TRUTH ABOUT EGYPT, VIVA PALESTINA & GAZA FREEDOM MARCH

Before you get the shock of your life, first, check out these photos of the March to Rafah, the hunger strike, and the convoy to Gaza:







Well have I got a shocking story for you today. Those photos you just viewed above are NOT from the Viva Palestina Convoy OR the Code Pink Gaza Freedom March. The answer to be revealed shortly:

1. We all remember after the recent Gaza genocide January 2009 that George Galloway took the first convoy into Gaza in March 2009. We all watched, cried and cheered for them. It was NOT the first convoy to break the siege.

2. Remember the recent Code Pink Gaza Freedom March and hunger strike? Well that wasn’t the first either.

Remember when Egypt attacked the peaceful Code Pink marchers? Remember how Egypt blocks convoys from entering Gaza, usually when they reach Al Arish, where they play their little games with the convoys.

Regarding Egypt, remember how we never see any Egyptians organising “on the street” rallies in support for their Palestinian neighbours suffering under an illegal siege? Notice how there is NO outward sympathy or solidarity being displayed by the Egyptian public or Egyptian politicians? Well that actually WAS a First!

What am I talking about? Get ready for a shock….. I‘m talking about how much Egypt has changed. Because those photos you viewed above are ACTUALLY photos of Egyptians holding various rallies for Gaza and also a rally at Al Arish when they were blocked (like Viva Palestina) whilst taking a convoy into Gaza, also they held a hunger strike during the course of one of the TWENTY-FIVE convoys they took into Gaza!!! You may want to re-read that sentence after the shock wears off.

I’m asking what has happened to Egyptians. I’m asking this because it was an Egyptian Convoy that broke the siege first, and it was Egyptians who organised the first solidarity March to Rafah. And it was Egyptians who first staged a hunger strike in solidarity with the people of Gaza. And it was Egyptians who first organised themselves en masse to help the Palestinians trapped in Gaza. Don’t believe me? Well check this out:

Link The Egyptian Popular Committee for Solidarity with the Palestinian Uprising (the "Lagna") was created on the 12th of September 2000, two weeks after the second Intifada started. At first, 360 intellectuals and public personalities signed a fundamental text stating the main objectives of the "Lagna". It is aimed to gather all representatives and activists of the Egyptian civil society, the professional unions, the political parties. For four years now, it has been coordinating and organizing collective actions of solidarity.

It started with two petitions: The first one was addressed to the Egyptian President Husni Mubarak and stated the urge to cut diplomatic and economic relations with Israel. The second one was presented to Kofi Anan, general secretary of the United Nations, and asked for the application of the UN resolutions and the protection of the Palestinian people. These two petitions collected more than 100,000 signatures.

The "Lagna" started first in Cairo but the mobilization and the solidarity network have spread all over Egypt, in the Delta region in particular. Today, the "Lagna" has 12 local committees in the country which organize concerts, exhibitions, meetings and political rallies.

In four years, the "Lagna" has organised 25 convoys of medicine and food, for a total cost of 15 millions of Egyptian pounds. Each convoy is an act of popular and political solidarity, coordinated by a delegation of the "Lagna", whose members are representatives of the Civil society in Egypt.

When convoys were blocked at the border, protests turn into sit-in in front of the Red Crescent office, the UN office and the ministry of Foreign Affairs. A hunger strike was held for ten days, in order to pressure the officials and lift the ban on the convoy.

The "Lagna" helps also the wounded Palestinians who are treated in Cairo Hospitals. It provides them with money, medicine and housing..

So have you picked yourself up off the floor yet? There’s even more. Witness their last effort in 2004 and note the similarities to the Code Pink March just this January:

Link As the Palestinian Intifada enters into its fifth year of existence, the Palestinian people continue to suffer the most inhumane and cruel living conditions. The killing of Palestinian martyrs continues, and so does the demolition and destruction of Palestinian houses, infrastructure and agricultural land through the systematic, barbaric and murderous crimes committed by the Israeli occupation army, including the last attack on Jabalia and the Gaza strip where more than 110 Palestinians were killed - including a large number of children, and hundreds were injured.

In protest to those tragic conditions and in solidarity with the Intifada of the Palestinian people, supporting the heroic resistance of the Palestinian people, its right to self determination and its Right to Return, the Egyptian Popular Committee in Solidarity with the Palestinian Uprising calls upon all intellectuals, activists, human rights and civil society organizations, anti-globalisation and antiwar activists to share in the protest rally in front of the Rafah crossing on the 10th of December 2004.

The choice of the 10th of December is not insignificant. This date carries the anniversary of the launching of the International Declaration for Human Rights. Our protest rally, organized on the anniversary of that day is an attempt to remind the world of the values which that declaration carried, and to express our protest regarding the continuous and systematic violation of those human rights values by the barbaric Israeli military in the occupied Palestinian territories.

