On February 29, 2024, 15 organizations in Hawaii at a press conference at the Hawaii State Capitol called for Hawaii Gov. Josh Green to terminate any relationship the State of Hawaii has with Israel, citing the Israeli genocide being conducted in Gaza.
On the day of the press conference, Israeli military killed 107 and wounded over 700 starving Palestinians that were attempting to get food for their families from food relief trucks. Over 30,000 Palestinians have been killed and 70,000 wounded in the 152-day Israeli attack and siege of Gaza.
On February 22, 2024, the Green’s office issued a letter stating his commitment to “unbreakable bonds” between the U.S. and Israel and the enduring commitment to Israel’s security.
“What Israel is doing to Palestinians in Gaza is not self-defense, it is genocide, pure and simple.”
According to the letter received by email from the governor’s office on February 22, 2024:
Prior to Governor Green’s statement of a “strategic partnership” with Israel, in October 2022, then-Gov. David Ige signed a Joint Declaration for the State of Hawaii with the State of Israel establishing a “strategic partnership for friendly exchanges and cooperation between Hawaii and Israel,” and a formal relationship between both governments “to foster economic cooperation, facilitate joint industrial research and development, and enhance business relationships, research, and educational opportunities.”
Over 2,600 persons have signed a petition demanding that the “strategic partnership” with the State of Israel signed by Ige in October, 2022 be terminated.
Considering the genocide the Israeli government is conducting on Palestinians in Gaza, with over 100,000 confirmed killed, injured, or missing at the hands of Israeli forces in what was then 145 days, and in light of the violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, 15 organizations in Hawaii demanded at the press conference an end of Hawaii’s “strategic partnership” with the State of Israel.
The 15 organizations calling for a termination of all “strategic partnerships” with Israel to be immediately terminated are: Jewish Voice for Peace-Hawaii, Hawaii for Palestine, Rise for Palestine, Kona 4 Palestine, Maui for Palestine, Kauai for Palestine, Students and Faculty for Justice in Palestine at the University of Hawaii, Veterans For Peace-Hawaii, Seed of Love Hawaii, Humanists of Hawaii, Weaving Our Stories, AF3IRM Hawaii, Sabeel-Hawaii, World Can’t Wait-Hawaii, and Hawaii Peace and Justice.
In a statement, Jewish Voice for Peace-Hawaii coordinators Imani Altemus-Williams and Julie Warech wrote:
Petition originator Jason Mizula, who has visited the West Bank of Palestine, stated, “The State of Hawaii’s strategic partnership with such a government contradicts our values here in Hawaii—values rooted in respect for all life forms and peaceful coexistence. By continuing this partnership, we are cosigning these acts that go against our principles. Occupation is not aloha. Apartheid is not aloha. Genocide is not aloha.”
Fatima Abed of Rise for Palestine said: “The International Court of Justice has found Israel’s actions in Gaza likely constitute war crimes and genocide, in direct violation of international law. The contract between Hawaii and Israel not only supports the current genocide of over 30,000 innocent people, 13,000 of which are children, but also supports the same system of colonialism that continues to cause harm to Hawaii and in particularly Kanaka Maoli.”
Sam Peck, a University of Hawaii (UH) undergraduate and member of Students and Faculty for Justice in Palestine (SFJP) at UH, said:
Retired U.S. Army Colonel and former U.S. diplomat Ann Wright who has been to Gaza eight times commented, “What Israel is doing to Palestinians in Gaza is not self-defense, it is genocide, pure and simple. The numbers of people killed and injured and the level of destruction of housing, hospitals, schools and universities, and other infrastructure is intended to force Palestinians out of an uninhabitable Gaza—it is genocide and a second Nakba.”
She continued: “Hawaii, its state institutions, and universities should not continue a partnership with a country that conducts genocide. We demand Governor Green rescind Hawaii’s ‘strategic partnership’ with Israel.”
