On Friday, January 2nd, Israeli far-right settlers from the illegal Adei Ad outpost in the West Bank stoned two cars belonging to the staff of the U.S. consulate in Jerusalem. [1] The U.S. consulate has video documenting the settlers’ attack. [2] U.S. diplomats from the consulate were asked to examine olive saplings belonging to Palestinian farmers—some of whom are U.S. citizens—from the village of Turmus Aya, north-east of Ramallah, that had been uprooted overnight Thursday by settlers, Security officials from the consulate arrived in the area ahead of the diplomats but were forced to leave by the attacking settlers. As a result of the settlers’ violent attack, the consular officials cancelled their visit. Thus – so far – the far-right settlers have been able to evade responsibility for their previous violent and illegal actions by using even more violence. Urge President Obama and your representatives in Congress to fully investigate this incident by signing our petition. References: 1. “Israeli settlers stone two cars belonging to US consulate staff,” Peter Beaumont, The Guardian, January 2, 2015, http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/02/israeli-settlers-stone-two-cars-us-consulate-staff 2. “[Israeli] settlers attack US officials visiting West Bank,” Peter Enav and Mohammed Daraghmeh, Associated Press, January 3, 2015.

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has applied for the state of Palestine to join the International Criminal Court. The application is expected to be approved. If Palestine is admitted to the ICC, it would mean that Palestinians could bring cases to the ICC—specifically, against the Israeli government for their confiscation of Palestinian land in the West Bank, which has been used to expand Israeli settlements. It would also mean that Palestinian violations of international law, such as Hamas firing rockets into civilian areas in Israel, would potentially be subject to ICC jurisdiction. Some in Congress are sure to demand that U.S. sanctions be imposed on the Palestinians for applying to join the ICC. Regardless of whether one supports the Palestinians’ decision or disagrees with it, Palestinians should not be punished when their leaders use diplomacy and appeal to the rule of law to try to secure basic human rights for their people. Urge President Obama and your representatives in Congress to defend the right of Palestinians to join the International Criminal Court by signing our petition.

On Dec 30 2014 all of them had been arrested by the Cuban police and Secret Service and nobody knows where are they. The artist was intended to do a performance about the freedom of speech in Plaza de la Revolution in Havana "Yo tambien exijo!" (I also demand). But she among some other civil rights cuban's activists were arrested before the action started. Nobody knows where they're now.

Our standing as a nation of laws depends on our willingness to hold ourselves accountable. If we ignore this report, we have lost all integrity as a country.

First they came for JVP. Then they came for J Street. Now they've come for Theatre J. It's time to fight back against censorship of Israel critics in the Jewish community.

This petition asks the United States to follow the call by over one hundred Palestinian leaders and organizations and almost one thousand Israeli public figures for recognition of the state of Palestine alongside Israel, living in peace and security for both people. Already 135 United Nations member states (70%) have recognized the state of Palestine, and European and other states now are considering doing so. The drive for recognition of the state of Palestine is being led by the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and is supported by a majority of the Palestinian people who are citizens of Israel, and those living in the occupied territories of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. Recognition of Palestine is a step toward resolution of the Israel-Palestine conflict, although it will not resolve the conflict. Rather it is a symbolic action to show support for the Palestinian people's right to self-determination and freedom from occupation, and sends a message to the Israeli and United States governments that occupation must end in a way that all people in the region have political, civil, and human rights. For that and other reasons, recognition of Palestine is in the best interest of the United States and the community of nations. This petition calls upon the President and government of the United States to recognize the state of Palestine and accept Palestine as a full member of the United Nations. A strong showing of support for Palestinian recognition among Americans is especially important as the Obama Administration considers how it will act when Palestinian membership and the Israel-Palestine issue are debated in the U.N. Security Council over the next several months. We must do all we can to prevent an American veto of Palestinian recognition.

I had the opportunity to visit Cuba. It's a beautiful country with a beautiful people. The embargo is antiquated and hypocritical. This embargo has given the Cuban government an excuse for the lack and deprivation the people experience on all levels in Cuba. This petition is asking Congress to support President Obama's efforts to open and normalize a relationship with Cuba, and end the embargo.

