Cairo - Some of us reached Gaza and participated in the Gaza Freedom March as planned. All of us significantly raised the profile of dissent - particularly, American dissent - against the blockade of the people of Gaza imposed by Israel and Egypt, with the backing of the United States and the acquiescence of Europe. The groundwork is being laid for future campaigning in the U.S. for "citizen sanctions" against the Israeli government that could help change the balance of forces influencing U.S. policy, so that U.S. policy becomes a force for peace, rather than continuing to perpetuate the Israel/Palestine conflict as the U.S. is doing today.
The New York Times (yes, the New York Times had two articles on the march) reported:
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered on both sides of the Israeli-Gazan border on Thursday to mark a year since Israel's three-week war in Gaza, and to call for an end to the blockade of the area imposed by Israel and Egypt. About 85 of the several hundred demonstrators inside Gaza were foreigners, part of a group of more than 1,000 who arrived in Cairo in hopes of entering the territory but who were stopped by the Egyptian authorities. After days of negotiation, Egypt permitted a small delegation to cross the normally closed border at the southern Gazan city of Rafah.
Hundreds of us - confined to Cairo - protested against the Israeli/Egyptian blockade where we were. Our protests in Cairo were front-page news in the Egyptian press - and were reported in the U.S. as well.
The Christian Science Monitor reported:
Unable to protest the blockade from within the territory, they have protested it from here. The result has been a tense confrontation between American and European left-wing activism and a repressive police state engaged in a rigorous four-year-long crackdown on critics of the regime of Hosni Mubarak. Medea Benjamin, an American citizen, cofounder of the antiwar group Code Pink, and one of the march organizers, says she and 50 other US nationals were "beaten up" by Egyptian police when they went to the US Embassy in Cairo to attend a previously scheduled meeting with embassy staff on Tuesday morning.
And the New York Times noted that:
One protester, Hedy Epstein, 85, a Holocaust survivor, arrived in Egypt from the United States on Saturday. She said she started a hunger strike on Monday. "My message is for the world governments to wake up and treat Israel like they treat any other country and not to be afraid to reprimand and criticize Israel for its violent policies vis-à-vis the Palestinians," Ms. Epstein said. "I brought a suitcase full of things, pencils, pens, crayons, writing paper to take to children in Gaza -- I can't take that back home."
It wasn't a starting point of the protest to highlight the role of the Egyptian government in enforcing the blockade. It was the government of Egypt which, by refusing to let us pass, put its role at center stage. The Egyptian government justifies its closure of the border crossing at Rafah by invoking "security" - just as the Israeli government does. The Egyptian policy is often explained as being a result of its opposition to Hamas - but enforcement of the blockade on Gaza by Egypt as a political weapon against Hamas is collective punishment of Gaza's civilian population - just as grave a violation of international law as the Israeli enforcement of the blockade. Egypt's actions in enforcing the blockade are powerful evidence for the widely held Arab view that in their policies towards the Palestinians, Egypt's President Mubarak and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu are "tizein bilbass" - two butts in one underwear. The events of the last week have transformed the "Israeli blockade" of Gaza into an "Israeli-Egyptian blockade," something that will dog Egypt's international relations - including calls for sanctions against Egypt - until the siege has been lifted.
It is almost certain that new organizing around "boycotts, divestment and sanctions" against the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza will take place in the United States as a result of the Gaza Freedom March. There is a strong push from Palestinian solidarity activists in South Africa and Europe for American solidarity activists to do more to promote the "BDS" campaign. There are plans for a delegation of Palestinian and South African trade unionists to tour the United States, and for student activists in the U.S. to train other student activists to launch BDS campaigns at universities.
Greater activity in support of sanctions against the Israeli government in trade unions, universities, and churches in the United States could eventually change the political terrain in Washington, by legitimizing the idea that the Israeli government should face real consequences from the United States for continuing its present policies. This year we saw the Obama Administration's initial insistence on a total freeze of Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank fizzle out, in large measure because it wasn't backed by any "or else" - even the idea of conditioning a part of U.S. aid to Israel on a real settlement freeze failed to gain any traction. A newly invigorated BDS campaign in the United States could create hundreds of organizing hooks to build momentum for a real change in U.S. policy.
Follow Robert Naiman on Twitter: www.twitter.com/naiman
How impressive.
