The Pagan Socialist Democratic Caucus opposes the political influence of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) when it promotes policies or political outcomes that conflict with our commitments to human rights, democratic accountability, equality, and peace. We oppose the actions and policies of the modern State of Israel that violate Palestinian rights, perpetuate occupation, or cause unjustifiable suffering to civilians. We affirm, unequivocally, our respect for the Jewish faith and the dignity, safety, and equal rights of Jewish people everywhere.
Our position is grounded in a fundamental distinction: a religious community is not the same as a government, a nation-state, or a political lobbying organization. Criticism of AIPAC, opposition to Israeli government policy, and advocacy for Palestinian freedom must never be confused with hostility toward Jewish people or Judaism. Likewise, Jewish identity must never be used to shield a government or political organization from legitimate scrutiny and accountability.
The Pagan Socialist Democratic Caucus believes that American foreign policy must be guided by democratic accountability, human rights, international law, and the interests of the American public.
We oppose AIPAC-backed political advocacy when it pressures elected officials to support policies we consider harmful to Palestinian civilians, obstructive to a just peace, or inconsistent with human rights and international humanitarian law. We oppose efforts by any lobbying organization to discourage legitimate criticism of a foreign government or to make support for a particular government's policies a test of political loyalty.
Our concern is not that Americans engage in advocacy concerning Israel or any other country. Political participation and lobbying are lawful features of democratic society. Rather, our concern is whether the policies promoted through such advocacy advance justice, protect human life, respect Palestinian self-determination, and serve the public interest.
We therefore call upon elected officials to evaluate legislation, military assistance, diplomatic initiatives, and foreign policy commitments on their merits. No foreign government or lobbying organization should receive unconditional political support or be exempt from scrutiny.
The Pagan Socialist Democratic Caucus affirms its respect for Judaism as a living religious tradition and recognizes the historical, cultural, philosophical, and spiritual contributions of Jewish communities throughout the world.
We stand against antisemitism, anti-Jewish discrimination, religious persecution, and violence directed at Jewish people. Jewish individuals and communities deserve safety, dignity, freedom of worship, equal protection under the law, and the ability to participate fully in public life.
We recognize that Jewish people hold diverse views regarding Zionism, the State of Israel, Israeli government policies, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. No political position should be presumed on the basis of a person's Jewish identity, and no Jewish individual should be held collectively responsible for the actions of the Israeli government or AIPAC.
Our opposition to particular political institutions and government policies is not opposition to Jewish people. We reject antisemitic stereotypes, conspiracy theories about Jewish power or control, collective blame, and attempts to use criticism of Israel as a pretext for hostility toward Jews.
Our respect for Jewish people is genuine, and our opposition to government policies that violate human rights is equally genuine. Neither principle requires the abandonment of the other.
The Pagan Socialist Democratic Caucus does not endorse the policies, conduct, or political framework of the modern State of Israel insofar as they sustain the occupation of Palestinian territory, deny Palestinians equal rights and self-determination, or perpetuate serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law.
We oppose the indefinite occupation of Palestinian territory, the expansion of Israeli settlements in occupied territory, forced displacement, collective punishment, and restrictions that unlawfully deprive Palestinians of freedom, security, and essential resources.
We condemn attacks on civilians, regardless of who commits them. We reject the deliberate killing of civilians, hostage-taking, torture, and other abuses by state or non-state actors. We believe that the lives and rights of Palestinian and Israeli civilians possess equal moral worth and must receive equal consideration in the development of American foreign policy.
Our opposition to Israeli government policy does not mean that Jewish people lack a right to safety, that Israeli civilians are collectively responsible for their government's actions, or that Jewish communities should be subjected to violence or expulsion. It means that no state should be exempt from accountability because of its identity, history, alliances, or relationship with the United States.
The Caucus does not support unconditional American backing of the Israeli government. We support a foreign policy that conditions assistance on compliance with applicable law, protects civilians, and pursues a just and durable resolution to the conflict.
The Pagan Socialist Democratic Caucus recognizes Palestinians as a people entitled to dignity, freedom, political self-determination, and equal protection of their human rights.
We oppose the displacement of Palestinian communities, the destruction of civilian infrastructure without lawful justification, restrictions that prevent access to essential necessities, and policies that deny Palestinians a meaningful future of freedom and security.
