Occupation End Notes | April 17, 2009 Volume 7 Number 6
Occupation End Notes
April 17, 2009
1. US Campaign Update: Summer Delegation with Interfaith Peace-Builders; Summer Internships with the US Campaign; 8th Annual National Organizers' Conference in Chicago; and more
2. Gaza Action: Take Action to End the Siege; Go to Gaza; UN to Investigate War Crimes; Physicians for Human Rights Issues Gaza Report
3. Challenging U.S. Policy Update: Protests on Tax Day; US Campaign at March on Wall Street; U.S. Delivers Weapons to Israel; How to End U.S. Military Aid
4. Standing Against Apartheid Update:
Durban Review Conference on Racism; Danny Glover Urges Obama
Administration to Attend Durban; U.S. Court Allows Apartheid Claims
5. Boycott & Divestment Update: Motorola Boycott Victory! Keep Up the Pressure!
6. Expressions of Nakba Update: Expressions of Nakba Coming to a City near You
7. Membership Update: Help Us Reach 300!; New Member Organizations; Member Group Events
8. Resources & Events:
Houston Palestine Film Festival; Chicago Palestine Film Festival; World
Council of Churches Week for Peace in Palestine Israel; Educational
Resources Available
9. Opportunities to Visit Israel and Palestine: Birthright Unplugged; Global Exchange, Interfaith Peace-Builders; Friends of Sabeel - North America; Delegations to Gaza
Top of Page
1. US CAMPAIGN UPDATE:
* Save The Date! 8th Annual National Organizers' Conference in Chicago, IL, September 12-13, 2009
Our 8th Annual National Organizers' Conference will be held during the
weekend of September 12th - 13th, 2009. We will be sending out all
necessary information for you to plan and book your flights in the
upcoming months.
Click here for more information.
* US Campaign to Cosponsor Summer Delegation with Interfaith Peace-builders
This summer, the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation and Interfaith Peace-builders are cosponsoring a delegation to Israel-Palestine focusing on the role of the United States in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The delegation will take place from July 25-August 7 and will examine the role of the US government and civil society actors in bringing peace and fomenting conflict between Palestinians and Israelis. To read more about this delegation, click here or send an email here. To read about last year's co-sponsored delegation, click here.
* Apply Now for Summer Internship with US Campaign
The
US Campaign is currently look for three interns for the summer of 2009
(May-August/September). For more information on the internship and to
learn how to apply, click here.
* How You Can Sustain the US Campaign
Support our ongoing work by donating online, donating office supplies and services, or joining the Olive Branch Club. Click here for more information.
* Website Updates
The US Campaign has updated the following sections of its website:
In the News
Apartheid in the News
BDS in the News
We've also added a Share This link to our main page, so that you can share articles from the US Campaign website on Facebook, Twitter, email, your blog, and more.
You can follow the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation on Facebook and Twitter by clicking here:
Main US Campaign Facebook page
Hang Up On Motorola Facebook page
Challenging Military Aid Facebook page
US Campaign's Twitter page
* Book Available for Purchase
The
book "Occupied Voices: Stories of Everyday Life from the Second
Intifada," by Wendy Pearlman is now available from the US Campaign.
The stories in this book, ranging from the humorous to the tragic, paint a profile of the Palestinians that is as honest as it is uncommon in the Western media: that of ordinary people who simply want to live ordinary lives.
To view this book and other merchandise available from the US Campaign, click here.
2. GAZA ACTION:
* Take Action
For action ideas on what you can do end the siege on Gaza and hold Israel accountable, visit our web section "Take Action to End Israel's War and Siege on Gaza."
* 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.
* UN to Investigate War Crimes in Gaza
The
UN has appointed a four-member team, led by South African judge Richard
Goldstone, to investigate allegations of war crimes and violations of
international law in Gaza and southern Israel. Click here to read more. Human Rights Watch, which recently released a report condemning Israel's use of white phosphorous
against civilians in the Gaza Strip, has called on the United States
and the EU to support this mission. To read the statement from Human
Rights Watch, click here.
