Occupation End Notes

June 25, 2009

Volume 7 Number 10

1. US Campaign Update: Now Hiring for Executive Director; Register to Attend National Organizers' Conference; New Material on Blog; and more!

2. Gaza Update: Gaza Updates on US Campaign Blog; Cyclists, Boats, Marches, and Relief Convoys to Break the Siege on Gaza; Israeli Organizations Release New Video on Two Years of Gaza Siege; and more!

3. Challenging U.S. Policy Update: New Congressional Report Card Available; Sign Up to Organize August Recess Appointments; Willy Wonka Goes to Washington...Again; and more!

4. Standing Against Apartheid Update: New Apartheid Study Available; US Campaign and Israeli Apartheid on the Radio; and more!

5. Boycott & Divestment Update: Caterpillar CEO Endorses Divestment; Boycott and Divestment Victories; and more!

6. Membership Update: New Member Groups; Join Our Coalition and Help Us Reach 300; Member Group Events; and more!

7. Resources & Events: Events and Educational Materials

8. Opportunities to Visit Israel and Palestine: Viva Palestina; ICAHD; Olive Harvest Delegation; Indigenous Youth Delegation; Global Exchange; Interfaith Peace-Builders; and Friends of Sabeel - North America

Top of Page

1. US CAMPAIGN UPDATE:

* Staff Transitions at the US Campaign--Apply to Be Our Executive Director

The US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation will be making some major staff transitions this summer.  We are excited to announce that we are now accepting applications for a full-time Executive Director.  To read the job description and apply for the position (deadline to apply is July 17), click here.

In September the US Campaign will wish a very fond farewell to National Membership and Outreach Coordinator Omar Masri. After three years of exceptional work, Omar will be transitioning off of our staff to pursue full-time graduate studies.  David Hosey, our current Media and Faith Communities Coordinator who comes to the US Campaign via the United Methodist Church's Mission Intern program, will then transition into becoming the National Media and National Membership and Outreach Coordinator. Josh Ruebner, the current National Advocacy Director, will shed his fundraising and management responsibilities to the new Executive Director, and will transition into a part-time job focused exclusively on policy and legislation while pursuing outside writing, speaking, and consulting interests. Last, but certainly not least, Katherine Fuchs, National Organizer, will retain her full-time position leading our BDS campaigns and anti-apartheid framework.   

These are exciting times for the US Campaign and for our mission as we are seeing political space open up as never before.  As we reconfigure our staff this summer to grow and to take advantage of all the opportunities that are out there, we hope that you can help us find the ideal Executive Director who can help guide our work.  Check out the job description for Executive Director by clicking here and spread the word!  

* National Organizers' Conference in Chicago to Feature Rashid Khalidi, Omar Barghouti, and Much More--Register Now!

Our 8th Annual National Organizers' Conference will be held during the weekend of September 12th - 13th, 2009. That's less than three months away! Register today by clicking here.

To learn more details about the conference and make sure that your organization is in good standing with the US Campaign, click here.

* 42 Years and Counting...

Two years ago today, the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation held an historic protest on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol to mark 40 years of Israel's illegal military occupation of the Palestinian West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza Strip. On the 42nd anniversary of this occupation, we find ourselves closer than ever to our goal of changing U.S. policy toward Israel/Palestine to support human rights, international law, and equality, while realizing that we still have a lot of work to do to get us to that goal. Click here to learn more about what we've done over the past six months, and how you can support this important work.

You can help us reach our goal by making a tax-deductible contribution of $42 (that's $1 for each year of occupation) right now. As a thank you, we'll send you your choice of a copy of the award-winning documentary Occupation 101, a film by Sufyan and Abdallah Omeish, or Occupied Voices: Stories of Everyday Life from the Second Intifada, a book by Wendy Pearlman. Please note that we can only ship to the United States of America and Canadian provinces. For all international shippings, please contact the US Campaign office directly at 202-332-0994 or office@endtheoccupation.org before you make your donation.

Click here to learn more and donate.

* Jimmy Carter, Max Blumenthal, and Willy Wonka on the US Campaign Blog

The US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation now has a blog! View exclusive content, news, updates, analysis, video, and more by clicking here. Read about Jimmy Cater's questioning of U.S. military aid; hear Israeli voices calling for sanctions; read about Caterpillar CEO Jim Owens' support of divestment; and check out the our Kafka-esque report backs on attempts to deliver petitions on U.S. military aid to Israel to Members of COngress. Click here to view exclusive content on the US Campaign blog.