We call for humanitarian assistance to reach civilians in need, protection for humanitarian workers, respect for medical facilities and personnel under applicable law, and the safe release of hostages. We support accountability for credible allegations of war crimes and other serious violations, regardless of the identity or political affiliation of the alleged perpetrators.
We further affirm that Palestinian identity must never be treated as evidence of support for terrorism or violence. Palestinians, like all peoples, possess individual rights and diverse political, religious, and cultural identities. They must not be collectively punished for the actions of armed groups.
We support a just political settlement that secures Palestinian self-determination, protects the equal rights and security of all people living in the region, and provides a sustainable alternative to occupation, displacement, and recurring violence.
The Pagan Socialist Democratic Caucus condemns serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, whoever commits them.
We oppose the use of starvation against civilians, collective punishment, indiscriminate attacks, unlawful forced displacement, torture, hostage-taking, and the intentional targeting of noncombatants. We support independent investigations, credible legal proceedings, and accountability based on evidence rather than political allegiance.
We recognize that the scale, circumstances, and legal classification of particular incidents must be established through reliable evidence and appropriate legal processes. Nevertheless, no government should be permitted to dismiss civilian suffering, evade legitimate investigation, or claim that national security automatically justifies every action.
Our opposition to Israeli government actions is rooted in these universal principles. We believe that Palestinian lives must be valued, protected, and mourned with the same seriousness afforded to the lives of Israelis, Jewish people, and all other communities.
The Pagan Socialist Democratic Caucus calls for greater transparency, accountability, and human rights safeguards in American assistance to Israel.
We oppose unconditional military assistance and diplomatic protection that enable or excuse serious violations of international law. We support reviewing, conditioning, suspending, or ending assistance when warranted by applicable law, credible evidence, and the circumstances of particular violations.
We call upon the United States government to apply its human rights standards consistently across all international relationships, rather than allowing strategic alliances or domestic political pressure to determine whose suffering receives attention.
American diplomacy should prioritize civilian protection, humanitarian access, the release of hostages, an end to unlawful occupation, and meaningful negotiations toward a just and lasting peace. Our nation's resources and international influence should be used to advance human dignity and security, not to provide any government with an unrestricted license to act.
The Pagan Socialist Democratic Caucus rejects antisemitism in all its forms. We also reject anti-Palestinian racism, anti-Arab bigotry, Islamophobia, and discrimination against people because of their national origin, religion, or perceived political identity.
We oppose attempts to silence good-faith criticism of Israeli government policy merely by labeling it antisemitic. At the same time, we recognize that criticism of Israel can cross into antisemitism when it relies on anti-Jewish stereotypes, assigns collective guilt to Jewish people, or denies Jews rights on the basis of their Jewish identity.
Similarly, we reject efforts to portray Palestinians, Arabs, or Muslims as inherently violent, dangerous, or undeserving of equal rights.
We believe that a principled human rights position must protect people from prejudice while allowing governments, political organizations, and public officials to be held accountable for their actions.
The Pagan Socialist Democratic Caucus believes that democratic participation requires the freedom to scrutinize political power, challenge foreign policy, and demand accountability from elected representatives.
We encourage our members to evaluate AIPAC, Israeli government policy, American foreign assistance, and proposals for peace through evidence, human rights principles, and the consistent application of law. We reject political intimidation and collective blame, and we affirm the importance of open debate conducted with integrity and respect for human dignity.
Our Pagan foundation reinforces our commitment to the dignity of living beings, freedom of conscience, and the responsibility to confront injustice wherever it occurs. These commitments do not require us to excuse wrongdoing by a government or political organization because of its religious, cultural, or historical associations.
The Pagan Socialist Democratic Caucus stands with the Jewish people against antisemitism, with Palestinians in their pursuit of freedom and self-determination, and with all civilians whose lives are threatened by violence and injustice. We oppose unconditional support for AIPAC's political agenda and for Israeli government policies that violate human rights. We demand accountability, equal human dignity, and a foreign policy guided by justice rather than political favoritism.
We believe that no people should be made to suffer for the actions of a government, no faith should be used to excuse injustice, and no state should stand above international law.
Faith. Freedom. Democracy.
Adopted as the official position of the Pagan Socialist Democratic Caucus on AIPAC, Israeli government policy, Palestinian rights, and human dignity.