USPCN: Defend Jerusalem, Al-Aqsa and Palestine! (English and Arabic)

The US Palestinian Community Network (USPCN) calls upon our Palestinian and Arab community in the United States, as well as the solidarity movement with the Palestinian people, to act now to stand with the Palestinian people and support their valiant resistance to protect their homeland and holy places, in light of escalating attacks by occupation forces and settlers in Jerusalem and targeting Al-Aqsa mosque.

The most recent of these dangerous occupation provocations is the opening of the new Hurva synagogue in East Jerusalem, lauded by settlers as a prelude to demolishing Al-Aqsa Mosque and building the so-called “Third Temple” on its ruins.

As Palestinians in the United States, we stand with our sisters and brothers in occupied Jerusalem and call upon the Palestinian people and the Arab and Islamic world, to respond in a unified and clear voice to the threats and provocations of the Israeli occupation.

All national and Islamic forces in Palestine and in exile must unite now to defend Jerusalem and our holy Christian and Muslim sites against the settlers’ and occupiers’ attacks. We call upon all Arab and international forces to uphold their national, religious and ethical responsibilities and take action regarding these events in occupied Jerusalem.

Furthermore, the U.S. government has provided continuous support for the policies of the occupation. Despite some verbal criticisms and diplomatic disputes, U.S. tax dollars continue to flow to the occupation. As Palestinians in the United States, we demand an immediate end to all U.S. military, political, diplomatic and economic aid to Israel.

We salute our people throughout Palestine – in Jerusalem, in the West Bank and Gaza, in occupied Palestine ’48 – and in exile, and the entire Arab nation – who have paid a great price for their steadfastness in confronting the occupation, the Zionization project in Jerusalem, land confiscation, settlement, colonization and ethnic cleansing, and who continue to struggle heroically to defend our land and holy sites!

The USPCN calls upon all to take action to defend Palestine, Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa.

1. Organize protests at Israeli embassies and consulates in your area. If there is no Israeli embassy or consulate in your area, protest at a Federal Building or a public park or square, and invite the local media. Make it clear that we will not allow the settlers’ attacks to pass unchallenged!

2. Furthermore, please call your representative and member of Congress, particularly on Friday, March 19, and demand that Congress end U.S. aid to Israel. The US House of Representatives main switchboard is (202) 225-3121 or visit ://www.house.gov/ to locate your representative.