SHEIKH JARRAH VIOLENCE: MAY 2021
In early May 2021, weeks of violent mistreatment of the residents of Sheikh Jarrah, including state-sanctioned dispossession, brutalising of Palestinian protestors and the assault on worshippers at Al-Aqsa mosque culminated in violence breaking out across Israel-Palestine.
Horrified by the violence, Na’amod redoubled our organising within the British Jewish Community to make clear that British Jews stand in solidarity with Palestinians. Faced with silence and Occupation denial from our communal leadership, Na’amod stepped into the void in moral leadership to call for a Jewish community which, when faced with the choice between violence, dispossession and occupation on the one hand, and freedom and dignity for all on the other, will always choose to stand for the latter.
Timeline
- On Tuesday 11th May, Na’amod brought together over 150 Jews gathered in five locations across London (including outside the Board of Deputies), as well as Leeds, Manchester, Leicester, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Oxford and Liverpool. We stood demanding our community commit itself to calling for “Freedom from Violence, Freedom from Occupation” and mourning all lives lost in this round of violence.
- On Saturday 16th May, we were joined online by 200 British Jews to reflect, hear updates from the ground and mobilise for further actions.
- This culminated in our action on Wednesday 19th May, where we were joined by an unprecedented 300 Jews across the country (including over 200 at our London rally), all calling for “Freedom from Occupation, Freedom from Violence” and demanding freedom and equality for Palestinians.
Over a few short weeks, we mobilised an unprecedented force in our community demanding an end to Occupation and freedom for Palestinians. As the ceasefire holds, we know that there is no possible ‘return to peace’ when the violence of the occupation continues. We are clear that the violence only ends when the daily injustices, dispossession and brutality faced by Palestinians cease.
We were, and continue to be, determined to build on the momentum of those few weeks and keep fighting for freedom and equality for all Palestinians. If you’ve been energised by our organising get involved and help us build a British Jewish community on foundations of justice, freedom, dignity, and equality for all.