Join us in organizing popular tribunals in your region

Over the next 2-3 years the network will partner with other groups to organize tribunals that gather testimony in order to expose the tactics of and demand accountability from Zionist institutions and individuals.

Description of project

The concept for popular tribunals emerged out of conversations with activists at the Cairo Forum on Liberation from Zionism and US Imperialism. Popular tribunals have been used in conflicts around the world, ranging from the Vietnam War to the Chilean dictatorship to the Japanese exploitation of Korean women during World War II to the use of sexual violence during the ethnic war in the former Yugoslavia.

They side-step national or international governments (these are often the targets) and bring consciousness to a conflict or history. This process is often accompanied by material demands from governments or war criminals for reparations or public acknowledgment of crimes against humanity. In this case, the target(s) would be likely to be Zionist institutions or organizations.

The tribunal "hearing" the testimony often consists of publicly recognized figures-often famous activists and intellectuals but sometimes public officials. The tribunal hears testimony and then makes a statement based on that testimony that might also include "ruling" on the reparations or actions to be demanded from the perpetrators of violence. Our tribunals might include famous activists and intellects and a very small number of sympathetic public officials who represent the diverse cross-movements that are impacted by the intersection of Zionism and US/European imperialism.

Per our commitment to creating space for non-Jewish anti-Zionist voices, the testimony would largely come from Palestinian, Arab, or Muslim people and Jews most impacted by this intersection of Zionism and US/European imperialism (i.e. working class Jews, Mizrahi Jews, Jews of Color, anti-Zionist holocaust survivors, military refusniks, etc.). The targets may include one large international Zionist institution and it's local and national affiliates.  

One of many possible international targets is the Jewish National Fund (JNF).  The JNF is currently being targeted by Palestinian solidarity activists for their funding of paramilitary activity in the West Bank. The campaign is demanding a revoking of their charitable status. For those of us organizing locally or nationally, we might then identify and target institutions or individuals that fund or represent the JNF. 

The focus of the tribunals would be to expose the tactics of Zionist organizations both domestically and in Palestine. Initial thoughts include a campaign that would focus on and gather testimony about the censorship and targeting of organizations and individuals who criticize Israel, the experience of Muslim, Arab and South West Asian people and organizations targeted by Islamophobia, and people who are from or whose families remain in Palestine, Iraq and Lebanon with testimony on the military activity being funded by Zionist organizations. The testimony would differ from location to location based on the different populations, organizing and impact felt in each location.

Goals:

• Increase visibility of anti-Zionist platform, voices and testimonies.
• Document evidence and testimony to produce a working report to expose the tactics of the targeted Zionist institution(s).
• Increase foundation of support for growing boycott, divestment and sanctions movement and for participation in a general consumer boycott of Israeli goods.
• Encourage the boycott of Zionist organizations, institutions, political, educational, sporting and cultural events.
• Delegitimize the claim of Zionist organizations that they speak on behalf of all Jews.
• Expose the role of Zionist organizations as promoting the State of Israel in the name of doing Jewish cultural work.

Please email us at if you are interested in partnering with us or participating in the organizing of Popular Tribunals.

In November, a discussion will take place here that will evolve this concept. Readings about the historic use of different types of Popular Tribunals will also be posted. Please come back and join this discussion!