End the Occupation

Occupation End Notes | May 6, 2003
Volume 1 Number 12

1. EVENTS

MAY 7- PITTSBURG

Middle East Perspective: A Look At The Israeli/Palestinian Question

HolidayPark United MethodistChurch, Plumb Boro, PA

A meal will be served at 6:30, program at 7:00, no registration necessary

Call 412-795-3276 for details

May 7 – Palestinian Arab Perspective: Ali Asad (Palestinian-American) and Keith Hershberger of Christian Peace Makers.May 14 – Israeli Perspective: Rabbi Rick Rheins of TempleDavid in Monroeville.May 21 – United Methodist Perspective:Panel discussion by Methodist leaders Tina Whitehead, Dottie Walker, and Phil Wilson

MAY 11-CHICAGO

Noon - 1:00 p.m., Not-In-My-Name Peace Vigil
 Location: Chicago Water Tower at Pearson and Michigan.Not –In-My-Name will also hold Peace Vigils on May 18 and 25.For information go to www.nimn.org

MAY 15-CHICAGO 

7:30 p.m. Biblical Scholar and Nobel Peace Prize nominee Father EliasChacourwill be addressing the situation in Israel-Palestine.Location: St. Mathews Catholic Church,

1555 Glen Ellyn Rd., Glendale Heights, Il

.
Contact: Susan (630) 653-8309.Just for information (because the event has been sold out) Father Chacour will also be guest “story teller” at the “Biblical Feast” dinner at the First Presbyterian Church of Wheaton, 715 North Carlton Avenue, Wheaton, Illinois, which will also have sumptuous Middle Eastern food, along with live Arabic music by Taqaseem and dance performances by Sanabel Palestinian Debka Ensemble.

MAY 15-PORTLAND, OR

Oregonians from the last Friends of Sabeel Land tour will speak on May 15^th, 7pm at St John the Evangelist Episocopal Church, 2036 SE Jefferson, Milwaukie & May 16 7pm at First United Methodist, Fireside Rm, 1838 SW Jefferson.Participants visited Jerusalem, Galilee, the West Bank and Gaza.

MAY 17-LOS ANGELES
Freedom Summer: A Celebration of Courage -- Fundraiser for ISM with Rachel Corrie's ParentsIn Memory of Rachel Corrie and All Victims of Israeli War Crimes
Featuring: Cindy and Craig Corrie (Parents of Rachel Corrie) with Special Guest: Adam Shapiro (ISM)
Middle Eastern Music, Poetry, Palestinian Debke and More.Tickets $40 per person/ $25.00 students.Dinner will be served at 6:30pm, program from 6:30-9:00pm
Hyatt Regency Orange County Hotel,

11999 Harbor Blvd.
Garden Grove, CA92840

.Organized by: American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), Los Angeles-Palestine Solidarity Committee, Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC).For co-sponsorship or more information, contact: Kamal Abu-Shamsieh 626-354-3367 palsolidarity@aol.com.Tickets are also available by calling MPAC (213) 383-3443.

JUNE

JUNE 1-WASHINGTON DC

The 2nd Annual Conference for the Tikkun Community is June 1-4 in WashingtonD.C. The Teach-in to Congress that takes place  June 3.More information can be found at http://www.tikkun.org.

JUNE 13-PORTLAND, OR

The film "Palestine is Still the Issue" will be shown at 7pm, First United Methodist Church,
1838 SW Jefferson, Rm 202.This film provides an excellent overview of current situation; 7pm.

JUNE 22-CHICAGO

6 - 10 p.m., WAGING PEACE IN HOPELESS TIMES
Announcing Not In My Name's 2nd annual Benefit Fundraiser
Still Around.......Still Relevant.....Still Hopeful.......Still Needing YOU
Dining, Entertainment, Silent Auction, Great People
Want to help out?  Contact us!Location: Reza's Restaurant on

Ontario Street

Contact:  MP (mpmckenzie@earthlink.net) Cindy (cindy@clevitt.com)


