We are no longer here, do you care?

#Gaza #Pray4Gaza All family in Jannah in sha ALLAH!

Sajy and Kenan, their father and their pregnant mother were killed today after IOF targeted their home! 

Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un...

Help the Children of Gaza sail to Freedom on Nov. 30th

Support the mini-Ark project

"You can help brighten a dark path.  Lead the way and sail with the children of Gaza towards freedom." said Heba Hayek of Gaza, a member of Gaza's Ark committee.

These efforts to launch mini-Arks are to spotlight the inhumane conditions under which the Palestinians in Gaza, and particularly the children, live. In addition, groups all over the world, from North America to Europe will sail small boats on their lakes, rivers and swimming pools and stage supporting actions on the same day, November 30th.

We are asking you, without delay, to:

1)    Sponsor a Mini-Ark individually, in partnership or through a local organization. Share this sponsorship opportunity with others through word of mouth, Facebook, Twitter, your blog or any other social platform you have access to: http://www.gazaark.org/2013/10/26/sponsor-a-mini-ark-now/

2)    Create a Mini-Ark Action: Make your own Mini-Arks with your children and/or children in your community. Write a message of solidarity or write: "Gaza: End the silence! End the Blockade!" Take pictures/video, send it to us and we'll post it on online. We will share your images with the children of Gaza. This is a deeply symbolic act of hope that is sure to bring a smile to all involved!

Please also Like us on Facebook and ask others to like us too. Every person counts! Tell anybody and everybody: help us end the blockade and the silence: https://www.facebook.com/GazaArk; and Follow us on Twitter and ask your followers to follow us too. Tweet and re-tweet about the Gaza Mini-Ark project using "mini #GazaArk": https://twitter.com/GazaArk

Join the mini-Ark Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/172344456298624/
Stay tuned for our next announcement. We want everyone who reads this plea from the children of Gaza to help them ‘sail their boats to freedom.


The mini-Arks initiative is supported by a growing number of Palestinian organizations in Gaza, including:
Al Amal Institute for orphans - https://www.facebook.com/Alamal.for.orphans
El Wedad association - http://www.npaid.org/Our-work/Countries/Middle-East/Palestine/Partners-in-Palestine/El-Wedad
Atfaluna association - http://www.atfaluna.net/en/atfaluna_crafts/
Rehabilitation and development program for women - https://www.facebook.com/rdpwgaza
Dr. Haider abed el Shafi Center for Training - https://www.facebook.com/htcgaza
Society and Family development association - https://www.facebook.com/tanmia.pal
For Palestine children ( Atfal Palestine) - https://www.facebook.com/atfalpal
Al Qalaa center for training and development - https://www.facebook.com/alqlaa.CenterZahrat E-TfoolaKhwarzmi
National agency for family care

----

Greta Berlin, Co-Founder, the Free Gaza movement
Editor, Freedom Sailors
www.freedomsailors.com

Israeli troops cuff Palestinian #children aged under 10. Youngest: 5 Years old. | #StopIsrael

Ma’an News Agency | (updated) 17/11/2013 11:42

Israeli soldiers fire tear gas canisters towards Palestinian protesters
during clashes in the West Bank village of Bilin, west of Ramallah, on
Nov. 15, 2013 (AFP/Abbas Momani)

JERUSALEM (AFP) — Israeli troops in the West Bank detained four Palestinian children aged five to nine years for more than an hour Friday with their hands cuffed, Palestinian witnesses said.

An Israeli military spokeswoman said that troops rounded up some minors during rioting in the northern West bank village of Kfar Qaddum but held them only briefly.

“A group of Palestinian children were detected setting fire to tires,” she said. “These riots usually start with burning tires being rolled at security forces.”

“Soldiers rounded up the children to prevent mayhem and when a commander arrived shortly afterwards they were released,” she said.

She did not give their ages or say if handcuffs were used, but said that the incident was being reviewed by the military.

Palestinian activist Murad Ashtiye told AFP that clashes erupted with soldiers in the village during the weekly protest there against Israeli occupation by Palestinians and international activists.

“Four children who were present in the area had stun grenades thrown at them by Israeli soldiers, which frightened them,” said Ashtiye of the village’s Popular Struggle Coordination Committee.

