Palestinians in NA-Assert their Memory for Forgetfulness & Right to Return for Liberation #Nakba65

“They old will die and the young will forget.” declared, David Ben Gurion, the ideological father of the European colonial/settler project, zionism. Few quotes so succinctly sum up the stated goal/vision, idealism and the delusional nature of zionism – which can only reside in the realm of cognitive dissonance. Meanwhile, nothing more accurately reflects the collective consciousness of Palestinians, than the shared memory of what began 65 years ago today, during the Nakba, or catastrophe and forced exile of 750,000 people from their land, and the universally recognized right to return home. Today 6 million Palestinians, remain forcibly displaced from their homes, often many times over-as is now the case with Palestinian refugees within Syria, Palestine and throughout the world. Currently these two narratives are most summarily what are at work politically – and it is this competing history, that paves the crossroads for which we find ourselves as Palestinians.

Last weekend, Palestinians in North America came together for a conference in Vancouver, of the ‘shatat’ – for the purpose of remembering this history and reaffirming our commitment of the universally recognized right to return, and struggle for liberation. The word ‘shatat’ refers to diaspora, and literally translated, means pieces – shattered and scattered. The definition is fitting, as since the onset of zionism – our people, like our homeland – have been continuously divided and subjugated with the ultimate goal of being erased from history books, which as we know are written by the powerful.

The power of the conference that took place at the University of British Columbia – was reflected in the diversity of participants and the organizing committee – that represented the coming together of the “old” and the “young”, which were given equal value and voice. The students, in partnership with community groups from all ages and parts of North America highlighted the work of and the importance of learning from the previous generations memories and experiences-who must then step aside and make room for the new generation to be empowered.

Today there are approximately 6 million Palestinian shatat living outside the homeland (4 million living within historic Palestine) and while our land has been almost completely colonized – thankfully our memories have not.

One of the main themes consistently repeated by many of the presenters, was that the Palestinian struggle is part and parcel of a greater global resistance to colonialism, imperialism and zionism. Strong connections were made between the struggle of indigenous people of North America to resist land and resource exploitation, and the roles of the US and Canadian governments and their complicity in the continuation of these policies. We were reminded by indigenous people here to pay respect to the land of North America, and the conference opened with and was involved throughout with native people who shared cultural traditions and welcomed us onto their land. We drew parallel lessons from the experiences of indigenous rights activists, who reminded us that we are building on the work and legacy of our past and current political prisoners, ancestors and martyrs-without which, we would never be where we are today.

We also had an interesting discussion that I co-facilitated, about the role of movements in the U.S. and drew inspiration from the people risking their lives, and defying dictatorships in the Arab world. We brainstormed ways in which to most effectively connect as anti-militarism/anti-war, civil liberties, prison/justice, immigration activists etc. Participants had many questions and shared their experiences and challenges with regards to organizing in such a hostile climate in the US and Canada, especially on university campus’.

When those with power, insist on doing all they can to ignore, silence and/or crush our history, this demonstrates the vital importance of sharing stories, and documenting our history and experiences-not just as passive observers. That is why in 2012 – the Israeli Knesset passed a ‘Nakba Law’ “to punish public institutions for any reference to the Israeli occupation of Palestine in 1948 as a catastrophe or ‘nakba’”1- a feeble attempt at silencing history, and the truth about the dispossession of the Palestinian people from their homeland.

Their were also ongoing and heated discussions and debates about the issue of representation, and strategies of how to reclaim our historic rights and claim the right of the diaspora, to be a part of state building and the decision making process. Perhaps the only thing everyone in the conference did agree on, is trying to find ways to get rid of the current corrupt “leadership”.

When the dispossession of a people from their homeland is minimized, blurred and even erased what is needed is the equally important task of calling on an active memory that can provide direction for future steps, lessons and those who remember, despite the odds and erasure of history-is fundamentally an expression of power. When we defy the obstacles beginning-by simply recording and asserting our presence, we will be victorious.

My Palestinian mother grew up in the old city of Jerusalem. Before 1948 Palestinian Muslims, Christians and Jews all lived together in Jerusalem in relative peace and mutual respect. Recalling that past provides a vision for an alternative future–one involving rights and tolerance, rather than the domination of one ethno-religious group over others.

