Occupation End Notes | May 10, 2007 |
Occupation
End Notes, May 10th, 2007 Volume 4
Number 16 In this
issue... 1. 2. Resources and Events: AFSC’s 3. Opportunities to Visit
Israel and Palestine: Interfaith
Peace-Builders Delegations; Global Exchange Delegations; ICAHD Delegations;
Join Middle East Fellowship for Palestine Summer Encounter; Join Interfaith
Peace-Builders & AFSC on trip to Israel/Palestine; Zajel International
Volunteer Work camp; Birthright Unplugged Delegations in July/August 2007; MECA
Delegations in August 2007; Volunteer in Tel Rumeida; 1. US CAMPAIGN UPDATE * June 10th -11th, 2007:
The World Says NO to Israeli Occupation! Mobilization
in Washington, DC In less than six weeks, join the US
Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, United for Peace and Justice, and more
than 225 other organizations in Washington, DC on June 10-11 for a historic
two-day mobilization to protest US support for Israel's 40 year-old military
occupation of the Palestinian West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza Strip. With your
participation, we're hoping that this will be the largest-ever protest in the
history of the Get your official June 10 protest t-shirt today! The
t-shirts are union-made and sweatshop-free and available in two colors: white
with red trim or heather gray with black trim, adult sizes small through double
extra large. Each one
is $20 which includes shipping and handling. Order one of each today to help
support and get the word out about the June
10 protest against Israeli occupation! You can
order your official June 10 protest t-shirt via Pay Pal by clicking here. We can also take orders via credit card over
the phone at 202-332-0994. For international order, please contact Omar
Masri at office@entheoccupation.org
before ordering. Check out
additional merchandise we have available in our on-line store by clicking here. We've
printed up limited quantities of these shirts, so once they're gone, they're
gone. Please note that we will not be able to sell these t-shirts at the rally
due to Capitol Police regulations. Be sure to order your t-shirt by June 1 at
the latest to guarantee delivery in time for the rally. Click here to order your t-shirt today! For
additional information about the June 10-11 mobilization in PRESS
CONFERENCE: GROUPS LAUNCH METRO ADS AGAINST ISRAELI OCCUPATION WHAT:
Press Conference Launching Metro Ads against 40 Years of Israeli Military
Occupation
Washington,
DC (May 7)—The US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation and United for Peace
and Justice will hold a press conference on Thursday, May 10 at 1PM in the
Zenger Room of the National Press Club to launch a metro rail ad campaign
protesting 40 years of Israel's military occupation of the Palestinian West
Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza Strip. The
advertisement promotes a national demonstration on Sunday, June 10 which will
begin with a rally at 2PM on the West Lawn of the Capitol, followed by a 4PM
march to the White House. This historic mobilization is being organized by the
US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation and United for Peace and Justice and
is endorsed by more than 200 organizations nationwide. Thousands of expected
protestors will call for: * An end
to U.S. military, economic, diplomatic, and corporate support for Israel's
illegal military occupation of the Palestinian West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East
Jerusalem. * A change
in For
additional information on the national rally and march to protest The 46x60
inch advertisements will appear in 20 downtown metro rail stations beginning on
Sunday, May 13 and will remain up for one month. Advertisers estimate that the
ads will be seen by Washington, DC-area commuters almost 9 million times. The
ad campaign is already the subject of international interest, with stories
written about it in the The
advertisement features a picture of a Palestinian boy walking to school past a
tank and reads, in part, "Imagine if this were your child's daily path to
school. Palestinians don't have to imagine. This is what life is like for
millions of Palestinians forced to live under A
full-scale version of the metro rail advertisement will be displayed at the
press conference. The US
Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation is a national coalition of more than 200
organizations working to end United for
Peace and Justice is the country's largest anti-war coalition, composed of more
than 1,400 organizations, working to end the SECURITY
MARSHALS NEEDED FOR JUNE 10 The
SECURITY MARSHALS TEAM is actively recruiting volunteers to marshal for this
event. We will need as many of you as possible, as we expect a large turnout.