“Then the soldiers arrested them and tied their hands behind their backs using plastic strips,” he added, identifying the children as Tariq Hikmet, 9, Hossam Khaldun, 7, six-year old Malak Hikmet, and Ahmad Abdessalam, 5.

The UN Children’s Fund’s March report, entitled “Children in Israeli Military Detention,” said Israel was the only country in the world where children were systematically tried in military courts and gave evidence of practices it said were “cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment.”

“Ill-treatment of Palestinian children in the Israeli military detention system appears to be widespread, systematic and institutionalized,” it concluded, outlining 38 recommendations.

Over the past decade, UNICEF noted that Israel has detained “an average of two children each day.”

Ma’an staff contributed to this report

Support the Campaign to Free the Children of Palestine One Palestinian child killed by Israel every 3 days for almost 13 years (statistics)

Support the Campaign to Free the Children of Palestine 

One Palestinian child killed by Israel every 3 days
for almost 13 years statistics)

Background

1,518 Palestinian children have been killed by Israeli occupation forces from the outbreak of the second Intifada in September 2000 up to April 2013. That's equivalent to one Palestinian child killed by Israel every 3 days for almost 13 years. The number of Palestinian children injured by the Israelis since end of September 2000 has reached 6,000, (4 children physically injured every 3 days). The number of Palestinian children imprisoned is 9,000. That's 6 children imprisoned every three days!

Please Donate

Please donate to support the campaign to free the children of Palestine. We need your help to bring much greater awareness to the abuse of the children of Palestine  by the Israeli occupation. We need your support to hire one person to work on this campaign. We need your donation to produce informational materials professionally for wide distribution and for related meetings with the media and congressional reps and various communities. Children are the most vulnerable members of any society. Who else will bring greater awareness and action on the plight of Palestinian children?  Will you help us? Please donate whatever you can. Every amount no matter how small or large is welcome and appreciated. 

If you live in the San Diego area, please join Al-Awda San Diego this Sunday for their 5th Freedom Hike and Potluck Picnic to support the campaign to free the children of Palestine from Israel's jails. Come, have fun, and find out how you can help with this important campaign. 

For details of this event please see: https://www.facebook.com/events/388412614608172/?ref=22 or http://al-awdasandiego.org

Thank you for your support. We depend on it!

Demand An End To The Abuse of Palestine's Children

Posted by Zahi Damuni (campaign founder of Palestinian Children's Rights Campaign) Tell your friends about this TAKE ACTION Demand An End To The Abuse of Palestine's Children The Declaration of the Rights of the Child, adopted by the United Nations in 1959, states that every child (regardless of race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status, whether of himself or of his family) shall be protected against all forms of neglect, cruelty and exploitation (articles 1 and 9). Furthermore, The International Convention on the Rights of the Child, which came into force in 1990, sets out to further protect the rights of children. The Zionist state has not only neglected the rights of the child, but has imprisoned and used Palestinian children as human shields, and targeted playgrounds and schools. Since its imposition in Palestine in 1948, Israel has killed thousands of Palestinian children, and wounded many more including with serious physical and psychological injuries. Since the 1967 occupation of the West Bank and Gaza more than 8000 Palestinian children have been detained and held as prisoners often without charge and subjected to institutionalized torture, mistreatment and abuse by the occupation without protection. As of this moment, there are 236 Palestinian children detained in Israel's prisons. Please take a moment to write to President Obama and demand that the US administration put a stop, at all costs, to Israel's abuse, mistreatment and torture of Palestine's children. Use the form at http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/submit-questions-and-comments Also please Call the President at 1-202-456-1111 and demand the administration use its considerable financial and military aid to Israel to end its abuse of the fundamental human rights of Palestine's children.

