Press releases
Press release
Press release
30 May 2010
Rapidly, JCall has become a reference, to the point where the first question asked to Benjamin Netanyahu in the interview given to Le Figaro, during his visit in France this week, concerned what he thought of our appeal. It has to be noted that, in his answer, the Israeli Prime Minister did not question European Jews’ legitimacy to take position on Israeli policies, what he said was only that « we erred ». This openness to debate, which exists within Israeli society, does not seem to be shared on this side of the Mediterranean Sea, considering the numerous attacks against us and the attempts of hijacking our brand name. These attempts will have legal consequences. These reactions toward us measure the fear that part of Israeli Right and its supporters here feel of seeing a development of a criticism against Israeli policies initiated by Jewish figures who cannot be suspected of hostility toward Israel.
As for us, we shall go on looking for debate with all our opponents, because we are convinced that it is necessary, and even in accordance with the spirit of Zionism to which we are attached. One of Zionism’s great benefits is to have allowed Jews to become again the subjects of their own History. If one cannot doubt that the national dimension of that newly found identity cannot express itself but in Israel, one cannot doubt either that Jewish citizens from other countries, who identify with this State, may and must take their share in a debate on the future of this country, which will have consequences for them too.
This controversy about the nature of the relationship between Israel and the Diaspora is not new, it has always existed since the State has been created. Let us only bear in mind the exchanges, sometimes difficult, between Nahum Goldman, ex-chairman of the World Jewish Congress and David Ben Gurion.
Besides, the right to interfere into this debate has been recognized by a number of Israeli figures who are signing during these days a text supporting JCall. Let us note, too, that those who question this right never expressed themselves when Jewish voices in the Diaspora supported Israeli government’s policy, as it has been again the case with Elie Wiesel on Jerusalem.
As we committed ourselves, we shall continue our action and expand toward other European countries. The echo our appeal has aroused beyond the Atlantic Ocean, with the launching in support of JCall of a petition « For the sake of Zion » [1] initiated by a number of personalities, among them rabbis, writers and important members of the American Jewish community, which we relayed in our press review, proves that our action does express a signicative part of the Diaspora.
Our website will be upgraded in order to reflect JCall expansion. In its new version, you willl find :
• A translation of our appeal into other languages
• A selection of texts written by personalities, expressing the reasons that led them to support us
• The Brussels conference on May 3rd , when JCall has been launched (date which became the « JCall Day », will be available online, as a press review about this event
Waiting for future developments which will be communicated to you later, we call upon you to go on and make our appeal signed.
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An Israeli political initiative is necessary
Faced with the current turmoil in the Middle East, Israel cannot afford to maintain a defensive position and take refuge in a status quo
It is now likely that next September the Palestinian Authority will ask the United Nations General Assembly to recognize the Palestinian state within the 1967 borders. This comes after several countries, notably in South America, have already officially done so. The United States as well as several EU members may well follow suit in the coming months.
Benjamin Netanyahou’s government has proved incapable both of foreseeing and acting upon this chain of events. Israel now finds itself almost completely isolated internationally, which threatens its national interests. Israel must now take initiatives in order to resurrect the peace process, which stalled months ago. Nor can it afford to maintain a defensive position or to hide behind the ongoing discussions between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority.
When an agreement is reached, it is essential that both the Palestinian Authority and Hamas endorse the basic principles for peace: recognition of the state of Israel and renunciation of violence and terrorism.
If either the Palestinians or Israel do not meet these conditions, violence may well break out once more and chatter all hopes for peace, gravely damaging both parties’ interests, which only Iran and Hezbollah would benefit from.
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Condemnation of murder in Itamar
JCall is horrified by the cold-blooded murder of the Fogel family
in the settlement of Itamar.
We hope that Israel and the Palestinian Authority will bring the
perpetrators to justice.
These murderous acts only reinforce the extremists and their views on both sides and
do not pave the path to peace.
JCall extends his sincere condolences to the family of the victims.
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JCall demands the renewal of a freeze on settlement building, including East Jerusalem
The Israeli government’s desire to exclude East Jerusalem from an agreement on the renewal of a freeze on colonization is a major obstacle today to the re-opening of direct negotiations between the two parties. Such a demand amounts to accepting, de facto, Israel’s annexation of the city, which is of course unacceptable to the Palestinian authority and to the international community as well.
By citing the Oslo agreement stipulating that the question of Jerusalem would be dealt with at a later date, some people in the French Jewish community assert that the city is therefore « implicitly » under Israeli sovereignty, and that in this case the settlement building is perfectly legal.
