Mideast Just Peace

 

May 31, 2010
We Gaza based Palestinian Civil Society Organizations and International activists call on the international community and civil society to pressure their governments and Israel to cease the abductions and killings in Israel’s attacks against the Gaza Freedom Flotilla sailing for Gaza, and begin a global response to hold Israel accountable for the murder of foreign civilians at sea and illegal piracy of civilian vessels carrying humanitarian aid for Gaza.

We salute the courage of all those who have organized this aid intervention and demand a safe passage through to Gaza for the 750 people of conscience from 40 different countries including 35 international politicians intent on breaking the Israeli-Egyptian blockade. We offer our sincerest condolences to family and friends who have lost loved ones in the attack.

By sailing directly to Gaza, outside of Israeli waters, with cargo banned illegally by Israel, such as the 10,000 tonnes of badly needed concrete, toys, workbooks, chocolate, pasta and substantial medical supplies, the flotilla is exercising international law and upholding article 33 of the Geneva Convention which clearly states that collective punishment is a crime against humanity.

The hardships of Israel’s closure of Gaza have been well documented by all human rights groups operating, most recently by Amnesty International in their Annual Human Rights Report concluding that the siege has “deepened the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Mass unemployment, extreme poverty, food insecurity and food price rises caused by shortages left four out of five Gazans dependent on humanitarian aid. The scope of the blockade and statements made by Israeli officials about its purpose showed that it was being imposed as a form of collective punishment of Gazans, a flagrant violation of international law.” The United Nations continuously states that only a fraction of the required aid is entering the Strip due to what it calls ‘the medieval siege’, with John Ging the Director of UNRWA in Gaza specifically expressing the need for the Flotilla to enter Gaza. The European Union’s new foreign affairs minister Catherine Ashton has just reiterated its call for, “an immediate, sustained and unconditional opening of crossings for the flow of humanitarian aid, commercial goods and persons to and from Gaza.”

The people of Gaza are not dependent people, but self sufficient people doing what they can to retain some dignity in life in the wake of this colossal man-made devastation that deprives so many of a basic start in life or minimal aspirations for the future.

We, from Gaza, call on you to demonstrate and support the courageous men and women who went on the Flotilla, many now murdered on a humanitarian aid mission. We insist on severance of diplomatic ties with Israel, trials for war crimes and the International protection of the civilians of Gaza. We call on you to join the growing international boycott, divestment and sanction campaign of a country proving again to be so violent and yet so unchallenged. Join the growing critical mass around the world with a commitment to the day when Palestinians are entitled to the same rights as any other people, when the siege is lifted, the occupation is over and the 6 million Palestinian refugees are finally granted justice.

Signatory Organisations:

The One Democratic State Group

University Teachers Association

Arab Cultural Forum

Palestinian Students’ Campaign for the Academic Boycott of Israel

Association of Al-Quds Bank for Culture and Info

Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements

International Solidarity Movement

Palestinian Network of Non-Governmental Organisations

Palestinian Women Committees

Progressive Students Union

Medical Relief Society

The General Society for Rehabilitation

Gaza Community Mental Health Program

General Union of Palestinian Women

Afaq Jadeeda Cultural Centre for Women and Children

Deir Al-Balah Cultural Centre for Women and Children

Maghazi Cultural Centre for Children

Al-Sahel Centre for Women and Youth

Ghassan Kanfani Kindergartens

Rachel Corrie Centre, Rafah

Rafah Olympia City Sisters

Al Awda Centre, Rafah

Al Awda Hospital, Jabaliya Camp

Ajyal Association, Gaza

General Union of Palestinian Syndicates

Al Karmel Centre, Nuseirat

Local Inititiative, Beit Hanoun

Union of Health Work Committees

Red Crescent Society Gaza Strip

Beit Lahiya Cultural Centre

Al Awda Centre, Rafah

“As protest and solidarity actions begin in Palestine and across the world, this is the message they must carry: enough impunity, enough complicity, enough Israeli massacres and apartheid. Justice now.“

http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article11305.shtml

Israeli soldiers aboard the Mavi Marmara.

