Ask your representative to join U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum and Christian faith leaders at a congressional briefing on Wednesday, Nov. 20, Universal Children's Day. The briefing will call attention to the need to protect the rights of Palestinian children who are detained, prosecuted, and incarcerated by the Israeli military in the occupied Palestinian territory. The session will also highlight the “Promoting Human Rights for Palestinian Children Living Under Israeli Military Occupation Act” (H.R. 2407), which prohibits any U.S. taxpayer funds from contributing to the military detention, interrogation, abuse, or ill-treatment of children by any country, including Israel.  Israel has the dubious distinction of being the only country in the world that systematically prosecutes between 500 and 700 children each year in military courts that lack fundamental fair trial rights and protections. Children within the Israeli military detention system commonly report physical and verbal abuse from the moment of their arrest, and coercion and threats during interrogations. Under Israeli military law, Palestinian children have no right to a lawyer during interrogation.  Many faith groups, including The Episcopal Church, Presbyterian Church (USA),  United Church of Christ, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and the Alliance of Baptists have passed resolutions in support of the rights of Palestinian children held in Israeli military detention.  Contact your representatives and senators to ask them to join the briefing and to support H.R. 2407 or companion legislation in the Senate to hold Israel responsible for its abuses of Palestinian children's rights.  Senator Sherrod Brown, 202-224-2315; Senator Rob Portman, 202-224-3353; Rep. Joyce Beatty, 202-225-4324; Rep. Steve Stivers 202-225-2015; Rep. Troy Balderson, 202- 225-5355.   Sign the AFSC petition here.