Brit Tzedek v'Shalom

Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace

New Haven Register

New group urges American Jews to help advocate Mideast peace.
by By Marissa Yaremich

WOODBRIDGE — A new national organization is asking the American-Jewish community to help advocate a two-state solution to help end the fighting in the Middle East.
"We can have a much larger community for peace than we have now," said Marcia Freedman, founder and president of the national group, Brit Tzedek v’Shalom. "Our strategy is to eventually be able to represent a large number of American Jews as an alternative to congressional groups," said Freedman.

Freedman on Sunday addressed about 75 who gathered at the Jewish Communty Center.

Also known as the Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace, the 6-month-old group is committed to securing peace between Jews and Palestinians through seven founding priniciples, said Freedman, who is an American-born former member of the Knesset, Israel’s parliament.

The two main principles focus on Israel’s return to 1967 borders, and the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel, Freedman said.

The other principles include: recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of both states; a resolution for Palestinian refugees; evacuation of Israeli settlements in the occupied territories; the termination of state-initiated violence and terrorism; and that the U.S. government pursue foreign policy as urged by the Jewish-American community.

Of Brit Tzedek’s 20 nationwide chapters, 50 of its 1,200 membership base are in Connecticut, said Joseph Dimow, the group’s spokesperson.

The Connecticut chapter invites the public to attend its monthly meeting that will be held tonight at 7 p.m. at the JCC .