Urge the U.S. Government to Investigate Israel’s Attacks on Rachel and Others

Dear Milena,

Rachel Corrie

Rachel Corrie was a U.S. citizen and a human rights defender committed to ending Israel’s illegal demolition of Palestinian homes. According to the Israeli Committee against House Demolitions, Israel has demolished an estimated 27,000 Palestinian structures in Occupied Palestinian Territory since 1967. 

Rachel was killed by the Israeli military with a U.S.-taxpayer fundedCaterpillar D9 bulldozer on March 16, 2003, in Rafah, in the Gaza Strip, while seeking to protect the home of a Palestinian family from demolition.

In August 2012, a civil case in Israeli court against the Israeli military filed by the Corrie family concluded with the presiding judge not only absolving the State of Israel of any liability, but also blaming Rachel for her own death.  This is unacceptable. 

Take action today by signing this petition launched by us and our friends at the Center for Constitutional Rights urging the U.S. government to conduct investigations into all cases of Israel severely injuring or killing U.S. human rights defenders.

The U.S. government has long maintained that the Israeli military’s investigation into Rachel’s death was not thorough, credible, and transparent. The Israeli court’s verdict has only reinforced the fact that Israel is incapable of investigating and holding itself accountable for killing Rachel and severely injuring and killing other U.S. human rights defenders. 

Click to watch a video of a member group action for Rachel

Recently, member groups around the country took actionduring the Rachel CorrieWeek of Actionsurrounding the verdict, focused on building theWe Divest Campaign, which calls on financial giant TIAA-CREF to divest from companies involved in the Israeli occupation, including Caterpillar. 

On Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, activists from member groupHilton Head for Peace held a vigil to honor Rachel’s life and work for justice.

Member groups around the country took action for Rachel.

In Oak Creek, Wisconsin, member group Friends of Palestine demonstrated and performed street theatre at Caterpillar’s Mining Operations Headquarter.

Other activists and member groups in Honolulu, HI; Boca Raton, FL; Houston, TX; Phoenix, AZ; Philadelphia, PA; St. Louis, MO; Eureka, Palo Alto, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, CA; and Chicago, IL held other actions around the country outside of Caterpillar dealerships, an Israeli Consulate, TIAA-CREF offices. US Campaign members joined others in Washington, D.C. in a demonstration outside the State Department. You can see photos of many of the actions here.

People worldwide sent photos to Rachel's Tumblr blog.

Other U.S. activists focused on social media. On the day of the verdict and the day after, #RachelCorrie and #divest4justice trendedamong the top ten most popular hashtags. And more than one hundredindividuals worldwide posted photos in solidarity with Rachel and her family on this Tumblr blog. 

Whether or not you were able to take action during the Week of Action, please take action today by signing this petition calling for a U.S. investigation now.

Click here for a terrific round-up of the international Week of Action by Rochelle Gause of the Rachel Corrie Foundation, which ends with these poignant words:

“I don't think that Rachel should have moved. I think we should all have been standing there with her,” said Cindy Corrie in response to Judge Gershon's comment that Rachel should have moved out of the way of the Caterpillar bulldozer.  Rachel wrote from Gaza, “The international media and our government are not going to tell us that we are effective, important, justified in our work, courageous, intelligent, valuable. We have to do that for each other, and one way we can do that is by continuing our work, visibly.” May we continue to take Rachel’s words to heart, find ways to successfully mobilize ourselves, strengthen our networks, utilize new forms of communicating to affirm the just cause of the Palestinian people and stand with the movement for universal human rights in Palestine and Israel.

Please honor Rachel’s life and legacy by signing this petition today. 

Together we’ll deliver the petition to the State Department next month. Help us reach our goal of 10,000 signatures by signing right now and spreading the word!

In Rachel’s memory, 

     

Josh Ruebner and Anna BaltzerNational Advocacy Director and National Organizer

Take Action: Demand Freedom for Palestinians Arrested by the PA!

