One hundred and thirteen actors, musicians, directors, and authors signed a petition this week calling on the Israeli government to rescind Defense Minister Benny Gantz's designation of six Palestinian "human rights organizations" as terrorist entities.
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Among the signees are famous actors Richard Gere, Tilda Swinton, Susan Sarandon, Simon Pegg, Claire Foy, Julie Christie, directors Jim Jarmusch, Aki Kaurismaki, Alfonso Cuaron, authors Philip Pullman, Yann Martel, Naomi Klein, Irvine Welsh, and musicians Jarvis Cocker, David Byrne, and Peter Gabriel.
The list also includes signatures by well-known critics of Israel and BDS supporters, such as musician Roger Waters, directors Mike Leigh and Ken Loach, and actors Mark Ruffalo and Mark Rylance.
Proud to be one of 100+ artists, actors, and more calling on the international community to defend Palestinian human rights orgs against Israeli government repression. #StandWithThe6
In the US? Demand action from Congress now: https://t.co/yuSdvv5J3shttps://t.co/NGYTlWdEGh
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) November 17, 2021
The artists criticized the Israeli government for what they say is "an unprecedented and blanket attack on Palestinian human rights defenders.
"The designations target six of the most eminent Palestinian human rights defenders engaged in critical human rights work and cover all aspects of civil society," the statement read. "Israel's designation of these six Palestinian organizations as 'terrorist' groups, and the military order that outlaws them places the safety of the organizations and their staff at imminent risk."
The petition called on "all persons of conscience across the globe to stand with us. We call on the international community to #StandWithThe6 and protect Palestinian human rights defenders, and demand that Israel rescind the terrorist designations immediately."
Ruffalo posted the statement on his Twitter page that has over 7.7 million followers, and wrote: "Proud to be one of 100+ artists, actors, and more calling on the international community to defend Palestinian human rights orgs against Israeli government repression." He called on his American readers to "demand action from Congress."
The six Palestinian organizations were outlawed by Gantz last month after an investigation revealed that they operated as an arm for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. The PFLP is designated a terrorist group by the United States, European Union, Israel, Canada, Australia, and Japan.
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