Organize Now to End Military Aid to Israel! Dear Milena,  Above: Click to watch our video from DC's Freedom Plaza! Above: Click to see our interactive map of cities where people are organizing to end military aid to Israel and sign up. What a phenomenal political moment we are now experiencing! Despite growing police repression, protesters are out on the streets in hundreds of cities demanding that our government listen to us -- "the 99 percent" -- and respond to our needs, instead of representing the 1 percent whose corporate greed and militarism are served by our political system. As the Palestinian BDS National Committee put it: "these huge mobilisations provide a much needed reminder of something that Palestinians have always known -- that another world, a dignifying one, is possible and ordinary people can create it." Like the #Occupy movement, we are mobilizing everywhere too, with volunteers like you in more than 850 cities all over the country organizing to end $30 billion in U.S. military aid to Israel and redirect that money to fund unmet community needs! The US Campaign is a proud part of this movement to re-prioritize our government's spending, and our message is resonating loud and clear. The people agree that we should be spending our money to build affordable housing here, not on weapons for Israel to demolish Palestinian homes.Want proof? Watch the reactions that US Campaign staff and interns received in this video from Freedom Plaza in Washington, DC. Now is the time for all of us topush extra hard.  Sign up today for an organizing packet to end military aid to Israel, which includes fact sheets, fliers, postcards and petitions, and the US Campaign will send it to you free of charge. With this packet, you'll have everything you'll need to help change U.S. policy toward Palestine/Israel to supportfreedom, justice, and equality -- beginning with ending $30 billion in military aid to Israel.  Milena, whether you're an experienced organizer or are thinking of jumping in for the first time, join me for a specialconference call this Thursday, October 20, 9PM Eastern, to learn all you need to know to organize people in your community to end military aid to Israel.  We'll walk you through thisonline presentation and show you how to:  Get the facts on how much military aid to Israel your community provides, and what that money could fund instead   Find out about the devastating impact that U.S. weapons have on Palestinians  Pass a city council resolution to end military aid to Israel and redirect the money to community needs So sign up today for an organizing packet, RSVP for our conference call, and let's take advantage of this extraordinary opportunity to educate and organize our communities.Thank you for everything you do. In solidarity, Josh Ruebner National Advocacy Director PS: We don't take money from Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, or any of the other corporations that profit from Israel's oppression of Palestinians.  We're funded by people like you. Your generous tax-deductible contribution enables us to do this work together. Donate today to support our organizing drive to end U.S. military aid to Israel and redirect that money to needs in our communities!

Take these actions, Milena: 1. Sign up for an organizing packet to end military aid to Israel. 2. Sign up for a conference callon Thursday, October 20, to learn more about organizing to end military aid to Israel. 3. Support our organizing drive to end military aid to Israel. Support Palestinian farmers. Shop our store: Follow Us:  Facebook Twitter YouTube Blog Vimeo

Don´t Collaborate with Apartheid - a call from Palestinian civil society on European universities, academics, students and people of conscience

http://www.bdsmovement.net/2011/dont-collaborate-with-apartheid-8202
The State of Israel practises a system of occupation, colonialism and apartheid over the
Palestinian people, but it does not do so unaided. Israeli military companies are the main
enablers of Israel´s persistent and grave violations of international law. They provide the
weaponry and technology that allow Israel to commit atrocities and daily violations of human
rights, and they directly participate in the construction of Israel´s Apartheid Wall, declared
illegal by the International Court of Justice on 9 July 2004.[1] Israeli universities and
research institutes are deeply involved in military research and weapons development
projects that put them at the heart of planning and implementing Israeli war crimes.[2]

Palestinian academics, students and civil society organisations therefore deplore the
extensive research collaboration that takes place between European universities and Israeli
military companies, universities and research institutes that are complicit with Israeli
violations of international law and human rights. We call for an immediate end to all research
collaboration with Israeli military companies and all Israeli research institutions that are
involved in violating international law and human rights.