* Physicians for Human Rights Releases Gaza Report
In a report published on April 6, 2009, the group Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) calls for an independent body to investigate the military's conduct during its 22-day war on Gaza, which ended on January 18. Among the specific incidents cited by the PHR report is that of a "Mr Shurrab" whose two sons were shot by Israeli forces while they drove towards the southern city of Khan Younis on January 16. Click here to read more. To view our Capitol Hill press briefing on U.S. arms transfers to Israel, including testimony from Amr Shurrab, the brother of the two young men mentioned in the PHR report, click here.
3. CHALLENGING U.S. POLICY:
* On Tax Day, U.S. Protests against Military Aid to Israel
This
Tax Day, as President Obama prepares to send his FY2010 budget request
to Congress later this month, which is expected to include $2.775 billion in military aid to Israel,
or $17.75 for each individual taxpayer, people across the country
protested our taxes going to fund Israel's human rights abuses of
Palestinians.
Click here to read more.
* US Campaign joins 10,000 people in march on Wall Street
On Saturday, April 4, in honor of Dr. King and his visionary 'Beyond Vietnam' speech in 1967, 10,000
people marched on Wall Street to protest the wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan and to demand a larger investment in the needs of our
communities. The US Campaign to End the Occupation
joined the march to call for an end to $30 billion in U.S. military aid
to Israel over the next decade-money that is sorely needed in our
communities here. To read more about the march, click here
(http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=4048). To find out how
you can organize in your community to oppose $3 billion a year in
military aid to Israel, click here.
* U.S. Weapons Delivered to Israel use of U.S. weapons against civilians in Gaza
Our friends at Amnesty International have revealed that on March 22 the United States delivered more than 300 containers of munitions to Israel, despite the fact that Amnesty International reports that the United States is reviewing Israel's misuse of U.S. weapons during "Operation Cast Lead" in violation of the Arms Export Control Act. To learn more and to find out how to oppose U.S. arms transfers to Israel, click here.
* 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 by clicking here.
4. STANDING AGAINST APARTHEID UPDATE:
* Israel Review Conference to Focus on Apartheid, Colonialism, and Occupation
The
Palestinian Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions National Committee is
sponsoring a review conference in Geneva on April 18-19, two days before the UN Durban Review conference.
The Israel Review Conference will bring together internationally
renowned experts and actors for social and political justice who will
examine how the UN anti-racism instruments apply to Israel's policies
and practices regarding the Palestinian people and develop practical
recommendations on how to make Israel accountable to international law
and protect the rights of the Palestinian people. Click here for more information.
* Petition for U.S. Support of Durban Review Conference
Sign an online appeal to the Obama Administration urging full support and participation in the U.N. Durban Review Conference Against Racism by clicking here.
* Danny Glover urges Obama administration to participate in Durban Review
April
8, 2009-Actor and activist Danny Glover argues that the Obama
Administration should stand up to the legacy of U.S. racism by
attending the Durban Review conference. Click here to read the full article.
* U.S. Court Allows Apartheid Claims
April 9, 2009-A
United States judge has ruled that lawsuits can go ahead against
several companies accused of helping South Africa's apartheid-era
government. This ruling has important implications for connections
between our anti-apartheid framework and our work for corporate
accountability.
To read more, click here.
5. BOYCOTT & DIVESTMENT UPDATE:
* First Motorola Boycott Victory: Moto Sells Bomb Fuze Department!
On April 1, 2009, Motorola Israel, Ltd. sold its Government Electronics Department to Israeli military contractor Aeronautics Defense Systems. This means that Motorola will no longer be selling bomb fuzes to the Israeli military. The first demand of our boycott has been met!
While victory celebrations are in order, we don't have time to rest on our laurels! Click here to read more about this victory and what it means for our ongoing boycott, as well as to view media coverage.
Click here to learn how to keep the pressure on Motorola.
Click here to read our talking points on what this sale means for our boycott and Moto's involvement in Israel's occupation and settlement activities Email Nader at USPCN for more information.
7. MEMBERSHIP UPDATE:
In an effort to better help our coalition members network and for us to
better gauge the coalition's regional diversity, we have put together a
map with our more than 280 coalition members represented by state:
* Help Us Reach 300!
Help us reach our goal of 300 member organizations by May 1! We currently have 281 member groups in our national coalition. Click here to see if your organization is a member group of the US Campaign, and if not, click here to join. If you feel that there are organizations that are not part of the coalition, but should be, please put us in touch with them by clicking here.
