‘Jewish Voice for Peace,’ a national organization with a Michigan branch that is committed to ending the Israeli occupation of Palestine, released a statement in support of the Egyptian uprising and struggle for democracy and freedom. The following are excerpts from the statement:

“We at Jewish Voice for Peace are deeply inspired by the Egyptian people’s struggle for democracy and freedom… defying a regime that has for too long subjugated them.

We deeply respect their courage, and that of other Arab people in the region… We stand in solidarity with their patience, resolve, and mutual respect and caring, exemplified in the enormous sustained demonstration in Tahrir Square, Cairo. And we grieve the killing and wounding of so many of these courageous demonstrators.”

“Massive U.S. aid to Egypt—over 60 billion dollars since 1981—has enabled Hosni Mubarak to maintain his repressive regime for the past 30 years. This aid is directly tied to Egypt’s treaty with Israel. Egypt is the second largest recipient of U.S. military aid, after Israel, in the world. Under Mubarak’s regime, Egypt has cooperated with the U.S. and Israeli governments in enforcing a “peace” that has until now stifled the Palestinian people’s aspirations for self-determination. The Egyptian and Israeli governments have enforced the blockade of Gaza, causing a long-running humanitarian crisis…”

“As U.S. taxpayers, we are (also) paying for our government’s support for both Egypt and Israel. … Palestinians continue to suffer as a result of these policies, living under an occupation that would not be possible without the tacit support of the U.S. and Egypt. The Israeli people, in whose name this is done, now live in a garrison state that is perpetually at war, with ever-eroding civil liberties, while their government continues to expand settlements, enforce a brutal occupation, and antagonize the entire region.”

“We send our solidarity and our hope to the people of Egypt and the other countries now in the process of transformation.  As Jews, we are with you in your struggle for freedom and dignity. As Americans, we are with you in your struggle for real democracy.  We call on our government to end its unconditional financial and diplomatic support for the Egyptian and other similar dictatorships. Instead, we want our government to live up to our own democratic tradition by unequivocally supporting you in your struggle for dignity and freedom.”