End the Siege of Gaza: action in your community and news from Congress

Dear Milena,

Last Friday, Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen introduced H.Res.867, calling on the Obama Administration to "oppose unequivocally any endorsement or further consideration" of the Report of the UN Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict, known as the Goldstone Report. Currently, 43 Representatives already have signed on to the resolution as co-sponsors.

If passed, this dangerous resolution would instruct the Obama Administration to continue its attempts to shield Israel from accountability for the war crimes it committed, as documented by the Goldstone Report, before, during, and after its assault on the Gaza Strip in December 2008-January 2009. The resolution also undermines the Obama Administration's rhetorical support for the universality of human rights and its stated commitment to holding human rights violators accountable. In addition, it contains numerous inaccuracies about and misleading characterizations of the Goldstone Report.

We hear that a vote on this resolution may take place as soon as next week. Please take a minute to contact your Representative and ask him/her not to cosponsor or vote for H.Res.867 by clicking here.

Now, with some Members of Congress attempting to shield Israel from accountability for the crimes it committed before, during, and after its most recent assault on the Gaza Strip, it is more important than ever to take action.

Now-December: Take Action with Congress

You can directly rebut Congressional attempts to bury the Goldstone Report in three ways. Take action now by emailing your Representative to tell her/him that the Goldstone Report is fair and worthy of further consideration and that s/he should not cosponsor or vote for H.Res.867. Click here to send this email. Next, join human rights advocates across the country in a Congressional Call-in Day on Tuesday, November 3rd. Call your Member of Congress and tell her/him to support human rights and accountability by supporting the Goldstone Report. You can reach your Members of Congress via the U.S. Capitol switchboard at (202)224-3121; just ask the operator to connect you to your Representative's office. You can find out who your Representative is by clicking here. You can also meet with your Members of Congress in-person to discuss accountability and ending the siege of Gaza between now and December. Please use our Congressional action tools to request a meeting, prepare for the meeting, and share the results with national organizers working to end the siege of the Gaza Strip.

November 5th: Media Action Day

November 4th marks one full year since the Israeli military broke the cease-fire in the Gaza Strip. Use this occasion to get our message about ending the siege of the Gaza Strip into the media. Use our talking points and media resources as inspiration for your actions. Publicize your event using our guidelines for pitching a story to your local media outlets. Respond to stories in local media by using our letter-to-the-editor guide. Make your own media online using blogs and Twitter. Find resources for these suggested actions, and much more by clicking here.

November 2-8: Take Action in Your Community

Host or attend an event to raise awareness in your own community. There are lots of ways to educate your community and share options for action with your friends and family. You can host a film screening with a community organization or in your own home. You might prefer to show public support by planning a vigil or rally to end the siege of Gaza. Another option is to organize a panel or host a speaker to discuss the siege of the Gaza Strip. Click here for a list of experts willing to participate in panels and talks to end the siege of Gaza. Check out our other ideas and resources for hosting your own event by clicking here. If you don't have the capacity to organize your own event, click here to find out about events already planned in your area.

December 27-January 2: Take Action in the Gaza Strip

Join Palestinians and international human rights activists in the Gaza Strip on the anniversary of Israel's 2008/9 assault, dubbed "Operation Cast Lead." Internationals participating in the Gaza Freedom March will meet in Cairo on December 27th and cross into the Gaza Strip together. On December 31st, internationals will join Palestinians in demanding an end to Israel's blockade during a mile-long march for freedom. Click here to get more information about the Gaza Freedom March, including registration, fundraising ideas, and who else is going on the trip.


November 9-15: Week of Action Against Israel's Apartheid Wall

Keep the momentum going by participating in the 7th annual International Week Against the Apartheid Wall. While occupation is manifested differently in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, it is the root of the problem in all of these places. The call for the 7th annual Week of Action Against the Apartheid Wall was issued by a coalition of Palestinian village popular committees affected by the wall. Use this occasion, which coincides with the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, to get Israel's apartheid wall into the media. Please check out our resources for action and education about Israel's apartheid wall by clicking here.