Letter organized by Texas Arab American Democrats, American Federation of Ramallah Palestine, and Palestinian American Organizations Network
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 7/6/23) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today joined more than 70 local and national Palestinian, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim organizations in delivering a letter to the Biden administration urging immediate action in response to weeks of escalating Israeli settler attacks and recent IDF attacks on civilian infrastructure in refugee camps.
Organized by the Texas Arab American Democrats, American Federation of Ramallah Palestine, and Palestinian American Organizations Network, the letter also requests a meeting between Biden administration officials and concerned local and national American organizations and organizers to discuss these pressing issues.
READ THE LETTER: Click Here
The letter states in part:
“During the past two weeks, dozens of Israeli settlers, some of whom may also be American citizens, recently carried out violent attacks on the Palestinian villages of Al-Lubban ash–Sharqiya and Turmusayya in the occupied West Bank.
“These attacks involved the destruction of property, including arson and stone-throwing, resulting in damage to cars, homes, and businesses. Disturbingly, numerous Palestinians sustained injuries from live fire, either from settlers or soldiers. This situation is deeply troubling as it indicates a gross failure on the part of Israeli authorities to protect Palestinian lives and property.
“…many of the Palestinian civilians targeted in the town of Turmus Ayya are American citizens, heightening the urgency of this matter. These incidents bear an uncanny resemblance to wanton violent riots carried out by Israeli settlers targeting local Palestinians in the town of Huwara earlier this year.
The letter also highlights that: “Illinois State Representative Abdelnasser Rashid was also visiting his family with his wife and three children in the West Bank when he stated that his hometown had been targeted by a violent mob. Rashid, who grew up in the Palestinian village of Turmus Ayya, located approximately 25 miles north of Jerusalem, expressed his profound disappointment, stating, ‘What was intended to be a vacation turned into an absolute nightmare.’”
[NOTE: Following the letter being delivered to the White House, additional organizations signed onto and endorsed the letter, including: American Palestinian Women’s National Federation Americans for Palestine Dareleman Islamic Center Dar Elsalam Islamic Center Good Citizens of DFW Jhjpi- Joining Hands for Justice Khabar24 Agency Palestinian American Center of Phoenix Palestinian House of New England Paccnj Partners for Palestine]
For the past week, the Israeli government has also been launching large-scale military attacks in the occupied West Bank cities of Jenin, Nablus and other cities, conducting attacks in crowded civilian areas, forcing hundreds of families, to leave their homes at gunpoint, blocking ambulances from helped the injured, opening fire at Palestinian journalists, destroying civilian infrastructure such as roads, and cutting water and electricity.
On Monday, CAIR separately condemned “war crimes” being committed against Palestinian civilians in Jenin refugee camp and called on the United States to take concrete action to stop the Israeli government’s escalating human rights abuses.
The Middle East Eye reports that “Israeli forces and settlers have killed at least 163 Palestinians this year, including 27 children” and “A total of 129 fatalities have been recorded in the West Bank and East Jerusalem and a further 34 in the Gaza Strip.”
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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For more information, email: [email protected], CC [email protected]
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, [email protected]; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, [email protected]