Tell Congress to Support Palestinian Children’s Human Rights!
Tell Your Member of Congress This August “Take Action and Support Palestinian Children’s Human Rights!”
Right now, members of Congress are home for the August legislative recess. During this time, they’ll hold town halls, talk to constituents, and decide on their legislative priorities for the rest of the year. Rep. Betty McCollum (MN-4) has introduced legislation to protect Palestinian children detained in Israel’s military court system from human rights abuses. Encourage your representatives to join her in standing up for Palestinian children and co-sponsoring H.R. 2407. Currently, the legislation has only been introduced in the house; please also consider asking your senators to introduce companion legislation.
H.R. 2407, “The Promoting Human Rights for Palestinian Children Living under Israeli Occupation Act,” prohibits any U.S. foreign aid dollars from contributing to “the military detention, interrogation, abuse, or ill-treatment of children in violation of international humanitarian law” and authorizes $19 million to fund NGOs that monitor human rights in Israel/Palestine and that provide physical and mental health services to Palestinian children who have been victims of military detention, abuse, or torture.
In order for the U.S. to play a constructive role in bringing about a comprehensive and sustainable end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, we must ensure we are not supporting the continued trauma inflicted on Palestinian youth entangled in the Israeli military detention system.
“Israel’s system of military juvenile detention is state-sponsored child abuse designed to intimidate and terrorize Palestinian children and their families,” Congresswoman McCollum said. “It must be condemned, but it is equally outrageous that U.S. tax dollars in the form of military aid to Israel are permitted to sustain what is clearly a gross human rights violation against children.”
Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) is grateful to Rep. Betty McCollum for her ongoing commitment to the rights of Palestinian children. We wholeheartedly support her legislation. For there to be any hope for a just and lasting end to the conflict in Israel/Palestine, all children, including Palestinians, must live without fear of military detention.
This August, make sure your members of Congress know your priorities. Take action and support Palestinian children’s human rights!
P.S. Click here to visit The Town Hall Project to see if your member of Congress is hosting an event this recess. If so, make your voice heard and let them know you support H.R. 2407!
Thank you,
Kyle Cristofalo
Director of Advocacy and Government Relations
Churches for Middle East Peace