On February 29, 2024, 15 organizations in Hawaii at a press conference at the Hawaii State Capitol called for Hawaii Gov. Josh Green to terminate any relationship the State of Hawaii has with Israel, citing the Israeli genocide being conducted in Gaza.
On the day of the press conference, Israeli military killed 107 and wounded over 700 starving Palestinians that were attempting to get food for their families from food relief trucks. Over 30,000 Palestinians have been killed and 70,000 wounded in the 152-day Israeli attack and siege of Gaza.
On February 22, 2024, the Green’s office issued a letter stating his commitment to “unbreakable bonds” between the U.S. and Israel and the enduring commitment to Israel’s security.
“What Israel is doing to Palestinians in Gaza is not self-defense, it is genocide, pure and simple.”
According to the letter received by email from the governor’s office on February 22, 2024:
Prior to Governor Green’s statement of a “strategic partnership” with Israel, in October 2022, then-Gov. David Ige signed a Joint Declaration for the State of Hawaii with the State of Israel establishing a “strategic partnership for friendly exchanges and cooperation between Hawaii and Israel,” and a formal relationship between both governments “to foster economic cooperation, facilitate joint industrial research and development, and enhance business relationships, research, and educational opportunities.”
Over 2,600 persons have signed a petition demanding that the “strategic partnership” with the State of Israel signed by Ige in October, 2022 be terminated.
Considering the genocide the Israeli government is conducting on Palestinians in Gaza, with over 100,000 confirmed killed, injured, or missing at the hands of Israeli forces in what was then 145 days, and in light of the violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, 15 organizations in Hawaii demanded at the press conference an end of Hawaii’s “strategic partnership” with the State of Israel.
The 15 organizations calling for a termination of all “strategic partnerships” with Israel to be immediately terminated are: Jewish Voice for Peace-Hawaii, Hawaii for Palestine, Rise for Palestine, Kona 4 Palestine, Maui for Palestine, Kauai for Palestine, Students and Faculty for Justice in Palestine at the University of Hawaii, Veterans For Peace-Hawaii, Seed of Love Hawaii, Humanists of Hawaii, Weaving Our Stories, AF3IRM Hawaii, Sabeel-Hawaii, World Can’t Wait-Hawaii, and Hawaii Peace and Justice.
In a statement, Jewish Voice for Peace-Hawaii coordinators Imani Altemus-Williams and Julie Warech wrote:
Petition originator Jason Mizula, who has visited the West Bank of Palestine, stated, “The State of Hawaii’s strategic partnership with such a government contradicts our values here in Hawaii—values rooted in respect for all life forms and peaceful coexistence. By continuing this partnership, we are cosigning these acts that go against our principles. Occupation is not aloha. Apartheid is not aloha. Genocide is not aloha.”
Fatima Abed of Rise for Palestine said: “The International Court of Justice has found Israel’s actions in Gaza likely constitute war crimes and genocide, in direct violation of international law. The contract between Hawaii and Israel not only supports the current genocide of over 30,000 innocent people, 13,000 of which are children, but also supports the same system of colonialism that continues to cause harm to Hawaii and in particularly Kanaka Maoli.”
Sam Peck, a University of Hawaii (UH) undergraduate and member of Students and Faculty for Justice in Palestine (SFJP) at UH, said:
Retired U.S. Army Colonel and former U.S. diplomat Ann Wright who has been to Gaza eight times commented, “What Israel is doing to Palestinians in Gaza is not self-defense, it is genocide, pure and simple. The numbers of people killed and injured and the level of destruction of housing, hospitals, schools and universities, and other infrastructure is intended to force Palestinians out of an uninhabitable Gaza—it is genocide and a second Nakba.”
She continued: “Hawaii, its state institutions, and universities should not continue a partnership with a country that conducts genocide. We demand Governor Green rescind Hawaii’s ‘strategic partnership’ with Israel.”
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