Israel Escalates Terror on Gaza’s Children

"We are in the midst of an attack that will continue and grow. There is no hourglass."
- Israel's Brigadier-General Yoav Mordechai 

Hamid Younis Abu Daqqa, 13, always wore his Real Madrid shirt when he played soccer with his friends. He died wearing the same shirt. READ MORE

Already, several children have been killed and dozens more have been wounded, as airstrikes continue and Israel is calling up ground troops. Hamid Younis Abu Daqqa, 13, was killed when Israeli helicopters machine-gunned a soccer field while he was playing with some friends. This morning I spoke to Dr. Mona El Farra, MECA’s Gaza Projects Director, as she hurried to prepare her home to protect herself and her family from explosions and shattering glass. “Right now, Gaza is under extensive Israeli military attack," she told me. “Our hospitals are already lacking essential emergency medications, and citizens are being called on for emergency blood donations, but it is not safe to travel." She continued, "We do not have electricity; I am using backup power to get this message to you because we expect more escalation.” “At lease two children have been killed so far today including 7 year-old Ranan Arafat, and at least 6 children are critically injured, their charred bodies have been arriving in Gaza's Shifa hospital for the past 3 hours. 25 airstrikes all over the Gaza Strip have occurred, and there is an expectation of a possible Israeli land invasion very soon. Move. Act now to stop another Gaza bloodbath. Inaction around the world has led us to this point. Act now!” she urges. Before we said goodbye, Mona said: “The children of Gaza are terrified – there are children who lack medicine, food, who feel a lack safety and have no shelters.” At MECA we are doing our best to control our tears and our rage and figure how best to help those in need. As Israel prepares to expand its brutal military operations in Gaza, we ask that you please look for updates and actions alerts from us in the next few days. Many thanks for your concern as these terrible events unfold. Sincerely,  Ziad Abbas,  Associate Director, MECA

New challenges for refugee children

UNICEF reports on how Palestinian children fleeing conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic face new challenges at a refugee camp in Lebanon.

A new video from the cause

Palestinian Refugees Right to Return - Al-Awda

Naksa Day, Political Prisoners, Children, and More + Maia Project Update!