The research collaboration that is facilitated by the EU-Israel Association Agreement is of
particular concern. The Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) is a multi-billion euro
European Union research funding scheme that provides funds for universities and
companies from different countries to work together on specific research projects.  As a
result of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, and despite Israel´s consistent violation of the
Agreement´s human rights clause,  Israeli military companies and research institutions are
granted access to FP7 on an equal footing as those from EU member states.[3]

Israeli military companies such as Elbit Systems and Israeli Aerospace Industries, both of
which contribute to the ongoing construction of Israel´s illegal Apartheid Wall and both of
which supplied drones that were deployed by Israel to kill civilians during Operation Cast
Lead, receive public funding from the EU and collaborate with European universities through
their participation in FP7 projects.[4] Deeply complicit Israeli academic institutions such as
Technion, notorious for its role in developing weapons used in Israeli massacres of
Palestinian and Lebanese civilians, participate in `security´ projects that could clearly assist
them in the development of technologies and knowledge used to oppress Palestinian
rights.[5]

Even Ahava, the Israeli cosmetics company that has been subjected to a highly effective
international boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) campaign focused on its location in
and partial ownership by the illegal Israeli settlement of Mitzpe Shalem, participates in FP7
projects, granting it access to public funds and partnering it with universities in the UK, Italy,
the Basque and beyond.[6] Such involvement of so deeply complicit companies and
universities clearly violates the European Union´s own guidelines for participation in FP7
projects.

European universities and research institutions that conduct joint research with Israeli
military companies or other organisations that assist the suppression of Palestinian rights
provide the material and political support that enable and embolden Israel to continue
infringing upon international law with impunity. Not only does such joint research provide a
false veneer of normalcy to institutions at the heart of Israel´s colonial system, but it is also
likely to directly build on and further support the development of technology and techniques
used to violently suppress Palestinian human rights. Far from existing in an "apolitical"
bubble, joint research of this kind directly contributes to the injustices and violations of
international law and basic rights faced by Palestinians. It makes these European
universities and research centers directly complicit in violating international law and human
rights.

The nature of Israeli participation in FP7 projects provides further proof of the need for the
EU to cancel the EU-Israel Association Agreement and impose a comprehensive military
embargo on Israel and for European universities and research institutions to:

1. Immediately end all research collaboration with Israeli military companies and all Israeli
research institutions that are involved in violating international law and human rights

2. Develop policies and mechanisms to ensure no further such collaboration can take place
and ensure their effective implementation

We call on academics and students and their union organisations, human rights and
solidarity organisations and people of conscience across Europe to:

1. Work with the Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC), the largest Palestinian civil
society coalition, to identify and expose research collaboration between European
universities and Israeli military companies and all Israeli research institutions that develop
expertise and technology used to suppress Palestinian rights or are otherwise complicit with
Israeli violations of international law, particularly where this collaboration taking place within
the FP7 scheme[7]

2. Develop long-term, effective mass campaigns capable of successfully pressuring
European universities and research institutions to end their complicity with Israeli Apartheid
and implement policies to prevent further such collaboration

Signed by:

Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC)*
Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI)
Palestinian Federation of Unions of University Professors and Employees (PFUUPE)
Palestinian Grassroots Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign - Stop the Wall (STW)
Palestinian Students´ Campaign for the Academic Boycott of Israel (PSCABI)

*The BNC is a wide coalition of the largest mass civil society organizations, unions, networks
and political parties.