On Wednesday, November 4, 2009 MidEast:JustPeace will host a dinner and movie screening of Robert Greenwald’s film RETHINK Afghanistan at the Warehouse Lounge behind Right Brain Brewery, Warehouse District in Traverse City.   Plan to buy your own dinner at 6PM. The movie will begin at  7PM.

This concerns raised by this film are urgent and timely. After eight years of U.S. military engagement in Afghanistan, violence and instability still prevail. When the problems facing Afghan society are economic, social and political in nature, RETHINK Afghanistan questions why ninety percent of U.S. funding in Afghanistan is directed toward military purposes. For more information: http://rethinkafghanistan.com

At the Bioneers Conference in Traverse City Saturday October 17, 2009
10:15 AM
Scholars Hall, Room 20
Palestinian resilience has kept alive traditions and practices of cooperative, fair trade agriculture and alternative home construction through much duress. Explore traditions and practices and learn concrete ways attendees can provide direct support from their home communities. This workshop will focus on Palestinian resilience from an environmental standpoint, including information on lobbying local businesses to carry Palestinian food products, starting local buying clubs, and placing economic pressure on the US and Israel to end disastrous practices. The three presenters, Marian Kromkowski, Gina Aranki, both founding members of Traverse For Peace and Jutice and MidEast:Just Peace, and Bronwyn Jones, a more recent participant in MidEast:Just Peace, will facilitate the discussion. Continue the conversation and organizing at a designated lunch table.

More info at http://www.glbconference.org

Monday June 29, 2009 at 7:30 PM at State Theater in Traverse City

Telling Strings is the very personal story of the Elias Jubran family who  remained on their land near the Galilee after the creation of the state of Israel. Swiss filmmaker Anne-Marie Haller’s 60-minute documentary provides a rare look into the profound workings of this Palestinian family of musicians. The film shows the intense interplay of music and politics in one of the world‘s most politically explosive regions and illustrates how powerful music can be in defining cultural identity.  The music of Kamilya Jubran, a member of Sabreen, a leading Jerusalem-based musical group will be featured.  http://www.kamilyajubran.com
Review: http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article10474.shtml

A scene from Telling Strings.

Also Easy, Easy, short film the same night………………

Set in rural Palestine in 1939 at the end of the Palestinian revolt against the British Mandate, Easy Easy follows a Palestinian farmer and his family whose traditional and stagnant lives get turned upside down when a Palestinian resistance fighter decides to hide out in their small farm home and brings revolutionary ideas into the family and challenges their traditional way of life.

US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation
Some Items from Occupation End Notes

 GAZA ACTION:
* Take Action

Take action to end the siege on the Gaza Strip.For action ideas and to find out more, visit our web section “Take Action to End Israel’s War and Siege on Gaza”. 

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* Delegations to Gaza

Delegations to Gaza are being organized by US Campaign member group CODEPINK and by the Free Gaza coalition. For more information on the CODEPINK delegation click here. You can click here to learn more about the Free Gaza “Hope Fleets.”

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* UN Rebukes Israel over Gaza Raids May 5 - A United Nations inquiry into attacks by Israeli forces on UN property during the Gaza conflict four months ago has heavily criticized Israel’s army. Click here to read more.

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* The Gaza Offensive and Ending Israel’s Legal ImpunityMay 7 - Click here to read a Palestine Center information brief on the UN delegation to Gaza and international law by Will Youmans. “In short, the United States is strong enough to block the international community but is too interested to construct a credible process rooted in international law. Strengthening the hand of the international community will ultimately best serve the interests of peace.”

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CHALLENGING U.S. POLICY:    * Help Influence the Obama Administration: Yes We Can…End Military Aid to Israel!  Find out how you can take steps to influence the Obama Administration to end weapons transfers to Israel. Learn more and take action by clicking here.