For Anti-War events, please see http://www.unitedforpeace.org/

2. UPDATES

PORTLAND, OR

On April 25, Portland held a memorial to Rachel Corrie, with 110 people attending.  The speakers included two of Rachel's friends, and an ISM volunteer and a trainer; also we had speakers representing Friends of Sabeel, a local Palestinian Arab group, and AUPHR.  It was a wonderful and meaningful evening for the Muslims, Jews, Christians and secular attendees.
On May 2, Rev. Dr. Fahed Abu-Akel, current leader of the 2.5 million-strong Presbyterian Church (USA) gave a presentation for  300+ attendees.   He talked about living in Israel during the years surrounding 1948, as well as discussing how U.S. Presbyterians have opposed the Occupation for several decades.  Co-sponsors were AUPHR, Friends of Sabeel, Palestine Arab-American Association, and Westminster Presbyterian Church.
On May 5, Brit Tzedek v'Shalom sponsored the visit of Rabbi Arik Ascherman of Rabbis for Human Rights.  An audience of about 300, including several rabbis, heard about the Rabbi's courageous acts of civil disobedience opposing the human rights abuses of the Israeli government and its armed forces.  Sandi Polischuk for Brit Tzedek v'Shalom talked about their campaign to build support among American Jews for bringing the settlers back to Israel.

THE SHOWDOWN IN TEXAS – MAY 3, 2003

The AFSC’s Showdown in Austin, Texas kicked off the ongoing project Made in Texas, which addresses the US weapons industry and growing global militarization.The Showdown, a multi-issue rally and march in the Texas capitol, drew about 2,500 demonstrators from across the country to express their opposition to the Bush administration on a wide range of domestic and international issues.Among the largest feeder marches were the communities of color group and the Palestine Solidarity contingent, organized by the Palestine Solidarity Committee of the University of Texas, Austin, Women in Black, and Texas for a Free Palestine.Featured speakers addressed the crowd on issues of poverty and homeless, the death penalty, justice for Palestine, freedom for Vieques, war profiteering, the rights of immigrant and indigenous people, and Bush’s war on terrorism. For more information on Made in Texas events visit http://www.madeintexas.us

US CAMPAIGN ADVOCACY NETWORK
We now have 51 Congressional District Coordinators (CDC) in 25 states covering 72 Congressional Districts. For information about the CDC network and how to get involved, email congress@endtheoccupation.org

3. RESOURCES

SOUTH END PRESS RELEASES DISHONEST BROKER by Naseer H. Aruri

Naseer H. Aruri dismantles the many myths about the failed Middle East “peace process” in Dishonest Broker.Aruri, who is on the Steering Committee of the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation as well as President of the Trans-Arab Research Institute, analyzes the evolving relationship between the United States and the tow protagonists-the Palestinians and Israel-and argues that the U.S. government has allowed Israel to violate international law to maintain its illegal occupation, while Palestinians continue to be denied their fundamental right to self determination and justice.To purchase a copy of Dishonest Broker contact:

South End Press,

7 Brookline St. #1, Cambridge, MA02139

, (617) 547-4002, Fax:617-547-1333
www.southendpress.org

ADC RELEASES VITAL ISRAELI PROPAGANDA DOCUMENT

ADC has obtained, and published in full, a vital new Israeli propaganda strategy document for the period following the war in Iraq.  The document entitled "Wexner Analysis: Israeli Communications Priorities 2003," was prepared for the Wexner Foundation by the public relations firm the Luntz Research Companies and the Israel Project.

The report can be read in full at:
http://www.adc.org/index.php?id=1789
PDF version:
http://www.adc.org/luntzwexneranalysis.pdf
MS Word version:
http://www.adc.org/ATT00017.doc

4. CAMPAIGN CONFERENCE

JULY 19-22 - Washington, DCUS Campaign 2nd Annual Organizers' Conference "Building the National Movement".

The Campaign conference will be in two parts.  The first part - Saturday July 19 and Sunday July 20 - will be the organizers' conference, and participants will have an opportunity to exchange experience, network and strategize for more effective actions and collaboration. The second part, which will consist of a congressional training day on Monday July 21 and a congressional outreach (lobbying) day on Tuesday July 22.Each member organization of the US Campaign is invited to send one or two representatives. If you do not belong to an organized group, but are part of a network of local activists, you could also consider sending someone from your group to the conference.We are making arrangements for space and accommodation in DC and will keep you posted.  Meanwhile, we encourage you to send in any ideas for the program agenda to us_campaign@endtheoccupation.org

US CAMPAIGN MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS
The following organizations have joined the US Campaign.  If your organization is not listed correctly or if it is not on this list and would like to be, email us at events@endtheoccupation.org