* Apply Now for US Campaign and Interfaith Peace-Builders' Summer Delegation!

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 examine the role of the U.S. government and civil society actors in bringing peace and fomenting conflict between Palestinians and Israelis. The delegation will travel from July 25th - August 7th.  To read more about this delegation, click here or send an email to Interfaith Peace-Builders. Click here to apply. To read about last year's co-sponsored delegation, click here. View video testimonials from past participants here. Click here to read on-the-ground reports from IFPB's latest delegation.

* Join the US Campaign to Mark the 4th Anniversary of the Palestinian Civil Society Call for BDS
July 9-10

Join us for a lecture and book signing by Prof. Benjamin Beit-Hallahmi on Thursday, July 9, and for a a benefit concert for the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation with entertainment by  with Ramzy Suleiman and Fuad Foty on Friday, July 10.

Click here to learn more.

* New Member Group Section on Website

We've updated the Membership section of our website to increase networking and resource sharing between our member groups. Check it out here. Check out resources from our member groups here, and check here to make sure that your member group is in good standing with the US Campaign.

If your group has more resources or videos that you would like to share via our member group webpages, please email it to our National Membership and Outreach Coordinator by clicking here.

* How You Can Sustain the US Campaign--Donate Today!

Support our ongoing work by donating online, donating office supplies and services, or joining the Olive Branch Club.

Click here for more information.

2. GAZA UPDATE:

* Gaza Updates on the US Campaign Blog

Read about Jimmy Carter's visit to Gaza, US Campaign member groups and allies taking action on Gaza, and daily realities in the Gaza Strip after two years of siege, all on the US Campaign blog.

* 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." The destruction of the Gaza Strip at the hands of the Israeli military would have been impossible without weapons provided by U.S. military aid, Motorola communications and weapons equipment, and weaponized Caterpillar bulldozers. Make sure to keep up with the ongoing work of the US Campaign to hold Israel accountable for violations of international law and human rights in the occupied West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem.

* Irish cyclists on 4000 mile journey to Gaza

On June 22 four students set out on a 4000 mile bicycle journey from Ireland to Palestine. The cyclists have set up an organization called Pathways to Palestine (P2P), which intends to raise money for much-needed medical aid in Gaza. The cyclists are affiliated the UK charity 'Medical Aid for Palestinians' (MAP) which was founded by health care professionals over 20 years ago. It has had an excellent track record in delivering a limited supply of aid in an effective manner. MAPs emergency appeal is currently seeking support to provide for neo-natal care and resources for a burns unit.

The intrepid travelers have received support from around the world, including a formal motion of commendation passed by the Scottish Parliament and a reception in the Irish Parliament hosted by Irish TDs and Senators. As they travel through 14 countries, the team will document the trip on their website via an innovative audio blog system that lets them phone and 'phlog' direct from their bikes to the site. Listen to their recent meeting with Irish Nobel Peace Prize winner, Mairead Maguire, in Belfast by clicking here. For more information, click here.

* Norman Finkelstein Plans International March to End the Blockade of Gaza

Norman Finkelstein and others have announced plans for an international march to end the blockade of Gaza on January 1, 2010. Along with the Free Gaza voyages and Viva Palestina convoys, this march will intensify the pressure on Israel to end its inhuman siege  and collective punishment of 1.5 million people.  If you are interested in helping with the brainstorming, organizing and outreach for this march, please email Norman Finkelstein here. For more information, click here.

* Viva Palestina USA - A Lifeline From The United States To Gaza

July 4 - July 17, 2009

Fresh from the success of the Viva Palestina: Lifeline from Britain to Gaza aid convoy - which took over 100 vehicles to Gaza from the UK, Member of Parliament, George Galloway has linked up on his US tour with the Vietnam veteran and peace campaigner, Ron Kovic, to launch a similar, but even larger venture from the States. For more information, click here. To join the convoy, click here. Click here to have your organization endorse the convoy.

* Eight Israeli Human Rights Groups Release Video, Report on Two Years of Gaza Siege

June 17 - Eight Israeli human rights groups have released an online video depicting the reality of daily life for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip after two years of siege and closure. One of the groups, Gisha (the Israeli Legal Center for Freedom of Movement) has also released a report entitled "Two Years of Gaza Closure by the Numbers," which among other things includes figures on the number of trucks of supplies that have been allowed into Gaza versus the number needed and the number of Palestinians--28,000--without access to running water in the Gaza Strip. Click here to view the video, and here to read more.

