April, 2013

Dear UC Berkeley Student Senators,

As members and leaders of the Bay Area Middle Eastern community, we write you this letter urging you to vote against Resolution SB 160: “A Peaceful Step Towards Neutrality: Targeted Divestment from Companies that Profit from Israel’s Occupation and Settlement Construction.” Not only does the bill harm Palestinians and Israelis, but if fosters an on-campus culture of divisiveness that is counter to the ideals of inclusiveness, democracy, discussion and cooperation that UC Berkeley students pride themselves on.

As a human rights organization representing the 850,000 Jewish refugees indigenous to the Middle East and North Africa who were expelled and fled Arab countries, JIMENA is deeply concerned about the well-being of all refugees in the Middle East and North Africa, including Palestinian refugees.  As was cited in the New York Times op-ed piece, End the Arab Boycott of Israel, by Ed Husain on March 6, 2013 Palestinian Imams have called for an end to the boycott movement.  Jewish refugees from the region have a deep understanding that divestment, and other actions that foster polarization of these two fragile communities, will only serve to disempower the disadvantaged and harm individuals and organizations working for just and equitable solutions to the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

JIMENA strongly encourages student leaders to find points of connection between their communities and work together in creating potential solutions for conflicts both domestic and international. As UC Berkeley is a center for some of the best and brightest minds in North America, JIMENA believes UC Berkeley students have the potential to find alternative solutions and we urge the student senate to uphold a strong ethical code of cooperation, respect and innovation rather than follow a divisive approach other student governments have taken that will not bring any solutions to a longstanding problem.

Sincerely,

JIMENA staff, board, and volunteers