To learn more about this campaign and for assistance with investigating
the collaboration with complicit Israeli organisations taking place at your university, please
contact info@bdsmovement.net

[1]http://www.bdsmovement.net/2011/military-embargo-working-paper-7517
[2] http://www.bdsmovement.net/2009/academic-boycott-aic-5181
[3]According to research published in November 2010, no non-EU country has received
more funding per capita than Israel and Israel is especially overrepresented in the security
theme of the research program.
http://www.statewatch.org/news/2010/nov/russell-tribunal-on-palestine-ben-hayes.pdf
[4] www.bdsmovement.net/2011/stw-european-funding-7939
[5] www.bdsmovement.net/2011/stw-european-funding-7939
http://www.bdsmovement.net/2011/mcgill-concordia-technion-7102
[6] For details about Ahava and the campaign against it see http://www.stolenbeauty.org For
information about the FP7 projects in which Ahava is involved see
http://cordis.europa.eu/fetch?CALLER=FP7_PROJ_EN&QZ_WEBSRCH=ahava&QM_PJA= &USR_SORT=EN_QVD+CHAR+DESC
[7] The European Union maintains a database of all FP7 projects at
http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/projects_en.html

Media Interns needed in Palestine

Media Interns Needed in Palestine
--Reporting the voice of Palestinian struggle from the root

Download for more information: ISM Call for Media Activists

About ISM: The International Solidarity Movement (ISM) is a Palestinian-led movement committed to resisting the Israeli occupation in Palestine by using nonviolent, direct-action methods and principles. Founded by a small group of primarily Palestinian and Israeli activists in August 2001, ISM aims to support and strengthen the Palestinian popular resistance by providing the Palestinian people with two resources, international solidarity and an international voice.
For detailed information on ISM please visit www.palsolidarity.org
Interning / volunteering with ISM: You will be based in the West Bank, experienced and interested activists may be placed in Gaza. Apart from gaining reporting and photography experience, you will also be networking with existing media outlets and develop skills during media meetings on reporting the occupation of Palestine. ISM is seeking a minimum 3 month commitment, and will provide accommodation during your stay.
ISM is a non-hierarchical solidarity movement. Consequently, you will not be treated as a classical intern but rather as a fellow voluntary member of the activist group.
Fields of work:

• Learn to humanize the voice of the struggle by reporting on events ranging from anti-occupation demonstrations to house raising demolitions.
• Establish contacts with local Palestinian and international media
• Help refining the ISM media strategy by developing and incorporating own ideas on information spreading techniques

Application documents: Please send in any relevant information about yourself and experience or background you may have in reporting and journalism. Express why you are applying for this voluntary internship and what you hope to gain from it. Send an example of your written work and an optional photo sample of your work.
Applications are accepted year round and should be sent to: palreports@gmail.com
                 The voice is the movement. Let it be heard.
                                          We wish you the best of luck and hope to see you reporting in Palestine.

-- 
PLEASE FORWARD THIS UPDATE WIDELY

DONATE @ http://palsolidarity.org/donate

WEBSITE: http://palsolidarity.org
YOUTUBE: http://youtube.com/user/ISMPalestine
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/ismpalestine
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/pages/International-Solidarity-Movement/56674479144

Barbara Lubin, Middle East Children's Alliance

Dear Friend,

As part of MECA's ongoing effort to share the voices of Palestinian children, I want to introduce you to Ali Al-Baba, a twelve-year-old from Deir El-Balah, Gaza. Ali drew a picture in response to the Museum of Children’s Art (MOCHA’s) cancellation of “A Child’s View from Gaza” art exhibit last month.

Please help us continue to get these voices out by sharing them online, or coming by our gallery in Oakland.



Thanks to you and thousands more who stood up for children like Ali, we have been able to make sure that these children's voices are heard.

Please take a few minutes to see Ali’s drawing and read about his life and hopes for the future. Then share his and the other children’s art with your friends and family.

Each week, for the next six weeks, we will be posting new drawings by and profiles of the artists. Visit our online gallery and Facebook page.

Many thanks,
Barbara Lubin
Executive Director
Middle East Children's Alliance

P.S. Each time you share this art with someone you know, you are telling the children of Gaza that there are people everywhere who care about their lives, their art and their future.
 

Occupy Wall Street not Palestine! We are part of the 99%!

http://www.bdsmovement.net/2011/occupy-wall-street-not-palestine-8163

Occupy Wall Street not Palestine!We are part of the world’s 99% yearning for freedom, justice and equal rights!