* U.S. Ups Pressure on Israel to End Gaza Blockade

June 22 - The United States has stepped up pressure on Israel regarding the Gaza Strip: Three weeks ago it sent Jerusalem a diplomatic note officially protesting Gaza policy and demanding a more liberal opening of the border crossings to facilitate reconstruction. To read the full article in Haaretz, click here. For more on the Gaza Siege, check out the US Campaign blog. Click here to take action to ensure continued pressure on the Israeli government to end the siege of Gaza.

* Free Gaza Boats Stopped in Cyprus

June 25 - Cyprus' Merchant Shipping Department on Thursday prevented international activists from sailing to the Gaza Strip to deliver humanitarian aid in defiance of Israel's blockade of the Palestinian territory. Department chief Sergios Sergiou said that a fishing boat and a small ferry that the Free Gaza Group were to use for the trip from Cyprus to Gaza had not undergone safety inspections which would take "at least a few days" to complete. To read the full article, click here. To keep up with the latest Free Gaza Movement journey, click here.

3. CHALLENGING U.S. POLICY:

* Is Congress Catching Up w/ Obama? Find Out in Our New Congressional Report Card

It seems that almost every day there is a new sign of hope coming from the Obama Administration that U.S. policy toward Israel/Palestine is changing for the better. Are Members of Congress getting close to adopting some of President Obama's viewpoints and initiatives? Find out in our new, interactive 111th Congressional Report Card, which grades Members of Congress on major pieces of legislation and Congressional "Dear Colleague" letters on Palestine/Israel in the current Congress.

Click here to read more.

* Meet with Your Member of Congress in August

It's not too early for you to start thinking about putting together a delegation to meet with your Members of Congress during the August Congressional recess to discuss with them their voting records on Israel/Palestine and urge them to have a serious debate on the merits of increased military aid to Israel during the rest of this year's budget process. If you can commit to setting up a meeting with your Member of Congress in August, then please click here.

Don't worry if you've never set up a meeting before with your Member of Congress. We will provide you with resources, talking points, and a how-to conference call so that you'll be empowered to do it. It's our responsibility as good citizens to communicate our views to our Members of Congress, so please sign up today to organize a meeting in August by clicking here.

* Willy Wonka Goes to Washington (pts. I and II)

It's important for you to set up appointments with your Members of Congress while they're home, because sometimes getting to them here in Washington, DC is no easy task! Recently the US Campaign tried to attend Subcommittee and Committee "mark-ups" on the FY2010 Foreign Operations budget, which includes President Obama's request for $2.775 billion in military aid to Israel. We hoped to deliver thousands of signatures and an open letter signed by 40 prominent national organizations opposing military aid to Israel until it stops settlements, ends the siege on Gaza, and engages in credible peace talks with the Palestinians. Click here to read and watch a video about our latest Capitol Hill capers.

* Pressure from Obama Administration Brings Israeli Settlements into the Media Spotlight

Ever since the Obama Administration began pressuring Israel on its settlement growth, there's been a plethora of news coverage about Israeli settlements. The Associated Press covered some of the bureaucratic machinery of the settlement project, including the role that the World Zionist Organization plays in shielding the Israeli government from legal action. Canadian media outlets have been buzzing with news of the lawsuit brought against two Canadian companies involved in settlement construction on the land of the Palestinian village of Bil'in. The Washington Post reported on a 1979 State Department ruling on the illegality of Israeli settlements under international law. Al Jazeera recently covered the efforts of settlers to claim Jerusalem, while the Jerusalem Post ran an article about the U.S. position on a settlement freeze including Jerusalem settlements.

Despite this surge of media attention, the need for advocacy for U.S. pressure on Israel has never been stronger. Slate recently featured a report on the challenges that President Obama is likely to face when putting pressure on Israel. The Guardian is reporting that the Israeli government is defying the Obama Administration's position on settlements by approving 240 new homes on Palestinian land, cutting off the Palestinians of Al Jania from their land. This is just further proof that unless the Obama Administration is willing to end or condition U.S. military aid to Israel, the Israeli government will ignore U.S. demands, no matter how firm. Help the United States stop Israeli settlements by clicking here, or tell your Members of Congress in person by organizing an August recess appointment here.

