On December 23, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2334 concerning Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The resolution states that the settlement project violates international law and demands that the Israeli government stop expanding the settlement project. The resolution passed 14-0, with the U.S. abstaining at the direction of President Obama, thereby allowing the resolution to pass. [1] Unfortunately, some Democratic senators are attacking President Obama and the UN Security Council for re-affirming the longstanding opposition of the U.S. and the international community to the Israeli settlement project in the West Bank. These senators are co-sponsoring S. Res 6, which attacks UNSC 2334. According to The Hill, some of these Democratic Senators may run for President in 2020. [2] Of nine Democratic Senators identified by The Hill as possible presidential candidates, seven are co-sponsors of the pro-settlements S. Res 6 and two are not. [3] Of the nine, the seven pro-settlements Senate Democrats are: Cory Booker, NJ; Kirsten Gillibrand, NY; Michael Bennet, CO; Amy Klobuchar, MN; Sherrod Brown, OH; Claire McCaskill, MO; and Tim Kaine, VA. Of the nine, the two Senate Democrats who have not co-sponsored S. Res 6 are Chris Murphy, CT; and Elizabeth Warren, MA. Tell these nine Senate Democrats being talked about as future presidential candidates not to support the settlements by signing our petition. References: 1. http://www.timesofisrael.com/choosing-not-to-veto-obama-lets-anti-settlement-resolution-pass-at-un-security-council/ 2. http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/313666-cory-booker-kicks-off-2020-maneuvering-in-the-senate 3. https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-resolution/6/cosponsors

Secretary of State-designee Rex Tillerson is being attacked by Marco Rubio, who wants more confrontation with Iran, for having opposed some sanctions on Iran in the past. Unfortunately, some Democratic groups, like American Bridge, are opportunistically supporting Rubio's attack. Every Member of Congress, Democrat or Republican, who supported diplomacy with Iran to address the issue of Iran's nuclear program at some point opposed some sanctions on Iran or sought to limit some sanctions on Iran. The Obama Administration opposed some sanctions on Iran and sought to limit some sanctions on Iran. Every NGO that supported diplomacy with Iran opposed some sanctions on Iran and sought to limit some sanctions on Iran. In particular, all these actors sought to limit sanctions on Iran so that they could be lifted if a diplomatic agreement with Iran on its nuclear agreement could be achieved, in order to make an agreement with Iran possible. It was common sense that if the goal of sanctions were to pressure Iran to negotiate an agreement, then Iran should believe that in the event of an agreement, those sanctions would be lifted. Urge Senators to oppose opportunistic attacks on Rex Tillerson related to Iran sanctions by signing our petition.

I live on the lands of the Ohlone People and believe they deserve Federal and State "Recognition" .

A vote is expected soon on the Royce-Engel H. Res. 11 [1], which falsely and unjustly attacks the decision of President Obama and Secretary of State Kerry not to veto the recent UN Security Council resolution against settlements in the West Bank. A similar resolution has been introduced in the Senate by Rubio and Cardin. [2] The Obama Administration acted on the side of peace and justice when it refused to veto a UN Security Council resolution against settlements in the West Bank, allowing the resolution to pass. The resolution was consistent with longstanding U.S. policy and consistent with language previously adopted by the UN Security Council. But now the House of Representatives is threatening to pass a resolution falsely and unjustly slamming the Obama Administration’s action. Contrary to claims of supporters of H. Res. 11, every U.S. president since 1967 has abstained on or voted in favor of resolutions critical of Israeli government policies, including resolutions to which the Israeli government strenuously objected, when those resolutions were consistent with U.S. policy. [3] Urge your Representative to vote NO on H. Res. 11 and urge your Senators to oppose the Rubio-Cardin resolution by signing our petition. References: 1. https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-resolution/11 2. http://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/5590c8cf-1618-4749-98c4-c182f8a2a7bd/F06947C6440E55CC44C7F88FFC844089.rubioisraelunletter.pdf 3. https://peacenow.org/WP/wp-content/uploads/US-Israel-UNSCRs-1967-present.pdf; http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/12/opinion/international/israels-unsung-protector-obama.html

As a citizen, my duty is to uphold our democracy by supporting the United States of America. Being a patriot means respect for our men and women in uniform and trust in our government officials such as the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Justice (DOJ). A lot of Americans and allies all over the world are shocked by the result of the 2016 Presidential Election. While some have compared this event to the aftermath of September 11, 2001 - a terrorist act - I am trapped in a coma unable to tangibly feel the fearful future we face ahead of us. It is in this state of mind that I would like to take this moment to thank President Obama for bringing our enemies to their knees and igniting a sense of justice in our hearts. These terrible times will come to pass; yet sanctions are appropriate to ensure our children enjoy the freedom that comes with being a democratic nation. Together, we stand united as one country regardless of our divisions, race, and color, country of origin, disabilities, age and sexual orientation. We are thankful and look forward to a bright future! Let's us be reminded that this is a bipartisan effort and we humanly begin our long journey to reconciliation by being thankful. Peace!