Zionist colonialism was predicated on the hope that Palestinians who lived the Nakba would die and the new Palestinian generation would forget. Yet despite 65 years of sheer force, domination and military and media control, we are proving that not only have we remembered – every day we are growing stronger, more organized and united to reclaim our land and our rights. Soon the conference will issue recommendations for ways in which to build beyond our shared memories – and engage with our diaspora in finding ways of exercising the right of all of our 6 million refugees, to return back home. If you are interested in seeing the final recommendations, and working with conference participants on next steps, please email me at: right2return@gmail.com.

Until return and libration,

Noura Khouri – May 15, 2013

1. Israel passes new Nakba Law: http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/8412.aspx via @ahramonline

Economic justice = social justice

Last week I began the first of a six-part series, faith based economic justice training program in Oakland, which I am so thankful to Reverend Michael Yoshii and the great Buena Vista United Methodist Church for inviting me to be a part of. It was refreshing to hear from so many religious leaders and faith-based community groups which came from all over the Bay Area that are deeply concerned about the direction of the US.

The training opened by clarifying the role of economics which is, first and foremost about VALUES – and went on to suggest that our role as faith-based advocates, is about holding ourselves and others accountable. What was also made abundantly clear through the numerous discussions, exercises, videos and information was that as American citizens, despite our petty political, ideological and even class differences, we have far more in common with each other than not.

For example, what most citizens’ desire for themselves and their children are: economic opportunities and education as well as safety, security, health care etc. What may perhaps differ, is the way the way they believe it can all be achieved. To these ends, they instructed us to look beyond government rhetoric (of both political parties) and instead judge politicians by their budgetary policies and priorities, which quite literally effects every aspect of our lives, and provides an intimate glimpse of the values being put forward.

There was also a clear understanding and palatable anger about the ongoing injustices and growing inequity – and how these policies hit close to home for so many members of their congregations and community’s, who’s lives have been destroyed – as the disparity continues to grow.

One of the most powerful exercises demonstrated the dramatic rate that wealth disparity is increasing in this country. They went on to show how mainly due to the following factors (a few of which I’ve taken the liberty to add to myself):

– The rich, not having to pay their fair share in taxes.

– The Citizen’s United ruling, which says corporations are people and is as Berkeley City Council member Kriss Worthington put it “the single most drastic, damaging action of the Supreme Court in our lifetime. Pretty much every policy that the government votes on is going to be skewed by the super rich, who can afford to put millions of dollars into elections.”

– Those that created the ‘economic crisis’ are largely rewarded, while working class people juggle multiple jobs, just to make ends meet and are still unable to secure a future for themselves and their families.

– Meanwhile, with the military totaling over 54% of the Federal budget to conduct illegal wars and occupation, for the sake of profit for the rich/corporations, which inherently makes American’s less safe…as well as the Department of Homeland Security’s $60-billion budget (which as we see in Boston, yet still fails to protect Americans!)

– The focus on debt and austerity, which has devastated the lives of countless millions all over the world-which it was recently revealed, the rationale and justification for, such cuts in social services and spending, was built upon faulty/false data/information (*see article below, for more info).

What was also made clear was that how we think about the world, especially politicians, directly affects how the world works. By scrutinizing the government’s budget priorities-along with their subsequent policies; that demonstrate doing whatever it takes to get ahead, including being corrupt, cheating, stealing and killing – WE can hold our supposed democratic leaders accountable, and reject the values and example they have set.

In short, by looking at a lens of economics through our values and focusing less on government rhetoric, we can structurally adjust the way we look, think and speak about economics and as Americans, we can also overcome our petty political differences and all that divides us.

They also touched on a radical new approach to economics, which is called: ‘prosperity economics’ and stresses three pillars of prosperity: growth, security and democracy for ALL. We will get into the detail of that, as well as creating a Bay Area economic agenda – which I am esp. looking forward to being a part of, in the coming sessions!

Related Articles:
More and more kids in Greece are starving due to Austerity:

http://www.care2.com/causes/more-and-more-kids-in-greece-are-starving.html

4/18/13 Meet the 28-Year-Old Grad Student Who Just Shook the Global Austerity Movement, By Kevin Roose

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2013/04/grad-student-who-shook-global-austerity-movement.html

Egyptian Court and “Leftists” Shamelessly Conspire to Cut Gaza Lifeline

Last Tuesday, a Cairo court ruled that the “government must destroy all tunnels between Egypt and the Gaza Strip due to alleged security risks. President Mohamed Mursi’s national security adviser Essam Haddad said, Egypt would “not tolerate the two-way flow of smuggled arms through the tunnels that is destabilizing its Sinai peninsula.” Wael Hamdy, the “leftist” lawyer who brought the case said “I filed the case because I was worried about the state of national security in my country after the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood to power and its unclear policies and links with Hamas.”1

Hearing these sentiments reminded me of a common trend by Egypt’s so called “leftists” that repeat government propaganda and assigning misplaced blame (to the easiest scapegoat) on Palestinians in Gaza as the cause of some of their most serious problems. The most recent fowl attempt to destroy the tunnels by pouring sewage into them, as a way to deal with Sinai’s security issues strikes me as placing a band-aid on a bubbling volcano.

