Germany-based Adidas recently announced a brilliant new program to sell single shoes to amputees with prosthetic legs. But Adidas thoughtlessly featured a former Israel Defense Force soldier in an ad for the program.

Many will say that the ad went beyond mere thoughtlessness, and they would not be wrong. The purpose of this petition is not to litigate the reasons for Adidas’ decision or the long history of the occupation of Palestine. 

We have a simple demand: Adidas must, without delay, begin a program of purchasing prosthetic legs for every Palestinian who needs one. The initial cost of this will be something on the order of $10 million. Adidas should begin with the children of Gaza, 4,000 of whom have lost limbs in IDF actions. 

This program will continue to cost Adidas, as costs beyond providing the initial prosthetic device can be substantial. In each subsequent year requiring physical therapy, adjustment, even replacement of limbs, Adidas will pick up the costs.

I began this petition on behalf of the hundreds of thousands of human beings of all ages who wear Adidas clothing and shoes on the pitch and the court and the field. For all of the country teams Adidas kitted out for the World Cup. For the hundreds I see on the streets of my city wearing your distinctive three-striped shoes. 

Some will think that this petition should express more outrage, that I should use the strong language that I use elsewhere to protest the entire injustice playing out in West Asia. I am beyond outrage. Perhaps you are too. That does not mean we are beyond action. Please sign this petition.