We invite all activists of the world, all those who struggle against the ugliness of war and the violations of human rights of peoples to join us in front of the Rafah Crossing on December the 10th, 2004

So this has left me with a few gnawing questions.. Firstly what in the name of GOD has happened to the population in Egypt! Clearly they are capable of helping the Palestinians. Clearly within their society they have hundreds and thousands of people who are capable of organizing and carrying off massive events to aid people trapped in the open air prison Israel has created and they would NOT be alone, as WE would happily JOIN with them! Imagine the scale of events that could take place if we ALL worked together. We could make a difference alongside the people of Egypt and the WORLD would listen and take note! Clearly they once cared, clearly they once “took on” Mubarak and petitioned him to help. Clearly they were so outraged at what was happening that they were forced to act due to their human conscience.

Clearly the Egyptian people could rise again to take on this humanitarian cause, to help make right an illegal wrong, to save a human life, to show the world they are not controlled and owned by Israel and the West. So that leaves the most important question of the day. What has happened to the Egyptians, why don’t they care anymore?

Egypt once showed the world how great their people were, how they cared, how they were committed to not simply standing by to allow all this suffering in Gaza. As witnessed in these photos below:





LIST OF LAGNA MEMBERS AND ORGANISERS BELOW
WHERE ARE THESE EGYPTIANS NOW
AND WHY DO THE NO LONGER CARE?

Members of the Parliament:
Mohammed Abd el-Aziz Chaaban (Rally party)
Hamdin Sebahi
Mohammed Farid Hassannin
Amin Nur
Ibrahim Lutfy al-Zanaty
Abou al-Ezz al-Hariry (Rally party)
Al-Badry Farghaly (Rally party)
Kashem Mohammad al-Kashem (National Democratic Party NDP)
Hassan al-Mohandes (Rally party)
Khaled Mohey al-Dîn (head of the Rally party)
Rifaat al-Saeed (general secretary of the Rally party)
Adel Eid
Kamal Ahmad (secretary of the Nasserist party)
Mokhtar Gomaa (Rally party)

Unionists and representatives of the civil society:
Ahmed Nabil al-Hilali (lawyer)
Khaled Ali (lawyer)
Emad Moubarak (lawyer)
Ariyan Nasif (lawyer, farmers union)
Ahmad Ramy Abdel Moneim (chemists union)
Anis al-Biya (social workers union)
Abel Moneim Karaouya (union of the Suez Canal Company)
Abdel al-Bakouri (journalist, membre of the council of the journalist union)
Rahma Rifaat (head of the centre for union services)
Mohammed Mounir (journalist)
Ibrahim Mansour (journalist)
Hussein Abdel Razek (journalist)
Bahiga Hussein (journalist)
Farida al-Nakish (journalist)
Amina al-Nakish (journalist)
Amina Shafiq (journalist)
Khaled al-Fishawy (journalist)
Afaf al-Sayd (journalist)
Nabil Zaki (journalist, editor of al-Ahâli paper)
Adel al-Mashed (engineer)
Magdi Abdel Hamid (engineer)
Mohammed Ibrahim (engineer)
Adel wassily (engineer)
Ahmad Baha (engineer)
Ahmef Seif al-Islam(lawyer, Hisham Mubarak centre for human rights)
Shahinda Maklad (membre of the political bureau of the Rally party)
Georges Ishak
Ragiya al-Garzawy
Zohdy al-Shamy (member of the Rally party)
Amin al-Fayyed (secretary of the popular council of Cairo governorate for the Rally party)
Samia Adly (head of Nasr Pharma Co)
Salah Adly
Abdallah Mansour (head of al-Saha psychiatric hospital)
Fakhry Labib (Afro-Asian solidarity association)
Farid Zahran (head of al-Mahroussa publishing)
Magda Shaarawi (financial director for the organisation the health developement and the environment)
Manal Abaza (psychologist)

Academics:
Aida Seif al Dawla (psychiatre)
Amina Raashid (professor of Frenc literature)
Madiha Doss (linguist)
Leila Soueif (mathematician)
Hilmy Shaarawi (head of the centre for Arab studies)
Abdel Ghaffar Shoukr (vice-head of the centre for Arab studies)
Mohammad al-Sayyd Said (researcher at al-Ahram centre)
Ibrahim Farag (national centre for research)
Hala Shoukrallah (researcher)
Ahmad Mokhtar Dessouki (professor of science)
Anouar Moghith (professor of philosophy)
Ahmad Bakry Mansour (professor, university of Suez)
Faten Adly (research institute for training)
Mohammad Douidar (university of Alexandria)
Mona Talba (professor of philosophy)
Nagoua Ahmad al-Mached (national centre for research)
Salah Rawi
Ahmed al- Ahwani
Mona Sadek
Radwa Ashour
Sayd al-Baharoui
Kamal Moghith

Writers and poets:
Mahmoud Amin al-Alem
Sonallah Ibrahim
Edouard Kharrat
Baha Taher
Mohammed al-Bissaty
Ahmad al-Khamis
Saad Zahran
Ibrahim Islan
Ibrahim Fathy
Ossama Anouar Okasha
Ismael Abdel Hafez
Gamal al-Qasas
Hilmi Salem
Zein al-Abdin Fouad
Saed al-Kafrawy
Soleyman Fayd
Samir Abdel Baqi
Sayd Higab
Ezz al-Din Naguib
Fathya al-Assal
Naguib al-Nagwili
Nawal Saadawi