1. American Council of Palestinian Affairs, Detroit, MI

2. American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), Philadelphia, PA

3. American Muslim Society of the Tristate Area of Pennsylvania, New Jersey & Delaware
4. Americans for a Just Peace in the Middle East, Santa Barbara, CA
5. Americans United for Palestinian Human Rights, Portland, OR
6. Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), Washington, DC
7. Arab/Jewish Peace Alliance of New Mexico Campaign, Albuquerque, NM
8. Association of Arab-AmericanUniversity Graduates, New York, NY
9. AtlantaPalestine Solidarity, GA
10. Black Voices for Peace, Washington, DC
11. Boston Committee for Palestinian Right (BCPR), MA
12. Boveri Workgroup, Bethesda, MD
13. Bubbies & Sadies (Grandparents for Middle East Peace), Philadelphia, PA
14. Center for Economic and Social Rights, Brooklyn, NY
15. Center for Immigrant Families, New York, NY
16. ChicagoChurch Network for Education on Palestine (CNEP), IL
17. Christian Peacemaker Teams, Chicago, IL
18. Church of God Peace Fellowship, Anderson, IN
19. Colorado Jews for a Just Peace, CO
20. Committees for Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism, New York, NY
21. Council for the National Interest - Washington, DC
22. End the Occupation Coalition, Naperville, IL
23. The Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina - NC
24. Evanston Mennonite Peace and Social Concerns Committee, IL
25. Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR) Interfaith Peace-Builders, DC

26. Fellowship of Reconciliation, Nyack, NY
27. Fellowship of Reconciliation, Louisville Chapter, KY
28. Friends of Peace and Justice in the Holy Land, Milwaukee, OR
29. Friends of Sabeel, North America
30. General Board of Global Ministries, The United Methodist Church, NY, NY
31. The Global Campaign to Rebuild Palestinian Homes, CA
32. Global Exchange, San Francisco, CA
33. Grassroots International, Boston, MA
34. Institute for Policy Studies New Internationalism Project, Washington, DC
35. Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice, Ann Arbor, MI
36. International Socialist Organization, Chicago, IL
37. International Socialist Review, Chicago, IL
38. Jewish Mobilization for a Just Peace, Philadelphia, PA
49. Jewish Voices for Peace, San Francisco, CA
40. Jewish Women for Justice in Israel/Palestine, Boston, MA
41. Jews for Peace in Palestine and Israel, Washington, DC
42. Just Peace Technologies, Redwood City, CA
43. Kansas Committee for a Just Peace in the Middle East, Lawrence, KA
44. MADRE, Inc. New York, NY
45. Methodist Federation for Social Action (MFSA), Washington, DC
46. Middle East Children's Alliance (MECA), Berkeley, CA
47. Middle East Research and Information Project (MERIP), Washington, DC
48. Muslim Community Support Services, Inc. Baltimore, MD
49. Northwest Middle East Peace Forum, Tacoma, WA
50. Occupation NO! - Utah
51. Palestine Aid Society, Los Angeles, CA
52. Palestine Aid Society, Chicago, IL
53. Palestine/Israel Action Group, Ann Arbor, MI
54. Palestine Right to Return Coalition (Al-Awda), North America
55. Pasadena Area Coalition for a Just Palestinian-Israeli Peace, CA
56. Peace Action Maine, Portland, OR
57. Peace Connections, North Newton, KS
58. Philadelphia Jewish Peace Network, PA
59. PittsburghPalestine Solidarity Committee, PA
60. Presbyterian Church USA, Middle East Office, Louisville, KY
61. Project Redemption/Hillside Community Church, Tacoma, WA
62. The Tikkun Community, San Francisco, CA
63. Trans-Arab Research Institute (TARI), Boston, MA
64. Unitarian Universalists for Justice in the Middle East, Cambridge, MA
65. Utahns for a Just Peace in the Holy Land, UT
66. Vermonters for a Just Peace in Palestine/Israel, Burlington, VT
67. Women's Division, General Board of Global Ministries, The United Methodist Church, New York, NY

******************************

Occupation End Notes is the US Campaign’s bi-weekly 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, recommended 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 events@endtheoccupation.org

******************************

The US Campaign aims to change US policies that sustain Israel’s 35-year occupation of the Palestinian West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem, and deny equal rights for all.