On Tuesday, September 18, 2012, as Palestinian hunger strikers Samer al-Barq, Hassan Safadi and Ayman Sharawna struggle for their lives within Israeli prisons, the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank launched a campaign of arrests throughout the area, rounding up 60 political activists, including youth organizers, journalists, writers and former political prisoners. The arrest total has now risen to 114 and none of the detainees have been released. Act today to demand immediate freedom for the arrestees!

Among the detainees are at least 35 freed prisoners, including some freed in recent weeks from Israeli jails. Fuad al-Khuffash, director of the Ahrar Centre in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners – and who has now declared an open hunger strike –  was one of the arrestees, as was journalist Walid Khaled, released from occupation prisons only 2 weeks prior. Among the detainees, rounded up by the Palestinian Authority’s General Intelligence and Preventive Security, are participants in the recent hunger strikes in occupation prisons and a number of recently freed prisoners. Adel Shawamra, one of today’s detainees from Bethlehem, was recently released after 13 years in Israeli prisons.

The PA’s role here is nothing new. As part of the Oslo Accords and its subsequent security corollaries, the Palestinian Authority and its Preventive Security/General Intelligence have acted as security subcontractors for the Israeli occupation, trained by US military officials (such as Gen. Keith Dayton) to round up Palestinian resistance fighters and political dissidents.

It is not coincidental that these arrests come shortly after mass protests in response to economic inequality swept the West Bank, soon focusing on the Oslo Accords and their economic corollary, the Paris Agreements. The existence of Palestinian Authority security forces engaging in “security coordination” with the Israeli occupation, effectively undermining the Palestinian resistance, links directly back to the Oslo Accords.

Amid Hassan Safadi’s hunger strike, his brother Saleh was arrested by the PA; Palestinian prisoners including Ahmad Sa’adat, Ahed Abu Ghoulmeh, Ahmed Qatamesh and many others have spent time in PA prisons as well as Israeli prisons. This practice has been part and parcel of “security cooperation” with the Israeli occupation from the earliest days of the Palestinian Authority.

As we mark the nineteenth anniversary of the Oslo Accords with a series of PA arrests, we also note that there remain 111 prisoners who have been imprisoned since before the Oslo accords – these prisoners remain inside the occupation’s jails to the present day. Prisoners throughout the Israeli prisons engaged in a one-day hunger strike on Thursday, September 13 – the anniversary of Oslo – and again on Tuesday, September 18 – demanding the freedom of these long-time prisoners. Just as Oslo did not bring freedom, justice or liberation to Palestine, nor did it for its prisoners, a group of Palestinians who despite their centrality to the Palestinian national movement – were ignored and excluded from the Oslo “peace process.” Oslo’s latest victims – the political detainees in the West Bank – are demanding freedom. Act today to support their freedom and united Palestinian struggle against Israeli apartheid, occupation, and settler colonialism.

Take action!

1. Email the Palestinian Embassy or PLO Mission in your country. Click here for a list of contact information. Act now to send this email message!  Make it clear that Palestinians around the world and international activists stand together to confront occupation, end security coordination, and free these detainees – including the former prisoners who have already given so much to the Palestinian struggle for liberation.

2. Call the Palestinian Embassy or PLO Mission. This is a case where phone calls can make a real difference! Palestinians and internationals around the world can raise their voice and demand action. Phone numbers for some missions follow: PLO Delegation in Washington, DC:  202-974-6360. Palestinian Mission to the UN: 212-288-8500. Palestinian General Delegation in Ottawa, Canada: 613-736-0053. Palestinian Mission UK: +44 (0)20 8563 0008. More may be found here!

3. Act to support Palestinian prisoners in occupation prisons. Hassan Safadi, Samer al-Barq and Ayman Sharawna are all still on hunger strike demanding their freedom! Write now to take action to demand their freedom from occupation prisons!