Artists:
Youssef Chahine (film maker)
Raghda (film maker)
Fouad el Tohamy (documentary film maker)
Ingham Mohamad Aly (film maker)
Tawfiq Abdel Hamid (actor)
Abbas Ahmad (theatre)
Aly Badarkhan (film maker)
Magdy Ahmad Aly (film maker)
Nahed Nasrallah (film maker)
Yousri Nasrallah (film maker)
Mahmoud al-Hindi (painter)
Morsen Tawfik

GAZA ANNIVERSARY ~ NEW YEAR

It’s just before midnight on New Years Eve as I write this post. What am I doing? Blogging. Why? Because last December 27th Israel changed my life and the lives of so many others worldwide. Weeks ago, as the Anniversary of the Gaza Genocide loomed, I had grand plans to make a video about the children killed in Gaza, write a great post or say some wise prophetic words to the world. It never happened. I don’t know why, perhaps I was a bit down thinking of the massive “Blitzkrieg” inflicted on Gaza 365 days ago, and wondering what had changed, seeing no change, seeing no chance for change. No major world power stepping up to the proverbial “Humanity Plate” to make a stand for all of mankind. No one willing to tackle the plague of quick war for profit and political needs, or the death and destruction left in the wake of such wars, or the helplessness felt by humanity who abhor these wars and want them to stop. Nothing.

But I’m feeling rather pensive tonight, so I will write my post now, because I’ve discovered something phenomenal out of the despair. More proof that good can come of evil. You see, I was mistaken all these depressive weeks I was thinking about the looming Gaza Anniversary. I was mistaken dwelling on only what the eyes can see taking place on the ground. What I failed to look at was what cannot be so easily seen with the eyes, what is not concrete, what you cannot touch with your hands.

In fact, much HAS changed, and here’s my rundown of things to be thankful for during the year 2009 after the Gaza Genocide:

Millions of people turned to the internet, looking for people to connect with, looking for people who shared their outrage, and most importantly, looking to get to know more about Palestinians. What they saw when Israel murdered so many innocent children was not the faces of strange unknown people they could not identify with, but rather Israel allowed with their killing in Gaza, for millions worldwide to see with their own eyes that those “different” people are actually just like us. People began to wake up from the politics of fear. Their children could be our children, their tiny wee faces screaming in fear and pain and sadness needed no translation from Arabic to English or any other language. That was a change.

Then we saw millions raise their voices in outrage, demanding justice, demanding freedom for Gaza and Palestine. That was a change.

Then, right when the world needed it, we saw the first Convoy to break the siege, Viva Palestina. It arrived at Rafah and after some days entered to a cheering crowd. How many of us cried along with the grown men who kissed the ground of Gaza? That was a change.

From that convoy others were born, The Hope Convoy in May, Three more Viva Palestina convoys and many other smaller ones, rarely covered in the media. But, that was a change.

It was all of our collective voices, protesting on the streets at Israeli embassies worldwide calling for BDS on Israel. We had some victories, some companies pulled out of their dealings with the rogue state. Universities cancelled events and speakers. Israeli officials were hounded and shouted down when they appeared in countries around the world, even in America. That was a change.

We then saw people band together in a joint effort to hold Israel accountable under International Law. To ask the UN to hold Israel accountable under the Geneva Convention. And again, it was our collective voices and pressure on our governments via protests and outrage that forced through the decision to have Richard Goldstone and his team to investigate. That was a change.

We then, again through our collective outrage began a “War Criminal” watch. And soon Israeli’s were afraid of travelling outside their self made prison, for fear of arrest. Even Livni was forced to cancel her visit to England. And today, every one who served in the genocide lives in fear of being hunted down outside the protective walls of their prison called Israel. Afraid if they travel and are forced to land in some strange little country they could find themselves under arrest. That is a change.

Recently we have seen thousands come from around the world to Egypt in an effort to break the siege on the Code Pink Gaza Freedom March and show solidarity with Gaza. And this takes place one year later, which shows we are still going strong for our cause. And despite the refusal of Egypt to allow them in, they have instead done an unexpected thing. They have helped to expose the collusion between Egypt, US and Israel, and to illustrate the role Egypt plays in supporting Israel and strangling the Gaza population by refusing to open the border which is supposed to belong to Egypt, but by way of collusion, belongs to Israel instead. That is a change.

And as we celebrate the New Year around the world in our respective countries, somewhere between Jordan and Syria sit another viva Palestina convoy of Aid yet again attempting to break the siege. Instead of spending the holidays with family and friends, they are going to Gaza to deliver aid. This is a change.

And lastly I’ll leave you with this thought. We continue to call for a Free Palestine, and we continue to cry for Gaza. But we should not cry for Gaza, because Gaza IS Free! It is the only part of Palestine that actually IS free. Because once you jump through the Egyptian/Israeli hoops and enter Gaza, you are free. NO Israeli checkpoints, no Israeli road blocks, no Israeli illegal settlements, no Israeli army on the streets. Gaza, my friends is FREE! And it was THAT fact along with the changes above that took away my sadness.

