IJMA – Inter Jewish Muslim Alliance

Statement on the Israeli-Palestinian Situation

May 21, 2021

The Inter Jewish Muslim Alliance (IJMA) expresses grief and sorrow for the loss of innocent lives and trauma to civilians in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel. We pray for a cessation of violence and peaceful resolution to this conflict. We urge the United States to intensify its efforts to help Israel and the Palestinian Authority achieve a lasting peace that ensures the dignity, security, and self determination of both peoples.

IJMA members hold many different views of the ongoing conflict. While we are not always in agreement on every issue, we are united in two very important respects.

First, we listen to each other and respect our differences including on sensitive issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Differences exist not only between Muslims and Jews but also among members of each community. Sometimes the most acute differences are based not on religious affiliation but rather on political belief, between left and right rather than Muslim and Jew. None of these differences prevent us from finding common ground and working together on a wide range of issues.

Second, regarding the intercommunal violence in Israel that broke out this month, we join with Jewish, Muslim and Christian Israelis who have condemned this violence and pledged to work together to heal rifts in their common society. We stand with them in support of equal rights for all Israeli citizens and peaceful resolution of all conflicts.

IJMA is an independent alliance of American Muslims and Jews. We come together with the common purpose of replacing stereotypes and distortion about each other and other ethnic groups with knowledge and understanding. We support freedom of religion and fight discrimination and bigotry. We strive to serve as one model of civic engagement in a pluralistic democracy.

Mohamed Abu Bakr, African Middle Eastern Leadership Project

Atiya Aftab, Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom

Majid Alsayegh, Dialogue Institute

Adnan Ansari, Muflehun

Imam Abdullah Antepli, Duke University

Georgette Bennett, Multifaith Alliance for Syrian Refugees

David Bernstein, Jewish Institute for Liberal Values

Marshall Breger, Catholic University School of Law

Rabia Chaudry, attorney and author

Richard Cohen, Marcia’s Light Foundation

Richard Foltin, religious freedom commentator

Maital Friedman, Shalom Hartman Institute of North America

S.A. Ibrahim, retired corporate CEO and inter-religious advocate

Rizwan Jaka, Chairman, All Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS)

Humera Khan, Muflehun

Suhail Khan, IJMA – Inter Jewish Muslim Alliance

Moses Libitzky, corporate CEO

Rabbi Jack Moline

Sharon Nazarian, Anti-Defamation League

Melanie Nezer, HIAS

Sheryl Olitzky, Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom

Daphne Lazar Price, Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance

Rabbi David Saperstein, Union for Reform Judaism

Imam Dr. Talib M. Shareef, Masjid Muhammad, The Nation’s Mosque

Robert Silverman, IJMA – Inter Jewish Muslim Alliance

Rabbi David Wolpe, Sinai Temple, Los Angeles

Organizations listed for identification purposes only.