Please welcome the following organizations to our coalition:
Women in Black Santa Fe - New Mexico
Palestine/Israel Human Rights Action - Pennsylvania
LA Jews for Peace - California
Strength Through Peace - Colorado
* Jewish Voice for Peace Lecture Series
April 13-June 10, 2009
Jewish Voice for Peace
is sponsoring a series of five lectures on the theme "After Gaza: What
Next for Palestinians and Israelis?" The next lecture in the series
will be given by Dr. Joel Beinin at the American Conservatory Theater,
405 Geary Street, San Francisco. The title of the talk is "The United
States and the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict: U.S. Culture, Domestic
Politics, and Global Strategy." For more information, contact Jewish
Voice for Peace by clicking here.
* Workshop and Prayer Service: Demolition of Palestinian Homes in East Jerusalem
April 19, 2009
Sharing Jerusalem and the Washington Interfaith Alliance for Middle East Peace (WIAMEP) are holding a prayer
vigil and workshop focusing on the demolition of Palestinian homes in
East Jerusalem. The workshop will take place on Sunday, April 19, from
2-4 pm, at the Mt. Olivet United Methodist Church, 1500 N. Glebe Rd.,
Arlington, VA. The event will feature Jim Vitarello of Sharing Jerusalem and WIAMEP and David Hosey, a mission intern with the UMC and a staff member at the US Campaign. Click here to learn more.
* Protest Christians United for Israel (CUFI)
April 21, 2009
The
Al-Nakba Awareness Project is sponsoring a protest of a Christians
United for Israel (CUFI) event. CUFI, headed by Pastor John Hagee, is
one of the driving forces behind right wing Christian support for the
Israeli occupation and settlement enterprise. The protest will be held
at 4646 Fox Hollow Road in Eugene, Oregon. Participants should arrive
at 6:15 pm; the CUFI event begins at 7 pm. For more information contact
Mariah Leung at HappyHeartMom@comcast.net or 541-513-3833.
* Building Palestinian Society Within Challenging Realities
April 23, 2009
The Palestine Center will host a presentation by Mossawa, the Advocacy Center for Arab Citizens of Israel. Mossawa,
which means equality in Arabic, has promoted equal rights for the 1.4
million Palestinian citizens of Israel since 1997. The three-member Mossawa delegation will address the state of Israel's Arab citizens. The event will be held on April 23, from 12:30 to 2:00 pm, at the Palestine Center, 2425 Virginia Ave, NW Washington, DC. For more information, click here; click here to register. Registration is required for attendance.
* Presentation on Christian Zionism, the Palestinians, and the United States
April 25-26, 2009.
The Rev. Stephen Sizer will give a presentation on the role of Christian Zionism in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The presentation, sponsored by WIAMEP and Sharing Jerusalem, will be given twice: on April 25 at Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church, One Chevy Chase Circle NW, Washington, DC, at 10 am; and again at Ebenezers Church Coffeehouse, 201 F Street NE, Washington, DC, at noon. For more, click here.
* "Stubborn Quaker" Silent Vigils Weekly in Carlisle, PA
First Saturday of each month
Carlisle Peace College
holds a monthly vigil at the front gate of the U.S. Army War College on
Rt. 11. The group gathers at 11 am on the first Saturday of each month
to vigil and call for education for peace, not war. For more
information, contact "The Stubborn Quaker," K.E. McClanen, at
301-260-7447.
* Helena Cobban on "Shifting Dimensions of the Palestinian Question" at the Palestine Center
After a month-long trip to the Middle East, veteran journalist Helena Cobban reported her findings to the Palestine Center on April 6, 2009. Click here for the manuscript or here to view video of the briefing.
* Christian Peacemaker Teams Urgent Action
The Christian Peacemaker Teams
in the West Bank have sent out an action alert urging supporters to
contact the Israeli military Public Appeals office in regards to the
failure of the Israeli military to provide an escort for Palestinian
school children in the South Hebron Hills. To read more click here.
* Tristan Anderson Update
Northern California International Solidarity Movement
is calling for support for Tristan Anderson, the U.S. peace activist
who was shot by the Israeli military in the West Bank village of
Ni'lin. Click here
to find out more. Tristan's member of Congress, Rep. Barbara Lee, has
demanded accountability from Israel and for the U.S. State Department
to clarify what actions it has taken to investigate the incident. Click
here to see Rep. Lee's statement. Tristan's parents recently held a press conference regarding his current condition; click here to view.