I'm not so sure about their tactic of trying to march en masse, but it takes a certain commitment to travel for that purpose. Its intention is non-violent action aimed at humanitarian aid for civilians. It includes people of all faiths and walks of life. Sometimes there comes a time in a person's life when silence is not an option.
That said, there is no reason to think that these same people do not support the right of of Israelis to live in peace and brotherhood with their neighbours. That is why the Jewish members of this group take action.
It's hard to see the country of one's heart and/or home criticised. Some choose to defend every action, which is entirely understandable. Others choose to speak out and take action at some risk.
Somewhere there is a chance for reconciliation. Acknowledgement comes first. Blame is not part of the process.
Peace.
Those who support the Arab goal of eradication of the Jewish state, claim their position as based on human rights, "the law", justice, equality, "fairness"...all admirable qualities desperately lacking in our violence-racked world. The problem is that those supporters ONLY apply them to the Arab-Israeli conflict, (and then, more often than not, in a twisted manner, ONLY against the Jews, sometimes using odious, intentionally hurtful, illegitimate comparisons). These Arab supporters are almost never to be found upholding and applying their alleged principles to other issues in the public domain, even more demanding of their attention.
Sometimes their zeal to assist in ending the Jewish nationalist enterprise, and with it the existence of the Jewish people, seems to outdo that of the Arabs they support. This is true of some who even claim to be "jewish" on this site. While it is still largely not "nice" or widely accepted in the West, to be vociferously anti-Jewish, it is all the rage, and perfectly acceptable, to be anti- the Jewish state.
It is an exceedingly thin veneer, easily seen through by those who know, those who have experienced, those who fear. It only strengthens Israel's resolve, and that of those who support it, for there is no choice.
The modern state of Israel is the re-embodiment of the state of the Jewish people, and the realization, at last, of their national aspirations over the last 2000 years. The Arabs, and those who support them, refuse to allow them that right, a right they have taken as a matter of course for themselves, and for so many others, and have attempted to use military, economic, propaganda, terroristic, and revisionist means to reverse the fact of Israel, and to deny its legitimacy.
Those who support Israel have a single, clear-cut message: Israel has the right to exist as a Jewish state, with its Jewish capital in its ancient holy city of Jerusalem; the Jews are a nation, like all other nations; Israel has a right to use whatever means necessary to survive. Those who support Israel may be pro- or anti- many other things, and have other interests, but their support for the survival of Israel is their paramount focus.
http://www.oikoumene.org/gr/resources/documents/other-ecumenical-bodies/kairos-palestine-document.html
The authors are:
• Patriarch Michel Sabbah
• Bishop Dr Munib Younan
• Archbishop Theodosios Atallah Hanna
• Rev. Dr Jamal Khader
• Rev. Dr Rafiq Khoury
• Rev. Dr Mitri Raheb
• Rev. Dr Naim Ateek
• Rev. Dr Yohana Katanacho
• Rev. Fr Fadi Diab
• Dr Jiries Khoury
• Ms Sider Daibes
• Ms Nora Kort
• Ms Lucy Thaljieh
• Mr Nidal Abu Zulof
• Mr Yusef Daher
• Mr Rifat Kassis
and represent the leadership of pretty much the entire Palestinian Christian community.
"We condemn all forms of racism, whether religious or ethnic, including anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, and we call on you to condemn it and oppose it in all its manifestations. At the same time we call on you to say a word of truth and to take a position of truth with regard to Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land. As we have already said, we see boycott and disinvestment as tools of non violence for justice, peace and security for all."
Not one word of justice for the Israelis. Not one word of the cause of the occupation.
Not one word of the recognition of the historic, legal, and moral rights of the Jewish people to live in their own state in their own land.
There can, and will be no progress for anyone, until that view is incorporated in any statement.
Finally, no word on the Muslim harrasment of Chrisitans, which is te true cause of Christian debasement under the P.A. and Hamas.
Hmmmmmmmmm, that's a tough one, isn't it.
(Oh, it's not just 'these people' who call them 'clergy', its the Vatican, the Eatern Orthodox church (the next largest as a single body), the various Protestant churches (the next largest as a collective), and on and on)
Don't we all know that ALL We Need is LOVE?