 If a people one day wills to live                     fate must answer its callAnd the night must fade                               and the chain must break– Abou-Al-kacem El-Chebbi (Tunisia)

Occupied Palestine, October 13 -The Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions National Committee (BNC), the largest Palestinian civil society coalition struggling for Palestinian rights, is proud to stand in solidarity with the movements struggling for a new world based on democracy, human rights and economic justice. From New York to Athens, from Madrid to Santiago, from Bahrain to Rome, these huge mobilisations provide a much needed reminder of something that Palestinians have always known – that another world, a dignifying one, is possible and ordinary people can create it.

Our aspirations overlap; our struggles converge. Our oppressors, whether greedy corporations or military occupations, are united in profiting from wars, pillage, environmental destruction, repression and impoverishment. We must unite in our common quest for freedoms, equal rights, social and economic justice, environmental sanity, and world peace. We can no longer afford to be splintered and divided; we can no longer ignore our obligations to join hands in the struggle against wars and corporate exploitation and for a human-friendly world community not a profit-maximizing jungle.

The Occupy Wall Street movement and its counterparts across the US, Europe, Latin America and elsewhere are — at least partially — inspired by the Arab Spring for democracy and social justice. Leaders of the Arab popular revolts tell us that they, in turn, were largely inspired by our own, decades-old struggle against Israel’s occupation of our land, its system of discrimination that matches the UN’s definition of apartheid, and its denial of the right of Palestinian refugees to return home.

The rapidly emerging movement for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel until it complies with international law is a key and effective part of the Palestinian struggle. Anchored in universal principles of human rights and struggling for freedom, justice and equality, the BDS movement, established in 2005, is deeply rooted in decades of Palestinian peaceful resistance to colonial oppression and is inspired by the South African struggle against apartheid as well as the civil rights movement in the US. It is adopted by a near consensus among Palestinians everywhere, with all the main political parties, trade unions, professional syndicates, women’s unions, student groups, NGO networks and refugee advocacy networks represented in the BNC, the reference for this growing movement to end Israeli impunity.

The Palestinian-led BDS movement is a global effort of groups, from South Africa to Britain, from Canada to India, and within Israel itself, all committed to ending Israel’s denial of basic Palestinian rights. It is endorsed by towering moral leaders of the calibre of Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Holocaust survivor and co-author of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Stephane Hessel. It is supported by world renowned cultural and intellectual figures such as Alice Walker, Naomi Klein, Roger Waters, Judith Butler, Sarah Schulman, John Berger, Ken Loach, John Greyson, and Adrienne Rich.  Massive trade union federations such as COSATU (South Africa), CUT (Brazil), TUC (UK), ICTU (Ireland), among many others, have also adopted BDS.

The movement has scored in the last two years some spectacular achievements when internationally renowned artists and music groups heeded the cultural boycott of Israel and refused to perform there or cancelled scheduled appearances. These have included the Pixies, Elvis Costello, Snoop Dogg, Meg Ryan, Vanessa Paradis, Gil Scott-Heron, among many others. The Norwegian state pension fund, among others, major European banks and some corporations have all been convinced to divest from businesses implicated in Israel’s violations of international law. Increasingly, BDS is recognized as a civic movement capable of ending Israeli impunity and, crucially, contributing to the global struggle against the war-mongering, racist agenda which Israel has persistently played a key role in.

So as you break your own chains and build your own effective resistance against corporate tyranny, we ask you to demand a just peace for all the peoples in the Middle East, based on international law and equal human rights. Palestinians, too, are part of the 99% around the world that suffer at the hands of the 1% whose greed and ruthless quest for hegemony have led to unspeakable suffering and endless war. Corporate power has not just profited from our suffering but has colluded in maintaining Israel’s occupation and apartheid to perpetuate an unjust order that profits oil and military companies and multinational financial institutions.

