We, the undersigned, are appalled by the human rights abuses against
Palestinians at the hands of the Israeli government, the continual
military occupation and colonization of Palestinian territory by Israeli
armed forces and settlers, and the forcible eviction from and demolition
of Palestinian homes, towns and cities.
As members of the Rutgers University community, we call for the university
to apply its human rights ideals where its dollars are invested. That is,
we urge the university to use its political and financial influence to
encourage the United States government to suspend its aid and
arms sale to Israel. We also call upon Rutgers University to divest from
from Israel, from US companies that sell arms to Israel, and from US
companies engaged in business with Israel until the following
conditions are met:
- Israel is in compliance with United Nations Resolution 242, which notes
the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war, and which
calls for withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from occupied territories.
- Israel is in compliance with the United Nations Committee Against
Torture 2001 Report, which recommends that Israel's use of legal torture
be ended.
- In compliance with the Fourth Geneva Convention ("The occupying power
shall not deport or transfer parts of its own civilian population into
territories it occupies"; Article 49, Paragraph 6), Israel ceases building
new settlements, and vacates existing settlements, in the Occupied
Territories.
- Israel acknowledges the applicability of United Nations
Resolution 194 with respect to the rights of refugees to return to their
former lands (also outlined in the Fourth Geneva Convention).