Sign the Petition Now to Save Silwan

Donate Now » Sign the Petition Now to Save Silwan!  Dear Friend, As many of you know, over the last few years MECA has launched several projects in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan to help Palestinian children and families who have been living under constant siege for several years. Their land is being stolen under the guise of biblical archaeology. Israeli settlers have taken over Palestinian homes and harass and attack residents daily. "Administrative demolitions" threaten to leave many homeless. Hundreds of people—including children as young as six—have been arrested, beaten by police, and barred from entering the village that their families have lived in for generations. We now urgently ask that you take action to help the people of Silwan who are facing home demolitions and evictions this month. We need your support and from all justice seeking individuals around the world to stop the demolitions.  Recently, the UK based humanitarian organization, War on Want, reported that new demolition orders have been issued in the Al-Bustan neighbourhood of Silwan. This is in addition to the 88 homes already under threat. Many families have been told they could lose their homes by the end of September. The Jerusalem municipality’s decision to press forward with plans to turn Silwan into an exclusive tourist site and national park could see over 1,000 Palestinians forced from their homes. Please take action now and forward to 5 friends! Many thanks, MECA Staff SAVE SILWAN Please Sign the Petition Addressed to:  Mr. Nir Barkat, Mayor of Jerusalem  Mr. Paul Sutphin, Director, Office of Israel and Palestinian Affairs  Mr. Jake Walles, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, U.S. Department of State Mr. Richard Selly, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process DEMAND AN END TO THE DEMOLITIONS IN SILWAN TODAY! SOME INFORMATION ON SILWAN: Article in Arabic about Last Week's Press Conference in Bustan, featuring Jawad Siyam from MECA's partner in Silwan, the Madaa Creative Center Some Background on the Proposed Silwan Park (from The Jerusalem Post) Palestinian Leaders Hold Press Conference Over Demolitions in Silwan End All Demolitions in Al Bustan, Silwan, and All of East Jerusalem (Letter from Israeli Activist Group)

Copyright © 2012 Middle East Children's Alliance, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you signed up, made a donation, signed a petition, or attended an event with the Middle East Children's Alliance (MECA). This mail program allows you to directly manage your communication preferences. Please contact MECA with any questions at 510 548-0542. Our mailing address is: Middle East Children's Alliance 1101 Eighth Street Suite 100 Berkeley, CA 94710

Help Bring Jalaal home

What would you do if 30 men armed with sticks and guns stormed into your home beat your little brothers and began beating your mother and ripping her clothes? 

On August 28 this happened to sixteen year old Jalaal Daraghmah. He did his best to protect his family. He grabbed a pick used for gardening, and stood at the door of his house and told the settlers he would not let anyone in. When one of them tried to enter by force Jalaal hit him with the pick. The Israeli police arrived on the scene, and they ignored the two little boys that were beaten so badly they needed to be hospitalized, the mothers bruises and torn dress, and the family’s car that had been completely destroyed by the settlers. They instead arrested Jalaal and his father Khalid. No settlers were sought for questioning or detained. The Israeli press treated what happened as a “terror attack” and dubbed It a“Axe Attack”. Jalaal has been in Israeli custody since.

Starting today until Thursday Jalaal can be released on a five thousand shekel bail ($1300) Jalal’s family can not afford to free him. With your help they can bring him home before the long holidays that will force him to remain in Israeli custody.

Please send what you can through the ism donate link make sure to send an email topalreports@gmail.com to say how much you have donated for Jalaal’s release.

For the past four years the Daraghmah family have faced regular attacks by Israeli settlers at their home in Khan al-Lubban, simply for attempting to remain on their land. Help Bring Jalaal home to his family.

For more information on the attacks click here.

The Ministry of Detainees’ and Ex-detainees’ Affairs sent out a press realese asking for international support for the prisonors and to pressure Israel to hold up their end of the 14.May agreement.

