[WCUSP] PRESS RELEASE: 8/22/06: Philadelphia Jewish Voice for Peace Supports Jewish Banner-Hangers

[Libby or Mort Frank]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, August 22, 2006   

Contact: Rebecca Subar, 215-843-4494  

Philadelphia Jewish Voice for Peace Supports Jewish Banner-Hangers
Jewish Group Endorses Jewish Opposition to Israeli Policy
 
PHILADELPHIA  - The Philadelphia chapter of the national peace group Jewish Voice for Peace announced its support today for a group of local Jewish antiwar activists who hung banners on three prominent local bridges today, telling rush-hour drivers that "U.S. Jews Say: Israel, Stop Killing Civilians"; "U.S. Jews Stand Against Israel's War Crimes"; and "U.S. Jews Say: End U.S. Military $ to Israel."
The banner-hangers identified themselves in a press statement as Philadelphia Jewish activists, working in coordination with Jewish activists in New York, San Francisco, and Boston.  Their demonstration was organized in "opposition to recent aggression by the Israeli and U.S. governments in Lebanon, Gaza and the West Bank."  
"Based on Philadelphia's major newspaper, television and radio coverage of the Middle East, Philadelphians would believe that the Jews of Philadelphia solidly support Israel's policies," said Philadelphia JVP member Susan Landau.  "The message of the banner-droppers is that this is not the case." 
As members of a national Jewish peace group with over 15,000 supporters, Philadelphia JVP supports some of the same positions as the banner-hangers:  it opposes Israel's invasion of Lebanon and continuing military occupation of the Palestinian territories, which has most recently led to the killing of hundreds of civilians in Gaza, and cycles of political, social and economic distress in Gaza and the West Bank. Such policies make life more dangerous and peace more remote for Israelis as well as residents of the other countries in the region. 
In recent weeks, hundreds of Philadelphia Jews have demonstrated their opposition to automatic Jewish support for Israel - counter-demonstrating at the official Jewish Federation rally held at Love Park on July 24; supporting an interfaith vigil held each Friday for more than four years in front of the Israeli consulate in Center City; and supporting recent demonstrations against the Israeli invasion of Lebanon. 
"This sentiment was also in evidence today on our city's bridges," added Landau.  "We oppose uncritical U.S. political and financial support for Israel's actions, and we call on the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News, Channels 3, 6, 10 and Fox News, and radio stations KYW and WHYY to report Jewish support for Israel more accurately - as only one aspect of community sentiment - and to reflect in its coverage the voices of many other Philadelphia Jews who refuse to be characterized as monolithcally supporting policies which violate our sense of what is right."   
Philadelphia Jewish Voice for Peace was founded in September, 2005 in response to media representation of Jews as single-minded in support for Israel.  The group opposes those U.S. policies which support Israel's continued occupation of the Palestinian lands.  Philadelphia Jewish Voice for Peace is a chapter of the national group, Jewish Voice For Peace.   ###


 


Rebecca Subar Management Consulting
rebeccasubar at yahoo.com
215-843-4494


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