It seems appropriate to remind them that the notion of implicit sovereignty has no legal value. According to international law, East Jerusalem has the same status as the West Bank. Both are occupied territories. Saying that they are « disputed » territories won’t change anything: whatever term you use, neither the West Bank nor East Jerusalem are legally part of the State of Israel.
The Israeli government’s demand that East Jerusalem be excluded from this agreement is unacceptable, all the more so given that events unfolding there these days are as dangerous as they are intolerable. More and more often, settlers build without a permit, in the heart of Arab neighborhoods, and settle there in spite of reiterated court orders declaring these buildings illegal. The same settlers, united and organized, proceed to purchase Palestinian properties on a questionable legal basis, then evict the tenants living there. A few days ago, a family of A-Tur was thus thrown out in the street.
One of their tactics is to request in court the recognition of title deeds issued before 1948, so as to evict Palestinians occupants and thus benefit the settlers. This is what is being done in Sheikh Jarrah, for example.
All these actions, perfectly planned and coordinated, have only one goal: to isolate the Arab neighborhoods of the old city from their immediate suburbs. The aim is clear: the settlers intend, with the blessing of the government, to prevent at all costs the dividing of Jerusalem, and in so doing, to make any global and permanent solution of the conflict impossible to achieve. We are opposed to this rampant colonization and we appeal to the Israeli government to order the renewal of a settlement freeze that includes East Jerusalem. We also appeal to the Palestinian Authority to accept the re-opening of direct negotiations. We expect the American administration to pursue relentlessly its involvement in the peace process and to remain as determined as ever until the conclusion of a global agreement.
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JCall leaders received at the Élysée by the President of France
On Monday, 6th February, President Nicolas Sarkozy received the directors of JCall (Gérard Unger, President, David Chemla, European General Secretary, Alain Rozenkier, board member), accompanied by Alain Finkielkraut, JCall’s signatory, at the Élysée Palace.
They expressed their disapproval of the settlement policy of the Israeli government in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and also of maintaining the status quo in Israeli-Palestinian relations. At the same time, they reaffirmed their unwavering support for the State of Israel.
The French president in turn reiterated his own continuing support for the State of Israel, whose creation was a significant and defining act in the history of the Twentieth Century, and whose existence was non-negotiable. He advocated the existence of two nation states: the State of Israel for the Jewish people, who had the right to a state in which the rights of non-Jewish Israelis were respected; and a State of Palestine for the Palestinian people.
President Sarkozy declared himself opposed to any negotiations between France and Hamas as an organisation whilst it did not recognize the State of Israel. He indicated that he shared the point-of-view expressed by the representatives of JCall concerning the settlements, suggesting at the same it was a mistake to demand their construction be stopped before negotations are resumed.
The President stated the situation in Iran was “of capital importance”, and that Teheran should not possess nuclear weapons. He stressed the major commitment of France to this issue, as well as the many initiatives of the French diplomatic service to increase sanctions in order to avoid military intervention, which would have serious repercussions.
Consequently, the delegation from JCall noted with satisfaction a complete convergence of views with the French president on all these matters.
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JCall regrets Knesset passage of boycott bill
JCall deeply regrets the Knesset’s passage on July 11th of a law making the call for boycotts of Israelor the West Banksettlements illegal.
While we strongly oppose the BDS movement, we are convinced this bill goes against the fundamental democratic principle of freedom of expression.
In direct contradiction to claims that it would somehow protect Israel, the boycott bill actually gives ammunition to those questioning Israel’s democratic standing and supporting delegitimization campaigns, specifically boycott movements.
JCall is relieved however that the bill was not passed at the government’s initiative and that the left, Kadima as well as some Likoud MPs have voted against it.
As several human rights NGOs have legally challenged the bill, we have good hope the Israeli High Court will strike it down, in accordance with many Israeli lawyers’ assessment.
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JCall’s position on the Palestinian statehood bid at the UN
Next September 20th, the Palestinians will ask the United Nations to accept Palestine as a member state.
As this date draws near, JCall, who supports the 2 States solution, wishes to make the following comments:
The inalienable right to self-determination has allowed the Jewish people to fight for emancipation in the framework of a movement of national liberation, Zionism, which led to the creation of the State of Israel, recognized by the international community.
In the same way, this right is the grassroots of the current Palestinian UN bid for statehood.
JCall deeply regrets that failures of leadership on both sides, rounds of violence and terrorism, and settlement expansion in the West Bank have resulted in two decades of unfruitful negotiations. The resulting status quo is no longer bearable because of the many threats it implies, especially after the Arab Spring.