GAZA, PALESTINE, September 11

The families of Palestinians detained by Israel called for a week of urgent actions to support a mass hunger strike on 13 September, as well as ongoing hunger strikes by individual detainees.

Thousands of detainees will participate in a mass one-day hunger strike on Thursday, 13 September, beginning a “Saving the Strike” campaign to demand that Israel fully implement the agreement that ended the “Dignity” hunger strike on 14 May, 2012.

“The agreement was to allow all prisoners from Gaza to receive visits from family members,” said Sadeya Saftawi, the wife of detainee Emad El Deen Saftawi. “But four months later, I still haven’t been able to see my husband.”

Israel also continues to hold detainees in isolation, despite agreeing to release them into its prisons’ general population, and to renew administrative detention orders in violation of the 14 May deal. Two administrative detainees with extended orders, Samer Al-Barq and Hassan Safadi, remain on their 113^th and 83^rd days of extended hunger strikes.

“We ask supporters around the world to undertake more activities to pressure Israel to stop its daily violations against our sons, brothers, and husbands, and to help them get back their rights that are violated daily by Israel,” said Mona Abu Salah, the mother of two detainees, Fahmi and Salah Abu Salah.

The families asked supporters to demonstrate outside Israeli embassies, consulates, and missions, international organizations, Israeli prison contractors like G4S, and in other public places from Thursday, 13 September through Wednesday, 19 September.

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PLEASE FORWARD THIS UPDATE WIDELY 

Sabra & Shatilla 30th anniversary commemoration meetings & report of protests against Batsheva

1.

Sabra & Shatilla 30th anniversary commemoration

Eye-witness to Sabra and Shatilla massacre

Dr Ben Alofs

Ben was working as a nurse in West Beirut in the summer of 1982, while it was besieged by the Israeli army. He was working in a hospital inside Sabra Palestinian Refugee Camp1982 during the Israeli-supervised massacre. Ariel Sharon's complicity in the massacre of defenceless Palestinians, then under US 'protection' was so flagrant that he had to resign as Minister of Defence.

You are invited to these public meetings where Dr. Alofs' presentation will be followed by open discussion.

Glasgow: Thurs 13th Sept, 7pm @ STUC, 333 Woodlands Road

Dundee: Fri 14th Sept, 12.30pm @ Tower Building, Dundee Uni (Note changed time)

Edinburgh: Fri 14th Sept, 6pm @ Augustines, George IV Bridge

If you want to help out, email campaign@scottishpsc.org.uk  

2.

The Scottish protests against Brand Israel assets Batsheva were sustained and vigorous, both for the hundreds outside the Edinburgh Playhouse and the 30 protestors inside the auditorium over the three nights. The Israeli Ambassador to the UK and Netanyahu’s Minister of Culture attended on the opening night to underline the nature of Brand Israel in whitewashing Israeli crimes.  Comprehensive report and analysis from BIN (Boycott Israel Network) here

Don’t Dance with Israeli Apartheid, in which Scottish PSC is a proud participant, is already organising protests against Batsheva across the UK when they start their 8-city tour in Edinburgh on Tuesday & Wednesday 30th & 31st October.

The first Scottish open organising meeting for the coming protests is on Sunday next, September 16th at 3pm prompt in Edinburgh, beside Haymarket Station, 246 Morrison Street EH3 8DT  (Map here)

RSVP to info@no2brandisrael.org to indicate your attendance.

Your donations are needed to help us build UK tour protests: donate here

3.

• UN condemns Irael's widespread use of torture 
• Scotland: 'little or no antisemitism' is coupled with 'rise of anti-Zionist political activity' 
• Past is Present: Settler Colonialism in Palestine
• Auschwitz survivor: ‘Israel acts like Nazis’
• "Democratic" Israel continues internment without trial
• Genocidal Tendencies of Colonial-Settler Projects
• Corrupt Israeli archaeology in the service of ethnic cleansing
• Statement by One Democratic State Group

...and more at www.scottishpsc.org.uk

While America commemorates the 9/11 attacks

Lest We Forget! 