Even a shallow reflection of the causes of the volcanic eruptions spilled onto the Earth’s surface reveals deep contradictions in this logic. Firstly, nearly every family in the Sinai is heavily armed with an Ak-47, Katusha rocket, and/or RPG, including the Bedouin who are highly discriminated against by, and resentful of the Egyptian government as well as ‘Jihadists’ that have taken refuge there and were heavily armed by the West, during the NATO invasion of Libya – (and which is well documented that they entered the Sinai, through Sudan and Libya)

To better understand the situation in Gaza as it relates to the tunnels, the Rafah border and security in the Sinai/Egypt, we must first recognize that Hamas was democratically elected, and came to power in 2007. Yet Israel’s closure of the Gaza Strip has been a policy since 1994-long before Israel and the US severely intensified the siege. The current intensification which began in 2007 was in direct response to, and solely designed to collectively punish Gazans for voting in a way that was unfavorable to Western/Israeli ‘democracy’. Since then, Gaza has been completely sealed off from the rest of the world – caged in, locked out – by land, by air and by sea.

The Palestinian Center for Human Rights describes the US/Israeli closure “as a form of collective punishment by the Israeli authorities. The current closure regime violates numerous principles of international humanitarian law and international human rights law.”

So when Egyptians speak of security, it must be clear that only cause for concern is Egyptian security – since thousands of Palestinians have been indiscriminately massacred by Israeli attacks, while trapped inside Gaza with no escape, due to Egypt’s role in the imposed siege. In which case, it’s well worth noting that an estimated 60% of residents in Rafah and Al-Arish on the Egyptian side are Palestinian and most have families on both sides of the border; so there is quite literally no difference between the people.
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In essence, what this lawsuit does is officially close the only remaining lifeline for Palestinians, denying them of their most basic human needs and quite literally has Gazans, sleeping in the rubble of their homes. This will effectively succeed in strangling the strip – and accelerate the somewhat slow paced genocide, far more dramatically.

Also, it must be stated that by upholding the closure Egyptians are complicit and equally responsible in aiding and abetting the zionist aims of starving, depriving and punishing the people of Gaza for the sin of participating in democracy, while being Palestinian.

It seems that most Egyptians are somehow deluded into thinking the siege will make them more safe, secure, strong or free. Many of the same Egyptians would concede it would be better if the border was open and operating freely, as it would ensure the authorities to oversee the flow of goods – which would solve all of the above stated problems – not to mention add millions in tax revenue for the Egyptian people.

Most importantly, since Mursi became president and after “retiring” Tantawi and Anan – these so called “leftists” seem to have completely disregarded the most significant player in Egyptian politics: the Egyptian military industrial complex – which controls up to 40% of the economy and has a long, deep, direct relationship with the U.S. military industrial complex. It seems to fine with them that the ‘security’ of the Egyptian revolution is completely compromised to US business interests, along with their Saudi/Qatari alliance plus the IMF and U.S. banks, which are guaranteed to lock the status quo; and will never make Egypt strong or free!

In fact that Camp David actually limits the number of Egyptian soldiers in the Sinai, which must be approved by Israel before increasing troop levels, or heightening security – which is a security recipe for disaster–and yet another huge cause of past and future eruptions, just waiting to happen.1

That’s why to use “security” as a basis of the claim to destroy tunnels, brings up the deep contradiction which is not rational or based on proof – it completely undermines the stated goal of ‘security’, and disregards the logical solution altogether.

The problems in the Sinai are like the lava that is created deep within the Earth, which begin to rise deep within the surface, when they are ignored. When these gas bubbles build up pressure over time and reach the surface, the high pressure inside will cause them to burst explosively on reaching the atmosphere. The situation in the Sinai are waiting to erupt – which will inevitably cause an explosive situation and one that we have not yet begun to see, in terms of ‘security’ if not properly addressed. This is the time to look deep inside, to understand and analyze the depths of the magma within.

