The Rank and File at Temple University (RAFT) in Philadelphia, a local member of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) representing teachers and other education workers at Temple University, this week called on its union members to condemn Israel’s occupation of Palestine and its brutal attacks on Palestinians.

RAFT demanded total divestment from Israel and an end for all US aid and support for Israel.

“The members of the Rank-and-File Temple Caucus (RAFT) unequivocally support the cause of Palestinian liberation from Israeli occupation, settler colonialism, and apartheid,” said a RAFT statement of solidarity with Palestinians.

“RAFT supports the workers and oppressed people of Palestine, who are targeted by the colonial violence of the state of Israel. We support Palestinian-led movements such as BDS and its academia and culture focused subdivision PACBI.”

It added: “We call on President Biden to immediately cease all military aid and financial support for the state of Israel, which we know exists only to further the imperialist aims of the US government in the Middle East and beyond. The US government must stop sending American police units to Israel for training; and the President, Departments of State, Defense, and Treasury, and Congress must take the recommendations of Human Rights Watch in their recent report as a serious starting point for putting pressure on Israel to cease committing these crimes and hold those responsible accountable.”

RAFT called on the AFT “to completely divest from the State of Israel, including the liquidation of its $200,000 worth of State of Israel bonds; to condemn the Israeli authorities’ crimes of apartheid and persecution; and to join us in demanding that the US end all support for the Israeli state.”