While America commemorates the 9/11 attacks, very soon after, we Palestinians commemorate The Sabra and Shatila Refugee Camp Massacre. This massacre took place between 15 to 18 September 1982. It is considered the bloodiest single atrocity committed against the Palestinian people in living history. Similar in magnitude to the September 11, 2001 attacks on the US, which left close to 3000 innocent people dead, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross, more than 2,750 Palestinian men, women and children were massacred in the Sabra and Shatila camps in Beirut while the city was occupied by the Israeli army.

Never Forget!

No Justice = No Peace!
http://www.al-awda.org 

Освободиха задържания в Газа оператор на АRD

Освободен бе палестинският оператор Сауах Абу Сеиф, работещ за германската държавна телевизия А Ер Де, който беше задържан в ивицата Газа от силите за сигурност на Хамас, предаде Франс прес. 

Операторът беше сред близо 200-те арестувани след бомбения атентат срещу членове на Хамас в събота.

Продуцентът на А Ер Де за Израел и палестинските територии Мохамад Абу Фанех вчера предупреди, че телевизията ще затвори офиса си в Газа в знак на протест. Според сигурен източник операторът е бил измъчван в ареста, след което е настанен в болница, допълни той.

Срещу задържането на телевизионния оператор протестира и Асоциацията на чуждестранната преса в Израел и палестинските територии.

Атентатът в Газа в събота, при който загинаха петича членове на военното крило на Хамас, беше най-кървавото нападение срещу ислямисткото движение, откакто то пое контрола над територията преди година. 

Хамас обвини движението Фатах на палестинския президент Махмуд Абас, че стои зад нападението, припомня Франс прес.

http://islambgnews.blogspot.com

Urgent alert: Act now to save the lives of Samer al-Barq, Hassan Safadi and Ayman Sharawna!

Protest in London in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners, August 18.

Samer al-Barq has now been on hunger strike for 105 days, in addition to 30 days prior on hunger strike with the mass prisoners’ hunger strike in April-May 2012, and is now the longest serving hunger striker anywhere in the world, having taken over this title from fellow Palestinian prisoner Akram Rikhawi.

He is joined on hunger strike by Hassan Safadi, who has now been on hunger strike for 75 days, on top of a 71-day long-term hunger strike including the April-May 2012 period, and Ayman Sharawna, who has now been refusing food for 65 days. All three are suffering from serious medical conditions, including major kidney problems, unconsciousness, and suppressed immune systems, as confirmed by Addameer, Physicians for Human Rights and al-Haq. Take action today to call for their immediate release and save the lives of Samer al-Barq, Hassan Safadi and Ayman Sharawna! 

READ FULL ARTICLE...

Urgent alert: Act now to save the lives of Samer al-Barq, Hassan Safadi and Ayman Sharawna!

Protest in London in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners, August 18.

Samer al-Barq has now been on hunger strike for 105 days, in addition to 30 days prior on hunger strike with the mass prisoners’ hunger strike in April-May 2012, and is now the longest serving hunger striker anywhere in the world, having taken over this title from fellow Palestinian prisoner Akram Rikhawi.

He is joined on hunger strike by Hassan Safadi, who has now been on hunger strike for 75 days, on top of a 71-day long-term hunger strike including the April-May 2012 period, and Ayman Sharawna, who has now been refusing food for 65 days. All three are suffering from serious medical conditions, including major kidney problems, unconsciousness, and suppressed immune systems, as confirmed by Addameer, Physicians for Human Rights and al-Haq. Take action today to call for their immediate release and save the lives of Samer al-Barq, Hassan Safadi and Ayman Sharawna! 

