Occupation End Notes, March 1st, 2007
Volume 4 Number 11
In this issue...
1. US Campaign Update: Get Involved with the US Campaign’s June 10th Mobilization; US Campaign Launches Anti-Apartheid Framework
2. Resources & Education: IMEU’s featured Palestinian-American Author; The Palestinian Summer Celebration; Palestine Freedom Project looking for interns;
3. Opportunities to Visit Israel and Palestine: Interfaith Peace-Builders Delegations; 2007 CAP Tour; Global Exchange Delegations; ICAHD-USA Delegations; Join Middle East Fellowship for Palestine Summer Encounter; Zajel International Volunteer Work camp; MECA Delegations in August 2007; Volunteer in Tel Rumeida
1. US CAMPAIGN UPDATE
* June 10th -11th, 2007: The World Says NO to Israeli Occupation!
Mobilization in Washington, DC
On June 10-11, 2007, the US Campaign and United for Peace and Justice are sponsoring a two-day mobilization in Washington, DC to protest the 40th anniversary of Israel's illegal military occupation of the Palestinian West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza Strip. Under the banner, "The World Says No to Israeli Occupation", the US Campaign and UFPJ will hold a massive rally, teach-in, and grassroots lobbying day. Get involved today! Click here to see what you can do!
* US Campaign Launches Anti-Apartheid Framework
The US Campaign is excited to announce the launch of its Anti-Apartheid Framework (AAF). The AAF was developed in response to a resolution passed by the US Campaign's General Body at its Fifth Annual National Organizers' Conference in Dearborn, MI in September 2006.
The AAF is meant to be an educational resource and not a campaign. This means that we hope you use these materials to frame the conflict in Israel and Palestine as you move forward with your existing campaigns. You can read more about the AAF by clicking here.
The AAF includes a number of resources that you can find by clicking here.
These resources include a public service announcement, posters, fact sheets, and DVDs. Together these resources constitute an "AAF Organizing Packet."
As part of the AAF, the US Campaign has designed a striking set of six posters with the theme "Apartheid: Wrong for South Africans, Wrong for Palestinians". These glossy, union-made posters are suitable to frame and/or use for organizing purposes.
The US Campaign would like to send you a set of these posters for a tax-deductible donation that you make to support our work. Click here to get your set of posters for:
1 Set of Posters (6) for $25 incl S&H.
2 Sets of Posters (12) for $35 incl S&H.
3 Sets of Posters (18) for $45 incl S&H
Contact the US Campaign for quotes on bulk orders greater than 3 sets of
posters at 202-332-0994 or
Learn how to use the Organizing Packet by clicking here.
The resolution also included a call to establish a Boycott, Divestment Research Committee empowered to research and recommend a consumer product boycott target. Learn more about this effort by clicking here.
The US Campaign looks forward to working with you to end Israeli apartheid policies!
* Make a Donation for the Mobilization and Get Apartheid Posters
For a limited time, everyone who donates $25 or more will receive a free set of six anti-apartheid posters. These glossy 18X24 inch posters are union-made and suitable to frame. Click here to view the poster set.
Please make your generous tax-deductible donation today!
Help Us Organize
If you can help us mobilize and organize for this rally by distributing postcards and collecting petition signatures, please click here and we'll send you an organizing packet.
You can also download organizing resources from our website by clicking here.
Sign the Petition
The US Campaign is collecting petition signatures to deliver to Congress for the grassroots lobbying day. Click here to sign the petition and make your voice heard!
In the News
To read articles and watch videos about the planned protest, click here.
Don't forget to make your tax-deductible donation today for this mobilization and receive a free set of anti-apartheid posters!
2. RESOURCES & EDUCATION
* IMEU’s featured Palestinian-American author: Ibtisam Barakat
February 28, 2007
Institute for Middle East Understanding are pleased to share the following profile of Palestinian-American author Ibtisam Barakat that appears as the IMEU website's top story today. In addition to strong political commentary, the IMEU focuses on Palestinian life and culture with features on Palestinian Americans, like Barakat, who are accomplished in the arts, literature, business, academia and other fields.
Born in Beit Hanina, near Jerusalem, Ibtisam Barakat's life was turned upside down at age three, when Israel occupied the West Bank and East Jerusalem following the 1967 war. "I will never know what my life would have been like without having grown up under Israeli occupation," says writer, poet and educator Barakat. "This influenced me in every way. And it made me sensitive to all the issues of injustice that exist in the world."
Click here to read more.
* June 20th – August 18th, 2007: The Palestinian summer celebration 2007
Come and celebrate Palestine, learn Arabic, study history, know the people and their culture, share some time with local families and volunteer with a local community organization
The Palestinian summer celebration is a unique annual program that gives people from all over the world the chance to encounter the life and culture in Palestine in addition to donating some of their time to a local community organization through voluntary work and internships. The Palestinian summer celebration 2007 will take place in the Bethlehem area in Palestine, between Wednesday June 20thand August 18th 2007. The annual celebration is organized by Siraj Center for Holy Land Studies www.sirajcenter.org in partnership with Bethlehem University www.bethlehem.edu and the US based Society for Biblical Studies, www.sbsedu.org.
Participants will also have the opportunity to listen and question high level speakers of various positions and expertise.
* The Palestine Freedom Project is seeking interns, for academic credit or stipend, for Spring 2007. Interns will join existing volunteers in conducting critical research, developing resources, and expanding PFP's international activist network. These positions offer significant opportunities for personal and professional development as interns gain hands-on grassroots organizing experience. For more information on internships with PFP, visit www.pfproject.org/intern.html.
