Last Monday, JCRC joined 100 pro-Israel community members to deliver testimony and urge the Somerville Board of Aldermen to oppose a resolution to divest from Israel.

Members of local unions, Rep. Tim Toomey, and Somerville Mayor Jospeh Curatone clearly stated their opposition to the resolution. A similar statement was also read from Sen. Jarrett Barrios.

If you are a constituent, please send a short email or call Senator Barrios, Representative Toomey, and Mayor Curatone's offices to thank them for thier support of Israel and opposition to divestment.

The Legislative Matters Committee will be voting on the divestment resolution at their December 7 meeting. In preparation for that meeting, they will spend the next few weeks reviewing their notes on this issue.

We have been invited to submit written testimony through the end of November. Statements can be sent to the City Clerk: John Long, at Somerville City Hall by email (see below) or by mail at: 93 Highland Avenue, Somerville, MA 02143.

Testimony should be no more than 1 page and focused on one reason that you oppose divestment and support Israel. Please be respectful of the Aldermen and their process.

We are encouraging people to focus on one of three areas: investment in Israel as an investment in democracy, debunking the comparison of Israel to South Africa, and personal stories of local residents connected to Israeli life under terror.

Somerville residents are also encouraged to join us on December 7 at Somerville City Hall. We suggest you arrive before the 7:00 start of the meeting to be sure you will be able to get inside the chambers.

To email John Long click here:

If you are sending testimony that focuses on Israel as a democracy, you can mention the following:

• Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East.
• Somerville's investments in Israel also benefit Palestinians, whose economy relies heavily on Israel.
• 1.1 million Israelis are Arabs, making up 20% of the population, and have full voting, expression, and religious practice rights.
• The Israeli Supreme Court, which recently voted to re-route the security fence, has both Arab and Israeli justices.
• Israel is the only country in the Middle East where women are guaranteed equal rights, equal pay, and equal healthcare as their male counterparts.

If you are sending testimony that focuses on debunking the apartheid comparison:

• A central goal of the South African apartheid system was to strip black South Africans of their citizenship. The 20% of Israeli citizens who are Arab Muslims and Christians to enjoy full voting rights and access to education and health care in Israel.
• 10 of the 120 seats in the Israeli Parliament are held by Arab parties, thus ensuring participation in national goverment actions.
• No Israeli government has sought to annex the West Bank or Gaza Strip. Once terror and violence ceases, Israel seeks the creation of a Palestinian state through negotations. Divestment only strengthens the hand of extremists who use violence to delegitimize the peace process.

If you are sending testimony focused on terror in Israel:

• There is no excuse for Palestinian use of terrorism - the deliberate and systematic murder of civilians to inspire fear for political purposes. Israeli civilians in pizzerias, on buses, and at family holiday celebrations are the intended targets of terror attacks, and their deaths are used as political capital.
• Palestinian terror is counterproductive. Instead of bringing more concessions, it makes Israelis less inclined to trust the Palestinian people and leadership. It is this use of violence that has caused the collapse of the peace process.
• Israel is a country under constant attack, seeking to keep its people safe. In its efforts to limit the magnitude of attack by Palestinian terrorists, innocent civilians are occasionally caught in the crossfire. Like America, Israel is a country with accountability for loss of life in combat. The Israeli army has a strict code of ethics in place, and soldiers found responsible for deaths of Palestinians are held to the strict code of ethics and investigations.