* Jimmy Carter Questions Military Aid to Israel, and He's Not Alone

Former President Jimmy Carter visited Gaza for the first time since the massive destruction wrought by the December-January Israeli military assault, and was shocked by what he saw. President Carter reacted to conditions in Gaza, stating at one point that "the citizens of Palestine are treated more like animals than like human beings." He also commented on U.S. military aid being used to destroy U.S.-taxpayer funded institutions, and he's not alone. Click here to read more.

4. STANDING AGAINST APARTHEID UPDATE:

* New Study Focuses on Apartheid, Colonialism, International Law in Occupied Palestinian Territories

The Human Sciences Research Council of South Africa (HSRC) has released a study indicating that Israel is practicing both colonialism and apartheid in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT). The HSRC commissioned an international team of scholars and practitioners of international public law from South Africa, the United Kingdom, Israel and the West Bank to conduct the study. The resulting 300-page report, titled "Occupation, Colonialism, Apartheid?: A re-assessment of Israel's practices in the occupied Palestinian territories under international law", represents 15 months of research and constitutes an exhaustive review of Israel's practices in the OPT according to definitions of colonialism and apartheid provided by international law. To find out more and read the report, click here.

* "Palestinian Sovereignty and the BDS Campaign Against Israeli Apartheid" on Indigenous Politics Radio

Join Dr. J. Kehaulani Kauanui of Indigenous Politics Radio on WESU in Middletown, CT, for a two-part series that explores Palestinian self-determination as question of indigenous sovereignty and the politics of Israeli occupation and settler colonialism with a specific focus on the Boycott, Divest, Sanction movement. Part I features Omar Barghouti, founding member of the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) and Steven Salaita; Part II features Sherna Berger Gluck, a founding member of the U.S. Committee for Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel; Katherine Fuchs, National Organizer for the U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation; and Stanley Heller, Chairperson of the Middle East Crisis Committee. Click here to listen.

* Antony Lowenstein on Israeli Apartheid featured in Israeli Newspaper

June 23 - Journalist Antony Lowensten, writing in the Haaretz Israeli daily, analyzes Jewish reactions to President Obama and Israeli policy. "A thinking, more enlightened Judaism is emerging, a necessity in the face of apartheid realities," writes Lowenstein. "The cause is human rights, not Zionist exclusion." Click here to read the full article. Keep up with the latest mentions of Israeli apartheid in the news by clicking here.

5. BOYCOTT & DIVESTMENT UPDATE:

* Caterpillar CEO Says, "If You Don't Like CAT's Practices, Then DIVEST."

Earlier this month, Caterpillar's board members faced shareholders, including our allies from Jewish Voice for Peace, the Sisters of Loretto, and Chicagoans Against Apartheid in Palestine.  The US Campaign's National Organizer attended and spoke at the meeting as well, on behalf of shareholder Boston Coalition for Palestinian Rights.  Inside the meeting Matan Cohen of Hampshire College Students for Justice in Palestine spoke on behalf of a resolution that would require Caterpillar to report on foreign sales of weapons related products.  During the Q&A portion of the meeting our allies repeatedly demanded to know why CAT continues to risk legal action and alienate investors by providing Israel with the machinery of occupation and apartheid. Repeatedly, Caterpillar CEO, Jim Owens, told those in attendance that if they don't like the way Caterpillar operates, then they don't have to hold on to their stock.

To learn more about the shareholder meeting, the extensive media coverage our actions received, and our Caterpillar ad that was censored by Chicago newspapers but is now featured on Facebook, click here. Keep up with Caterpillar news from the US Campaign on our blog and our website. And be sure to check out our article on the CAT shareholder meeting on the Institute for Middle East Understanding website.

Don't wait until next year's shareholder meeting to take action against CAT.  Click here to order a Stop Caterkiller campaign kit to start organizing in your community.

The US Campaign's boycott efforts against Motorola are paying off for the second time in two months! Motorola is planning to sell its MIRS cell phone division, which provides service to Israeli settlements and the Israeli military. This decision comes after our April victory in which Motorola sold off its bomb fuse department, one of the primary demands of our boycott.

While this victory is encouraging, it still doesn't satisfy all of our demands.  Motorola still provides the Israeli military with some communications devices and several surveillance systems.  Let's push even harder to force Motorola to meet all of our demands. 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.

