from the Faith Forum on Middle East Policy
NOTE: Pax Christi USA is a member of the Faith Forum. This is the “Third Thursday for Israel-Palestine” action for May.
Urge your representative to sign the McCollum letter asking President Obama to appoint a Special Envoy for Palestinian children.
An April 2016 report from Defense for Children International – Palestine states:
Defense for Children International – Palestine (DCIP) collected affidavits from 429 West Bank children detained between 2012 and 2015 that show three-quarters of them endured some form of physical violence following arrest. In 97 percent of the cases, children had no parent present during the interrogation or access to legal counsel. Israeli police also did not properly inform them of their rights in 84 percent of the cases.
DCIP statistics show that at the end of February, there were 440 Palestinian children in Israeli military detention. Seven of these children were being held under administrative detention, meaning they could be held without charges or trial indefinitely.
We need to act on behalf of these most vulnerable members of society, and we have an opportunity to do just that. Minnesota Representative Betty McCollum has initiated a letter to President Obama, asking him to appoint a Special Envoy for Palestinian children.
Take action today! Click here and ask your representative to add their name to this important letter.*
Palestinian children living under occupation face crippling daily realities as well as dim prospects for their future – a situation that has fueled an escalation in violence in recent months. As the letter states, “The recent attacks against Israelis, including those perpetrated by Palestinian youth, are profoundly disturbing and must be condemned…At the same time, the root causes of such violent acts must be examined and understood within the context in which they are taking place. Does a life of utter hopelessness and the collective psychological trauma associated with the Palestinian people living for decades under Israeli military occupation directly contribute to the violence?”
Act now to provide for a more hopeful future. Click here and contact your representative today.*
* Thanks to the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns for taking action through their advocacy program.