For over 30 years, Azerbaijan has been trying to seize territory historically belonging to the Armenian people. That territory, known as Artsakh, or Nagorno-Karabakh, has repeatedly come under Azerbaijani fire, including last year, in October 2020, when Azerbaijan's dictator Ilham Aliyev launched a vast offensive. During that offensive, various weapons were used. They included white phosphorus, which is illegal under international law. They included Israeli weapons. 

High-tech, Israeli technology was used by Azerbaijan to target civilians. There is evidence that Azerbaijan used cluster munitions to target civilians in Artsakh. The first victim of the Azerbaijani offensive was Victoria Gevorgyan, a 9-year-old young girl who was killed at her home by a drone when Azerbaijan started shelling the town of Martuni. 

The Armenian and Jewish peoples have a common past and a common present. The bond between the two people is amazingly blatant: we have both suffered imperialism, with the Romans, the Byzantines, the Arabs, the Ottomans, the British for the Jews and the Ottomans, the Persians, the Russians for the Armenians. 

We are both proud peoples, descendants of genocide survivors. We both have genocidal neighbours who would do anything to annihilate us. We are both accused of being occupiers on our own land. 

Israel ought not to side with genocidal powers. It is unconscionable that Israel is one of Azerbaijan's most important allies. It is unconscionable that as Azerbaijan was razing Armenian towns to the ground, Israel bolstered its aid programme to Azerbaijan. It is unconscionable that Israel is listed as an ally of Azerbaijan, sitting next to Turkey, Pakistan, Syrian jihadists. 

By being one of Azerbaijan's most crucial allies, Israel is becoming an accomplice in crimes against humanity. Who would've thought? 

I'm Jewish and Armenian. For months, I have been fighting for Israel through the internet, debating anti-Zionists. I have spent months reading countless books to be able to stand up for my people and my homeland. But I cannot cover my eyes and act like my second homeland and my second people aren't getting killed by Israeli weapons. I cannot in good conscience act like everything is fine while my people faces a constant existential threat which is backed by the leadership of my other people. 

Today, I'm not here to lecture you on the importance of human rights, because I hope that this is already something that is acquired. I am here to implore you to prioritise human life over personal opinions. I'm not asking you to boycott Israel or reject its existence. I'm asking you, regardless of your nationality, to not stay silent on this. There are people who are suffering, and their suffering is reinforced by Israeli weaponry. Do not stay silent on this. 

Through this petition, I'm calling on Israel to cut off aid to Azerbaijan swiftly. Is Israel willing to be associated with a country which committed numerous crimes against humanity,  or is it willing to be on the right side of history which courageously rejected those crimes?