Click here to make a tax-deductible donation to support the ongoing Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions work of the US Campaign

* Great BDS website

The Israeli Coalition of Women for Peace exposes corporations profiting from the occupation of Palestinian territory and people.

Check out their online database WhoProfits.org, which you can search by company, country of company origin, or country of company operation, by clicking here.

* Keep Up with the Global BDS Movement

Here at the US Campaign we are proud to be part of a global movement for boycott, divestment, and sanctions against Israeli occupation and apartheid policies directed at the Palestinians.

Keep up with this global movement of solidarity with Palestinian civil society by clicking here. And click here to learn more about the Palestinian civil society call for boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS).

* US Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel Releases FAQs

Calls for BDS campaigns against Israeli apartheid and occupation policies have been nothing if not controversial.

To help clarify the reasoning behind boycotts, the US Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel has released a new set of Frequently Asked Questions. Check them out by clicking here.

* Morally Responsible Investment Resources for Churches

Friends 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.

* Independent Jewish Voices (Canada) Joins Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions Campaign

June 17 - Independent Jewish Voices (Canada) voted to join the growing international campaign in support of the Palestinian call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel at its first Annual General Meeting this past weekend. This decision makes IJV the first national Jewish organization in the world to do so. Click here to read more.

* Defence for Children International Urges UNICEF to End its Partnership with Motorola

June 18 - Defence for Children International (DCI) wrote a letter to UNICEF Executive Director Ann Veneman asking UNICEF to publicly renounce the sponsorship of the international communications company Motorola. To read more, click here.

* On World Refugee Day: Trader Joe's Consumers Take Action for Palestinian Rights

June 22 - On Saturday, June 20, activists gathered at Trader Joe's in Oakland and San Francisco to demand that the company stop carrying Israeli goods. Protesters removed Israeli products from the shelves in order to show customers which products they should not buy. They also met with the store managers and asked them to notify their headquarters that they no longer want to carry Israeli herbs, couscous and cheese. Similar actions were held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Seattle, Washington, and Sacramento, California. The activists were inspired by campaigns to deshelve Israeli products in Wales and France. For the full story, click here.

* Major BDS Victory - Melbourne Refuses Train Contract to Connex Due to Involvement in Illegal East Jerusalem Light Rail Project

In another major blow to the illegal Israeli light rail project in East Jerusalem, which would connect Israel with major settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, Australian groups have succeeded in their campaign to get the city of Melbourne to refuse a contract to the Connex company for the city's tram and train system. Connex is one of the corporations involved in the light rail project. This news comes after Veolia, Connex's parent company, announced its plans to withdraw from the Jerusalem project due to lost contracts in Europe, primarily as a result of the work of European BDS campaigners. Congratulations to Australians for Palestine for their great work! Click here to read more.

6. 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! We currently have 286 member groups in our national coalition-just 14 groups short of our summer goal. 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 emailing us here. If your organization is already part of our coalition, click here to make sure that you are in good standing!

Please welcome the following organizations to our coalition:

Purdue Students for Justice in Palestine - Indiana

* Has Your Organization Paid its 2009 Membership Dues?

We are counting down the days until the 8th Annual National Organizers' Conference and wanted to make sure that your organization has paid their annual membership dues for 2009. We accept dues on a sliding scale of $100 - $1,000 or more.You can click here to see if your organization has paid its 2009 annual membership dues. If your organization has not, the delegate(s) will still be able to attend the National Assembly but will not be able to participate in the voting and election processes.

* Christian Peacemaker Teams Reopen Hebron Project, Writes Open Letter to President Obama

After several months of absence, US Campaign member group Christian Peacemaker Teams have returned to Hebron to continue their work supporting Palestinian-led, nonviolent, grassroots resistance to the Israeli occupation and the unjust structures that uphold it. CPT has also issued an open letter to President Obama calling on him to pressure Israel to stop suppressing nonviolent dissent. You can read the full letter by clicking here.

* Art Exhibit - Gaza Conversations
June 5-September 4 - Washington, DC

The tragedy of Gaza has left the headlines but forever remains in the hearts of these three artists. Their work for this exhibition enables the Gaza conversation to continue. Join the Jerusalem Fund and the Palestine Center for this exhibition. A percentage of the artists' proceeds will be donated to a Gaza charity of their choice. Registration is not required to attend.

Gallery hours: M - F, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., or by appointment.

