What We’ve
Been Doing…
POLITICAL ACTIVITIES. MEPC is committed to educating U.S.
legislators about the terrible conditions Palestinians are facing in the occupied
territories. In 2007, we advocated for
additional U.S.
humanitarian aid to Gaza and for lifting
the blockade that is devastating the economy. We encouraged legislators to visit
the West Bank and Gaza
to observe conditions first hand. We
urged them to end U.S.
support of the Israeli occupation.
A contingent of MEPC members met with aides in Olver’s,
Neal’s, Kennedy’s and Kerry’s offices in Washington DC as part of the June 11,
2007, lobby day coordinated by United for Peace and Justice (www.unitedforpeace.org) and the U.S.
Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation (www.endtheoccupation.org). We followed up with a meeting with Rep. John
Olver in Holyoke.
We have formed an East-West coalition to coordinate lobbying
efforts in Massachusetts. One of our members attended an information session
with the American Association for Palestinian Equal Rights (www.aaper.org), a
pro-peace lobby, whose mission is to shape a U.S.
foreign policy that seeks to advance the human rights of the Palestinian
people. For more information contact DeAnne
Riddle (413 549-7526).
PALESTINIAN HOUSE OF FRIENDSHIP, Nablus,
West Bank.:
Over the past few years, several MEPC members have met Palestinian House of
Friendship director, Professor Mohammed Sawalha. We have visited the PHF offices
in Nablus and witnessed their
summer camp for inner-city children in this war-torn area. Established during
the Oslo period to bring Israeli
and Palestinian youth together and to train Palestinians in building a
democratic civil society, PHF has had to adapt to ever-increasing restrictions
imposed by Israel
since the start of the second Intifada in 2000. No longer able to support
itself through language classes (Hebrew, English, French),
it still serves its community with the help of aid from U.S.
supporters. It is seeking a license to start a youth-run radio station, which
will have the backing of a grant from the United Nations. The radio station is one of the ways PHF
continues to pursue a vision of expanding the voice of non-violent resistance
to the Israeli occupation. Mohammed plans a U.S.
fundraising tour next May, which will be sponsored by MEPC.
PALESTINIAN OLIVE OIL. DeAnne Riddle
(413 549-7526) provides an outlet for Olive
Branch Olive Oil in Amherst, MA. The oil comes from olives grown by farmer
cooperatives in the West Bank where it is bottled, is
fair trade, and is imported by two women near Boston. It is extra virgin, first cold pressed and
the quality certified. It comes in 750
ml bottles. It makes lovely gifts and
helps struggling Palestinian farmers. It
can also be purchased by the case directly from Olive Branch Olive Oil near Boston
(www.vopj.org/pal-olive-oil.html)
(palestinebostonoliveoil@yahoo.com).
THE SABEEL CONFERENCE: NEW ENGLAND
REGIONAL CONFERENCE (22nd Regional): “THE APARTHEID PARADIGM IN
PALESTINE-ISRAEL: Issues of Justice and Equality” October 26-27, 2007, Old
South Church,
Boston, MA:
Several members attended the Sabeel conference in Boston
organized by the Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center in Jerusalem
Main Theme: Israel’s
policies towards and actions against Palestinians are the policies and actions
of an apartheid state. The similarities with South
Africa are greater than the differences:
both are grounded in racism and separation. Israel
adds an element of colonization and a tactic of collective punishment not seen
in apartheid South Africa. Featured speakers included Bishop Desmond
Tutu. Leila Farakh, Noam Chomsky, Farid Esack, John Dugard, and Sabeel
co-founder, Naim Ateek. For more information: www.sabeel.org.
Refuser Solidarity Network:
Last spring I joined the board of the Refuser Solidarity Network, which
supports the refuser movement in Israel/Palestine. Currently RSN is working
with:
YESH G’VUL (www.yeshgvul.org)
(“There is a limit!”), founded in
response to the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon, is an Israeli peace group
campaigning against the Occupation by backing soldiers who refuse duties in the
Occupied Territories.
COMBATANTS FOR PEACE www.combatantsforpeace.org was started jointly by Palestinians and
Israelis who have taken an active part in the cycle of violence. Since 2005, CFP has organized meetings between
Israeli and Palestinian veterans in which both sides tell about the violent
actions that they have taken part in and about the turning point that led them
to understand the limits of violence.
NEW PROFILE www.newprofile.org
is a group of feminist women and men
who oppose the militarization of Israeli society.
RSN has paid special attention to Yesh G’vul’s campaign to
investigate the 2002 assassination of Hamas commander, Salah Shechade, during
which 14 civilians were killed. More information at www.refusersolidarity.net. Joel Dansky