The International Progressive Jewish network comprises Jewish organizations from the United States, Canada, Europe, Latin America, South Africa, and Australia. Together with Israeli organizations, we cooperate to provide a unified voice in support of democracy, religious pluralism, and a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The human and material costs of this conflict are tragic, as attested by the atrocities of October 7, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, continuing violence with loss of lives on both sides, and the threat to the very coexistence between Arabs and Jews inside Israel.

We believe in the deep values and principles of Judaism, which regards human dignity as sacrosanct and justice as an absolute imperative.  Our shared values include the need to uphold pluralism and democracy, ensure the protection of minority rights, and maintain coexistence among diverse cultural, ethnic, and religious identities in open societies. We are concerned by the increasing intolerance, xenophobia, and ultranationalism in the world.  Building a global network of progressive Jewry to oppose anti-Semitism and racism, which undermine democracy and tolerance internationally, is both a moral and an existential necessity.

 

We continue to believe in the values enshrined in Israel’s Declaration of Independence, according to which the State of Israel as the democratic homeland of the Jewish people will ensure “complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex.”  We are greatly concerned by racist and discriminatory trends that are taking hold in Israel. We oppose prejudicial legislation initiatives such as the Nation-State Law, which discriminates against non-Jewish minorities in the country.  We support movements and parties in Israel committed to ending the occupation and achieving peace between Israelis and Palestinians based on the right to self-determination of the two peoples.  We aim to coordinate campaigns that mobilize Jews all over the world and Israelis who share progressive values to cooperate to defend democracy and the rule of law. 

 

We see a widening chasm between Jews from different regions of the world who are concerned with issues of human rights, equality, and pluralism and the growing number of Israelis who are leaning toward parochial nationalism. Many Jews involved in confronting anti-immigrant xenophobia and a rise in anti-Semitism are finding it difficult to reconcile these values with the illiberal and ultranationalistic spirit that is taking hold in Israel. 

 

We reject the Israeli Government’s campaign to silence opposition to its policies by falsely equating criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism. This contention weakens the struggle against true instances of anti-Semitism and, instead, strengthens the hands of anti-Semites worldwide. 

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J-Link aspires to work with our respective local Jewish communities, our national governments, and international organizations to adopt policies that promote justice, human rights, and a peace agreement between the peoples of Israel and Palestine