So, on the Anniversary of the Gaza Genocide, I refuse to be sad, instead I will celebrate ALL the good things that I have written about above. I will celebrate the spirit of the people of Gaza and Palestine. I will celebrate the good and decent people I have had the good fortune to meet this year and to call my friend. I will celebrate what next year can bring if we keep focused and keep working to bring freedom and justice to Palestine. And Miracle of Miracles, it just turned 12 midnight. Happy New Year

Irish4palestine

WE WILL MEET AT AL AQSA

During the coordinated protests being held on both sides of the border between Israel and Gaza. Today Prime Minister Haniyeh thanked everyone and said we will all meet at Al Aqsa, inshallah:

link Hamas prime minister in the Gaza Strip Ismail Haniyeh said to Arab Israelis that they strengthened the resilience of the Gaza residents in their stance against Israel.

"We succeeded in overcoming the occupation's plans. We are certain we will meet at the al-Aqsa mosque and that Jerusalem will continue being Arab and Islamic," said Haniyeh to those attending an international protest being held on both sides of Erez Crossing in a call to lift the blockade of the Gaza Strip

MASSIVE PROTESTS TODAY

Loads going on today. I was informed late last night that the Freedom Marchers in Cairo were planning a huge event this morning, and it has begun. Here's the morning rundown so far: There is a worldwide protest at all Egyptian Embassies today. Info on the one taking place in London is being reported at JewsSansFrontieres

Picket at the Egyptian Embassy
Thursday 31st December
1.00pm – 3.00pm
26 South Street, London, W1K 1DW, off Park Lane, Marble Arch/Hyde Park Corner Underground stations

Also in Canada you can read about that on Facebook here (you must be logged in) Here in Ireland there are various protests and candle light vigils. I'll be attending a small one today as I am driving up to Derry for that event. Will post photos later today.

In Egypt:
the Gaza Freedom Marchers have assembled for a massive protest in Egypt,in what has now become known as "Gaza Square" There has been some trouble with reports of cameras being smashed and a few people beaten and knocked down. You can read about Hedy Epstein here. She is there still going strong. bless. And this tweet made me laugh:

TankaBar: #GFM #GAZA took 3 cops to push one lakota jew down the street. haha "you basterds are lucky im a pacifist and dont know how to fight!"

I love the American Indians,during the Irish famine imposed by Britain millions of Irish died, when Ireland's people were starving and dying, being found dead with grass stains on their mouths, the American Indians sent us corn. They rock!! You can follow him here. This just in:

Gaza Freedom Marchers are discussing spending new years eve on streets of Cairo. Message: end the siege, free Gaza.

In Israel:
Marchers are assembling at the Erez crossing, you can view some photos here. Also if you scroll down you can view photos of what's going on in Egypt as well.

BREAKING UPDATE~CODE PINK GAZA MARCH CHAOS

Another update, definitely confirmed now by our friend on the March. The buses are on the way with 100 marchers. Our source is not one of the 100 going to Gaza sadly, but will remain in Cairo and continue activities there. More updates as I get them.

UPDATED, the post below may be a moot point now,I'm now hearing that the buses with 100 marchers left this morning at 11:30 for the Rafah border it now appears.

link They left at 11.30 am today. GFM are putting out a statement later today.

Also Alarab is reporting this as well.

original post from earlier this morning is below, now outdated but illustrates the chaos the marchers are going through:
We reported yesterday that 100 are going into Gaza. Evidently there has been more discussion and it now appears as of 9AM GMT in an email we received from a participant, that there has been a new decision:

New update on CodePink
Either we all come or none :)

It appears this is now a fluid situation. I would encourage the Marchers to re-consider and send the 100 or as many as they can. Here's why:

1. First and foremost; The reason for going in the first place is to break the siege, and 100 marchers CAN break the siege. just as well as 1300.

2. Most Important Reason: This "Divide and Conquer" strategy by Egyptians is always used. It was used on the Hope Convoy in May 2009 and they were reduced to accepting that only 22 would get in, and this was after weeks of negotiations regarding the vehicles, the boats used, the travel route, the cargo removal and finally ending AT the Rafah Border.. Egypt does this to create division and anger among the participants, to turn people against each other using the hurt feelings of those who cannot go, against those who either were picked to go, or against those who make the decision regarding who will go. Now, by refusing to go unless ALL can go, you are giving the Egyptians exactly what they hope for. They will say they offered entry and it was refused. Which, is a factual statement, albeit the offer was for 100, it was still an offer, and Egypt will flaunt this to it's benefit.

3. Personal documentation, via videos and personal eye witness reports can be made of the Anniversary march from inside Gaza by the 100 who get in, and this can be viewed all over the Internet. Much better option than depending on Presstv or Aljazeera to report anything of substance. Marchers would control what is seen and reported to the world. That is important.

4. Additionally it would really give those inside Gaza a boost to at least see 100 marchers, whilst knowing there are 1200 more outside denied entry.

This blog summed it up best:

The deciding factor for me is what the organizers in Gaza want, and they want this group to come to Gaza. I understand all the objections to accepting a small offer, but everything else is secondary. It is essential however that the protests continue and the demand that all Gaza Freedom Marchers be allowed to travel.