June 6, 2012 Dear Friend of the Children, This week, Palestinians everywhere commemorated the 45th anniversary of the naksa, or setback, of 1967 when Israel began its occupation of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip, Golan Heights and Sinai Peninsula.  Repeatedly violating international law, Israel's illegal annexation of Palestinian land continues as it builds Jewish-only settlements, demolishes homes and community centers in East Jerusalem, and uproots olive trees. Palestinians, however, continue to assert their dignity and human rights by fighting Israel's racist policies and apartheid system of checkpoints, prisons, blockades, and the wall.  For nearly 25 years, MECA has supported Palestinian children and families by building playgrounds, water purification systems, funding scholarships for students, and sending medical aid. Today, we share with you a must-read issue of our e-newsletter, packed with all the latest news and analysis from the ground, as well as MECA updates below!    Many thanks, MECA Staff Palestinians Commemorate Naksa Day On June 5, Palestinians gathered in the streets of Al Khalil (Hebron) to memorialize Naksa Day. This Naksa Day marks the 45th year of the illegal occupation of Palestinian land by Israel, as a result of the 1967 war, leading to the displacement of thousands of Palestinians. Hebron: gathering to commemorate Naksa Day Slideshow: Israeli forces disperse Hebron Naksa demo 45 years of occupation: enough! Children Under Occupation Activist prevents Israeli officer from arresting Palestinian child During Sunday’s Jerusalem Day events, a Palestinian boy, perhaps 10 years old, was chased down an East Jerusalem street by a very angry officer of the Border Police. The boy tripped and fell, then picked himself up just as the Border Police officer reached him and tried to grab him. But a 22 year-old female Israeli activist prevented the boy’s arrest by throwing herself between the two, allowing the Palestinian boy to flee. DCI-Palestine submits report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child On June 4, DCI-Palestine submitted a report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in advance of its review of Israel’s compliance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 2013. All states that have ratified the Convention are periodically reviewed by this independent UN Committee. DCI’s report to the Committee covers the period from 2002 to 2012 (reporting period), and includes information on the following issues: fatalities, injuries, detention, human shields, informants, and settler violence. A Silwan Story: Palestinian Child Arrested, Abused by Israeli Authorities and Barred From Finishing 9th Grade After 30 days, Suhaib was released, having lost over 20 pounds during his detention. He was sentenced to house arrest at his grandmother's house and his family was required to post a deposit of 50,000 Shekels (about $15,000) in case he violated the conditions of his house arrest. One of those conditions was that Suhaib, who should be in 9th grade, was prevented from returning to school. "I like studying history," Suhaib told me, smiling slightly, "and I want to be a human rights lawyer when I get older." Palestinian Political Prisoners' Hunger Strike for Dignity On April 17, a day that Palestinians commemorate as Prisoners’ Day, thousands of Palestinian prisoners participated in a mass hunger strike, demanding an end to administrative detention, isolation and other punitive measures taken against Palestinian prisoners including the denial of family visits and access to university education. 220 children are among the thousands of Palestinians in Israeli prisoners (though none have joined the hunger strike for health reasons). While 2,000 Palestinian inmates ended the 28-day hunger strike weeks ago, Palestinian national soccer team member, Mahmoud Sarsak, completed 81 days of a grueling hunger strike, the longest in Palestinian history. What If Kobe Bryant Were an Imprisoned Palestinian Soccer Player? Political Sports writer Dave Zirin, who spoke at a MECA event recently, writes about Sarsak's harrowing tale. [VIDEO] Interview with the family of Mahmoud Al Sarsak, Palestinian National Soccer player on hunger strike War Rages on Palestinian Soccer - Free Mahmoud Sarsak Sarsak is not alone in the continued hunger strike. Akram al-Rekhawi, a diabetic prisoner demanding proper medical care, has refused food for over 50 days. Both men are now in dire medical condition. Palestinian prisoners’ hunger strikes continue as Israel violates agreements Another mass hunger strike is on the horizon as Israel continues its human rights abuses of Palestinian prisoners.  Palestine: Finding the Will to Resist Palestinians have sacrificed much for their steadfastness and resistance, with tens of thousands killed, hundreds of thousands jailed, arrested or tortured, and many others losing their homes or lands or source of income. Israel's Racist Policies In recent weeks, reports of Israeli racism toward its African migrants have surfaced following a series of violent attacks against this community based on nothing more than their ethnicity. MECA Executive Director Barbara Lubin comments, "I have fought against all forms of racism my entire life. But as a grandmother of two wonderful boys who were born in Ethiopia, this story particularly repulses me -- although it in no way surprises me in light of how Israel has treated the Palestinians over the past 64 years. But, it is ironic that Israel, which calls itself the only democracy in the Middle East, and airlifted much of its African population into the country, is blatantly mistreating its own citizens. I think if more people would simply open their eyes to Israel's racist policies, they would be appalled."  [VIDEO] Israel: Race Riot as Tel Aviv's Poor Hunt Down 'Cancerous' African Migrants Israeli MK: I didn't mean to shame Holocaust by calling African migrants a 'cancer' However, speaking to Israeli media outlets over the weekend and on Sunday, Regev chose to apologize for calling the Sudanese a cancer, opting however, to direct her apology to Holocaust survivors and cancer patients. What Israel’s anti-African pogroms tell us about Zionism A week ago, on the night of Wednesday 23rd May, South Tel Aviv erupted, becoming the epicentre of an attack by an angry, violent mob against members of the city’s African migrant population, deliberately targeted because of no other reason than their ethnicity. 'Israel Belongs to the White Man' Israel enacts law allowing authorities to detain illegal migrants for up to 3 years. Until now, migrants caught by IDF have been transferred to the Saharonim detention facility in the south; Interior Minister says migrants do not recognize that Israel 'belongs to the white man.' Israel Airport Email Searches Inspect Suspected Pro-Palestinian Activity Targeting mainly Muslims or Arabs, the practice appears to be aimed at rooting out visitors who have histories of pro-Palestinian activism, and in recent weeks, has led to the expulsion of at least three American women. Checkpoint Cheek: Confronting Israel’s Green Line Racism The checkpoint's function of ensuring the security of Israelis, and in particular the settlements, has had the effect of imposing mass insecurity among West Bank Palestinians subject to their logic. MECA News and Updates  Mother's Day in Silwan In the early morning of February 13, Israeli forces bulldozed a cultural café and damaged the adjacent sports field that MECA supporters helped build in Silwan, East Jerusalem. Dozens of people responded to MECA’s emergency appeal and a temporary structure was built in just a few weeks. With the help of MECA supporters, the community was able to salvage some of the equipment and build a temporary structure in time for a wonderful celebration on Arabic Mother's Day in March. MECA Supporter Cathy Shields joined the Mother's Day celebration and wrote an account of what happened. Check out our slideshow of the event! Book Review: "The Politics of Teaching Palestine to Americans". Written by MECA friend and supporter, Marcy Newman; Help support MECA's work and this important educational resource about Palestine by requesting the publisher release more affordable paperback and ebook editions. Write to Lauren.Jablonski [at] palgrave-usa.com. All proceeds from book sales are donated to MECA. [VIDEO] Foul Smell: Treating Gaza's Wastewater under Israeli Blockade, A video about water situation in gaza made by youth ambassadors in Gaza of the Thirsting for Justice Campaign. As part of the Maia Project, MECA is a member of the Emergency Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (EWASH) group in Palestine. MECA Summer 2012 Newsletter, Read our latest printed newsletter!   MECA's Palestine Blog, "Jerusalem Day: Where's the Unity?" MECA Program Director Josie Shields-Stromsness counters the basis of Israel's fallacious celebration. In This Issue: Palestinians Commemorate Naksa Day DCI-Palestine submits report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child Palestinian prisoners’ hunger strikes continue as Israel violates agreements [VIDEO] Israel: Race Riot as Tel Aviv's Poor Hunt Down 'Cancerous' African Migrants MECA News and Updates! Two weeks ago, MECA’s Maia Team of eleven ran or walked “Bay to Breakers,” San Francisco’s 7.4-mile race to raise funds for the Maia Project to bring clean, safe water to children in Gaza.   Thanks to 114 people who supported friends and family members, we’ve received $10,020.23 – with contributions still coming in! We set out to raise the second half of the funds needed to install a large, permanent water desalination and purification unit in Deir El-Balah Preparatory Boys' School school in Deir El-Balah Refugee Camp, Gaza. And many of you helped us reach and exceed our goal. MECA supporter and two-time Bay to Breakers walker Corrie Van Thiel already raised half the cost of the unit for this school over the last two years, with the help of All Saints Catholic Church and All Saints School in Hayward, California. You contribution goes toward the total of $11,500 for the installation of the purification unit. Soon, 2078 middle school students at Deir El-Balah Preparatory Boys' School will have clean, safe water to drink at school, for decades to come. Many thanks, The 2012 Bay to Breakers Maia Team: Brenda, Chris J., Chris P., Corrie, Deborah, Dina, Donna, Harris, Jaclyn, Jane, and Meg Keep Up With Us Facebook Twitter

