Issa Amro is a community hero whose commitment to nonviolence moved the United Nations to name him “Human Rights Defender of the Year.” But now the Israeli military is trying to lock him up on bogus charges—in a court with a conviction rate of almost 100%.

Issa is a champion of nonviolent resistance to the illegal settlements in Hebron that are heavily supported by some 650 Israeli soldiers. The 200,000 Palestinians living in the city are subject to daily humiliation, abuse and hardship. Issa has dedicated his life to making sure that this injustice is met only with peaceful protest.

But now Issa is facing serious prison time because one soldier claims Issa called him stupid (he didn’t) and another claims he pushed a settler and broke his camera (he wasn’t even there). Worse, this straight-up intimidation is being indirectly funded by Goldman Sachs.

Will you stand up for a nonviolent human rights defender and ask Goldman Sachs to speak up for Issa?

Goldman Sachs donates around $20,000 a year to the Hebron Fund, an organization that is helping just 850 Israeli settlers push some 200,000 Palestinians out of their homes, at times using terrorism and paramilitary violence. These thugs commonly patrol the streets yelling out “Death to Arabs!” Hebron has been denounced several times by Human Rights Watch for repeated acts of violence against the majority Palestinian population — who have received virtually no protection from the Israel Defense Forces.

Anyone who has ever heard Issa speak knows he is a powerful, eloquent advocate for peace and justice. The charges against him would be frivolous even if they were true—but they aren’t. This is clearly an attempt to silence one of the world’s most potent voices against Israel’s illegal occupation of the West Bank. And if we do nothing, it will work.

If there is ever to be peace in Israel and Palestine, we need more people like Issa Amro. As a major funder of the Hebron Fund, if Goldman Sachs spoke up for Issa, he would be free tomorrow.  

Tell Goldman Sachs to stand for peace and nonviolence. Free Issa Amro now!

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