Egypt-Gaza tunnels must be destroyed: Cairo court, CAIRO | Feb 26, 2013 2:07pm EST http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/26/us-palestinians-tunnels-egypt-idUSBRE91P0UV20130226

Samer Issawi Joins Mandela, MLK, Gandhi in Legendary Struggle for Freedom, Justice, Dignity

Palestinian political prisoner and super hero Samer Issawi has been on hunger strike for 202 days – literally starving for justice – for the world to open their eyes, ears and hearts to his plight, and the plight of his people.

I often hear well-meaning liberals ask, “where is the Palestinian Nelson Mandela, MLK or Gandhi?”.

Ironically today in 1990 Nelson Mandela, after being imprisoned for 27 years, was released. Mandela, like Issawi was also jailed for struggling for not only his freedom, but the freedom of his people. Mandela was a member of the the African National Congress (ANC), which is the oldest black political organization in South Africa and was, like Hamas, designated by the white, racist, ruling class-as a terrorist organization.

Today Samer Issawi is hanging on by a string, for his life. But the truth is he’s been dying a slow painful death, since the day he was arrested – without charge or trial – in a process called “administrative detention” by Israeli occupation forces. Administrative detention is a nice, sterilized term which allows Israeli/zionist forces to arbitrarily kidnap, arrest, torture and harass any Palestinian, at any given moment.

And to be precise, he was rearrested - after having served 11 years in Israeli dungeons. Issawi was previously sentenced to 30 years by Israel in 2002 and was among freed Palestinian prisoners who were released in October 2011 under a prisoner exchange deal between Hamas and Israel. However, this time Israel reneged and rearrested him eight months later, as it did in previous prisoner exchange deals.
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What is also quite ironic and astonishing, is that Gandhi’s longest hunger strike from prison lasted merely 21 days. This is truly nothing to scoff at. However, what makes Samer beyond amazing is that he has lasted nearly 10 times as long without food – despite being beaten, abused, humiliated, in freezing conditions – while both he AND his family were living through hell and under constant attack by his captors.

But, unlike Mandela, Gandhi, and King – because he is Palestinian and our lives mean nothing to those in power, their was no global outcry. No attempt by so called democratic governments, or human rights organizations to intervene.

What Martin Luther King, Jr. meant when he said “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor” explains what comes as no surprise to some of us, that the media has been completely silent about Samer’s case. Clearly, they are not telling us the truth (about anything), except for what their corporate sponsors want us to know-and why their has been absolutely no media coverage of any of this reality. Nor has a single US government official, who not only admit, but praise their “unbreakable bond” with this criminal regime, who have made these abuses possible with US tax dollars.

That’s why each and everyone of us has a critically important role to play in furthering justice for Samer, for Palestine, and for ALL those who struggle to further these righteous aims. The only voice to amplify Samer’s message to the world, points to the only hope and power that’s been illustrated in the struggle for justice, today-and that is, the voice of the people. Twitter activists globally who attempt to amplify his case by “trending” on twitter, reminds me of the ISM, the flotilla‘s and other activists trying to reach the world with this message of justice-since we know that governments, media and so called human rights organizations are not going to do the right thing. The choice is ours alone.

The question that remains is: when the next oppressed people begin to rise up against this oppressive system will we say: Why isn’t their a Samer Issawi – and/or will we learn from these inspirational leaders that have taught us that dignity, freedom and justice, are indeed more important than food – and well worth living, and dying for.

‘Hungry’ – by Doc Jazz
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOxOWAHesKI&feature=youtu.be

The Pain Caused by Guns Has No Borders – Over 100,000 Mexicans have been killed, in US’s failed “war on drugs” since 2006

(Versión en español abajo)
The Pain Caused by Guns Has No Borders

Victims of violence in Mexico, Javier Sicilia, and organizations from Mexico and the United States, gathered in the Second Conference of the Movement for Peace with Justice and Dignity in Mexico City on January 27, 2013, express our support for President Obama’s proposals that to stop the epidemic of violence with firearms, including assault weapons, that afflicts communities in both the United States and Mexico. We urge people of both countries to support these changes that are so urgent for preventing more atrocities with firearms.