And that is something else the activists did:
They were Love in Action
“Love is patient, love is kind. Love is not proud. Love is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with THE TRUTH! It always protects, it always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. Love never fails.” 1 Corinthians 13
Dorothy Day, a 20th century Christian anarchist, agitator of church, state and media understood, "Love is not the starving of whole populations. Love is not the bombardment of open cities. Love is not killing.”
Every one of the activists is also Light of Humanity:
Humanity is the quality of being human and also humane.
Humane feelings, dispositions, and sympathies are proven when humans do something to help relieve any in distress.
Humanity is expressed in kindness and tenderness and both are the fruits birthed in love.
Only in Solidarity do "we have it in our power to begin the world again."-Tom Paine
Eileen Fleming,
Founder of WeAreWideAwake.org
Producer "30 Minutes with Vanunu" and "13 Minutes with Vanunu"
www.bdsmovement.net
MMMmm, I'm just rolling around in all these delicious Israeli goods! :) ;)
I am as saddened by some of the actions of Israel ( we've talked about these before) as I am by the repression of women in fundamentalist Islamic regimes. (Tried on a gorgeous indigo chador--it gave me nightmares for days!) So many Palestinian civilians are in a tragic predicament, completely undeserved. Overwhelming might is not the answer for Israel's continued flourishing, I believe.
I do know that we agree on one thing: reconciliation.
First comes acknowledgement. It's the first step toward discussing a shared history--without anger or recrimination. It is not that one story or the other is The One True Story.
For Israelis and Palestinians, I wish reconciliation could begin. If the BDS movement can nudge Israel in that direction, and all parties could sit down in good faith to discuss a shared past (violent as it has been on both sides) and a shared future, so much the better.
Peace
Had I neighbors in my neighborhood who were constantly threatening my family and domicile, I'd be sure to take steps making certain that they didn't come anywhere near me or mine.
East to check and remember.
:) ;)
Egypt didn't b0mb Gaza back to the Stone Age after Isrl broke the truce by k illing civilians and provoked further rocket attacks.
Mubarak tried opening the borders before and Isrl started to threaten. Besides both the U.S. and Isrl are coercing Egypt in various ways to keep that border closed.
Honestly, you need to research the facts.
It is always sadly entertaining, witnessing the amazing contortions some put themselves through...not to deal with an issue or see a point.
I have an honest legitimate question for you. Since both Egypt and Israel know that many of the reconstruction supplies you are suggesting they allow in(i.e. cement, nails and building materials) are also routinely used to create smuggling tunnels, bombs and rockets, how can we ensure that aid gets to those who need it, and not those who abuse it?
Creating space for these kind of questions, that address rather than belittle Israeli/Egyptian security needs, could in fact be extremely beneficial to suffering Gazans.
So, I guess the remaining food and water should be cut off, a dome thrown over the top of the whole patch of humanity and the air sucked out.
I have enough respect for the Palestinian cause to at least attempt to respond to you. So why can't show my legitimate questions the same respect. We give foreign aid all over the world, and monitor it for corruption. Why can't we work closely with Egypt,Israel, and Palestinian NGOs on the ground to ensure aid goes to the right place? Are you really so blase about the fact that this aid legitimately could go to building bombs?
I disagree on multiple points. There is much evidence that the smuggling tunnels are used mainly for rocket supplies, and guns, this is why Egypt has also closed the border. Second Hamas has never claimed self defense as the reason for its existence. Hamas rarely engages soldiers in the territories, or targets the military, it indiscriminately targets civilians, and Jews internationally - which I might add is a war crime. I do not believe the Israeli army purposefully targets civilians, but i DO agree this war was in many ways more aggressive and less concerned with civilian casualties than others. As to who is more moral? In Gaza? What's more morally, the forced relocation of thousands of your citizens into trailer homes in order to "end occupation" or firing rockets deeper and deeper into undisputed territory in order to terrorize the population.
I am saying, we all want aid to get to Gazans. We SHOULD all want to make sure the money ends up building houses and feeding children, not creating nail bombs and smuggling tunnels. WHY isn't codepink engaging the Israeli gov't and its activists with new strategies to make this reality?
http://www.sfexaminer.com/world/Declining-Casualties-in-West-Bank-in-2009--80449087.html
http://www.buycottisrael.ca/successes.php
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=99402904210
Obviously from the Palestinian point of view appeasement and placing the boot on the neck of you own people is the way to go. Turkeys voting for Christmas.