UPDATED, IT HAS BEEN CONFIRMED, offere refused HERE

CONFIRMED~100 FREEDOM MARCHERS GOING INTO GAZA

Earlier we reported that Mubarak's wife offered to allow two busses with a total of 100 marchers into Gaza. This has now been confirmed that 100 of the Code Pink Freedom Marchers are going in on two busses and were picked by country and nationality, among other criteria. They will enter Gaza via Rafah tomorrow on the 30th of December according to the latest information. For how long we do not know. Here are the details:

Just a few hours ago, we heard that Egyptian first lady Suzanne Mubarak had in fact reponded to a letter delivered to her by the women's affinity group. The Egyptian government has allowed us to send 100 people on two buses into Gaza tomorrow, with as much of the aid as we can assemble given the extremely short notice.

The 100 people going were selected by proportional representation from as many different countries as we could muster. I am not among them, nor was I expecting to be. Personally, I would much rather those seats go to Palestinians who have family in Gaza (who are among us) and those who have not yet had the wonderful experience of traveling there. source

FLOATING CANDLES AND YOUR HELP

HEY PEOPLE: If you have done nothing today to help Gaza, then do THIS as it will only take you 2 minutes and you only have to move your fingers! More:

link Gaza Freedom Marchers mark first anniversary of Gaza invasion

WHAT: Gaza Freedom Marchers Remember Gaza's dead by floating candles on the Nile

WHEN: Sunday, December 27, 4:30 pm gather at Cairo's Garden City Nile Cornice (next to the Grand Hyatt and opposite the Four Seasons.) to take feluccas at sunset

(Cairo) On December 27th, 2009, marking one year since the brutal Israeli invasion of Gaza, members of the Gaza Freedom March in Cairo will place 1,400 candles in the Nile River to commemorate the dead.

The Gaza Freedom Marchers had hoped to be in Gaza to commemorate the war, but access to Rafah is being denied by the Egyptian authorities. The Marchers, coming from 43 countries, have appealed to President Mubarak to allow them to proceed.

The delegation includes families of three generations, doctors, lawyers, diplomats, students, artists, rabbis, priests, imams, a women delegation, a Jewish contingent, a veterans group and Palestinians born overseas. The coalition spent seven months planning for their trip to Gaza. As they flood into Cairo with a longing to reach Gaza, they plan to remember the besieged strip while being trapped here.

"We mark this date, December 27, with great saddess for those killed and wounded, and we call on the world's leaders to hold Israel accountable," said Medea Benjamin of the Gaza Freedom March. "We also call on Israel and Egypt to lift the blockade that is causing so much suffering in Gaza."

Now, get yourself over to THIS page and HELP THEM! Don't say you didn't know...............

EGYPT TO CLOSE BORDER TO MARCHERS

We are determined to break the siege
We all will continue to do whatever we can to make it happen

Using the pretext of escalating tensions on the Gaza-Egypt border, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry informed us yesterday that the Rafah border will be closed over the coming weeks, into January. We responded that there is always tension at the border because of the siege, that we do not feel threatened, and that if there are any risks, they are risks we are willing to take. We also said that it was too late for over 1,300 delegates coming from over 42 countries to change their plans now. We both agreed to continue our exchanges.

Although we consider this as a setback, it is something we've encountered-and overcome--before. No delegation, large or small, that entered Gaza over the past 12 months has ever received a final OK before arriving at the Rafah border. Most delegations were discouraged from even heading out of Cairo to Rafah. Some had their buses stopped on the way. Some have been told outright that they could not go into Gaza. But after public and political pressure, the Egyptian government changed its position and let them pass.

Our efforts and plans will not be altered at this point. We have set out to break the siege of Gaza and march on December 31 against the Israeli blockade. We are continuing in the same direction.

Egyptian embassies and missions all over the world must hear from our supporters (by phone, fax and email)** over the coming crucial days, with a clear message: Let the international delegation enter Gaza and let the Gaza Freedom March proceed.

Contact your local consulate here:
http://www.mfa.gov.eg/MFA_Portal/en-GB/mfa_websits/

Contact the Palestine Division in Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cairo
Ahmed Azzam, tel +202-25749682 Email: ahmed.azzam@mfa.gov.eg

If you are in the U.S., contact the Egyptian Embassy, 202-895-5400 and ask for Omar Youssef or email omaryoussef@hotmail.com

You signed on to support the the Gaza Freedom March, that was the first step. Now call the Egyptian embassy and ask your elected official to call on your behalf. Then, hit the streets and join a solidarity action in your community: www.gazafreedommarch.org/solidarity



Thank you for being part of a global movement.


The Gaza Freedomo March Steering Committee


* * Sample text


I am writing/calling to express my full support for the December 31, 2009 Gaza Freedom March. I urge the Egyptian government to allow the 1,300 international delegates to enter the Gaza Strip through Egypt.


The aim of the march is to call on Israel to lift the siege. The delegates will also take in badly needed medical aid, as well as school supplies and winter jackets for the children of Gaza.


Please, let this historic March proceed.


Thank you.