Therefore, JCall understands how the frustrations caused by the lack of prospects have led the Palestinians to turn to the UN.
JCall, however, is well aware that this initiative can lead to the best or the worst. The worst would be a new round of violence, putting off for even longer any chance of ending the conflict, and the attack perpetrated a few days ago against the Israeli Embassy in Cairo is extremely worrying. This is the strongest fear of many Israelis and friends of Israel throughout the world, and ours as well.
At best, the Palestinians’ UN bid could be a step towards resuming direct negotiations, eventually leading to the creation of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with mutually agreed land swaps, and a negotiated solution to the issue of refugees.
In that prospect, this “unilateral” and largely symbolical move on the part of the Palestinians could have potentially positive outcomes:
- though theoretical, UN acceptance of Palestinian statehood would change the face of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict which would for the first time oppose two sovereign states.
- with UN acceptance, the resolution 181 voted on November 29th 1947 by the General Assembly of the United Nations would at last come into effect. This resolution called for the creation of two separate states living side by side in mandatory Palestine: a Jewish state next to an Arab state. For Israel, that would imply recognition within the borders of the 1948 war of independence and tackle fears of an international “delegitimization”.
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JCall, European gathering : A year later.
JCall – the European Jewish call for reason - calls upon the International Community, particularly the United States and the European Union, to put together all the necessary conditions towards a final conclusion of a peace agreement in the Middle East.
A year after the launch of the «Appeal to reason », in Brussels, more than 400 delegates from France, Belgium, Italy, Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands, met in Paris and reached the following conclusions:
1. The complete stalemate in the Middle East Peace Process and the wave of revolutionary movements sweeping through the Arab World confirm the accuracy of the appeal launched in Brussels on May 3 2010 and make the issues referred to, even more pressing.
2. The launch of the appeal generated great support across Europe as well as harsh criticism by proponents of the status quo, which demonstrates the relevance of Jcall’s message. It is therefore necessary to move further at an organisational level as well as an operational one.
It has therefore been decided:
1. To expand Jcall from an appeal to a pan-European movement. David Chemla, secretary of JCall France, has assumed the position of its Secretary General
2. The European committee will be composed of members of the different National JCalls
The basic principles managing the JCall campaigns as outlined a year ago remain fully valid:
1. JCall is a manifestation of the Jewish European Civil Society, which is deeply committed to the existence and the security of the State of Israel.
2. JCall believes that the survival of the State of Israel and its security can only be guaranteed by Israel ending the occupation of Palestinian Territories and the creation of a sovereign Palestinian State along its borders.
3. JCall witnesses the unprecedented isolation of the Israeli Government on the International Arena, isolation that is in great part the outcome of its current settlement policy within the Palestinian Territories.
4. JCall calls on both parties to return as quickly as possible to the negotiating table and to resume talks based on internationally recognised criteria including: The Oslo Agreement, The Clinton parameters, The 2003 “Road map” and underlined in President Obama May 2011 speech.
5. JCall recognizes the current stalemate within the Palestinian society, of which some components still do not recognize the right of the State of Israel to exist.
6. JCall calls upon the International Community, particularly the United States and the European Union, to put together all the necessary conditions towards a final conclusion of a peace agreement whose main criteria’s are widely known for a long time. JCall will support any initiative that would lead in that direction.
7. JCall calls upon all European Jews to support these efforts, by drawing a clear line between their unconditional support for the State and the people of Israel and the necessary democratic debate around the policies of its Government. In light of this, European Jews are worried about the growing tendency within certain parts of the European Society to delegitimize the State of Israel by proceeding to an unacceptable mix up between the State, its essence, its founding ideology on the one hand and the policies of its governments on the other. This attitude can only compromise the goal of 2 States for 2 people.
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Let us not be afraid!
Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen, Bahrain, Libya: the Arab world is in a turmoil. Two authoritarian regimes have already fallen and others may follow.
Faced with this unstable situation, Israeli public opinion as well as many Jews in the Diaspora seem paralyzed. They fear the leap into the unknown, the rise of Islamic movements and fanatics to power.
To these fears, JCall answers borrowing John-Paul II’s words: Let us not be afraid! There is hope to be found in the events taking place in the Arab world. Indeed, those who toppled Ben-Ali and Mubarak were fighting for liberty and democracy, not to threaten Israel. The transition governments in Tunis and Cairo are first and foremost preoccupied with their people’s well-being; they are not warmongers.
The Arab world feels self-confident again and is proud of its move towards democracy. As European citizens and as Jews, we should only welcome this with joy.
Evidently, dangers exist, as events unfold. But the worst would be not to do anything.
