Meretz USA for Israeli Civil Rights and Peace is a US non-profit organization that supports a genuine peace between the State of Israel and its neighbors (including the Palestinian people) based on a negotiated land-for-peace solution.

Help West Bank settlers return to Israel: send a letter to the One Home project

Map of the West Bank and the Jewish Settlements within itThousands of Israeli settlers want to move out of the West Bank, but they need help. The Bayit Ehad ("One Home") project has a plan: Bayit Ehad wants the Israeli government to buy up these settlers' homes so that they can afford to start over in Israel. Please click here, and let Bayit Ehad and the settlers know that you support their cause, and the cause of peace.Learn More About This Issue

Meretz in Israel

The Meretz Executive made the following decision on December 31 regarding the fighting in Gaza and Israel's south.

The Meretz Executive made the following decision on December 31 regarding the fighting in Gaza and Israel's south. (Unofficial Translation)

  1. The Meretz Executive calls for an immediate cease-fire, whether aided by various international initiatives, direct dialogue or even by unilateral announcement of a cease-fire for a fixed period. A long-range agreement on calm must guarantee quiet in southern Israel, a rapid conclusion of the negotiations for the release of Gilad Shalit and the opening of the crossings into and out of the Gaza Strip.
  2. The Meretz Executive warns against the continuation of military action, especially against entering the Gaza Strip on land, which will lead to [Israel's] sinking in a quagmire, this time in Gaza.
  3. The Meretz Executive condemns the ongoing attack on Israel's citizens by Hamas and the other terrorist organizations, and supports the State of Israel's right and obligation to defend its citizens.

New faces, new momentum for Meretz

Haim OronOn Monday, December 22, the Meretz party convention will meet to determine the party's slate of candidates for the February 10 Knesset elections. At the heart of the discussion will be a decision whether the party should run together with, "The New Movement", a relatively new but promising organization devoted to social-democracy, green initiatives, cultural liberalism and regional peace.

Among the founders of The New Movement are former Labor Party leaders, Avrum Burg and Uzi Baram, authors Amos Oz and A.B. Yehoshua, two of Peace Now's founders, Tsali Reshef and Janet Aviad, esteemed former diplomat Dave Kimche, and Adv. Talia Sasson, author of the groundbreaking Sasson Report on the growth of wildcat outposts on the West Bank.

Meretz leader Haim Oron ("Jumes") has encouraged party delegates to endorse the joint list with The New Movement. Here are selections from his letter this week to his fellow party members (the full text in Hebrew can be found here):

Dear friends,
We are about to inject a significant energy boost into the peace and social justice camp.

Meretz USA Publications

Israel Horizons Magazine

For an online sampling of Autumn 2008 issue of ISRAEL HORIZONS: Click here

Meretz USA Weblog

New at the Meretz USA Weblog  

  • Hillel Schenker's initial thoughts on Gaza 

  • Renewed carnage, ongoing quagmire?

  • The real Meretz position on Gaza

  • Hillel Schenker: Elections report from Tel Aviv

  • The price of freedom is (still) eternal vigilance

  • Bush's 'legacy' for Israel: Hamas! 

  • Jerome Slater’s in Tikkun again – alas
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