We call upon all the spreading social movements of the world to think critically when considering their attitude towards the Israeli ‘social justice’ protests, which have almost completely ignored the key issue at the heart of all of the problems faced by ordinary Palestinians and even Israelis: Israel’s costly system of occupation, colonialism and apartheid over the Palestinian people. Without putting an end to that multi-tiered Israeli system of oppression, our entire region will never enjoy a comprehensive and lasting peace, one that is based on justice and human rights.

Money for jobs, health and education, not for racist oppression and occupation!
Nowhere is this more important than in the United States. Despite Israel’s persistent denial of Palestinian rights, the US has provided Israel with unconditional political and military assistance that directly contributes to the denial of Palestinian rights, but also to the problems faced by ordinary US citizens. Could the $24bn of military aid provided to Israel in the period 2000-2009 not been better spent on schools, healthcare and other essential services? Did Israel not play a major role in prodding the US to launch and continue its wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, at immense human and material cost, mainly borne by the poorest in those countries?

But, we must remind ourselves all the time that this struggle will never be easy, and reaching our objectives never inevitable. As Martin Luther King once said:

Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom. A man can’t ride you unless your back is bent.

 The refreshing scenes of determined peaceful protest for justice from around the world tell us that we, the 99% of the world, are in the process of straightening our backs, collectively, with unwavering fortitude and boundless hope.

-          BNC Secretariat

САЩ блокираха икономическа помощ от 200 млн. долара за Палестина

02.10.2011 / 11:31

Американски законодатели блокираха отпускането от Съединените щати на икономическа помощ за палестинската автономна власт в размер на 200 милиона долара, предаде ИТАР-ТАСС. Според агенцията много представители и на двете основни партии в САЩ - демократите и републиканците, са останали недоволни от факта, че палестинският президент Махмуд Абас внесе молба за приемане на държавата Палестина за пълноправен член на ООН.200-те милиона долара са предвидени за развиване на водоснабдителната мрежа и прокарване на нови пътища в палестинските територии, както и за повишаване на квалификацията на палестинските учители.


източник

ЕВРОПЕЙСКИЯТ ПАРЛАМЕНТ ПОДКРЕПИ НЕЗАВИСИМОСТТА НА ПАЛЕСТИНА

30 септември 2011, 12:01

Брюксел, Белгия

  

Заседание на Европейския парламент

Европейският парламент признал легитимността на заявката на Палестинската национална администрация (ПНА) за признаване на независимостта на палестинската държава. Съобщението е поместено на сайта на законодателното събрание на Евросъюза.

The Jerusalem Post съобщи, че решението било прието единодушно.

Решението било прието на заседанието на Европарламент на 29 септември. При това в резолюцията изрично се отбелязва, че създаването на палестинска държава е възможно само по пътя на преговорите с Израел. Депутатите призовали решението да бъде намерено в течение на една година.

Отбелязвайки правото на Израел за сигурност в рамките на собствените граници, документът на Европарламента признава на ПНА правото да създаде собствена държава в границите от 1967 година. Йерусалим трябва да стане столица и на двете държави. Едностранната промяна на тези граници ще бъде считана за недействително.

Молбата за признаване на независимостта на ПНА беше подадена до генералния секретар на ООН Бан Ки Мун от ръководителят на автономията Махмуд Абас на 23 септември. На 28 септември Съветът за сигурност взе решение да предаде заявлението за разглеждане от специален комитет.

Против заявката на палестинците е Вашингтон, според когото решението за независимостта трябва да бъде взето на основата на двустранни преговори между Израел и Палестина.

Палестинците разчитат при не получаване на положителна резолюция да се обърнат към Генералната асамблея на ООН, обаче в този случай те могат да получат само статут на страна-наблюдател, без да има право на глас. /БЛИЦ

An Inspiring 10th Annual Conference!