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

Avaaz.org - The World in Action

 Dear friends,

This picture shows the bloodied bodies of dozens of innocent children, brutally murdered by the Syrian regime. As a parent, these images are almost unbearable, but I know we must not look away -- and that we can help end this slaughter. Our governments are deciding what to do right now. But they will settle for hand wringing diplomacy unless we demand firm action. Sign the urgent petition to send in thousands of UN monitors to protect the Syrian people in every region now:

The pictures from Al Houla, Syria, last Friday are almost too brutal to look at. I have a 5 year old daughter and I know it's only luck of birth that separates her from this horror. But my shock led me to write this today as I know there is something we can all do together to stop this. 

Dozens of children lie covered with blood, their faces show the fear they felt before death, and their innocent lifeless bodies reveal an unspeakable massacre. These children were slaughtered by men under strict orders to sow terror. Yet all the diplomats have come up with so far is a few UN monitors 'observing' the violence. Now, governments across the world are expelling Syrian ambassadors, but unless we demand strong action on the ground, they will settle for these diplomatic half-measures. 

The UN is discussing what to do right now. If there were a large international presence across Syria with a mandate to protect civilians, we could prevent the worst massacres while leaders engage in political efforts to resolve the conflict. I cannot see more images like these without shouting from the rooftops. But to stop the violence, it is going to take all of us, with one voice, demanding protection for these kids and their families. Click to call for UN action now and send this to everyone: 

http://www.avaaz.org/en/syria_will_the_world_look_away_c/?vl

A child's death is tragic in any circumstance. The UN says 108 people were killed in the onslaught, 49 of them children under the age of 10, and the youngest was a 2 year old girl. 90% of the population of Al Houla has now fled their homes. As I put my daughter to bed last night, I tried to consider what the mothers and fathers and grandparents of these children feel. The sheer pain and desperation is unimaginable, but there will also be deep anger and hate for those that did this. Until all of us stop these attacks on the people of Syria, the cycle of violence will not end. 