Mexico is suffering the consequences of the unrestricted sale of military-style weapons in the United States. More than 100,000 Mexicans, among them 1,800 children less than 15 years old, have been killed in the failed war on drugs in Mexico since 2006. The great majority were victims of firearms, and 68% of firearms recovered at crime scenes in Mexico and traced between 2007 and 2011 were sold in the United States.

Assault weapons have had an especially devastating impact in Mexico, where organized crime desires these weapons to commit atrocities and control markets and territory. Besides homicides, guns are also used to disappear thousands of people, intimidate the population, and commit other crimes.

“We embrace the pain of the mothers and fathers in the United States who have lost children to gun violence, because my own son was disappeared in Michoacán with a firearm,” said Araceli Rodríguez, mother of Luis Ángel León Rodríguez.

A recent study from the University of Notre Dame shows that the expiration in 2004 of the assault weapons ban in the United States caused at least 2,684 additional homicides in Mexico in the following four years.

The massive homicides with guns also have had an intense psychological impact on children, thousands of them made into orphans by the murders of their parents with firearms. Other children have been witnesses to the murders of their parents, like the seven-year-old daughter of journalist Armando Rodríguez, killed with ten shots in front of her in 2008.

There is only one legal gun vendor in Mexico, so that the black market created by the weapons trafficking from the United States is the principle source of assault weapons, pistols, rifles and revolvers for criminal organizations in Mexico.

On January 14, Javier Sicilia and researcher Sergio Aguayo presented a petition from more than 54,000 people from Mexico and the United States to the United States Embassy in Mexico City, demanding an end to gun trafficking from the United States to Mexico. In the coming weeks, Sicilia, the Movement for Peace, and representatives of Mexican civil society will follow up on the petition to talk with U.S. representatives about the shared responsibility for violence in Mexico.

Proposed legislation in the United States includes universal background checks for every person that attempts to buy a firearm. Universal background checks are important to stop the illegal re-sale of weapons acquired by legally qualified individuals. Such gun purchases, known as “straw purchases,” are the way the large majority of guns end up in the hands of criminals.

On Wednesday, January 30, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing to consider how to address proposals to control gun sales. We want the Senate to consider the impact that failed gun policies have had in Mexico as well as the United States.

We hope that the United States does not forget the suffering caused in the families, children and people of Mexico by the open gun market in the United States.

Movement for Peace with Justice and Dignity

Grassroots Assembly of Migrant Families (APOFAM)

Latin America Working Group (LAWG)

Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR)

Witness for Peace

National Alliance of Latin American and Caribbean Communities

Propuesta Cívica

Center for International Policy, Americas Program

Comité Espacio Ciudadano

Iniciativa Ciudadana para la Promoción de la Cultura del Diálogo A.C.

National Center for Social Communication (CENCOS)

Churches for Peace (Iglesias por la Paz)

Service for Peace and Justice (SERPAJ)-México

Center for Ecumenical Studies

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El Dolor Causado por las Armas de Fuego No Tiene Fronteras

Víctimas de la violencia en México, el poeta Javier Sicilia, y organizaciones mexicanas y de Estados Unidos, reunidos en el Segundo Encuentro del Movimiento por la Paz con Justicia y Dignidad en la Ciudad de México el 27 de enero de 2013, expresamos nuestro apoyo a las propuestas del Presidente Obama que buscan detener la epidemia de violencia con armas de fuego, incluyendo armas de asalto, que afligen tanto a las comunidades de Estados Unidos como a las de México. Rogamos a la sociedad de ambos países apoyar estos cambios tan urgentes para prevenir más atrocidades con armas de fuego.

México está sufriendo las consecuencias de la venta sin restricciones de armas del estilo militar en los Estados Unidos. Más de 100,000 mexicanos, entre ellos 1,800 niños de menos de 15 años de edad, han sido asesinados en la fracasada guerra contra el narco en México desde 2006. La gran mayoría fue víctima de armas de fuego y sesenta y ocho porciento de las armas recuperadas en escenas de crimen en México y rastreadas entre 2007 y 2011 fueron vendidas en Estados Unidos.

Las armas de asalto han tenido un impacto especialmente devastador en México, donde el crimen organizado desea esas armas para cometer atrocidades y controlar mercados y territorios. Aparte de los homicidios, los armas de fuego se usan para desaparecer a miles de personas, intimidar a la población y cometer otros delitos.

“Abrazamos el dolor de las madres y padres en Estados Unidos quienes han perdido hijos por las armas de fuego, porque mi propio hijo fue desaparecido en Michoacán con un arma de fuego,” dijo Araceli Rodríguez, madre de Luis Ángel León Rodríguez.

