PRESS RELEASE: Successful protest by "Jewish Voices for Just Peace” against pro-Israeli rally

3 August 2014

Members of the Johannesburg Jewish community belonging to “Jewish Voices For a Just Peace” (JVJP) held a successful protest in Johannesburg against a pro-Israeli rally hosted today by the South African Jewish Board of Deputies and the South African Zionist Federation.

JVJP members held up banners and placards reading: “Joburg Jews Against Israeli war on Civilians”; “Jews For A Just Peace” and “Another Jew Against Gaza killing”.

The “Jewish Voices For a Just Peace” protest was later supported by members of the Muslim community, Palestine solidarity movement as well as members of the EFF and DLF. Rina King commented: “As Jews of conscience we are grateful for the support that we received from fellow South Africans in our stand. Perhaps in solidarity with the Palestinians we will forge the future that we hope to see one day in Palestine/Israel."

JVJP members are diverse in background and perspective, and represent a broad cross-section of the South African Jewish community. What we have in common, however, is a firm belief in the core values of our Jewish tradition – peace, compassion and meaningful dialogue – as well as a commitment to speaking out where we can against abuses of power and the perpetration of human suffering and injustice.

We hope for a ceasefire and an end to this violence. More than that, though, we hope for a long-term peace in Israel and Palestine, a peace that can only be achieved through compassion, justice and redress and genuine dialogue.

We are proud Jews with a conscience who object to acts of violence being carried out in our name. And we will not be silent in the face of such atrocities.

For more information and media queries

Jessica Sherman – 084 485 6704

Rina King – 082 854 5692

Jewish Voices for a Just Peace (JVJP) is a group of Johannesburg Jews who wish to add our voices to the growing group of Jewish people who dare to disagree with the current blind support for Israeli violence against a civilian population.