Let's not forget -- this bloodbath began over a year ago with thousands of people peacefully protesting on the streets -- calling, like their brothers and sisters across the region, for freedom and democracy. But the regime responded with brutality and violence -- murdering, torturing, abducting and laying siege to entire cities. The international community did not intervene, letting geopolitical concerns obstruct our responsibility to protect. Then, in desperation to protect their families and fight back against the repression, some took up arms. Now it is an armed conflict -- and if the world continues to do nothing it will become a full blown sectarian war that may last for generations and breed the kind of terrorist attacks we have yet to imagine in our worst nightmares. 

When dozens of children are murdered in cold blood by the army and their militias -- it is time for serious action. Assad, his henchmen and his murderous army must be held to account and the people of Syria protected. Nothing the international community has done yet has pried Assad from his murderous grip on power. The few UN monitors on the ground were powerless to stop the Al Houla killings -- they only served to count the tiny bodies. But if we sent in hundreds of monitors to each of the fourteen regions of Syria, Assad's assassins would think twice. 

The world looked away with Srebrenica, and with Rwanda. If all of us respond today -- we can make sure that these children's tragic deaths act as the tipping point for all of us everywhere to say NO MORE! But if we turn away, so will our leaders. Let's join voices from every corner of the earth and make it impossible for our leaders to ignore our cry. In respect for these dear children and their families, click to join the global call to demand a massive UN presence on the ground now! 

http://www.avaaz.org/en/syria_will_the_world_look_away_c/?vl

The Avaaz community has stood with the people of Syria for fifteen months, denouncing the Syrian regime, calling for sanctions, supporting communities across the country with aid, and giving equipment to citizen journalists to get the word out about the violence. Let's today make the Al Houla massacre the watershed moment for change and insist that our governments no longer stand by shaking their heads and turning their backs. 

With deep sadness and determination, 

Alice and the whole Avaaz team 


MORE INFORMATION 
Annan: 'Bold steps' needed for Syria peace (Al Jazeera) 
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/05/2012528104471849.html

UN envoy 'horrified' by Syria massacre, 108 dead (AP) 
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gw9VNSp1tkeq-qmR22Q6QZ7j2hcg?docId=a73e47f7c8e546ab8094ad08ecacb939 

Fresh violence in Syria despite Annan warning (BBC)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-18260992 

Exclusive dispatch: Assad blamed for massacre of the innocents (The Independent)
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/exclusive-dispatch-assad-blamed-for-massacre-of-the-innocents-7791507.html 

Syrian Ambassadors expelled (The Guardian)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/may/29/syrian-ambassadors-expelled-britain-france

ACTION ALERT: PALESTINIAN CHILDREN HELD IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT

Posted By: THE PALESTINE RIGHT TO RETURN COALITION

To: Members in 11 Causes

According to Defense Children International, in October and November 2011, at least four Palestinian children were held in solitary confinement by the Israeli occupation army for between 3 and 24 days. To read the story of Rasheed J. who was held in solitary confinement, go here:http://links.causes.com/s/clBbP0 On 18 October 2011, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture called for an end to the practice of solitary  confinement as well as a complete ban on its use for juveniles. "Considering the severe mental pain or suffering solitary confinement may cause," Mr. Méndez warned, "it can amount to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment when used as a punishment, during pretrial detention, indefinitely or for a prolonged period, for persons with mental disabilities or juveniles." (See report to the General Assembly - http://links.causes.com/s/clBbP7) ACTION Please write to President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hilary Clinton to demand that they direct the state of Israel to immediately cease all targeted arrests of Palestinian children, and to release all Palestinian children from its prisons including those held in solitary confinement. The US administration must demand an immediate end to all forms of institutionalized and systematic abuse of Palestinian children by the state of Israel. The US government, which supports Israel to the tune of billions of taxpayer dollars a year while most ordinary Americans are suffering in a very bad economy, is bound by its laws and international conventions to cut off all aid to Israel until it ends all of its violations of human rights and basic freedoms in a verifiable manner. To contact the White House, please use http://links.causes.com/s/clBbPN Alternatively, write to: President Barack Obama The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500 Call: 202-456-1414 Fax: 202-456-2461 To contact the Secretary of State: Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton U.S. Department of State 2201 C Street NW Washington, DC 20520 Main Switchboard: 202-647-4000 Secretary Hillary Clinton Office: 202-647-5291 Fax: 202-261-8577 Al-Awda, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition PO Box 131352 Carlsbad, CA 92013, USA Tel: 760-918-9441 Fax: 760-918-9442 E-mail: info@al-awda.org WWW: http://links.causes.com/s/clBbPW

Call to Action Support the cause. Be counted: I Read This

Help send children's books to Gaza

Posted By: United Palestinian Appeal, Inc.

