CAIR-NJ Calls on New Jersey Members of Congress to Boycott Israeli Pres. Herzog’s Address to Congress
(SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ, 07/18/2023) – The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) today joined in the call for members of Congress to boycott Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s address to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday, July 19, on the grounds of Israel’s glaring human rights law violations.
SEE: Boycott Israeli Pres. Isaac Herzog’s Address to Congress
Israeli settlers stormed the West Bank village of Turmusayya and set fire to homes and cars, where Afif Alasmar, a Clifton business owner, was visiting family. He and his family tried to reach the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem for four hours.
SEE: NJ residents say US turned its back on them when they were attacked on vacation
Israeli settlers’ attacks in Turmusayya coincided with Israel’s deadly large-scale raid on Jenin, a Palestinian city home to one of the largest refugee camps in the Occupied West Bank. Israeli settlers killed at least seven Palestinians and injured at least two dozen others. The raid on Jenin began in the midst of Eid ul-Adha, one of two major Islamic holidays.
SEE: Israel stages a deadly large-scale raid on Palestinian Jenin camp in the West Bank
Videos also show the Israeli military ploughing through roads in Jenin and targeting journalists, in violation of international human rights law.
SEE: Israeli bulldozer destroys Jenin street during raid
SEE: Palestine: Journalists targeted by Israeli forces during raid in Jenin
CAIR-NJ also directly wrote to New Jersey representatives and Senators urging them to stand by their constituency and boycott President Herzog’s address.
SEE: Progressives plan boycott of Israeli president’s speech to Congress
In a statement, CAIR-NJ Government Affairs Manager Madina P. Ouedraogo, said:
“The Israeli government has been found, by many respected groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, to be guilty of grave human rights and international law violations. Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s address comes on heels of Israeli settlers’ attacks in Turmusayya and Israel’s deadly large-scale raid on Jenin, a Palestinian city home to one of the largest refugee camps in the Occupied West Bank.
“Inviting Israeli President Herzog to address a joint session of Congress at a time when the far-right, racist government he represents just set a record for illegal settlement approvals — and during the deadliest year for Palestinians in the West Bank, no less — sends the message that the U.S. government condones war crimes and human rights violations.
“We urge all New Jersey members of Congress to boycott Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s address and to call on the Israeli government to end its illegal occupation and oppression of the Palestinian people, including Palestinian-Americans who are New Jersey residents.”
Earlier this month CAIR-NJ called on New Jersey Gov. Murphy to ensure protections for Palestinian Americans under attack by Israeli settlers.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR-NJ Communications Manager Dina Sayedahmed, dsayedahmed@cair.com, 551-221-5592