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* Obama Misses Opportunity for Accountability on Aid to IsraelMay 7 - President Obama missed an opportunity to demonstrate his professed commitment to budgetary accountability and human rights by proposing $2.775 billion in military aid to Israel in his FY2010 budget request. Click here to read more. 

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STANDING AGAINST APARTHEID UPDATE:   * Israel Review Conference: United Against Apartheid, Colonialism, and Occupation After being blocked from official UN proceedings, the Palestinian Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions National Committee sponsored a review conference in Geneva on April 18-19, two days before the UN Durban Review conference. The Israel Review Conference brought together internationally renowned experts and actors for social and political justice who examined how UN anti-racism instruments apply to Israel’s policies and practices regarding the Palestinian people and developed practical recommendations on how to make Israel accountable to international law and protect the rights of the Palestinian people.Click here for more information. Click here to read the position paper released by a coalition of Palestinian civil society organizations entitled “Dignity and Justice for the Palestinian People.”

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* South African Theologian Writes Letter to Palestinians on Apartheid WallApril 17 - The website Sendamessage.nl has commissioned a letter from South African Muslim theologian Farid Esack, which will be spray painted on the Apartheid Wall near Ramallah. The letter draws connections between life under Israeli occupation and life under South African apartheid. Click here or here to read more about this Palestinian and Dutch initiative, or here to read the full text of the letter.

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* Reflections on RacismApril 21 - US Campaign Advisory Board member Nadia Hijab reflects on the Obama administration’s decision to boycott the Durban Review conference, and the challenges this presents for ongoing efforts to deconstruct racism and colonialism. Click here to read the full article.

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* Fixing the Legacy of Apartheid
April 29 - Foreign Policy in Focus guest columnist Khadija Sharife reflects on the decision by U.S. courts to hear claims against companies that were complicit in the crimes of the apartheid regime in South Africa. “By finally laying to rest the ghosts of apartheid, the lawsuit may well usher in similar moves targeting the economic systems of global apartheid.” Click here to read more.

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BOYCOTT & DIVESTMENT UPDATE:  * Motorola Shareholders Met with Protests, Human Rights Resolutions

On May 4, 2009, Motorola shareholders gathering for their annual meeting in Chicago were met with protests calling for an end to Motorola’s role in the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land. US Campaign member groups and supporters organized demonstrations in Chicago, New York City, and in other cities across the country, while representatives of the United Methodist and Presbyterian churches inside the shareholder meeting proposed a resolution calling on Motorola to respect standards of international law and human rights in Israel and Palestine. Our goal was to send 2,000 emails to Motorola management in the lead-up to the meeting; thanks to all of you, we were able to send more than 3,700 emails to Motorola’s CEO and VP of Investor Relations!But the work doesn’t end now. Our shareholder allies are already strategizing on further shareholder action with Motorola. We need to keep up the pressure for accountability! Click here to send an email to Motorola’s CEO and VP of Investor Relations, and let them know that war profits equal lost profits!

You can also click here to sign up for a Hang Up on Motorola local campaign kit.

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* Hang Up On Motorola Resources Sign up to be a local organizer for our Motorola boycott. Get organizing tools such as postcards for the Hang Up On Motorola pledge, fact sheets about Motorola’s support for Israeli apartheid policies, and tips on how to involve retailers in the campaign. Or click here to make a tax-deductible donation to support the ongoing Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions work of the US Campaign.  Just $10 will pay for a campaign kit to be sent to a new Hang Up On Motorola organizer and $500 will sponsor a stop on our fall organizing tour. All donations are appreciated.  Supporters who give $30 will receive a print of the winning poster entry from our Expressions of Nakba art competition.  Supporters giving $50 will receive a DVD of Occupation 101.  Supporters giving >$100 will receive both gifts.

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* Support the Academic & Cultural Boycott of Israel The international academic boycott of institutions supporting Israel’s occupation has spread from Europe to Canada and now to the United States. Click here to get involved in the U.S. academic & cultural boycott movement.

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* Great BDS website The Israeli Coalition of Women for Peace exposes corporations profiting from the occupation of Palestinian territory and people. Click here to check out WhoProfits.org.

