October 18, 2024

Vice President Kamala Harris

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Washington, DC 20500

Dear Vice President Kamala Harris, 

When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for a people, bound by conscience and the principles of justice, to demand that their government pursue policies consistent with international law, equality, and the sanctity of human rights, it is both their right and their duty to articulate their demands clearly and without equivocation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all nations and peoples are created equal, that they are endowed with certain inalienable rights, among them are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among nations, deriving their powers from the consent of the governed. Whenever any government or leader becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to withdraw their support and to insist upon policies that re-establish justice and uphold the universal principles of human rights.

Such is the condition in which we now find ourselves, and such is the necessity that compels us to speak to you, Madam Vice President, as you stand before the American people in your bid for the highest office in the land. The history of U.S. involvement in the Israel-Palestine conflict is one of continuous disregard for the rights of the Palestinian people, sustained by political and military support to a regime of occupation, dispossession, and systemic violence.

The undersigned citizens of these United States, in full recognition of your leadership potential, offer their support on the solemn condition that you commit to implementing policies that respect the dignity and humanity of the Palestinian people. For too long, our government has supported the oppression of one people by another, in violation of international law and moral conscience. As you seek to lead this nation, we demand that you chart a new course in foreign policy, one that reflects the values of freedom and justice for all peoples.

The history of U.S. foreign policy regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict is one of repeated injuries and violations of international norms, all aimed at sustaining an occupation that denies millions of Palestinians their basic human rights. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world:

• The United States has provided Israel with military aid, which is used in contravention of both U.S. law and international law to perpetuate the occupation of Palestinian lands, the destruction of homes, and the targeting of civilians.
• Successive U.S. administrations have failed to acknowledge the apartheid conditions under which Palestinians are forced to live, subjecting them to systematic violence, discrimination, and the theft of their land through illegal settlements.
• The U.S. has repeatedly shielded Israel from accountability by vetoing U.N. resolutions that seek to address these violations, undermining the global rule of law and our nation's standing as a just and moral leader.
• The U.S. government continues to support economic ventures and trade that contribute to the illegal occupation of Palestinian territories, facilitating the dispossession and disenfranchisement of the Palestinian people.

We, the people, can no longer in good conscience remain complicit in these injustices. The urgency of this critical juncture in the Israel-Palestine conflict compels us to base our support for your candidacy on the fulfillment of the following stipulations:

1. Immediate Suspension of Military Aid to Israel:
   Upon assuming the office of the President, we request that you ensure the immediate suspension of all military aid to Israel until such a time as Israel ends its occupation of Palestinian lands, dismantles its illegal settlements, and ceases its violations of Palestinian human rights, in full compliance with both U.S. law and international law.
2. Public Recognition of Palestinian Rights at the U.N. General Assembly:
   Within your first year in office, we ask that you address the United Nations General Assembly, declaring a decisive shift in U.S. policy toward Israel and Palestine by announcing the U.S.'s recognition of the ongoing injustices against the Palestinian people and pledge to work toward holding Israel accountable for its violations of international law.
3. Endorsement of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) Movement:
   We insist that your administration offer public support for the global Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement as a legitimate, non-violent means of pressuring Israel to end its occupation and grant equal rights to all peoples under its control. Additionally, we ask you to convey that no U.S. institution, business, or public funds shall be complicit in the illegal occupation of Palestinian territories.
4. A Call for Equal Rights for All in Israel and Palestine:
   We maintain that you, in your capacity as President, reject the failed two-state solution and instead advocate for a future that guarantees equal rights, including voting rights, citizenship, and freedom from discrimination, for all people residing in Israel and Palestine, regardless of ethnicity or religion.
5. An End to U.S. Vetoes of U.N. Resolutions on Israel:
   We urge you to cease the long-standing U.S. practice of vetoing U.N. resolutions that seek to hold Israel accountable for its actions. The United States must return to a role of moral leadership, allowing the international community to enforce justice without obstruction.
6. Sanctions on Israeli Settlements and Economic Support for the Occupation:
   We move to appeal that under your presidency the U.S. imposes sanctions on Israeli settlements and any economic ventures that contribute to the occupation in doing so, prohibiting the import of goods produced in settlements and ensuring that no U.S. businesses or investments are tied to the violation of Palestinian rights.
7. Recognition of Israel’s Violations of International Law:
   Our final directive is for you to commit your administration to publicly acknowledging Israel's ongoing violations of international law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention, and to work toward ensuring that these crimes are prosecuted in international forums.

We, therefore, in the name of human rights, justice, and peace, do solemnly declare that our support for your candidacy is contingent upon your willingness to fulfill these demands. Should you stand with us in this just cause, you will find within us a dedicated and loyal body of constituents, determined to see the end of complicity in oppression. Should you refuse, we shall withhold our support and seek leadership elsewhere, for our conscience will allow no less.

In witness whereof, we mutually pledge to one another and to our common cause our full measure of commitment, trusting that you will take these demands to heart as you seek to lead this nation.