Following successful diplomacy to secure the release of U.S. citizen Alan Gross, President Obama has called on Congress to end the U.S. embargo of Cuba. [1] President Obama is right when he says that the 50-year U.S. embargo on Cuba has been a failure. [2] The embargo hasn't improved the lives of Cubans or Cuban-Americans; the embargo has imposed unjust hardships on Cubans and Cuban-Americans. Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, President Obama moves to improve U.S. relations with Cuba and ease the embargo are already under attack by Republicans like Senator Marco Rubio. [3] Show your support for normalizing U.S. relations with Cuba and ending the embargo. References: 1. “Obama Calls on Congress to Lift Embargo,” New York Times, 12/17/14, http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2014/12/17/obama-cuba-embargo/ 2. “Obama Calls Cuba Embargo a Failure,” New York Times, 12/17/14, http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2014/12/17/obama-calls-cuba-embargo-a-failure/ 3. “Rubio Calls Obama ‘Willfully Ignorant’ on Cuba,” New York Times, 12/17/14, http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2014/12/17/rubio-calls-obama-willfully-ignorant-on-cuba/

I am from the Pacific Northwest where we suffered the loss of the 25th infantry division on Guadalcanal. We fight but God damn it: we fight with honor or we go home.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee is expected to vote soon on an authorization for the use of force in Iraq and Syria against ISIS. When there is a vote on an AUMF, it is expected to pass overwhelmingly. But the committee will have the opportunity to impose limits on the use of military force. Senator Kaine’s proposal would prohibit the use of ground troops except for rescue missions and "limited operations against high-value targets" – that is, against terrorist leaders who directly threaten the United States. It would expire in one year unless renewed by Congress and would require the White House to give legislators a list of groups that might be covered by the authorization because they are associated with the Islamic State. [1] Urge the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to support Senator Kaine’s efforts to limit the use of force by signing our petition. References: 1. “Senate hearing set on role of Congress in military actions,” Bill Bartel, Virginian-Pilot, December 6, 2014, http://www.stripes.com/news/us/senate-hearing-set-on-role-of-congress-in-military-actions-1.317718

Defending diplomatic engagement with Iran is going to be a bigger challenge with Republicans taking over the Senate. Now, even more than before, we need Democratic Senators to speak up for diplomacy. Already, following the November 24 extension of the Iran talks and interim nuclear agreement with Iran, many Republicans and even some Democrats are calling for Congress to pass new sanctions on Iran, which would violate the agreement and kill the talks. Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Sen. Bernie Sanders are key voices we need to defend diplomacy. Sen. Warren and Sen. Sanders are nationally recognized as leaders of progressive Democrats. But since November 24, Sen. Warren and Sen. Sanders —unlike Senators Feinstein, Boxer, Baldwin, [1] Murphy, Levin, Johnson, Schatz [2] Kaine, and Casey [3] —have not yet spoken up for the extension of the agreement and talks. Urge Senator Warren and Senator Sanders to speak up for diplomacy by signing our petition. References: 1. “What Women Leaders Are Saying on the Iran Nuclear Negotiations,” Jessie Calkins, WAND, November 19, 2014, http://www.wand.org/2014/11/19/what-women-leaders-are-saying-on-the-iran-nuclear-negotiations/ 2. “Vienna Nuke Talks: Congressional Reaction,” United States Institute of Peace, November 25, 2014, http://iranprimer.usip.org/blog/2014/nov/25/vienna-nuke-talks-congressional-reaction 3. “Strong Congressional Support for Extension to Iran Negotiations,” Ryan Costello, NIAC, November 24, 2014, http://www.niacouncil.org/strong-congressional-support-extension-iran-negotiations/

When Republicans take over the Senate in the new year, defending diplomatic engagement with Iran is going to get tougher. A key problem is that a few Democratic Senators are backing Republican demands to pass new sanctions on Iran. Such a move would violate the interim nuclear deal—and would likely kill the talks, along with any prospect that they will lead to a comprehensive agreement to address international concerns about Iran’s nuclear program. Michigan Senator-elect Gary Peters is one of the Democrats helping Republicans try to kill diplomacy. [1] While retiring Senator Carl Levin defended the decision to extend the talks and the interim agreement with Iran, Peters, the Democrat taking over Levin’s seat, has demanded that Congress enact “tougher sanctions,” even though that would violate the agreement and kill the talks. Urge Senator-elect Peters to change his position and support diplomacy by signing our petition. References: 1. “On Preventing Iran War, Gary Peters is No Carl Levin,” Robert Naiman, Huffington Post, 12/01/2014, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-naiman/on-preventing-iran-war-ga_b_6251076.html