No experience is necessary - you will be fully trained. The
Security Marshals are absolutely crucial to the overall success of the
mobilization; ours is a job of tremendous importance and responsibility, and is
extremely rewarding and empowering. We help ensure that the entire event is
peaceful and safe, help maintain the orderly flow of the event, and provide
logistical coordination and support for all our protesting sisters and
brothers. Through radio communication and teamwork, we are the eyes and ears of
the event's leadership, and represent the face of that leadership to the
marchers, the public and the media. As such, we guarantee the success and
integrity of the event. We will
need you for the full day of June 10th beginning at around 10:30 AM. We will
need your commitment to our cause and your undivided attention, your good
attitude and really good shoes (you'll be on your feet all day). We will
require that you attend one of the mandatory training sessions (details TBA)
prior to the event. The final training session will be in DC on Saturday June
9, approximately 6pm to 9pm. EVERYONE
who wishes to serve as a security marshals MUST register in advance, MUST fill
out a questionnaire, and MUST attend one full training session. There will be
no exceptions. If you are
interested or want more information, or wish to sign up, please contact: ufpjsecurity@earthlink.net Thank you
for your activism and commitment. In peace
and resistance, Steve
Sherman
GET ON THE
BUS! Buses are
being organized already from We've also
posted a schedule of events taking places on June 10-11, including
times for the teach-in, rally, march, cultural event, and grassroots lobbying
day training. You can
figure out how to get from event to event by taking a look at the maps and
other info that we've posted on our logistics page. If you or
your organization is organizing bus transportation to If you're
looking for or have transportation to We've also
posted affordable housing options in the SIGN UP FOR JUNE 11 GRASSROOTS LOBBYING DAY People
from 16 states, including those as far away as California and Washington State,
are in the process of setting up meetings with their Members of Congress for
the June 11 grassroots lobbying day, sponsored jointly by the US Campaign,
UFPJ, and the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. We've
posted frequently asked questions about the lobbying day and urge
people who are planning on coming to view the list of meetings scheduled to see if someone is setting up
meetings for their Members of Congress. If no one is yet setting up meetings
with your Members of Congress, you can find out how to set up a meeting. Everyone who is planning on
participating should sign up for the lobbying day right away! HELP ORGANIZE AND VOLUNTEER Sign up to
help us organize in your community by becoming a June 10 volunteer organizer. When you sign up, we'll send
you an organizing packet with postcards, petitions, and posters to help you get
the word out. We need
hundreds of people to get involved in the planning process for the protest and
to volunteer on the day of. Fill out a brief on-line form to join the local DC organizing committee. Or if you're coming in from
out of town for the weekend and would like to help out, fill out the brief
on-line form to volunteer on June 10. You can
also download a variety of organizing resources to help us get the word out, including
mobilizing posters, petitions, fliers, and more. ENDORSE AND SIGN THE PETITION BACKING THE POLITICAL DEMANDS More than
225 organizations have endorsed the political demands of the mobilization,
which are: * An end
to US military, economic, diplomatic, and corporate support for Israel's
illegal military occupation of the Palestinian West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem. * A change
in US policy to one that supports a just peace between Palestinians and
Israelis based on equality, human rights and international law, and the full
implementation of all relevant UN resolutions. You can
view a flash map of endorsing organizations and also add your organization's endorsement. Individuals can also sign a petition to their Members of Congress backing the
political demands of the mobilization. You can
also read the more detailed call to action, issued by the US Campaign and UFPJ. SUPPORT THIS MOBILIZATION We
couldn't put this mobilization together without your generous support. We're
almost at our goal for our spring fundraising drive. Help put us over the top
by making the most generous tax-deductible contribution that you can today. For a
limited time, make a donation of $25 or more and receive a free set of six anti-apartheid posters—union-made and suitable-to-frame.
Thank you in advance for your generous support! We'll see
you in * Join National Call to discuss WHEN:
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
PURPOSE:
The purpose of the call is to: Discuss
national actions, local and nationally coordinated, for the AGENDA: a) Introductions:
Go-around and say name, city/state, organizational affiliation b) Report
back from Matt and Chicago CAT group, re: logistics of meeting location c)
Continue discussing strategy for actions at the WE NEED
YOUR HELP, IDEAS AND WISDOM, SO PLEASE JOIN US NEXT WEDNESDAY NIGHT! THE
NATIONAL OUR
ACTIONS 2. RESOURCES AND EVENTS * AFSC Resource: The Middle East Peacebuilding Program has just released a new resource -
A Reading and Discussion Guide for * Occupation 101 to be released The
long awaited Occupation
101' presents a comprehensive analysis of the facts and hidden truths
surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; and dispels many of its
long-perceived myths and misconceptions. The film also details life under
Israeli military rule, the Unlike any
other film ever produced on the conflict -– ‘Occupation 101’ explains the
situation in a comprehensive manner and gives audiences a complete context in
which to better understand the Israeli-Palestinian encounter. The film depicts
the root causes of the conflict through Israeli, Jewish, Christian, Muslim,
American, and Palestinian voices that are rarely ever heard through mainstream
media outlets. To read more, click here. 3.