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* Morally Responsible Investment Resources for ChurchesFriends of Sabeel North America now has a website devoted to resources on morally responsible investment activism. View their resources by clicking here. The New England Conference of the United Methodist Church has a list of companies recommended for divestment. You can view the list by clicking here, and find out more about the United Methodist Church and divestment by clicking here. Presbyterian Church divestment information is available by clicking here. Statements of support for divestment organized by Jewish Voice for Peace can be found here.

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* Boycott this Israeli Settlement Builder April 28 - Abe Hayeem of The Guardian urges a boycott of Israeli settlement builder Lev Leviev. “The sanctions against Leviev should be the start of a wider boycott of all who profit from the enforced acquisition of Palestinian land.” Click here to read the full article.

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* The Israel Boycott is BitingApril 30 - Nadia Hijab on the Motorola boycott and the growing efficacy of the global boycott, divestment, and sanction movement. Click here to read the full article.

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* The Motorola Boycott and U.S. Aid to IsraelMay 2 - Hear US Campaign National Organizer Katherine Fuchs and National Advocacy Director Josh Ruebner interviewed on Chicago’s Radio Islam. Click here to listen.Order Palestinian Loss of Land Map Cards
Educate in your community using these postcard-sized maps, which show Palestinian loss of land from 1946 through the current day. Click here to order map cards.

US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation
Occupation End Notes is the US Campaign bi-monthly newsletter, designed as a tool for activists. For this newsletter to be successful, we need your participation. Use us to promote events, give feedback on recent actions, recommend resources, or just learn from other activists in the movement. If you or your organization are planning an event aimed at ending the occupation, or you have information for the Newsletter, please contact the US Campaign. Click here to access past editions of End Notes.  The US Campaign aims to change U.S. policies that sustain Israel’s 41-year occupation of the Palestinian West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem, and that deny equal rights for all.

Ramzy Baroud
Non-Violence in Palestine?

Kathleen and Bill Christison
Solving Palestine While Israel Destroys It

Sean McMahon
Globalizing Politicide: Israel’s Strikes on Sudan

Sheera Frenkel
Israel Stands Ready to Bomb
Iran’s Nuclear Sites

Check out this site: Rethink Afghanistan is a ground-breaking, full-length documentary focusing on the key issues surrounding this war. By releasing this film in parts for free online, we are able to stay on top of news of the war as it continues to unfold. We hope to raise critical questions regarding Afghanistan that Congress must address in oversight hearings, which inform the public and challenge policymakers. We strive for more discussion among experts on Afghanistan, like the debates seen below released in conjunction with our documentary campaign.  Link to continually updated site   http://rethinkafghanistan.com/videos.php 

שטח סגור | Closed Zone | منطقة مغلقة
http://www.closedzone.com/

Despite declarations that it has “disengaged” from the Gaza Strip, Israel maintains control of the Strip’s overland border crossings, territorial waters, and air space. This includes substantial, albeit indirect, control of the Rafah Crossing.

During the past 18 months, Israel tightened its closure of Gaza, almost completely restricting the passage of goods and people both to and from the Strip.

These policies punish innocent civilians with the goal of exerting pressure on the Hamas government, violating the rights of 1.5 million people who seek only to live ordinary lives – to be reunited with family, to pursue higher education, to receive quality medical treatment, and to earn a living.

The effects of the closure were particularly harsh during the military operation of Dec. 2008 - Jan. 2009. For three weeks, Gaza residents had nowhere to flee to escape the bombing.

Gisha - Legal Center for Freedom of Movement calls on the State of Israel to fully open Gaza’s crossings and to allow the real victims of the closure - 1.5 million human beings - the freedom of movement necessary to realize their dreams and aspirations.

The Making of “Closed Zone”

Yoni Goodman, director of animation for the Academy Award-nominated film, “Waltz with Bashir”, talks about the process of making his new animated film on the closure of Gaza together with the human rights group Gisha.   Click here to watch »