GAZA ANNIVERSARY EVENTS~PLAN ONE NOW

C'mon people get with the program, you know you want to:) It doesn't have to be a big massive thing, just DO something where you live. This is a small thing we can all do to help keep the focus on the victims in Palestine. Dont let this anniversary pass quietly, like bobby Sands said, We each have our own particular part to play. No part is too great or too small; no one is too old or too young to do something.

18 November, 2009

We're calling on activists around the globe to organize an action between December 27th through December 31st to send Obama, the US State Department and Congress a message to pressure the Israeli government to Lift the Siege on Gaza Now!The timing here is crucial. On December 27, 2008, Israel launched an attack on the Gaza Strip called Operation Cast Lead in which over 1400 Palestinians were killed, including as many as 300 children. In remembrance of these innocent civilians and to mark the fact that it has been one year since the Israeli assault began, some 1,000 people from around the world will join with 50,000 Palestinians in a massive nonviolent Gaza Freedom March on New Year's Eve, December 31, in Gaza. The International Coalition to End the Illegal Siege of Gaza is calling on us to coordinate local solidarity actions to raise awareness and media attention for the big March and the need to end the illegal blockade. Will you join us?

Actions are already being planned in Boston, New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Calgary, Toronto, Vancouver, Washington DC and other locations. You still have time to plan something in your community. It doesn't take a lot of people. Below are a few ideas, but whatever you do, make sure you write a press release and call the local media to encourage them to attend. The best way to spread the word is to get your event covered by the local press!

The important things:
* Do something public between the 27th through 31st.* Register your event/action here.
* Tell the press about your action.* Take a photo and upload it here beginning December 27th.MarchYou can coordinate a solidarity march with the Gaza Freedom March and carry a banner with one of our suggested slogans like "LIFT THE SIEGE ON GAZA", "FREE GAZA" or "Remember Gaza". You may even want to have all marchers lie down and make the shapes of the letters that spell out "FREE GAZA" at the end of the march for a great aerial image.

In San Francisco, the Bay Area Action Network for Palestine will be marching across the Golden Gate Bridge on Dec. 31. Consider marching across a bridge in your city, to symbolize building bridges rather than walls, or march to the Israeli Embassy/Consulate, the Federal Building, or another symbolic place. Don't forget a banner and a camera!Candlelight VigilPick a very public place and organize a candlelight vigil for those who died during the invasion. Make a visual statement at a significant place, and post your photo onlineDon't worry about gathering tons of people for an action-even a small group can make a compelling visual statement in your community. You can lay out objects, like candles, scarves, flowers, to spell out your message of "LIFT THE SIEGE ON GAZA" or "FREE GAZA".

Consider staging your photo in a meaningful place, like outside your Federal Building, an Israeli Embassy/Consulate, at a public park, outside a school or hospital (in memorial to the public facilities bombed a year ago), by a wall, or at your place of worship. You can also think about creating a lasting art installation that is a memorial to those who died and a call for peace. During your visual creation, you may want to read the names of Palestinian children killed one year ago, or invite local poets to read poetry or share in song.

Don't forget a banner and a camera! Post your photo so it will appear online and will be available for the media.Protest at a government officeDon't forget your Congressperson. They need to hear from you. Only 33 brave representatives refused to vote for the Congressional resolution urging Obama to throw the Goldstone Report on Gaza into the circular file. Chances are your Congressman wasn't one of them. (You can research this here by inputting your Congressperson's name, scrolling to the votes of 11/3/09, and looking for House Resolution 867).

You can picket their office with signs saying "Congressman X Votes No Human Rights for Gaza. Support the Gaza Freedom March!" or "Congressman X -- End the Siege of Gaza. Support the Gaza Freedom March!" or "Honk for Human Rights for Gaza." Morning rush hour is a particularly good time for a picket -- lots of passing cars. When your picket is over, take one of your signs up to your Congressperson's office and ask the staff to give it to him/her as a message from constituents. Organize a film showingFor $9.95, you can get a copy of Anna Balzer's incredible DVD Life in Occupied Palestine, which provides an excellent introduction-in a down-to-earth, non-alienating way-to the occupation in Palestine. See here for more details.

Another excellent film is Occupation 101, an award-winning documentary about the causes of the conflict, life under occupation, and the role of the US. You can get it for as little as $16 here. Or you can lighten it up with Slingshot Hip Hop, $25 here, a documentary about hip hop artists performing under occupation. Host a house partyEating is one of the easiest ways to bring people together (especially during a busy holiday season!).

Host a dinner with food from the Middle East. Ask your friends to bring something along, so you don't need to cook all week. Set aside a few minutes before or after the meal to explain the latest on Gaza and the Gaza Freedom March, and then link it all together with a great group photo at the dinner table. Do a public muralConvene a group of artists to do a chalk sidewalk mural in a public place. Of course, feel free to get creative and come up with your own ideas.If you would like to organize an action between December 27 and 31, let us know at gazafreedommarch.action@gmail.com.

