JNF-KKL Settlement Expansion

NIF Canada, JSpaceCanada, Canadian Friends of Peace Now:

“The KKL-JNF proposal – which includes purchasing land far from the Green Line – would greatly exacerbate an already untenable situation. If actuated, the plan would entrench the occupation and lead to endless conflict and violence. It is bad news for both Palestinians and Israelis; it would crush Palestinian aspirations for their own state and further undermine Israel's democracy and long-term future.”

JStreet:

“For Jews around the world who contributed through the JNF to the creation and building of the state of Israel, it is beyond upsetting that the organization is being turned into an arm of the West Bank settlement movement, acting in a way that violates international law, shows total disregard for the rights of Palestinians and dangerously undermines Israel’s future as a secure, democratic homeland for the Jewish people along with the prospects for Israeli-Palestinian peace.”

World Union of Progressive Judaism:

The World Union for Progressive Judaism strongly opposes the plan of Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael (KKL-JNF) to expand Jewish settlements by purchasing private land in the West Bank, within and beyond existing settlements. WUPJ has long opposed the proliferation of settlements.

T’ruah - The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights:

“Any transfer of money used to expand West Bank settlements, which are illegal under international law, blatantly disregards the basic rights of Palestinians living under occupation and undermines the prospects for peace.”

Masorti Movement:

“Inherent to KKL’s mandate is to work in tandem with the democratically elected Government of Israel. Democracy dictates that settlement policy for Judea and Shomron remains is the jurisdiction of the Knesset and the soon-to-be formed new governing coalition. It would be undemocratic for KKL to politicize and overstep its role by formulating its own settlement policies.”

Rabbinical Assembly:

“We believe that the proposed action will severely damage Israel’s foreign relations. Allocating organizational funds to purchase land in the West Bank unnecessarily politicizes an essential and broad-based Zionist institution, at a time when Israel instead seeks to enhance the special U.S.-Israel relationship with incoming Biden administration officials and diplomats.”

Partners for Progressive Israel:

“To take effect, this deplorable decision will need to be ratified by JNF-KKL’s full Board of Directors following Israel’s March 23 election. Partners for Progressive Israel, working in tandem with our allies in the United States, Israel, and around the world, will do everything in our power to prevent final passage.”

Progressive Israel Network:

“The vast majority of American Jews who we represent want to be part of building and supporting an Israel that respects its neighbors, upholds democracy and seeks peace. Buying land to expand West Bank settlements is antithetical to Israel’s future as a democracy, entrenches occupation, and makes all who live there — Israelis and Palestinians on both sides of the Green Line — far less safe.”

Peace Now:

“Here we see how settler supporters are using the Jewish National Fund, one of the cornerstones of Zionism, to destroy the Zionist vision. Expanding the settlements and promoting the de facto annexation of millions of Palestinians will end the possibility of a Jewish and democratic state here by leading us into a permanent one-state reality.”

United States Department of State Spokesperson:

“We believe it is critical to refrain from unilateral steps that exacerbate tensions and that undercut efforts to advance a negotiated, two-state solution. And unilateral steps might include annexation of territory, settlement activity, demolitions, incitement to violence, the provision of compensation for individuals imprisoned for acts of terrorism. We have continued to emphasize that it is critical to refrain from all those activities.”