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DESCRIPTION:Aug. 5 - 9 there will be a week long vigil (with speakers and workshops) at 
 the office of Congressman Jimmy Panetta. We want to bring attention to the 
 following:\n\n\nPanetta's failure to support a ceasefire\n\nA large 
 majority of the public has wanted a ceasefire since the initial Israeli 
 military response to the horrible Hamas attack of October 7, 2023. 
 According to a Data For Progress poll on October 19, 2023, 80% of Democrats 
 and 56% of Republicans agreed that “The U.S. should call for a 
 ceasefire.” in Gaza. For eight months Rep. Panetta failed to respond to 
 the high volume of mail from constituents asking that he support a 
 ceasefire. Finally, on June 7, 2024, Rep. Panetta endorsed the Biden 
 proposal for a ceasefire (but also supports resuming the war). 
 \n\n\nSupport for additional offensive weapons to Israel\n\nPanetta’s 
 support for additional offensive weapons to Israel continues to undermine 
 the prospects for a ceasefire. Rep. Panetta stated on Nov 2, 2023:, “More 
 efforts also must be taken to reduce the impacts of Israel’s military 
 campaign on peaceful civilians in Gaza”. Yet in spite of all evidence in 
 the months that followed that the Israeli military is not protecting 
 civilians, Panetta voted to approve an additional $17 billion in military 
 aid to Israel in April 2024.\n\n\nDenunciation of International Court of 
 Justice and International Criminal Court \n\nOn January 23, 2024, Rep. 
 Panetta signed a letter to “express our disgust” with South Africa’s 
 filing of a “grossly unfounded case against Israel at the International 
 Court of Justice”. Shortly thereafter the ICJ found South Africa’s case 
 for genocide plausible, and ruled that Israel must take actions to prevent 
 indiscriminate killing of Palestinians and “deliberately inflicting on 
 the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical 
 destruction in whole or in part.” The ICJ updated its ruling in May, 
 2024, calling on Israel to “Immediately halt its military offensive, and 
 any other action in the Rafah Governorate.” \n\nIn May 2024, the 
 International Criminal Court’s prosecutor requested arrest warrants for 
 Israeli and Hamas leaders, presenting evidence of intentional attacks on 
 civilians and “starvation as a method of warfare.” However, Panetta 
 voted with House Republicans to sanction ICC officials, in a resolution 
 (opposed by the Biden administration) that dismissed the court’s charges 
 as “illegitimate and baseless”.  This resolution denies the evidence 
 presented by Human Rights Watch, Oxfam, and a UN report labeling Israeli 
 and Hamas actions as “crimes against humanity.” \n\n\nAcceptance of 
 contributions from arms manufacturers and AIPAC\n\n* In the 4th quarter of 
 2023 Panetta received $143,000 from AIPAC, the pro-Netanyahu lobby. He has 
 accepted nearly a quarter million dollars from the arms industry.\n* Voted 
 with Republicans – to conceal the death toll in Gaza.\n* Voted with 
 Republicans – to defeat an amendment to prohibit defense appropriations 
 from going to the unfunded priorities list.\n 
 https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2024/07/16/18868034.php
SUMMARY:Vigil for Peace at Panetta's Office
LOCATION:Santa Cruz County building, 701 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz
URL:https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2024/07/16/18868034.php
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