Un estudio reciente de la Universidad de Notre Dame muestra que la expiración en 2004 de la prohibición de armas de asalto en Estados Unidos causó por lo menos 2,684 homicidios adicionales en México en los cuatro años siguientes.

Los homicidios masivos con armas de fuego también han tenido un impacto sicológico muy fuerte en los niños, miles de ellos hechos huérfanos por los homicidios de sus padres con armas de fuego. Otros niños han sido testigos de los asesinatos de sus familiares, como la hija de siete años de Armando Rodríguez, asesinado con 10 disparos frente a ella en 2008.

En México sólo existe una armería legal, por lo que el mercado negro proveniente del tráfico de armas de Estados Unidos es la fuente principal de armas de asalto, pistolas, rifles, y revólveres para las organizaciones criminales en México.

Javier Sicilia y el investigador Sergio Aguayo presentaron a la Embajada de Estados Unidos el 14 de enero las firmas de más de 54,000 personas de México y Estados Unidos, exigiendo poner un alto al tráfico de armas de Estados Unidos a México. En las semanas que vienen, Sicilia, el Movimiento por la Paz y representantes de la sociedad civil van a dar seguimiento a la petición para hablar de la responsabilidad compartida por la violencia en México.

La legislación propuesta en Estados Unidos incluye la obligación universal de revisar antecedentes de toda persona que intenta comprar un arma. La revisión universal de antecedentes es importante para detener las re-ventas ilegales de armas adquiridas por personas legalmente calificadas. Estas re-ventas son la forma en que la gran mayoría de armas terminan en manos de los delincuentes.

El miércoles 30 de enero, la Comisión Judicial en el Senado de Estados Unidos tendrá una audiencia en la que considerará como se va a tratar las propuestas para controlar la venta de armas. Queremos que el Senado considere el impacto que las políticas fallidas sobre armas han tenido tanto en México como en Estados Unidos.

Esperamos que Estados Unidos no olvide el sufrimiento que causa entre las familias, los niños y el pueblo de México, el mercado abierto de armas de fuego en los Estados Unidos.

Firman:

Movimiento por la Paz con Justicia y Dignidad

Asamblea Popular de Familias Migrantes (APOFAM)
Grupo de Trabajo sobre Asuntos Latinoamericanos (LAWG)
Global Exchange

Movimiento de Reconciliación (FOR)

Acción Permanente por la Paz

Alianza Nacional de Comunidades Latinoamericanas y Caribeñas (NALACC)

Propuesta Cívica

Centro sobre la Política Internacional, Programa de las Américas

Comité Espacio Ciudadano

Iniciativa Ciudadana para la Promoción de la Cultura del Diálogo A.C.

Centro Nacional de Comunicación Social (CENCOS)

Iglesias por la Paz

Servicio Paz y Justicia (SERPAJ)-México

Centro de Estudios Ecuménicos

Support Beit Convivencia: An International Community Network

Introducing: Beit Convivencia; Devoted to Restorative Justice, Truth-Telling and Community Empowerment.

Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb and I Noura Khouri (see below for bios) are seeking organizational partners that are committed to support, promote and uphold the following vision:

Beit Convivencia defined
Beit means house in both Arabic and Hebrew and points to the deep linguistic, spiritual and cultural similarities among the Abrahamic branches of the human family. The Spanish word Convivencia refers to The Golden Age of Al-Andalus (Spain) during the time which Muslims, Christians and Jews lived well together and produced a rich outpouring of literature, poetry, musical innovation, architecture, scientific knowledge, mathematics, trade and relative peace. The name Beit Convivencia draws upon this period to inspire the human family in our collective pursuit of peaceful living. Convivencia means living well together.

Mission
Beit Convivencia is first and foremost committed to building a social justice based (cross-movement) network – and will provide services that seeks to put an end to militarized solutions and violence to deal with conflict, in our schools, communities and world. We address the root cause of violence, and promote communities struggling nonviolently for peace, social justice and a better world. The mission of Beit Convivencia is dedicated to education, advocacy and furthering human rights organizing in a multifaith, multicultural and intergenerational context, which is meant to reflect the diversity of the communities, and world we live in.

Vision
Beit Convivencia seeks to support, promote and bring together networks of justice based activists. Beit Convivencia is a place where justice based groups and communities can creatively work together to transform states of conflict and militarized policies into environments that support those grounded in a peaceful vision for the future.

