Medea Benjamin

Medea Benjamin is a Jewish American political activist, author, and co‑founder of Global Exchange and CODEPINK, an organization known for its anti-war and anti-Zionist stance. V She has spent over fifty years engaged in anti‑war, human rights, and international solidarity work. Her activism includes opposition to U.S. militarism, Israeli state violence, and global systems of occupation and repression. Benjamin has been a prominent Jewish critic of Israeli policies for decades. She supports the BDS movement, has been banned from entering Israel for her activism, and has repeatedly condemned Israeli aggression in Gaza, including publicly accusing U.S. officials of supporting genocide. Her work integrates Jewish dissent, nonviolent resistance, and transnational solidarity with Palestinians. Born to pro-Israel Jewish parents in New York, Benjamin shifted her views after experiencing racism and prejudice while visiting a kibbutz in Israel as a teenager. She has been a vocal critic of Israeli occupation and apartheid, actively supporting the Palestinian cause through protests, boycotts of Israeli products, and advocacy against U.S. support for Israel’s policies. Benjamin’s activism has led to arrests and injuries, yet she continues to advocate for human rights and justice for Palestinians.