Mideast Just Peace

TONIGHT: Traverse Area Progressive Lawyers Forum Friday June 15 at 5PM/ Open to All
“Defending Our Constitutional Rights”
On Friday June 15, 2007 at 5:30 PM civil rights attorneys Bill Goodman Cynthia Heenan and Buck Davis will report on how the National Lawyers Guild and the Center for Constitutional Rights have responded to the Bush Administration’s attacks on our constitutional rights. All three are active members of the National Lawyers Guild. Bill Goodman is the past executive director of New York based Center for Constitutional Rights. All three currently practice law in Detroit. The event will be held at the Traverse City law firm of Thompson, O’Neil and Vanderveen at 309 E. Front St.

The lawyers will discuss lawsuits challenging the denial of habeas corpus to Guantanamo prisoners and the legality of NSA wiretapping as well as the role of legal observers at political demonstrations. They also will report on recent Impeachment Town Hall meetings in Detroit and provide an update from a significant voting rights case in Berrien County. The event is sponsored by the Traverse Area Progressive Lawyers, is free and open to the public. Refreshments and social time starting at 5:00 PM. Come and learn how you can get involved.

Join the Traverse Area Peace & Justice Community on Saturdays 11AM to Noon Meet at Chamber of Commerce at Cass and Grandview in Traverse City From there we will walk to the Parkway and stand for a one hour anti-war presence. It is important to show our public opposition to the War on Iraq. Be a part of this growing anti-war sentiment in our area.

This weekend also marks that 40th year of the Israeli Occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. Let’s have a local contingent standing in solidarity with the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation’s demonstration in DC. End the Occupation Now!

Bring Signs/Banners. We will also have the No More $$$ For War and Bring Our Troops Home Now signs available. Posters for Demonstration can be found at www.TraversePeaceAlerts.org

Need another reason to drink Higher Grounds coffee instead of Starbucks?

You might be more inclined after you read how “Every latte and macchiato you drink at Starbucks is a contribution to the close alliance between the United States and Israel,” in a spoof letter written by Andrew Winkler at ZioPedia. He wrote the letter using past quotes by Starbukcs chairman Howard Schultz.

Traverse City Graduate Speaks on Israel’s Military Diplomacy and Its Effects on Civil Liberties in the United States

On Monday June 4, 2007 at 7:00 PM MidEast:Just Peace will host 1995 Traverse City high school graduate Jimmy Johnson a the Traverse Area District Library. For the past three years Johnson has worked as a researcher for the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD) in Jerusalem. His work there included documenting human rights abuses, organizing and practicing civil disobedience and guiding governmental and civil society groups from all over the world in political tours of East Jerusalem and environs. He is the co-author of an upcoming book on Israel’s arms industry. Johnson will speak on the impact of military diplomacy on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and how this distant conflict affects civil liberties in the United States.

The event is free. Discussion will follow the presentation.
Synopsis of Topics to be covered:

1 )Israel’s Military Diplomacy: The diplomatic shield of the arms trade

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is destabilizing at a regional level in one of the key geo-political regions in the world. It resonates with Muslims all over the world as one of the last “colonial invasions” of the Muslim world. Negative political developments in the conflict directly linked to spikes in energy prices. Yet Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem & Gaza continues unabated. With such a high cost to the world, how does Israel get away with it?

One of the main reasons is Israel’s military industry and experience. The diplomatic effects of the arms trade and military relationships are an undiscussed secret in world politics. The development, production and transfer of military techniques and technologies warp civilian diplomacy worldwide. As the fourth largest arms exporter in the world in 2006 (on any given year between 3-6), Israel plays an international role disproportionate to its size and resources. All of the main arms exporters reap similar benefits and several also have conflicts they need to shield from international pressure (US -UK/Iraq, Russia/Chechnya). The presentation/discussion will talk about military diplomacy and how it warps civilian diplomacy using Israel as a model.

2) Civil liberties in the US and the Conflict in the Middle East

How do the perpetuation of distant conflicts affect civil liberties at home and create tools of war? Israeli police and intelligence services train their colleagues all over the world. The Israeli military similarly provide technical expertise to a variety of armies, going so far as to build a model Arab town in the Negev to train US forces going into Iraq. Israeli monitoring and surveillance technology is in place on the London Underground, Stockholm’s Public Buses, and countless other destination across the globe. Each of these developments has a plausible security aspect, and an equally strong use against civil liberties and human rights. The only reason Israel can export such technology is due its extensive experience in monitoring and controlling the Palestinians. Just as new tools of control and warfare are being developed by US & UK forces in Iraq, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will continue to work as a laboratory for security systems and techniques of control.