Beit Convivencia is an intentional community which aims, through public witness and modeling, to build a world without violence, both locally and abroad. We will lead an annual delegation to Palestine, and use technology to connect with communities that share a similar vision, throughout the world. The ultimate mission of Beit Convivencia is to create a model for harmonious community living, for the purpose of sharing the wisdom of our traditions, and learning from our diversity and the commonality of our struggles. This will be accomplished through popular education, understanding and analyzing historical models of nonviolence, and experimenting with the best available social change strategies that are able to weave our hopes, dreams and actions into a peaceful future.

Goals
Beit Convivencia will be available as a service dedicated to schools, community groups, youth and women based organizations, and to people dedicated to active nonviolence and truth-telling to achieve human rights and social justice for the purpose of community empowerment. Beit Convivencia is a place to build community, hold events, workshops and meetings, make art, empower leadership, heal the wounds of violence, and share nonviolent methods of transforming conflict.

During the first year, our short term goals are to provide the following services
1) Hold nonviolence and anti-racism training and workshops;
2) Host regular community discussions and meetings to organize, discuss local issues related to violence prevention and intervention, and deepen peacemaking and conflict resolution skills in the context of cross movement building;
3) Design fundraising, media, outreach campaigns for Beit Convivencia, and other justice based organizational partners.
4) Provide consulting services for those who are interested in creating and/or growing a space devoted to the practice of active and culturally based nonviolence.

Long term goals
• To provide a safe, open and creative space where social justice activists, community organizers, and artists are able to share cultural, communal and individual visions of Convivencia in a respectful and generative atmosphere;
• Promote peacemaking and reconciliation traditions found within our respective spiritual, cultural, indigenous and artistic traditions as sources of inspiration and guidance in our pursuit of social justice and reconciliation;
• Examine patterns of structural violence and oppression that impact our communities and work collaboratively to face violence with nonviolence
• Overcome divisions that separate us, and celebrate the diversity that enriches us;
• Nurture the ‘arts of nonviolent resistance’ and various forms of artistic direct action to resist violence and build peace
• Work to transform faith-based conflicts using contemporary methods of nonviolence as well as traditional resources that lift up the best aspects of our ancient wisdom and traditions.

How:

Beit Convivencia will create a safe space for participants to give voice to their life experiences, including their struggles, challenges – and creative responses to violence. We will engage a participant oriented process of channeling our collective experiences into various forms of groups and artistic expression, popular education workshops and classes, organizing meetings, delegations, peace walks and community gardening.

Our living space will includes a room for prayer, meditation and spiritual reflection that is sensitive to the diversity of our practices, and does not misrepresent or dilute the fullness of our respective traditions. We will also send our staff to locations in North America and the Middle East with delegations of young people and elders to deepen our capacity to build a global movement for peace. Beit Convivencia has two delegations scheduled for Israel/Palestine this coming year as well as four interfaith peace-walk sites in the United States.

To find out how you can get involved, email right2return@gmail.com.

Who:
Organizational sponsor – Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR): Since 1915, FOR has carried on programs and educational projects concerned with domestic and international peace and justice, nonviolent alternatives to conflict, and the rights of conscience. For more see: http://forusa.org.

Residential staff and our network of justice activists and organizational partners provide us with a rich community of individuals committed to social justice and conflict transformation within a multicultural, intergenerational and mutlifaith context. We include artists, activists, community organizers, researchers and members of faith based communities. For more info see our bios below.

To donate, please write checks to Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR). Thank you for your commitment and support in building the future, and another world – which we know is possible, IF we all work together to create it!

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BIOS

Noura Khouri is a Palestinian, born in the US, after her parents fled Palestine following the war of 1967. For the past 13 years, Noura has worked full time as a human rights activist/consultant, campaign strategist and community organizer in the Bay Area, Palestine and Egypt. Noura studied International Relations at San Francisco State and from 2005-2007, lived in Palestine and worked with Badil Resource and Residency Center, Al Haq Human Rights and Holy Land Trust – gaining a first hand education on life, international law and human rights (or lack thereof) under occupation.