Tweet Now: Act now for #PalHunger strikers #SamerAlBarq #HassanSafadi #AymanSharawna Lives on the Line for Palestine! Act: http://samidoun.ca/?p=1456

All three men are protesting the Israeli violations of the May 14 agreement (and prior agreements) between the prisoners’ movement and the Israel Prison Services. One of the provisions of that agreement was that current prisoners held under administrative detention would not have their detention renewed, and that long-term hunger strikers like Safadi’s detention would particularly not be renewed. However, on May 21 – only one week after the agreement – al-Barq‘s administrative detention order was renewed and he relaunched his hunger strike. He was joined by Safadi on June 21, when his own administrative detention order was renewed.

Ayman Sharawna, on the other hand, was released in October 2011 as part of the large prisoner exchange agreement. However, he was re-arrested shortly thereafter, in January 2012, and has been held without charge since that time. He launched his own hunger strike on July 1, the six month anniversary of his arrest.

Urgent action is needed to protect the lives of these Palestinian prisoners. They have been held together in an isolation cell that is 1.8 meters by 1.5 meters and no room for a wheelchair, and are currently shackled hand and foot to their hospital beds, even as their doctors report severe health threats to their lives. It is urgent that we act now to free Samer, Hassan and Ayman and secure them much-needed health care.

The Israeli Prison Services have continued to violate the May 14 agreement in numerous ways – Dirar Abu Sisi remains in solitary confinement and another prisoner was recently moved to isolation. Although family visits to Gaza prisoners have now been announced, they will be “experimental,” apply only to a small portion of the 479 prisoners and will exclude prisoners’ children from visits. Ofer prison is once again escalating repressionagainst Palestinian prisoners.

Woroud Qasem recently returned home from prison and spoke for the first time in public. It is urgent that we act now for all Palestinian prisoners to return to their families and homes!  Palestinians are organizing a week of action in Gaza to demand freedom for these men – and all of the Palestinian prisoners held in the jails of the occupation for their resistance to apartheid, occupation and oppression and their commitment to free their land and people. International solidarity and action is needed to hold the occupation accountable for its ongoing imprisonment and abuse of the people of Palestine.

TAKE ACTION!

1. Sign a letter demanding the Israeli state transfer Samer al-Barq, Hassan Safadi and Ayman Sharawna immediately to hospitals and release them. Tell the Israeli Prison Services that the world is watching! Click here to sign.

2. Sign a letter to the International Committee of the Red Cross and demand it uphold its responsibilities to Palestinian prisoners and act to save the lives of Samer al-Barq, Hassan Safadi and Ayman Sharawna. Click here to sign.

3. Join a protest or demonstration outside an Israeli consulate for Palestinian prisoners. Many groups and organizations are holding events – join one or announce your own. Organizing an event, action or forum on Palestinian prisoners on your city or campus? Use this form to contact us and we will post the event widely. If you need suggestions, materials or speakers for your event, please contact us at samidoun@samidoun.ca. 

4. Contact your government officials and demand an end to international silence and complicity with the repression of Palestinian political prisoners. In Canada, Call the office of John Baird, Foreign Minister, and demand an end to Canadian support for Israel and justice for Palestinian prisoners, at : 613-990-7720; Email: bairdj@parl.gc.ca. In the US, call the office of Elizabeth Jones, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs (1.202.647.7209). Demand that Elizabeth Jones bring this issue urgently to his counterparts in Israel.

5. Join in the call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions. Boycott Israeli products, and academic and cultural institutions until all Palestinian rights (including the right of refugees to return, to be free from occupation and for full equality) are fulfilled – including freeing the thousands of Palestinian prisoners behind bars.

