of Palestinian land. The groups are urging community members to attend. The event is “bring your own iftar” (BYOI), and those who are fasting are encouraged to pack and bring a meal to break their fast at sunset. Dates and water will be provided.
WHAT: Vigil & Protest Opposing Ethnic Cleansing of Palestinian Land
WHEN: Monday, April 1, 2024, 6:30 p.m. EST
WHERE: 6221 Greenspring Ave, Baltimore, MD 21209
CONTACT: JVP Baltimore Spokesperson Adam Weissman, 201-470-3112; CAIR Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry, zchaudry@cair.com, 410-971-6062
Advocates of different faiths and backgrounds have expressed mounting concerns that the real estate agency’s events may encourage, enable or facilitate the sale of illegally occupied Palestinian land to American citizens. One of the companies involved in the CapitIL event has allegedly been screening guests and clients by asking invasive pre-screening questions about their religious beliefs and cultural practices, raising additional concerns about potential illegal discrimination.
In a statement, CAIR’s Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry said:
“Jewish and Muslim human rights advocates are united in our demand for an investigation into these events, which are occurring against the backdrop of the Israeli government aggressively and illegally seizing and ethnically cleansing Palestinian land in the West Bank and Jerusalem. We are calling on federal officials to conduct a swift and thorough investigation into the activities of this and any other real estate companies that may be involved in selling Palestinian land to American citizens, or that may be holding events that bar clients based on their race, religion or ethnicity.”
In a statement, Jewish Voice for Peace Baltimore Spokesperson Adam Weissman said:
“Many Jewish residents are deeply concerned about events like this that appear to encourage select Americans to purchase property purportedly located in Israel while the Israeli government ethnically cleanses Palestinian land and denies Palestinian refugees the right to return to their homeland. We are also deeply concerned about invasive and potentially discriminatory pre-screening questions for potential clients that focus on religious and cultural identity. Any real estate events that encourage Jewish Americans to purchase land that may have been violently seized from Palestinians are flouting the Eighth Commandment – thou shalt not steal.”
In a statement, American Muslims for Palestine’s Director of Outreach and Community Organizing Taher Herzallah said:
“The prospect of any U.S. city potentially being the site of an exclusive event hosted by an Israeli-based real estate company for a select group of Americans to learn how to buy property there while the Israeli apartheid government ramps up efforts to ethnically cleanse Palestinian land and enshrines racist discrimination in its property sale system is unacceptable. Settler culture is pervasive in the United States, and our government must ensure that events like this are not engaging in discrimination against potential clients or violating international law by enabling the purchase of illegally seized and settled land. Full stop.”
The groups are also calling on Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates to investigate and take appropriate action against any proven violations.
More than 40,000 Palestinian civilians have been killed in Gaza by Israeli forces in the last 172 days, mostly women and children. An additional 420 Palestinians, including 110 children, in the West Bank have been killed by Israel since October 7, 2023. The targeting of Palestinians has continued despite the UN Security Council passing a ceasefire resolution earlier this week.
SEE: U.N. Security Council Passes Resolution for Immediate Cease-Fire
CAIR, AMP, and Jewish Voice for Peace Baltimore stand in unwavering solidarity with coalition partners for justice and liberation for Palestinians.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
AMP works to educate, organize, and mobilize the Muslim-American community, as well as allies in other communities, to advance Palestinian rights.
JVP is the largest progressive Jewish anti-Zionist organization in the world, organizing a grassroots, multiracial, cross-class, intergenerational movement of U.S. Jews into solidarity with the Palestinian freedom struggle, guided by a vision of justice, equality, and dignity for all people.
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CONTACT: CAIR Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry, zchaudry@cair.com, 410-971-6062; JVP Baltimore Spokesman Adam Weissman, 201-470-3112; AMP Outreach Director Taher Herzallah, 951-741-7007