Colorado delegates for Brit Tzedek v'Shalom negotiate on Capitol Hill

Intermountain Jewish News

July 11, 2008

Three Colorado Brit Tzedek v’Shalom steering committee members traveled to Capitol Hill in late June to advocate for a negotiated, two-state resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The Colorado delegation urged lawmakers to consider tangible foreign policy measures toward a negotiated, two-state resolution of the conflict.

The delegation also advocated for US insistence that both Israelis and Palestinians be held accountable for their “roadmap” commitments and for comprehensive US engagement in promoting productive dialogue between Israel and its neighbors.

Colorado Vice-Chair Sara Jackson said, “It was so great to meet with staffers who are committed to seeing a solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict.

“It give me a lot of hope that our government will reinvigorate the peace process after so many years of neglect.”

The Capitol Hill meetings were part of Brit Tzedek v’Shalom’s annual national advocacy days, which brought more that 140 American Jewish activists from across the county to meet with representatives from 115 Congressional offices and other political and opinion leaders.

In the days leading up to the program, the activists participated in Brit Tzedek’s Grassroots Leadership Training Institute, which included intensive training on community organizing and advocacy.

“I came back to Colorado inspired by so many wonderful activists coming together from Portland, to Philadelphia to Miami.

“There is a lot of work that we can do as Colorado Jews to work with the government and each other for a peaceful, negotiated solution,” said Jackson.

Brit Tzedek v’Shalom, also know as the Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace, is the largest Jewish grassroots peace organization, with 38,000 members and supporters nationwide.