OPPORTUNITIES TO VISIT *Spring - Fall 2007 Schedule: May 26th-June 9th;
July 28th-August 11th; October 27th – November
10th: Interfaith Peace-BuildersDelegations to
Israel/Palestine Interfaith
Peace-Builders (IFPB) sends delegations to *
May 24th – August 16th,
2007: Join Middle
East Fellowship for Middle
East fellowship, in partnership with Holy
Land Trust invites you to participate in the fourth annual Palestine Summer
Encounter, a two month Arabic-training and volunteer program, starting on May
24th, 2007. The
purpose of the program is to create a dialogue between Palestinians and members
of the global community. During the program, participants will learn beginner
or intermediate conversational Arabic through language immersion and class and
partner with Palestinian non-profit organizations as a volunteer. Click here for more detailed
information. * May 26th – June 9th,
2007: Join Interfaith
Peace-Builders (IFPB) & the Americans Friends
Service Committee (AFSC) to travel to Delegation
to Israel/Palestine May 26 –
June 9, 2007 Join
Interfaith Peace-Builders (IPFB) and the American Friends Service Committee
(AFSC) to travel to Israel/Palestine. June, 2007 marks the 40th anniversary of
the 1967 war and the beginning of the Israeli military occupation of the West
Bank, This
delegation provides a unique opportunity to focus on the current situation in
Israel/Palestine and understand the effects of the ongoing Israeli occupation.
Your on-the-ground experience will enrich your understanding of the conflict as
you meet courageous Israelis and Palestinians working for peace and justice,
and witness the current realities of life in Click here for more information. * June 2nd – 20th,
2007: Zajel
International Voluntary Work Camp The
international summer work camp, “Step in the right direction”, will bring
together 25 young people from around the world who are interested in helping
create a better world. We are specifically targeting people who are working
with organizations led by young people that address humanitarian issues and
social justice. We strongly encourage highly motivated and serious young men
and women to apply. For more
information, please click here (http://youth.zajel.org/summer_camps/camp2007/announcing.htm)
* July 20th-25th
and August 20th-25th, 2007: Birthright Unplugged
Delegations to Israel/Palestine Are you
thinking of going to Palestine/Israel this summer? Are you
interested in meeting Palestinian families, activists, community leaders, and
political figures, and learning about life under occupation? Are you committed
to turning education into action and working for justice? Then
BIRTHRIGHT UNPLUGGED is for you! Join us
for a 6-day educational trip through the Birthright
Unplugged trips will run from JULY 20-25, 2007 and AUGUST 20-25, 2007.Dates are subject to change. The
application deadline is Tuesday, MAY 15, 2007.Trips run every summer and winter. While
Birthright Unplugged is designed primarily for Jewish people, we welcome people
of all backgrounds on our trips.We also
welcome individuals of all ages, and have traveled with people ages 9-70. For more
information about the itinerary, costs, trip leaders, and application
materials, visit www.birthrightunplugged.org. *
Summer – Fall 2007 Schedule: August
12th – 22nd, December 2nd – 12th:
Global Exchange’s Delegations to
Palestine & Israel Global Exchange’s delegations to
Palestine & Israel provide first-hand exposure to the daily struggles and
realities of Palestinians living under Occupation. The delegations strive
to further the * Summer 2007: Resisting Occupation—Constructing
Peace: 2007 ICAHD Summer Rebuilding
Experience July 14 –
July 29, 2007: For the fifth year in a row, the Israeli Committee Against House
Demolitions [www.ICAHD.org]
is offering a summer work camp intended to foster learning and friendship
between Palestinians, Israelis and internationals. Twenty five internationals
will work alongside Israelis and Palestinians to rebuild the home of a
Palestinian family whose house has been demolished by the Israeli authorities.
In addition, participants will learn about the facts on the ground through a
full program including presentations from key organizations working for a just
peace in For an
application form and all inquiries regarding the camp please contact ICAHD’s International
Coordinator, Lucia Pizarro lucia@icahd.org. US Participants may contact Richard
Wark at summercamp@icahdusa.org. * MECA
Delegation August 2007: Come with MECA to Palestine/Israel! For seventeen
years, MECA has taken small groups to the West Bank, For
information, please contact: Deborah
Agre or Josie Shields-Stromsness deborah@mecaforpeace.org,
josie@mecaforpeace.org 510-548-0542 *Volunteer
in Tel Rumeida! Tel
Rumeida Project is an organization solely for work purposes (i.e. it is not
an organization for its own sake.) Therefore, volunteers are expected to
be able to function well with instruction and independently. Volunteers will be
working in the neighborhood of Tel Rumeida, ***** 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
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