On December 23, the UN General Assembly approved a resolution to launch negotiations in 2017 on a treaty banning nuclear weapons. [1] Unfortunately, the Obama Administration opposed the resolution. [2] Worse, the Obama Administration called on other countries to vote against the resolution and to boycott the treaty negotiations. [3] The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) is urging all countries to take part in the treaty negotiations. [4] Urge President Obama and Members of Congress to support the negotiations on a treaty to ban nuclear weapons by signing our petition. References: 1. http://www.icanw.org/campaign-news/un-general-assembly-approves-historic-resolution/ 2. http://www.icanw.org/campaign-news/voting-on-un-resolution-for-nuclear-ban-treaty/ 3. http://www.icanw.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/NATO_OCT2016.pdf 4. http://www.icanw.org/campaign-news/un-general-assembly-approves-historic-resolution/

On December 23, the UN Security Council adopted a historic resolution against settlement colonies in the Palestinian West Bank. The vote was 14-0, with the US abstaining. US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power said following the vote: "Today the Security Council reaffirmed its established consensus that the settlements have no legal validity." [1] Bibi Netanyahu retaliated for the vote by recalling ambassadors from New Zealand and Senegal, and by ending all aid programs for Senegal. [2] Urge President Obama and Congress to stand with New Zealand and Senegal by signing our petition. References: 1. http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/LIVE-1.760936 2. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-24/israel-ends-aid-programs-after-un-security-council-vote/8146840

Christine Lagarde, the top official of the International Monetary Fund, has been found guilty of criminal charges in France linked to the misuse of public funds during her time as France’s finance minister. The New York Times says the verdict could force Lagarde out of her post. [1] The U.S. is the largest shareholder in the IMF, which periodically receives funding from U.S. taxpayers that is approved by Congress. The IMF routinely micromanages developing country governments under the pretext of "fighting corruption." If Lagarde were allowed to continue as IMF chief following her French conviction on corruption charges, it would make a mockery of the idea that the IMF stands for any set of rules other than "he who has the gold makes the rules." Urge your representatives in Congress to demand that Lagarde resign or be forced out as IMF chief following her conviction in a French corruption case by signing our petition. References: 1. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/19/business/imf-trial-christine-lagarde-france-verdict.html

Congressional Progressive Caucus leaders Keith Ellison, Raul Grijalva, Mark Pocan and Barbara Lee have written to President-elect Trump, urging him to choose people to lead foreign policy in his Administration consistent with his campaign criticism of the Iraq war, not people who were prominent advocates for the Iraq war. [1] Their letter reminded Trump that he called the Iraq War a “tremendous disservice not only to the Middle East” but “to humanity,” which "totally destabilized” the Middle East and cost taxpayers $4-5 trillion, which could have been “spent right here in the United States on schools, hospitals, roads, airports, and everything else that are all falling apart”; and that he said “our current strategy of nation-building and regime change is a proven failure.” They expressed dismay over reports that Trump's transition team was considering Iraq War advocates like Rudy Giuliani and John Bolton for key positions to guide the foreign policy of his administration. Urge your representatives in Congress to join CPC leaders Ellison, Grijalva, Pocan and Lee in pressing President-elect Trump not to choose Iraq War advocates to serve in his administration by signing our petition. References: 1. https://cpc-grijalva.house.gov/press-releases/congressional-progressive-caucus-criticizes-trumps-potential-picks-for-secretary-of-state/

Many communities in Champaign-Urbana were unexpectedly traumatized by the election of Donald Trump. Now, we need enlightened and responsible leadership in all corners to help our traumatized communities reconcile. Hillel said: "If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am only for myself, what am I? If not now, when?" "That which is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow. That is the whole Torah; the rest is the explanation; go and learn." The children of Abraham - fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means, warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer - need to be reconciled. Urge Alan Cook to use his leadership position at Sinai Temple to help chase away darkness and reconcile the children of Abraham in Champaign-Urbana by signing our petition.

If Obama will recognize Palestine and allow it to join the UN as a full member, peace between Israel and Palestine will be greatly advanced. Former President Jimmy Carter in an article in the NY Times fully delineates the reasons: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/28/opinion/jimmy-carter-america-must-recognize-palestine.html

President-elect Trump and his advisers have expressed opposition to U.S. wars that don't contribute to the fight against ISIS and Al-Qaeda. Therefore, they should oppose continued U.S. participation in the Saudi bombing of Yemen, because that doesn't contribute to the fight against ISIS and Al-Qaeda. Whatever one may think of the Houthi rebels in Yemen that the U.S. has been helping Saudi Arabia bomb, they are not ISIS or Al-Qaeda; they hate ISIS and Al-Qaeda. In fact, the U.S.-backed Saudi war in Yemen has contributed to the growth of ISIS and Al-Qaeda in Yemen. Urge incoming National Security Adviser General Michael Flynn to oppose continued U.S. participation in the Saudi bombing of Yemen by signing our petition.