Coming soon to the website will be action resources, action ideas, action FAQ, and organizing steps.In solidarity and with hope,Medea Benjamin and the Gaza Freedom March Steering Committee
News Update!
Organize a Gaza Freedom March solidarity action December 27-31Click here to sign up!
© 2009 GazaFreedomMarch.Org

ATTENTION AMERICANS~HELP SAVE GOLDSTONE REPORT

November 2, 2009
Dear XXXXX
Judge Richard Goldstone, a highly respected jurist from South Africa whose credentials are impeccable and who is a self-declared Zionist, lead a U.N. fact-finding mission to Gaza in April to investigate what had happened there during "Operation Cast Lead." The 575-page report Goldstone Report that resulted from his investigations, accusing both Israel and Hamas of war crimes violations, was immediately attacked by the Israeli government as biased and unfair.
Last week in a political move of the most cynical kind, Representatives Berman (D-CA) and Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), leadership of the U.S. House Foreign Relations Committee, introduced H Res 867, a bill that reads as though it were drafted by AIPAC, which it might well have been. H Res 867 is calling on the President and the Secretary of State to oppose unequivocally any endorsement or further consideration of the "Report of the United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict" in multilateral fora. Call your Members of Congress TODAY at 202-224-3121 and tell them to vote NO on this flawed legislation. If they have already co-sponsored the bill (check here) and tell them to withdraw their support. You can also email your Representative directly here!

Read Judge Goldstone's detailed response here! Use the US Campaign Talking Points/FAQ on the Goldstone Report

Let us know how your call went by clicking here

H Res 867 is politics of the worst kind-it is a crass attempt to suppress not only the truth of what Israelis and Palestinians did in Gaza, but any discussion of the issue at all. Thankfully, Judge Goldstone has sent a detailed response, which exposes the serious factual errors, mischaracterizations and blatant lies contained in the resolution. It is doubtful that the co-sponsors have even read the report or Goldstone's letter, but the bill has been scheduled for a floor vote this Tuesday, in an attempt to avoid any chance of debate or thoughtful decision. Please also fax or email a copy of Judge Goldstone's letter here to Representatives Berman and Ros-Lehtinen to your member of Congress. We cannot assume the letter was shared with other members. Representatives who are on the fence are making up their minds NOW, so your phone call is crucial! In light of this country's commitment to the universality of human rights, the United States should fully endorse and support the recommendations made in the Goldstone report and use its diplomatic weight to ensure that international institutions act upon the recommendations. We provide $3 billion for weapons and military equipment every year to one of the two parties alleged to have used those weapons illegally; we have more responsibility than any other country to ensure that serious investigations are undertaken of ALL alleged crimes, both Israeli and Palestinian.

Let your Representative know that the way forward to peace between Israel and Palestine must be built upon a foundation of fairness and respect for human rights and rule of law. Dana, Emily, Farida, Gael, Gayle, Janet, Jodie, Marina, Medea, Nancy, Paris, Rae, Suzanne, and Whitney
P.S. Week of Action! On November 4th, 2008 the Israeli military broke a four-month cease-fire with Hamas. Low-intensity warfare and an ongoing crippling siege then continued until Israel's Dec. 27-Jan 18 assault on the Gaza Strip. Today, the situation in Gaza has deteriorated even further, with 1.5 million civilians continuing to live amidst rubble, dependent on inadequate UN food deliveries, lacking even hearing aids and school books. Use the strategies and tools provided by the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation to shine light on the issue and end Israel's illegal siege on Gaza!

CODE PINK CANADA~GAZA CROSSING

I just noticed there are two photographs of the Code Pink Delegation from Canada within the photos the "Hope" convoy sent me. They had literaly run into the girls on the Egyptian side of the border when the "hope" convoy arrived at Rafah crossing the first day. It's a nice photo of the bus and delegation, so thought I would post them for those who are following the Canadian delegation or the Code Pink people. Evedently they finally got in the day after our convoy got into Gaza (story below) here are the photos click them to enlarge:





On Tuesday, May 26th, a delegation of 66 U.S., Canadian and Egyptian Peace activists with the women-led peace group 'Code Pink' were allowed to enter the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing on the Gaza-Egypt border. Their entry follows closely the Hope Convoy of humanitarian aid from Europe, which arrived in Gaza early Tuesday morning after having camped out at the Rafah crossing for several days demanding entry. MORE

"Not the Right Kind of Jew"

The Majority of the world views Israel and its supporters as a giant "collective" like the borg. They are viewed and perceived this way because they behave this way. I remember during the recent holocaust in Gaza, watching many Israeli spokesmen/women and various talking head Jews, regular "man on the street" interviews. And to my utter and sheer amazement, it was as if they were all singing from the same "hymn sheet" almost word for word. I noticed this was also taking place across the Internet on messagesboards, blogs and news sites. Why is that? Why is it that they adhere to this collective mentality, like the borg? Resistance is futile, one would think after watching countless news programs and just about any US channel. All for one, and one for all, this is the image Israel wants the world to see, and this is the image the Zionist controlled media feeds the world. But, there is something happening, something Israel cannot control (yet anyway!) and that is the Internet, personal videos, news channels from countries not in Israel’s pocket. Some Jews are beginning to wake up, some Jews are capable of having human emotions, human empathy, capable of placing themselves in someone else's shoes. This is unheard of in the majority of Jews, something they'd never remotely consider; after all, they are right, everyone else is wrong.

