Dear friends, We're sending
this Campaign Update
out just as word has come of the latest Israeli war crime, this time
the assassination by missile of 7 Palestinian children and 3 adults
in two Gaza City apartment houses, in a claimed attack against a Hamas
leader. Such atrocities convince us more than ever of the need to
work even harder in this
country, to change the U.S. policies that support Israel's occupation.
We know this work is difficult and can only be accomplished in the
long-term, but it is, we believe, the only way to bring about an end
to occupation and a comprehensive peace based on human rights and
international law. In our June Campaign Update, we reported
on the Organizers' Conference in Chicago (1-2 June), the appointment
of our new part-time Campaign Director Doug Hostetter, and the launch
of the Campaign website. In this Update we report on Task Force activities,
new website resources, new arrangements for the Campaign's constituency
organizations, and Committee plans. If you've just signed on to the
Campaign in the past monthwelcome! You've joined a rapidly growing
number of people and groups that want to End the Occupation. CONGRESSIONAL
TASK FORCE A small working group has drafted the language
for a "National Pledge" for a just peace that can be used
by Campaign groups nationwide to educate their elected representatives
and promote change in US policy. Once the draft is finalized in the
Congressional Task Force, it will be circulated for action. In the
wake of Congressman Earl Hilliard's election defeat, it was suggested
that we act to support Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, who has bravely
spoken out in support of a balanced Middle East policy. A point of
clarification: the Campaign's fiscal sponsors are non-profit organizations
and contributions to the Campaign are tax-deductible. Therefore, our
Campaign cannot endorse political candidates, or ask our members and
friends to support specific campaigns either financially or politically. However, we urge everyone concerned with
changing U.S. policy towards ending the Israeli occupation to investigate
on their own the role that M.E. politics is playing in the campaigns
of leading supporters of a balanced M.E. policyparticularly
those like Cynthia McKinney and others from the Progressive and Black
Caucuses of Congress. Joining the Steering Committee, Josh Ruebner
in DC and Hasan Newash in Detroit have agreed to co-facilitate the
work of this Task Force (Hasan will be available later in August).
If you want to join and contribute to this Task Force contact congress@endtheoccupation.org. CORPORATE
TASK FORCE Joining the Steering Committee, Jerry Silberman
in Philadelphia has agreed to co-facilitate the work of this Task
Force. We hope that Rahul Mahajan, currently Green Party candidate
for governor of Texas will head up our Lockheed campaign after November.
The fact sheet produced on Caterpillar that was circulated at the
Chicago conference will be posted on the Campaign website for easy
downloading and distribution by members. If you want to join and contribute
to the work of this Task Force, contact corporations@endtheoccupation.org. NATIONAL
MOBILIZATIONS WEBSITE
The Chicago Organizers' Conference Report is now available on the web as well as in PDF and Word formats. Conference participants who want to suggest amendments to the report, please email us_campaign@endtheoccupation.org. Campaign webmaster Geoff Hartman welcomes
feedback in the development of the websitecontact him at webmaster@endtheoccupation.org. CONSTITUENCY
ORGANIZATIONS She and webmaster Geoff have already discussed
ways in which the work of organizations that sign on to the Campaign
can be featured on and linked to the Campaign website. Please direct
any comments or questions regarding this to orgs@endtheoccupation.org. COMMITTEES Those are the highlights for July. Just a reminder: if you and/or your organization haven't yet formally signed on the Campaign, please send in your check (suggested minimum $40 for organizations, $20 for individuals, payable to US Campaign/CESR) and full contact details to the US Campaign, c/o CESR, 162 Montague Street, New York, NY 11201. You can download the form in the JOIN NOW section. All the best,
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