Dear Milena,

How to multiply your billboards and birddog your Representative tochallenge U.S. military aid to Israel, and how to organize your campus or community to boycott businesses that violate Palestinian human rights, and get TIAA-CREF to divest from such businesses were a few topics among many discussed and debated by more than 160 delegates from 30 states and 63 member groups at the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation’s 10th Annual National Organizers' Conference held in the historic Thurgood Marshall Center in Washington, DC on Sept 16 - 19.
Our coalition was joined by hundreds more guests for the Friday night panel on "What the Arab Spring and Palestinian Statehood Mean for Our Work"with Omar Barghouti, Helena Cobban, Rami Khouri, andNadia Hijab - watch the video here -  and for the spectacular Saturday night benefit concert with Simon Shaheen.

The maturity of our coalition and the lessons we've all been learning from experience shone through the two Saturday panels showcasing the initiatives and successes of member groups in advancing boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) campaigns and challenging U.S. diplomatic and military support for Israeli occupation and human rights abuses of Palestinians. Watch these two panels here. Panelists then strategized with delegates in small groups to advances these campaigns.

The conference also included member group report-backs, more than a dozen member group-led skills-building workshops, and voting on member group-led initiatives for US Campaign endorsement.

Delegates elected four members to the Steering Committee--Sydney Levy (Jewish Voice for Peace), Mike Merryman-Lotze (American Friends Service Committee), Peter Miller (Americans United for Palestinian Human Rights), and Kristin Szremski (American Muslim for Palestine), in alphabetical order.

Read more in our conference report, and be sure to check out ourphoto album.

It's hard to believe that we are now entering the 10th year of our coalition's existence.  What began as just a few groups has mushroomed into a fully-fledged national coalition of nearly 400 organizations today!
We've certainly learned some important lessons about how to organize effectively and the way forward to achieve our goal of ending U.S. support for Israeli occupation and apartheid and changing U.S. policy toward Palestine/Israel to support freedom, justice, and equality.  
Read this inspiring document--"Looking Back, Moving Forward--Lessons Learned from 10 Years of Work"-- and let us know what you think about it by replying to this email.

As we begin our 10th year of work, our coalition is more focused, more effective, and more energized than ever.  We are confident and optimistic that we have helped unleash a process of social change whose ultimate victory is only a matter of time.

In appreciation of everything that you do,

US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation

PS: To mark our tenth year of work, we ask you to dig deeply anddonate generously to support our coalition's efforts.  Your donation and your commitment are essential to helping us achieve our shared goal.

Matt Damon is coming to your house...

September 30, 2011
Dear Milena,
From the beginning, CODEPINK has highlighted thehorrific cost of war on women and reminded leaders that women are essential to peace talks and post-conflict resolution world wide. We are thrilled that PBS is launching a groundbreaking five part series, Women, War & Peace, the most comprehensive global media initiative ever mounted on the roles of women in war and peace. Airing on Tuesdays, beginning October 11,Women, War & Peace features narrators Matt Damon, Tilda Swinton, Geena Davis and Alfre Woodard,and offers an excellent opportunity for us to engage our larger community in our work to Create, Not Hate.
Can you host or attend a viewing party for this important and powerful series? This kind of programming becomes even more meaningful when you can watch and discuss it with other people. 
CODEPINK is continuing our own global dialogues on Women, War & Peace as the ignominious tenth anniversary of the Afghan War approaches. We discussed the havoc wreaked on Iraq with Dr. Rashad Zaydan, our friend from Iraqi Knowledge for Women Society. We're discussing the situation in Afghanistan with Afghan Women's Mission and international human rights lawyer Tzili Mor. And we remain in the streets - in Liberty Plaza near Wall Street, in Los Angeles outside Obama fundraisers, in San Francisco as part of the Moving Planet rallyand across the country.
Come join us in Washington DC as we occupy Freedom Plaza starting October 6. And don't forget totell Obama to Make Jobs, Not War, from the comfort of your own home.
Onward towards peace with justice,
Alli, C.J., Farida, Gayle, Heather, Janet, Jodie, Kristen, Lisa, Nancy, Medea, Melanie, Rae, Rosie, Sanaa, and Tighe
p.s. Your $5.00 donation will help make our visual presence around the country more potent on October 6th and beyond as we say "Make Jobs, Not War."