So, what happens when Jews no longer buy the Israeli propaganda? What happens when a Jew feels compassion for Palestinians? What happens when they allow their human feelings to override the Zionist line? What happens to them when they dare to speak out? They are no longer welcomed in the "collective" they are from that moment on, considered to be a "self hating Jew" that is the term used. So I found this post from a wonderful "self hating Jew" who dared to feel compassion. Followed by one of the many Pro-Zionist “official” explanations for why these Jews dare to speak out against the “collective”

Who Will Stop the AIPAC Jews Before it is Too Late?
By MEDEA BENJAMIN

While I was being tackled by security guards at Washington's Convention Center during the AIPAC conference for unfurling a banner that asked "What about Gaza?," my heart was aching.

"Shut the f--- up. Shut the f--- up." one staffer yelled, red-faced and sweating as he ran beside me. "This is not the place to be saying that shit. Get the f--- out of here."

What makes my heart ache is thinking about the traumatized children I met on my recent trip to Gaza, and how their suffering is denied by the 6,000 AIPAC conventioneers who are living in a bubble-a bubble where Israel is the victim and all critics are anti-Semitic, terrorist lovers or, as in my case, self-hating Jews.

I found it fascinating that AIPAC's executive director Howard Kohr opened the conference admitting that there was now a huge, international campaign against the policies of Israel. He painted a picture of 30,000 people marching in Spain, Italian trade unionists calling for a boycott of Israeli products, the UN Human Rights Council passing 26 resolutions condemning Israel, an Israeli Apartheid Week that is building a global boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign.

This global movement, he warned, emanates from the Middle East, echoes in the halls of the United Nations and the capitals of Europe, is voiced in meetings of international peace organizations, and is spreading throughout the United States-from the media to town hall meetings, from campuses to city squares. "No longer is this campaign confined to the ravings of the political far left or far right," he lamented, "but increasingly it is entering the American mainstream."

But Kohr failed to explain why there has been such an explosion in this movement, even among the American Jewish community. Read more here

Now clearly, the majority of Jews in the "collective" simply cannot come to terms with one of their own speaking against the “collective” It is like a cult, it is simply “not done”, simply “not allowed” under penalty of defamation, smearing campaign or worse. Now here below begins the "official" Zionist explanation of these so-called "self Hating Jews"or as I like to call them, compassionate free thinking Jews,(NOTE: here comes the Jewish Holy Grail of guilt trips, the Holocaust. Notice how everything MUST revert back to “The Holocaust” it is even used to help explain away Jews who speak against the “collective”)

"How is one to explain these Jews who work to hurt Jews?" I think the primary explanations are psychological it is almost impossible to overstate the pathological effects of thousands of years of murder of Jews — culminating in the Nazi Holocaust, when nearly all Jews on the European continent were murdered — have had on most Jews.

It is not coincidental that Norman Finkelstein's parents went through the Holocaust or that Yisroel Dovid Weiss's grandparents were murdered in the Holocaust. But even Jews who lost no relatives in the Holocaust fear another outbreak of anti-Jewish violence, and given the Nazi-like anti-Semitism in the Muslim world today, that is not exactly paranoia.

One way to deal with this is to side with the enemy. Consciously or not, the Jew who sides with those dedicated to murdering Jews feels that he will be spared. He becomes the "good Jew" in the anti-Semites' eyes.

The other psychological explanation is related. The Jew — specifically the radical Jew — who sympathizes with Jew-haters wishes to announce to the world that he is not really like other Jews. While the other Jews are moored in provincial Jewish ethnic or religious identity, he is a world citizen who no more identifies with the Jews' fate than with the fate of Iroquois Indians. source

So what we have here is the explanation that the Jews who speak against the “collective” are somehow “psychologically damaged goods”, they can’t help themselves because of the “guilt of the holocaust” and “paranoia coupled with fear of it happening again.”

The notion that these Jews who speak out are thinking rationally is never entertained. Nor is the foreign concept that Israel's own actions have created this so called "anti-semitism" and hatred it speaks of today. No, it is never Israel's fault, the holocaust gives Israel the right to be above the law and abandon morality. Because to think otherwise would mean these Jews would then have to examine their own actions and reactions, along with the real reasons for those actions. And to allow that process would begin the slippery slope of change. Change cannot be allowed in Israel, change is very dangerous to the Zionists in control of the State of Israel.

So, the "collective" must always be protected, even against others of their own faith and kind. And that is the core problem with Israel. Because should free thought prevail the Zionist dream of ethnically cleansing Arabs can never take place.

Here are some of my favourite sites written by those who have left the “collective” And unknown to these wonderful people who write these blogs, they have in their own small way helped my heart and soul to have hope for change. God bless them all.

Steve Amsel at Desertpeace

Norman G. Finkelstein

Philip Weiss & Adam Horowitz from mondoweiss

Noam Chomsky

Jeremiah Haber-The Magnes Zionist

The Anti-Zionist Jew

Israel’s Backyard

Breaking the Silence