Demand Israeli Officials free striking prisoners Samer al-Barq, Hassan Safadi and Ayman Sharawna

It is urgent that Israeli officials hear that the ongoing hunger strikes of Palestinian prisoners, Samer al-Barq, Hassan Safadi, and Ayman Sharawna are being followed around the world. Al-Barq has now been on hunger strike for 105 days and is critically ill. He is the longest hunger striker in Palestinian history. Hassan Safadi is now on his 75th day of hunger strike - on top of 71 prior days of striking. Tell the Israelis that people around the world are demanding their freedom and are monitoring the situation of Palestinian prisoners and hold the Israeli officials responsible for their lives. Use this form to send a letter of protest to Israeli officials.

Join the olive harvest 2012

02.09.2012 | International Solidarity Movement

At a time of increasing settler violence in the West Bank, the International Solidarity Movement is issuing an urgent call for volunteers to participate in the 2012 Olive Harvest Campaign at the invitation of Palestinian communities.

The olive tree is a national symbol for Palestinians. As thousands of olive trees have been bulldozed, uprooted and burned by Israeli settlers and the military – (over half a million olive and fruit trees have been destroyed since September 2000) – harvesting has become more than a source of livelihood; it has become a form of resistance.

The olive harvest is an annual affirmation of Palestinians’ historical, spiritual, and economic connection to their land, and a rejection of Israeli efforts to seize it. Despite efforts by Israeli settlers and soldiers to prevent them from accessing their land, Palestinian communities have remained steadfast in refusing to give up their olive harvest.

Palestinian and ISM volunteers join Palestinian farming communities each year to harvest olives, in areas where Palestinians face settler and military violence when working their land. Your presence can make a big difference. It has been proven in the past to deter the number and severity of attacks and harassment. The presence of activists can reduce the risk of extreme violence from Israeli settlers and the Israeli army and supports Palestinians’ assertion of their right to earn their livelihoods and be present on their lands. International solidarity activists engage in non-violent intervention and documentation and this practical support enables many families to pick their olives. In addition, The Olive Harvest Campaign also provides a wonderful opportunity to spend time with Palestinian families in their olive groves and homes.

The campaign will begin on the 8th of October and run until the 15^th of November.  We request a minimum 2 week commitment from volunteers but stress that long-termers are needed as well.  We ask that volunteers start arriving in the first week of October, so that we will be prepared when the harvest begins.

Training

The ISM will be holding mandatory two day training sessions which will run weekly on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Please contact palreports@gmail.com for further information.

Ongoing campaigns

In addition to the olive harvest, there will also be other opportunities to participate in grass-roots, non-violent resistance in Palestine.

ISM maintains a constant presence in Hebron, where settler harassment and violence is a regular occurrence. Lately, Israeli army violence has escalated for Palestinians living in proximity to the illegal inner-city settlement. Israeli forces have used the Palestinian neighborhoods for military training and two videos surfaced lately of soldiers brutally assaulting a young man and a child. The annual demonstration for the opening of Shuhada street has also been brutally oppressed by Israeli military forces. Weekly, illegal Israeli settlers are brought on a tour of the Palestinian old city in Hebron, supported by the Israeli army. Every week, the Palestinians are put under curfew and shops are forced to close so that settlers can take a stroll. ISM maintains a presence on these tours for purposes of prevention and documentation, as Palestinians are often assaulted by the radical settlers.

ISM also has an apartment in Nablus from where we work on a number of projects including resisting demolitions in various villages, and supporting Palestinians resisting settler theft of their lands.  In addition to these activities, we participate in the weekly demonstration in Kafr Qaddum, where protesters face excessive force by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF).

ISM activists have also been attending weekly demonstrations against the Apartheid Wall, the annexation of Palestinian land and the construction of illegal settlements in Al Ma’sara, Ni’lin, An Nabi Saleh.

Come! Bear witness to the suffering, courage and generosity of the Palestinian people under Israeli occupation.

Experiencing the situation for yourself is vital to adequately convey the reality of life in Palestine to your home communities and to re-frame the debate in a way that will expose Israel’s apartheid policies; creeping ethnic cleansing in the West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem as well as collective punishment and genocidal practices in Gaza.

In Solidarity,
ISM Palestine