To: Members in 82 Causes

Help send children's books to Gaza Do you remember the joy of reading when you were a child? Of immersing yourself in the stories of the Itsy-Bitsy Spider and other adventuresome creatures? The spark of curiosity that you felt flipping through the pages of great works of art, maps of the world and photos from the natural world? Give children in the Gaza Strip that same sense of wonder and exploration through books. Local partners in Gaza helped us assemble a shipment of 11,000 donated books, 7,500 children's books plus 3,500 other books, for their libraries. We need $10,000 to ship and distribute them. Each dollar that you donate to this project will pay for one book to reach Gaza. $10 will send 10 children's books to Gaza. $20 will send a complete World Book encyclopedia. Could you donate $10, $20, $35 or more today to ensure children in Gaza have greater access to books?

Call to Action Fundraising Project: $10 will send 10 children's books to Gaza Donate

Family says Israeli jailers poured boiling oil on its son

[ 17/05/2011 - 12:25 PM ]

NABLUS, (PIC)-- A Palestinian family said its son, Raf'at Bani Odeh, was exposed by Israeli jailers to excruciating physical and psychological torture at the time of his six-year detention. The family added that its son spent most of his imprisonment term in solitary confinement and boiling oil was once poured on him by Israeli interrogators, so he suffers from serious physical and psychological scars as a result of that. The family also appealed to all concerned parties to provide its son with appropriate medical treatment for his condition. The Palestinian prisoner society also confirmed that Bani Odeh suffers from serious mental problems a result of his exposure to torture and medical neglect in prison and thus he is in dire need of urgent treatment. In another incident, the Israeli occupation authority (IOA) on Monday released two prisoners affiliated with Hamas, Atef Hassan and Saad Yazji after it procrastinated over their release for a long time. Both prisoner completed their prison terms a long time ago, but the IOA delayed their release twice once at the pretext of Jewish festivals and the second time without any reason. Palestine-info Center

Five family members killed in suspected terrorist attack at their home in Itamar settlement

According to police the suspect broke into a home in Itamar armed with a knife and killed the family of five people including parents and three children.

By Anshel Pfeffer and Yaniv Kubovich

Five members of an Israeli  family were killed Friday night when a suspected terrorist broke into their home in the West Bank settlement of Itamar and stabbed them all to death.

According to police, the suspect broke into the house armed with a knife and stabbed the mother, father and three children, aged 11, three and a three-month-old baby. Magen David Adom rescue services arrived at the scene and found them all dead.

	Archive photograph.
	Photo by: Emil Salman

It is believed that there were two other children in the house at the time of the attack, aged 4 and 2, who were not injured in the attack.

Extensive police forces and Israel Defense Forces are scanning the area for the suspect.

The family's 12-year-old daughter, who was at a youth group activity, returned to her home at approximately midnight and her calls for the door to be opened for her went unanswered. With the help of a neighbor, they managed to open the door and came upon the horrible murder scene.

The military blocked the entrance to the northern West Bank settlement of Itamar, as soldiers poured inside and a pair of ambulances departed.

The overnight attack is the first attack against settlers in months and the first of its kind and scope in years. It marks a rare outburst of violence during a relatively calm period.

Itamar is home to some of the West Bank's most fervent settlers.

In 2002 a terrorist broke into the home of the Shabo family in Itamar and shot the mother, Rachel, in the back. Then he shot Zvi, 13, and Avishai, 5, also in the back. After that, Neria, 16, was also shot dead.

The terrorist climbed up from the valley and without even cutting it, simply trampled down the fence. First he approached the neighbors' house but the dog began barking and he turned instead to the Shabo family's home. They were among the settlement's founders. Boaz, the father, a printer by profession, was not at home. The older children - Yariv, 17, and Atara, 15 - were also out, visiting friends.

Thirteen-year-old Aviah, who was wounded, told the doctor who attended her in the hospital that she had heard her mother shout out in pain and then all was quiet. 

Haaretz