Dear David,
In this week’s Action for Peace, we focus on efforts to:
🛑 Challenge media consolidation and propaganda
⚖️ Protect human rights defenders and demand accountability
🔓 Free Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya
📚 Defend free speech and resist censorship
✈️ Stop weapons shipments fueling violence in Gaza
Take Action
🛑 OPPOSE MEDIA CONSOLIDATION &
PROPAGANDA POWER
Major media mergers risk further silencing criticism of Israel and
consolidating narrative control in the hands of powerful interests. "Bari
Weiss’ latest CBS move shows the Ellisons’ drive to create Israeli state
TV. Larry Ellison, the largest donor to Friends of the Israel Defense
Force, has been buying the largest and most influential American
entertainment, news and social media corporations, purging them of
Israel criticisms." Glenn Greenwald.
👉 Tell your state Attorney General to oppose the merger
⚖️ DEFEND HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATES
International human rights leaders are facing increasing attacks for speaking
out. Protecting them is essential to preserving accountability. The US has
sanctioned UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese, 8 ICC judges, 3
court officials, and Palestinian human rights organisations Al-Haq, Al
Mezan, and PCHR. The message is chilling: investigate genocide, speak
up for international law, and we will destroy your life.
👉 Demand justice for Francesca Albanese
🔓 FREE DR. HUSSAM ABU SAFIYA
Israeli authorities have extended the detention of Dr. Hossam Abu Safiya,
director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, without charge and
without setting a time limit, as his health deteriorates in Israeli custody,
the doctor’s family announced after a hearing on Tuesday. Dr. Abu Safiya
has been denied access to a lawyer for more than two months since
being transferred to Ketziot Prison in the Negev Desert. His family warns
his health is seriously deteriorating due to physical violence inflicted on
him, ongoing significant weight loss, and systematic medical neglect. Dr.
Abu Safiya was arrested in December 2024 after refusing to evacuate
Kamal Adwan Hospital despite repeated Israeli strikes on the facility.
👉 Take action for his release: Sign the petition
🧠 Learn more here
Take Action - California
📚 DEFEND FREE SPEECH IN CALIFORNIA
SCHOOLS
Educators and students are facing increasing pressure and censorship
around discussions of Palestine and justice. AB 2159 helps address
three major concerns with AB 715, which was signed into law by
Governor Newsom in October 2025 and would have a chilling impact on
classroom teachers and censor their ability to facilitate critical discussion
and education on Palestine.
👉 Say NO to censorship in schools and YES to AB 2159
✈️ STOP WEAPONS SHIPMENTS
Weapons components continue to move through the Port of Oakland to Israel,
directly contributing genocide of Palestinians. Local organizing is building real
pressure to stop these shipments. Email FedEx, the Port Board, sign the
petition, and demand NO MORE KILLER CARGO!
👉 Join the Oakland People’s Arms Embargo
Learn More
🧒 The Closure of a Palestinian Children’s Rights
Organization
Years of political pressure have forced the shutdown of a key group
advocating for Palestinian children.
From the article:
Defense for Children International-Palestine (DCI-P) has ended its
extraordinary work with the children of Palestine as a result of unending
threats from the State of Israel. Despite having been designated by Israel as a
terrorist organization in 2023, DCI-P had continued its groundbreaking work of
investigating, documenting and exposing human rights violations against
Palestinian children as well as providing legal services to children and holding
both Israeli and Palestinian authorities accountable to principles of human
rights as described in international law.
But in an announcement earlier this week, DCI-P’s General Director Khaled
Quzmar said, "After 35 years of defending Palestinian children’s rights, we are
not able to overcome operational challenges resulting from Israel’s targeted
criminalization of Palestinian human rights organizations."
👉 Read more
🕍 Israel's Bombing of an Iranian Synagogue
An analysis of the bombing of a synagogue in Iran and broader questions
about ideology and the value of Jewish life.
👉 Read more
Thank you for taking action with us,
The Israel Palestine Social Action Group and Beyt Tikkun team
📚 Liberation Theology - 4 spots remaining!
This is your last chance to join Liberation Theology, a 4-week course
exploring liberation theology as a spiritual and moral framework for
confronting injustice and transforming society. Rooted in the belief that the
Divine stands with the oppressed, liberation theology reads sacred texts
through the lens of those most marginalized and encourages us to move from
contemplation to courageous action. Pulling from texts from Catholic Latin
American founders of liberation theology, Jewish renewal thinkers, Palestinian
theologians, feminist, and queer lenses, we will collectively explore this terrain
and learn how it asks us to show up and take action.
This class begins tomorrow, Wednesday, May 6th. If you are interested in
joining this rich class, snag one of the last spots!
🙏Beyt Tikkun Events, Services, and Programs🙏
Shabbat Services and Torah Study with Aufruf to Celebrate the
Upcoming Marriage of Sarah Goodman and Owen Strain
Saturday, May 9, 10am-1pm
📍Hybrid: Online and In-person at First Unitarian Church of Oakland
👉 Register here
Community-led Anti-Zionist COVID-Cautious Kabbalat Shabbat
(Masks Required, IN-PERSON in Oakland)
Friday, May 15, 7pm
📍 In-person at First Unitarian Church of Oakland
👉 Register here
Shabbat Services and Torah Study with Rabbi Cat | Parsha Bamidbar
Saturday, May 16, 10:00am–1:00pm
📍Hybrid: Online and In-person at First Unitarian Church of Oakland
👉 Register here
Collective Resilience: Mindfulness & Self-Compassion for Activists -
ONLINE
Wednesday, May 20, 12:00–1:00pm PT
📍 Online
👉 Register here
Sunrise Shavuot Gathering - IN-PERSON
Friday, May 22, 6:45am
📍 In-person in Albany, CA
👉 Register here
📅 See all upcoming events on our event calendar here.�
