Occupation End Notes | December 13, 2007 Volume 5 Number 10
In this issue...
1. US Campaign Update: US Campaign Holiday Party Tonight; US Campaign Conference Call Teach-In on
2. Member Group Update: Bay-Area Groups Protest AIPAC, Dec. 17; Interfaith Peace-Builders Delegates Bring On-the-Ground Experience to Media Coverage of
3. Resources & Events: Breaking the Silence
4. Opportunities to Visit Israel and Palestine: Interfaith Peace-Builders; Global Exchange; Middle East Children's Alliance
1. US CAMPAIGN UPDATE:
*
For our friends and supporters in the DC area…
You're Invited to Our Annual
The
staff of the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation warmly invites
you to our Adams Morgan office for our Annual Holiday Party!
Gather
round with US Campaign friends from 5-8pm on Thursday, December 13th
and join us for a happy hour! Meet local activists and do some shopping
for your loved ones! We have Palestinian fair trade, organic olive oil,
books, music, videos, and t-shirts that would make the perfect holiday
gift!
What: US Campaign's Annual Holiday Party
When: Thursday, December 13th, 2007 5pm-8pm
Where:
Please RSVP to Omar Masri, office@endtheoccupation.org or call 202-332-0994.
*
The
U.S. Campaign will present a telephone teach-in on Thursday, December
13 at 9pm ET to provide some background on the recent Annapolis
Conference and what it claimed to have achieved but in reality, what it
really was. We will also shed light on the implications on the
Palestinian people.
We will have two presenters, and then opening up for about an hour of Q&A and discussion on the call.
Thursday, December 13th, 2007, 9 PM-10:15 PM ET
Please RSVP to Omar Masri at office@endtheoccupation.org
no later than 6PM ET. We will then provide you with the conference
call-in number and access code. Please mention the organization you
represent, if any.
Presentations will be given by Phyllis Bennis and
Agenda:
9:00P-9:15P: Welcome and House-keeping
9:15P-9:30P: Introduction of Phyllis Bennis. What the Conference was meant to be and what it was not in the regional context
9:30P-9:45P: Introduction of
9:45P-10:15P: Q&A
10:15P: Closing Remarks from Omar Masri
Phyllis Bennis is a fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies in Samar Assad is the Executive Director of the Palestine Center, a
* Get Your Free Copy of the DVD "The World Says NO! to Israeli Occupation!"
 |
Read
our year-end newsletter to find out how to get your free copy of an
inspiring 20-minute documentary of our June 10 protest against 40 years
of |
| We've teamed up with our friends at Canaan Fair Trade to offer you Palestinian fair trade, organic olive oil delivered directly to your door. (Sorry, we can only ship to the 48 contiguous states.) |  |
 |
The US Campaign is now selling four one-liter tins for the low price of just $80+$10 shipping and handling. Or order a whole case (twelve one-liter tins) and save even more.The price of a whole case is $200 with free shipping and handling. Order your olive oil today by clicking here or call 202-332-0994 to place your order by credit card.
You must order by today, Thursday, December 13, if you'd like delivery before Christmas. |
2. MEMBER GROUP UPDATE:
* Bay-Area Groups Protest AIPAC, Dec. 17
Protest AIPAC at their Membership Dinner
Monday, December 17th 6pm
We Say NO to a Lobby for War!
We
say no to a lobby for war. As the AIPAC lobby celebrates its continued
success in pressuring politicians to maintain a militaristic policy in
the Middle East, its support of US aid to Israel even as it continues
and expands its occupation of Palestinian land, its call for ever more
sanctions against Iran that can lead to catastrophic war, we will be
outside with a very different agenda. We call for peace in the Middle
East based on international law, global nuclear disarmament, and an end
to
Endorsed by:
Stop AIPAC! • Middle East Children's Alliance • Global Exchange • Jewish Voice for Peace • Alameda Party Green Party • Bay Area Women in Black • International Solidarity Movement - Northern California
• Berkeley Women in Black• East Bay Coalition for Self-rule for Iraqis
(EB-COSSI).• Middle East Policy Advisory Committee (MEPAC)
For more information, click here.
* IFPB DELEGATES BRING ON-THE-GROUND EXPERIENCE TO MEDIA COVERAGE OF
December 5, 2007 - Interfaith Peace-Builders' 25th Delegation to Israel/Palestine returned last month. The delegation, co-sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee,
explored many aspects of the Israeli-Palesinian conflict and supported
Palestinian families in the annual olive harvest (to read reports from
the delegation click here).
Participants returned home from the delegation weeks before the US Administration held a hasty Middle East Conference in
Interfaith Peace-Builders is proud of the delegates' continued activism. These media successes are only the beginning
of their education and advocacy as individuals are already planning
speaking events and getting involved in other local initiatives to
support peace and justice in Israel/Palestine.
DELEGATES ON TELEVISION
- Delegates Judy and Mike White were interviewed on WMFD TV local news in
- Delegation Co-Leader Scott Kennedy was interviewed on SoWatTV in
DELEGATES ON RADIO
- WKSU Radio, an NPR affiliate in Kent Ohio, featured Doug and Mary Ann Kerr with John Tuzcu on November 26. Listen to the segment online or download it here.
- Kathleen McQuillen and John Tuzcu were featured in an hour interview on WOI's Talk of Iowa in
- Tom Baskett was featured in a short interview on Vermont Public Radio's Vermont Edition which aired during broadcast of NPR's Morning Edition on December 4. Listen to the interview online or download it here.
- WLBY Radio's The Lou Perry Show featured Ron Stockton on December 1 (audio not available).
- Additional radio spots are currently scheduled in
DELEGATES IN PRINT
- Doug and Mary Ann Kerr and John Tuzcu were featured in the Cleveland Plain Dealer on November 18. Read the article here.
- The Wautaga Democrat of
- Carlie Numie was featured in this article published by The Daily Local News of
- The Attleboro SunChronicle of
- Judy Gilbert was interviewed for two articles in the Orillia Packet and Times on October 23 and November 23 and one article in Orillia Today on November 23. Both newspapers serve Judy's community of
- Tom Baskett published this letter to the editor in the Rutland Herald in
- TheAshland Times-Gazette of
- Cathy Deyo Young was the subject of this article in the Grand Rapids Press of Grand Rapids, Michigan. The article ran on December 1.
- Additional print media is forthcoming in
* Adalah-NY Steps Up Protests against LEVIEV
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Despite NYC Palestinian rights protest, Dershowitz buys jewelry from settlement mogul Leviev
(Video and photo links at end of message)
ADALAH-NY Contact: justiceme@gmail.com
Saturday's
event was the third and largest protest outside LEVIEV New York since
the store's November 13 gala opening. The protesters highlighted
Leviev's abuse of marginalized communities in
Midway
through Saturday's protest Alan Dershowitz suddenly appeared in front
of LEVIEV New York. "Just before he entered the store, I told Mr.
Dershowitz, "you claim to be for peace, but you are deliberately
putting money in the pockets of a man who builds settlements and
prevents peace," explained Issa Mikel of Adalah-NY. "Dershowitz
responded, 'Thank you for telling me about this place. I'm going to
shop here from now on.' It's not surprising that Dershowitz is proud to
support Israeli settlements, despite their illegality and immorality.
Dershowitz is also a defender of torture, and has proposed that
New
Yorkers were joined by members of the New Jersey Star dance troupe for
likely the first ever Madison Avenue performance of the Palestinian
folk dance dabke. Riham Barghouti of Adalah-NY explained, "Our dabke
performance at Leviev's store was an affirmation of our identity as
Palestinians, and of our refusal to accept
Participants
were reminded of the breadth of Leviev's abuses when a stream of cars
decorated with Burmese flags and "Free Burma" banners drove by the
protest honking their horns in support. In September, 2007 The Sunday
Times in
Protesters
held signs saying, "Latkes not land theft", and "Dreidels not
demolition and "Candles not confiscation." Ethan Heitner of Adalah-NY
explained, "I can think of no better way to celebrate Hanukah than to
shine a light on the abuses Leviev is committing around the world."
Leviev mines diamonds in close partnership with
Video of Alan Dershowitz at LEVIEV New York: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bq-carFCQbQ
Video of protesters performing dabke: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-1c9xN8BBU
Downloadable photos: http://picasaweb.google.com/JusticeME/Leviev12807
For more on Adalah-NY: www.mideastjustice.org
3. RESOURCES AND EVENTS
Dear supporter of the refuser movements,
From the moment of its first showing in Israel in the summer of 2004,
the Breaking the Silence exhibition -- an exhibition of photographs and
video testimonies provided by over 60 current and former IDF soldiers
documenting their experiences in the Occupied Territories -- has
established itself as one of the most influential and important efforts
to bring greater awareness of the depths of the conflict and its impact
on the people of all sides. As an organization, Breaking the Silence,
has continued to be a respected voice among those working each day to
bring an end to the conflict.
The Refuser Solidarity Network has learned that Breaking the Silence will bring its photo exhibition to the
In March, the exhibition will travel to
* Foreign Policy in Focus "World Beat" Graphic-Art Article on Life in
 |
Foreign Policy in Focus' "World Beat" ezine has published a graphic-art article on life in occupied To read and distribute the article, entitled "Visiting Hani's House", click here. |
* Cluster Bomb
Last
month, the US Campaign joined with the Friends Committee on National
Legislation (FCNL) and other human rights organizations for a global
day of action against cluster bombs.Below is a note from FCNL with suggested follow-up ideas.
This
More
than 130 governments are gathering today (5-7 December) to continue
working toward a global treaty to ban cluster bombs—weapons which leave
behind deadly landmine fields and have a record of killing more
civilians than combatants. The
In
November, a call in day to the Senate helped gain four new
cosponsors—Ben Cardin (MD), John Kerry (MA), Ron Wyden (OR), and Robert
Casey (PA). Thank you.
Keep the momentum going! Activate your network to write their Senators this holiday season, urging them to prevent further harm to civilians from cluster bombs. It's simple.Here's how they do it:
1.Print out this holiday postcard (front and back) on cardstock, which you can find at any copy shop. Cut the cards apart; there are 4 to a sheet.
2.Sign the postcard, including a return address. Add a sentence or two to personalize the message.
3.Find the district office addresses of Senators using an online congressional directory.
4.Distribute
the remaining cards to family, friends, faith community, and co-workers
and ask them to write their Senators as well! (Here's a flyer to educate people about the issue if needed.)
Fine Print
- Do you live in
- Do you live in
- Do you live in any other state? You should send a postcard to both your senators asking them to cosponsor the bill.
Please do let us know if you do activate your network and/or if you have any questions.
Happy holidays!
4. OPPORTUNITIES TO VISIT
Interfaith Peace-Builders (IFPB) sends delegations to
Upcoming Delegations in 2008:
October/November, 2008 (exact dates TBD)
* Fall 2007 Schedule: December 2nd - 12th: Global Exchange's Delegations to Palestine & Israel
As
the Israeli military continues to place Palestinian towns, villages and
refugee camps under siege, Palestinians continue to resist the 40 year
Occupation of their land. GX's delegations to Palestine/Israel strive
to further the US public's understanding of the region's history and
realities by giving participants first-hand exposure to the aspirations
and frustrations of Palestinians living under Occupation, the
dimensions of the human rights crisis under Israeli rule, as well as
the perspectives of Palestinians and Israelis who are working for a
just peace and end to the occupation.
For additional information, review our Palestine resources.
For a selection of recent news items compiled by Global Exchange, review our Palestine News Updates.
Prospects for Peace with Justice
December 02, 2007 - December 12, 2007
April 05, 2008 - April 15, 2008
December 06, 2008 - December 16, 2008
For more information you can contact Global Exchange (800-497-1994 x. 251) or email palestine@globalexchange.org.
*July 1-12, 2008: Middle East Children's Alliance Delegation to Palestine/Israel
On
MECA's twelve-day delegation you will be taken on a geographic,
political, historical and cultural tour of Palestine/Israel by two MECA
staff people, and Yacoub Odeh, refugee, former political prisoner, and
human rights worker. We will travel by van to witness the impact of the
Israeli occupation and visit organizations working for justice and
equality. You will learn about refugees, land confiscation, political
prisoners, women's initiatives, mental and physical health issues,
civil rights in
The group of eight to twelve people will stay at the guesthouse of MECA's long-time partner
Cost: $1,800 not including airfare.
More info: www.mecaforpeace.org/delegation
Contact: Deborah Agre at 510-548-0542 or Deborah@mecaforpeace.org
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 at office@endtheoccupation.org.
The US Campaign aims to change U.S. policies that sustain Israel 's 40-year occupation of the Palestinian West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem , and that deny equal rights for all.