* Save the Date: ADC National Convention June 12-14, 2009
June 12-14, 2009
"ADC: From the Grassroots to Our Nation's Capita: Change for Our
Future" is the theme of the 2009 American-Arab Anti-Discrimination
Committee (ADC) National Convention, to take place in Washington DC
from June 12-14. More information is available here.
* 2nd Annual Houston Palestine Film Festival
April 16th-25th , 2009
The second annual Houston Palestine Film Festival brings an honest and independent view of Palestine and its Diasporas society, culture, and political travails through the art of film. This group of groundbreaking cinematic texts rises above the degrading stereotypes or reductively politicized depictions that are so familiar to Houstonians. A major goal of the Festival is to directly expose our local community to the perspective of artists as a first step toward circumventing the many government and media filters that pollute our understanding of Palestine and the wider region.
More information can be found here.
* 8th Annual Chicago Palestine Film Festival
April 18-30, 2009
The
Chicago Palestine Film Festival committee happily announces the
selections and schedule for the 8th annual film festival in Chicago
this spring. This year's lineup includes various works from
Palestinian, American, European and other filmmakers. The festival will
take place from April 18 - 30 at the Gene Siskel Film Center. Click here for more information.
* World Council of Churches Announces World Week for Peace in Palestine Israel
The
World Council of Churches is inviting member churches and related
organizations to join a week of advocacy and action for a just peace in
Palestine and Israel from June 4-10, 2009. Click here to learn more about the World Week for Peace and how you can get involved through prayer, education, and advocacy.
* 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 from Friends of Sabeel North America and here for Quakers with a Concern for PalestineIsrael.
* Resources on Christian Zionism
Click here to see an internet documentary about the ideology of Christian Zionism and its role in the U.S. political process. Click here for more resources on Christian Zionism.
* Call for Proposals: Split This Rock Poetry Festival 2010
Split This Rock Poetry Festival: Poems of Provocation & Witness invites poets, writers, activists, and all concerned
citizens to Washington, DC, March 10-13, 2010 for four days of poetry,
community building, and creative transformation as
our country continues to grapple with two wars, a crippling economic
crisis, and other social and environmental ills. We invite you to send
proposals for panel discussions, group readings, roundtable
discussions, workshops, and small-scale performances on a range
of topics at the intersection of poetry and social change.
Possibilities are endless. Challenge us. The deadline is May 30, 2009.
Details and guidelines are online here. More information on Split This Rock 2010 can be found here.
* Latest Issue of the Journal of Palestine Studies Available Now
The Winter 2009 issue of the Journal of Palestine Studies is now available. To view a table of contents and abstracts, click here. Click here to purchase articles.
9. DELEGATIONS TO ISRAEL/PALESTINE:
* Birthright Unplugged Summer Trip and BDS Institute
This
year Birthright Unplugged will host a summer tour of Palestine along
with a Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Institute. The Institute
seeks to support and promote community and institutional campaigns of
BDS against the Israeli occupation and to encourage positive investment
campaigns in Palestine. The travel component will last from August
1-August 7, 2009, with the Institute to follow from August 9-August 11,
2009. Click here for more information on Birthright Unplugged and here to fill out an application for the trip and institute. The deadline for applications is April 15.
* Global Exchange's Delegations to Palestine & Israel
July 25th-August 4th, 2009
October 30-November 9, 2009
December 5th-15th, 2009
* Interfaith Peace-Builders Delegations to Israel/Palestine
May 23rd-June 5th, 2009
July 25th-August 7th, 2009 (Delegation cosponsored by US Campaign)
October 24th - November 6th, 2009
* Sabeel/Friends of Sabeel North America Delegations to Israel/Palestine
Friends of Sabeel North America maintains a list of alternative travel
opportunities to Israel/Palestine. To view the list, click here.
* Sabeel Young Adult Conference and Fall Witness Trip
Apply now for the Sabeel Center's summer Young Adult Conference and and fall Witness Trip to Palestine and Israel. Click here for more information.
* 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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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 here.
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.