It is time for Israel to make a gesture towards the democratic uprising that is shaking the Arab world and seek ways to peace.
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Let’s take them at their word!
JCall thinks that the replacement of the Israeli-Palestinian question at the top of the international agenda through the Palestinian initiative at the UN is a positive thing.
Many people in Israel feared that the initiative would result in a resumption of violence in the West Bank. Thankfully, this has not been the case so far, which seems to show that the Palestinian leaders – as well as the Palestinian people– are determined to reach a resolution of the conflict through diplomatic and peaceful means.
At the UN platform, each leader presented his vision of the history of the conflict and addressed first and foremost his own people.
Although it did not mention the Jewish presence in Jerusalem and likened the occupation to ethnic cleansing or apartheid, President Abbas’ speech clearly reasserted his determination to achieve peace through the creation of two states, based on the 1967 borders and a mutually agreed solution for the refugees.
If, for his part, Prime Minister Netanyahu repeated his commitment to the two-state solution and to an immediate resumption of negotiations, the conditions he still proposes are unacceptable for the Palestinians (the continuation of the settlement policy, Israel’s military presence in the West Bank).
These speeches have once again shown both parties’ inability to resume negotiations on their own.
Considering that the continuation of the status quo would be very dangerous and might degenerate into a new cycle of violence, JCall urges both parties to accept the Quartet’s offer immediately and unconditionally. This offer has the virtue of setting a shortened and restrictive timetable, which is the only way to prevent negotiations from getting bogged down again.
Let’s take the two leaders’ peace declarations at the UN literally and let’s challenge them to try to achieve, with international help, a solution to the conflict based on “two people – two states”. Let’s question the Quartet members, and especially the European Union and its member states, so that they finally display their political will. President Obama’s speech showing that he will not commit any further in the conflict resolution since he’s already committed in the reelection campaign, the European Union has a more important part to play than previously. It would be unfortunate if the Quartet’s agenda remained, like the Road map, in the good intentions package.
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Paris, 6th October: the first JCall meeting, in the presence of A.B. Yehoshua, Daniel Cohn-Bendit, Henri Weber and Alain Finkielkraut
The 6th of October, at 8 pm, we organize the first JCall meeting in France. It will take place in the Rossini room of the 9th arrondissement’s Town Hall, 6 rue Drouot (Metro stop Richelieu Drouot).
The Israeli writer A.B. Yehoshua, winner of the Bialik Prize and the Israel Prize, Daniel Cohn-Bendit, Henri Weber and Alain Finkielkraut, all signatories of JCall, will participate in the evening’s discussions during which we will present the new French association of JCall and its objectives
This meeting will be held a few days after the envisioned end of the settlement freeze. We will know at that date if the Israeli government decided to extend the freeze or if any other solution has been founded to allow the continuation of the negotiations started at the beginning of September, under the auspices of President Obama, between Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas.
We have welcomed the reopening of direct negotiations between the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority. The presence of President Obama’s special envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell, and of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the meeting which took place this week in Sharm El Sheih and Jerusalem, shows how strongly the current Administration is committed to successfully establish a peace treaty between Israelis and Palestinians within a year.
We are aware that getting the two parties to sit down together is only the first step in a difficult process during which both sides will have to display considerable courage as well as genuine political leadership. This round of negotiations will be successful only with the determined support of the whole international community. First and foremost the United States, but also the Quartet and the Arab League, must help both parties overcome obstacles and take difficult yet inevitable decisions. This is the only way to secure a two-state solution, the sole means by which Israelis and Palestinians may live peacefully within internationally recognized borders.
We all know that time is of essence : the window of opportunity opened on September 2nd in Washington may well be the last chance to work towards a two-state solution, which is the only way for Israel to remain democratic and retain a Jewish majority.
The stakes are high, but so are the hopes and expectations of the two populations a large majority of which favors a two-state solution. The status quo cannot be sustained any longer.
One of JCall’s objectives is to open up the debate within European Jewish communities. Just like the one that takes place in Israel, this debate is increasingly vital and we will lead it in France as well as in most European countries where JCall structures are currently being set put.
The resumption of negotiations makes our initiative even more important because it will be necessary to encourage the protagonists on the long way they have to travel to meet one another halfway and reach an agreement. Our aim is to accompany them on this way and mobilize the majority of the European Jewish citizens who support a two state solution as well as the European diplomacies.
We hope that the coming New Year will be the year of real progress towards peace and security for Israel and for all the peoples of the Middle East.
JCall wishes you a peaceful, healthy, and prosperous New Year!
* A small contribution will be asked at the entrance