3. OPPORTUNITIES TO VISIT ISRAEL AND PALESTINE
* Spring – Fall 2007 Schedule: March 17th -31st; May 26th-June 9th; July 28th-August 11th; November 3rd-17th: Interfaith Peace-Builders Delegations to Israel/Palestine
Interfaith Peace-Builders (IFPB) sends delegations to Israel and Palestine so that US citizens can see the conflict with their own eyes. Participants have the opportunity to learn directly from Israeli and Palestinian nonviolent peace/human-rights activists, to spend time in Palestinian and Israeli homes, and to experience the situation of Palestinians living under military occupation. For more information, contact the IFPB office directly by phone (202-244-0821) or email ( )
* April 1st – April 10th, 2007: 2007 Congressional Accompaniment Project
You can be a part of a group of peacemakers who will leave for an 10 day trip to Israel-Palestine, accompanying several U.S. Congressional Senior Staff Aides on a mission of peacemaking and fact-finding.
It is an unparalleled chance to accomplish two important goals: 1. expand and deepening your own knowledge of the Holy Land and the Israeli/Palestinian conflict through direct experience, and 2. influence the political climate of Washington toward a more positive attitude and fair policies that will help enable a just peace in the region for both the state of Israel and the people of Palestine.
However, the time is growing short to sign on as an “Accompanier” for this 2007 Congressional Accompaniment Tour. We must hear from you by Feb. 20th to reserve a place.
For more information or to apply as an “Accompanier” for the 2007 CAP tour to Israel/Palestine, contact us immediately. http://www.middleeastawareness.org
Darrell & Sue Yeaney, Coordinators
2007 CAP Tour
Peacemaking Task Force
Presbytery of East Iowa
319 354-7877
* Spring – Fall 2007 Schedule: April 21st – May 1st, August 12th – 22nd, December 2nd – 12th: Global Exchange’s Delegations to Palestine & Israel
Global Exchange’s delegations to Palestine & Israel provide first-hand exposure to the daily struggles and realities of Palestinians living under Occupation. The delegations strive to further the US public's understanding of the conflict by listening to the aspirations and frustrations of Palestinians, by examining the dimensions of the human rights crisis under Israeli rule, as well as learning from Palestinians and Israelis who are working for a just peace and an end to the Occupation.
For more information you can contact Global Exchange (800-497-1994 x. 251) or email .
April 21 – May 1, 2007 <http://www.globalexchange.org/tours/802.html>
August 12 – 22, 2007 <http://www.globalexchange.org/tours/803.html>
December 2 – 12, 2007
* April 2007: ICAHD-USA Delegations to Israel/Palestine:
Spaces still available for the Experience Travel Tours' 10-day study tour this spring (April 2007) to Palestine/Israel designed to educate people about the conflict, introduce key figures from both the Palestinian and Israeli peace communities and empower participants to be effective advocates for a just peace upon their return home. Some highlights of the trip, now in its seventh year, include visits to the Galilee, the Negev, several cities in the West Bank, the Dheisheh Refugee Camp, the Israeli Knesset and an Israeli settlement as well as meetings with Palestinian and Israeli peace activists, political figures and religious leaders, Palestinians whose homes have been demolished, Bedouin communities under siege and international activist groups in the field. Email: for more information.
* May 24th – August 16th, 2007: Join Middle East Fellowship for Palestine Summer Encounter 2007
Middle East fellowship, in partnership with Holy Land Trust invites you to participate in the fourth annual Palestine Summer Encounter, a two month Arabic-training and volunteer program, starting on May 24th, 2007.
The purpose of the program is to create a dialogue between Palestinians and members of the global community. During the program, participants will learn beginner or intermediate conversational Arabic through language immersion and class and partner with Palestinian non-profit organizations as a volunteer. Click here for more detailed information.
* June 2nd – 20th, 2007: Zajel International Voluntary Work Camp
An-Najah National University is pleased to invite youth and adults up to 35, to take part in the “Step in the right direction” summer work camp. This project has been designed to provide international students and professionals the opportunity to meet and discuss the Middle East conflict, share ideas, enhance practical skills, foster relationships, and give assistance to members of the Palestinian community.
The international summer work camp, “Step in the right direction”, will bring together 25 young people from around the world who are interested in helping create a better world. We are specifically targeting people who are working with organizations led by young people that address humanitarian issues and social justice. We strongly encourage highly motivated and serious young men and women to apply.
For more information, please click here (http://youth.zajel.org/summer_camps/camp2007/announcing.htm)
* MECA Delegation August 2007: Come with MECA to Palestine/Israel!
For seventeen years, MECA has taken small groups to the West Bank, Gaza and Israel. MECA staff and local guides introduce you to activists, journalists, aid workers, teachers, social workers and others living under occupation. We’ll stay with our “Ibdaa family” in Dheisheh refugee camp, and visit other MECA partners and friends throughout Palestine/ Israel.
For information, please contact:
Deborah Agre or Josie Shields-Stromsness ,
510-548-0542
* Volunteer in Tel Rumeida!
Tel Rumeida Project is an organization solely for work purposes (i.e. it is not an organization for its own sake.) Therefore, volunteers are expected to be able to function well with instruction and independently. Volunteers will be working in the neighborhood of Tel Rumeida, Hebron, keeping a presence on the streets to prevent against settler attacks and soldier/police harassment of the Palestinian residents who live in the neighborhood. For more information, please see http://www.telrumeidaproject.org/Volunteer.html
*****
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 at .
The US Campaign aims to change U.S. policies that sustain Israel's 39-year occupation of the Palestinian West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem, and that deny equal rights for all.
US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation PO Box 21539 Washington, DC 20009 202-332-0994 http://www.endtheoccupation.org
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