500 eminent Israelis urge diaspora to help 'end the occupation' in open letter

The letter warns that on the 50th anniversary of the Israeli occupation, the Jewish state stands at a crossroads.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Updated: SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 17:16
A Palestinian woman argues with an Israeli border policeman during a protest against Jewish settlements in the West Bank village of Nabi Saleh (photo credit: REUTERS)
A Palestinian woman argues with an Israeli border policeman during a protest against Jewish settlements in the West Bank village of Nabi Saleh
(photo credit: REUTERS)
An open letter signed by "500 eminent Israelis" is garnering attention on social media Thursday, with a message directed at diaspora Jews urging them to help end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The petition, sponsored by the "Save Israel, Stop Occupation" organization, includes Israeli luminaries such as author Amos Oz, Nobel Laureate Daniel Kahneman and 20 former Israeli ambassadors.
"A call to the Jews of the World," the letter boldly begins, "If you care about Israel, silence is no longer an option!"
The petition goes on to warn that after almost "50 years of occupation... Israel stands at a crossroad," adding that "the prolonged occupation is inherently oppressive for Palestinians and fuels mutual bloodshed."
"We call upon Jews around the world to join with Israeli partners for coordinated action to end the occupation and build a new future, for the sake of the State of Israel and the generations to come," the appeal adds.
When reached for comment on the Israeli petition, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson declined to speak on the issue, stating instead, "we call upon the Palestinians to return to the negotiations table."
Israel has been pressured by the international community for years to relinquish lands in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, territory it captured from Jordan in 1967 during the six-day war, in order to formulate a future Palestinian state.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly stated his willingness to enter negotiations with no preconditions with his counterpart, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, in order to agree on a final settlement on the issue.