Statements

Partners for Progressive Israel (Meretz USA) Encouraged by Content of Palestinian Application for Full UN Membership

editor — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 07:55:23 -0700

On Monday, October 17, 2011, Partners for Progressive Israel (Meretz USA) President Dina B. Charnin, Chair Theodore Bikel, and Executive Director Ron Skolnik issued the following statement on behalf of the organization:

On September 23, 2011, Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority, submitted an application for full membership in the United Nations for the State of Palestine. After carefully reviewing its text, Partners for Progressive Israel (Meretz USA) is encouraged to find that the Palestinian application contains four positive elements, which, if embraced by the government of Israel, could provide new momentum for the negotiating process. In our statement of September 18, we urged President Abbas to incorporate these elements in the Palestinian application to the UN, and we are pleased by their inclusion in the documents submitted.

We wish to highlight these positive elements, particularly in light of the unfortunate decision of many American Jewish organizations to characterize the Palestinian application as an attack on Israel and an effort to avoid a two-state resolution of the conflict:

Partners for Progressive Israel (Meretz USA) applauds deal to secure the release of Gilad Shalit

editor — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 11:15:21 -0700

On October 12, 2011, Partners for Progressive Israel (formerly Meretz USA) President Dina B. Charnin and Executive Director Ron Skolnik issued this statement on behalf of the organization:

Partners for Progressive Israel (formerly Meretz USA) applauds the Israeli government's approval of the deal that will secure the release of Gilad Shalit later this month, after five painful years in captivity. We now wait with baited breath for the deal's implementation.

Israel will clearly be paying a very high price, including the release of 279 Palestinian prisoners currently serving life sentences. The deal reminds us, however, that enormous compromises are often necessary in order to achieve worthy goals. In this light, we are particularly pleased by the actions of Prime Minister Netanyahu, who had long been opposed to the deal in principle, but who rose above this to do what was necessary and right.

Partners for Progressive Israel (Meretz USA) Statement on Palestinian Application for Full UN Membership

editor — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 06:49:15 -0700

On Sunday, September 18, 2011, Partners for Progressive Israel (Meretz USA) President Dina B. Charnin, Chair Theodore Bikel, and Executive Director Ron Skolnik issued the following statement on behalf of the organization:

The Palestinian decision to advance their statehood drive via the United Nations, and outside the framework of negotiations with Israel, is a diplomatic turning point that creates risks but also offers new openings for progress toward peace. For the benefit of both the Jewish and Palestinian peoples, we urge the government of Israel to focus on the positive elements we expect to be contained in the Palestinian request, as outlined below, and to refrain from precipitous responses that would escalate tension and serve the agenda of both sides' extremists.

Meretz USA (Partners for Progressive Israel) applauds Israel’s Million-Person March for social justice

editor — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 09:21:18 -0700

On September 1, Meretz USA (Partners for Progressive Israel) Executive Director Ron Skolnik issued the following statement on behalf of the organization:

This Saturday evening, September 3, 2011, Israelis will hold a Million-Person March for social justice. Meretz USA (Partners for Progressive Israel) applauds the Israelis of all backgrounds who have taken to the streets this summer to work for a more just Israeli society. We stand in solidarity with their efforts to achieve justice on a host of social issues including: affordable housing, education and healthcare, and livable wages.

Meretz USA is now - "Partners for Progressive Israel"

editor — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 07:27:34 -0700

We're very excited to share some big news. Meretz USA for Israeli Civil Rights and Peace has changed its name. Our new name is - "Partners for Progressive Israel". Our board of directors made this decision in June, and we're now in the middle of our implementation process. We've gone through the legal transition and will soon be rolling out our new logo and website. The Meretz USA website will be automatically redirected to the Partners for Progressive Israel website, once the latter goes live.

Buy Israeli Produce – Don’t Buy Settlement Produce (They’re not the Same)

editor — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 12:46:30 -0700

The Green Line between Israel and the West Bank/Gaza constitutes the geographic basis for a viable Israeli-Palestinian two-state compromise; four decades of Israeli settlement expansion are destroying that basis. Israel's Occupation and settlement policies compromise Israel's character as a democratic Jewish-majority state, while undermining relations between Israel and the future Palestinian state. These policies isolate Israel diplomatically in ways that are likely to have long-term security consequences. For these and other reasons Meretz USA is promoting a boycott of food products and produce grown and produced in West Bank Settlements. Buy produce from Israel, don't buy produce from the Settlements; they are not the same.

The following is a list of food products and produce made in West Bank Settlements and sold in the U.S.

Buy Israeli Products - Don't Buy Settlement Products (They're not the Same)

editor — Mon, 09 May 2011 12:03:14 -0700

Buy Israeli Products - Don't Buy Settlement Products (They're not the same)

Targeted Boycott: What about the Golan?

editor — Fri, 06 May 2011 07:09:45 -0700

Targeted Boycott: What about the Golan?

Buy Israeli Wines – Don’t Buy Settlement Wines (They’re not the Same)

editor — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 12:49:35 -0700

Buy Israeli Wines - Don't Buy Settlement Wines (They're not the Same)

On April 6, 2011, Meretz USA President, Dr. Moises Salinas-Fleitman, and Executive Director Ron Skolnik issued the following statement on behalf of the organization.

Meretz USA outraged by the murder in Itamar

editor — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 13:20:09 -0700

Meretz USA President Moises Salinas Fleitman issued the following statement on behalf of the organization:

Meretz USA is outraged by the horrible murder of Udi and Ruth Fogel, and their children, 11 year-old Yoav, 4 year-old Elad and 3 month-old Hadas in the settlement of Itamar. We are repulsed not only by the unspeakable violence involved, but by the unimaginable act of dehumanization that allowed the terrorist to slaughter not just civilians, but young children in their sleep. No political context can justify such a crime.