* Patch Adams: Playgrounds & Clowns Are A Threat to Israel's Security?
June 28 - Washington, DC

Patch Adams, the famous "doctor/clown" has traveled all over the globe to bring the healing power of laughter to children and adults in virtually every corner of the world -- from Afghanistan, to Bosnia, to Haiti, and, most recently, to a group of children who are really in need of healing -- the children of the Gaza Strip.

Join Patch Adams, Medea Benjamin, Gael Murphy and other members of the recent CODEPINK delegations to Gaza for a special report-back event on Sunday, June 28, from 6-8 pm, at Busboys and Poets Restaurant, 5th & K St NW, Washington DC. Hear about their attempt to enter Gaza through closed borders in both Egypt and Israel, bringing playgrounds, sports equipment, children's medicines (items banned due to "security concerns"), and performances to get the children to forget their dire circumstances for a little while and laugh. See photos & video of their work with Israeli peace activists, Palestinian solidarity groups & the people of Gaza, and learn what steps you can take to continue to work for peace in this war-torn region. Event cosponsored by Global Exchange, CODEPINK:Women for Peace, Free Gaza Movement, Georgetown Students for Justice in Palestine & Interfaith Peace Builders.

* Middle East Children's Alliance and Viva Palestina at San Francisco Pride
June 28 - San Francisco

US Campaign member group Middle East Children's Alliance is working with Viva Palestina to send five trucks of medical aid to Gaza on July 4.  We currently have enough for 2 trucks - help us make it to 5 trucks!! Please learn more about this project by reading clicking here.

In addition, join us at the SF Pride Parade on Sunday, June 28 where we will be having a contingent representing the Viva Palestina cause and flyering. We will also be collecting funds and tabling in Civic Center after the parade. Please contact Sophia for more information if you would like to be involved.

* Potluck Fundraiser for Gaza
June 29 - Boulder, CO

Rocky Mtn. Peace & Justice Center, Veterans for Peace, Boulder Branch, Colorado Jews for a Just Peace, Boulder Vets & Families of Vets for Peace are holding a potluck fundraiser to raise money for the people of Gaza. The event will be held at the Arborwood Clubhouse, 3250 O'Neal Circle, Boulder, CO, from 6 pm - 8 pm on Monday, June 29. Dan Winters, an activist with the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center, will be the featured speaker. Dan will be visiting Gaza in July with the Viva Palestina convoy, and will be collecting donations of medicine. Suggested donation of $20. Please RSVP by emailing or calling Stuart Chase at (303) 440-8308.

* Voices of Palestine: Summer 2009 Film Series
Wednesdays, 1 July - 5 August - Washington, DC

The Jerusalem Fund and the Center for Contemporary Arab Studies at Georgetown University are pleased to present their annual summer film series highlighting recent documentary and feature films from and about Palestine that explore the social, cultural and political complexities of Palestinian life and identity.

All films begin promptly at 6:30 p.m. All films are screened at The Jerusalem Fund, 2425 Virginia Ave, NW, Washington, D.C. 20037, and are in English or have English subtitles. Attendance is free and open to the public. No RSVP required. However, space is limited. For directions and parking information, click here. For all other inquiries, call The Jerusalem Fund at (202) 338-1958, or email by clicking here.

The first event in the series:

Wednesday, 1 July 2009 | 6:30 p.m.

Pomegranates and Myrrh (Al Mor wa al Rumman)
Director: Najwa Najjar / 95 minutes / 2009
The director will be present at the screening.

Pomegranates and Myrrh

Kamar, a free spirited dancer, finds herself as the wife of a prisoner, Zaid, and away from everything she loves until she returns to the dance, defying societys taboos. When she returns to dance, Kamar is confronted with Kais, a Palestinian returnee, who has taken Kamar's role as the head choreographer. Sparks fly between Kamar and Kais, creating more than a passionate, emotional dance for the both of them. Matters become even more complicated when Zaid's sentence is extended. At the same time, the family's legal case against land confiscation faces one obstacle after another, and the villagers from the nearby villages are unable to reach the family's olive groves, placing the annual harvest and consequently the family's livelihood in danger. Kamar's life is thrown into turmoil as she becomes increasingly attached to Kais and is caught in the midst of her desire to dance while breaking the family and societal taboos of the prisoner's wife's role as life under occupation rages on.

There will be a Q&A with Director Najwa Najjar after the screening.

* The Bedouins vs. the State of Israel: From Freedom to Fear
July 12 - Columbia, MD

Bette Hoover recently returned from a trip to the Negev Desert, where she stayed with a Bedouin family. She is a U.S. contact for the work of BUSTAN, an organization that works to bring environmental justice to the Negev and human rights to Bedouins. Come see Bette's photos, hear about her experiences, and find out how you can add your voice to those speaking up for justice and peace in the region. The event, cosponsored by the Howard County Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, Howard County Coalition for Peace and Justice, and Washington Interfaith Alliance for Middle East Peace, will take place at the Howard County Central Library, 10375 Little Patuxent Pkwy, Columbia, MD, on July 12, at 1 pm. For more information email Joanne Heisel.  

7. RESOURCES AND EVENTS: 

* Community Conversation on Israel, the West Bank and Gaza with Rep. Donna F. Edwards
June 29 - Silver Spring, MD

Congresswoman Donna F. Edwards (D-MD) traveled recently to Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza on a Congressional Delegation with the New America Foundation. Join her for a report-back and community conversation on Monday, June 29, 2009 from 6:30pm - 8:00pm at White Oak Middle School, 12201 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20904. For additional information, call 202-225-8699.

* 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.

* A Benefit Concert and Dessert Reception for Gaza
July 11 - Lynnwood, WA

Join the internationally acclaimed Al-Andalus Ensemble in "Arches," a concert furthering international understanding, peace, and goodwill with a diverse program of traditional and contemporary music and songs from the Middle East to benefit relief efforts in the Gaza Strip.

The concert will take place on July 11, 2009 at 7:00 pm at Trinity Lutheran Church, 6215 196th Street SW, Lynnwood, WA. A dessert reception will follow. This is a free event, but a collection will be taken to aid relief organizations serving in Gaza. For more information contact Suzy Baroud by emailing or calling (425) 486-2023.

8. DELEGATIONS TO ISRAEL/PALESTINE:

* ICAHD Summer Rebuilding Experience

July 14-27

Annually since 2003, ICAHD has made it possible for internationals and Israelis to join together with Palestinians in Anata, East Jerusalem, to resist the occupation and rebuild the demolished home of a Palestinian family. In the summer of 2009, ICAHD will once again rebuild a Palestinian home during our two-week summer rebuilding experience. We invite you to participate in the incredible opportunity to learn first-hand about life under occupation. "Creating Alternative Facts on the Ground," ICAHD's 2009 Summer Rebuilding Experience, takes place from July 14-27, 2009. In addition to construction, there is a full program including field trips, cultural events, films and much more. For more information and an application form, please click here. 

* Global Exchange's Delegations to Palestine & Israel 


July 25th-August 4th, 2009 (Prospects for Peace with Justice)
October 30-November 9, 2009 (Olive Harvest)
December 5th-15th, 2009 (Prospects for Peace with Justice)

*  Interfaith Peace-Builders Delegations to Israel/Palestine


July 25th-August 7th, 2009 (Delegation cosponsored by US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation)

October 24th - November 6th, 2009


Click here for video testimonies from past participants in Interfaith Peace-Builders delegations.

* Indigenous Youth Delegation to Palestine

August 2-17, 2009

The Indigenous Youth Delegation to Palestine is a project of a collective of grassroots youth groups in the U.S. and Palestine. We have been committed to connecting Native and immigrant youth in the U.S with youth in Palestine by creating remote forums for us to reflect together and bridge our struggles. This first-ever cross-continental exchange is an opportunity for youth to learn first hand from each other by sharing tools of empowerment and education. Our journey to Palestine is part of an on-going process of connecting the shared experiences of Indigenous peoples across the world for the ultimate goal of land rights, justice and peace. Our trip is planned for August 2-17, 2009. Click here for more information.

* Joint Advocacy Initiative Olive Harvest Delegation

October 17-26, 2009

The Joint Advocacy Initiative of the East Jerusalem YMCA and YWCA of Palestine (JAI) and the Alternative Tourism Group (ATG) are organizing the sixth Olive Picking Program 2009 in Palestine from October 17-26. This agricultural event is of special significance to the Palestinian economy when all energies and efforts are mobilized. Click here for more information.

* Sabeel/Friends of Sabeel North America Delegations



Friends of Sabeel North America maintains a list of alternative travel opportunities to Israel/Palestine. To view the list, click here. Click here for more information on Sabeel's summer Young Adult Conference and Fall Witness Trip.