In 2007, Noura worked for Peace Action West and managed a ‘Voter for Peace’ campaign, in Las Vegas, NV, to lobby all candidates for the Presidential elections on an end to wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and end to nuclear weapons, beginning in the US. In 2008, Noura fulfilled a long time dream, when she along with the Bay Area community of activists raised $30K in donations for a “Nakba 60 Free Palestine Peace and Solidarity Fest” – bringing together Palestinian hop-hop group DAM, and other artists and musicians from all backgrounds, to commemorate the 60th anniversary of al-Nakba (or catastrophe). The event was an all day free concert, which took place in front of San Francisco’s City Hall.

Shortly after in 2008, Noura and Rabbi Lynn began their work with American Friends Service Committee and jointly ran the Middle East Peace program for 3 1/2 years. During this time they conceived and implemented many successful programs – including Citizen Hearings on the Effect of US Weapons on Civilians in Gaza, in San Francisco’s Department of Public Health, and led a number of lobbying delegations, including to Washington DC to visit Congress. Noura and Lynn also began an independent network of justice activists in the Bay Area, under the Palestine Solidarity Network (PSN), which is active to this day. Noura lived in Cairo, Egypt from April 2011-December 2012, where she came to connect and work with, Egyptian and other human right activists – and learn about the Egyptian revolution, first hand.

Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb

Lynn is a long time social justice activist, performing and visual artist and community organizer. As of September 2012, Lynn entered her 40th year of rabbinic service. She was one of the first women to become a rabbi.

Lynn served Temple Beth Or of the Deaf (1973-1979) and created Mishkan, A Shul (1975-1980) in NYC. In 1982, Lynn moved to Albuquerque, NM where she cofounded Congregation Nahalat Shalom in Albuquerque, NM which she served for 22 years before her retirement from pulpit life. Lynn has been a member of The Fellowship of Reconciliation since the mid-1970′s. She staffed The Jewish Peace Fellowship (1979-1981) and has lead many delegations to Israel and Palestine (1998 to the present), and Iran. In 2001, she co-founded The Muslim Jewish Peacewalk with Abdul Rauf Campos Marquetti and brought the peacewalk to 18 communities throughout the United States and Canada. The Peacewalk is currently in its tenth year (now called Interfaith Peacewalk). In 2011, with Dara Wells Hajjar, Lynn cofounded M.A.P. Mural Arts in Palestine. \

Lynn is author of She Who Dwells Within: A Feminist Revision of Judaism (Harper SF 1995). Her’ writing appears in more than 40 publications, and her latest book Trail Guide to the Torah of Nonviolence will be published this winter in French and English. Lynn is a storyteller, percussionist and ceremonial artist. She has performed at The Public Theatre in NY, the Mark Taper Forum in LA and to audiences around the world. She co-founded The Rebbe’s Orkestra in Albuquerque, NM with Beth Cohen and played percussion and led dancing.

From 2004-2009, Lynn worked for Interfaith Inventions and led wilderness peace camps that brought together young people from diverse communities in California. Lynn moved to the Bay Area in 2009 to work for The American Friends Service Committee. She and Noura co-directed Middle East Programing until a funding cut which eliminated their programing. In 2010, Lynn moved to the East coast to help set up The Community of Living Traditions with Rabia Terri Harris and Rick and Kitty Ufford Chase in Stony Point, New York where she created: Farm the Land, Grow the Spirit and The Arts of Resistance programing. In September 2012, Lynn returned to the Bay Area to be close to her son Nataniel and to continue her work promoting reconciliation in an urban setting. Lynn currently serves on the board of Jews in All Hues and the Rabbinic Council of The Jewish Peace Fellowship and coordinates programing for The Interfaith Peacewalk Project of The Fellowship of Reconciliation, along with M.A.P (Mural Arts in Palestine) and Shomer Shalom Network for Jewish Nonviolence.

Please Help Us Celebrate, Not Appropriate-Palestinian film ’5 Broken Cameras’ Oscar Nomination!

In a historic victory, the excellent and riveting newly released documentary ‘5 Broken Cameras‘ which documents the non-violent struggle against the loss of Palestinian land by the construction of the nearby settlement and the apartheid wall-was nominated for an Oscar this year. The film about the Palestinian people, was made by a Palestinian film maker, and takes place in the Palestinian village of Bil’in. Whether due to malicious intent, even maybe due to sheer confusion, or perhaps because it was co-directed by an Israeli – the media however has taken the liberty to sabotage it, as an “Israeli film” – thus putting a major damper on celebrations.

As Palestinians, this fact alone is a severe blow to our national pride and is annoying, but that’s not the worst part! To make matters worse and what really makes it a disaster, is what kind of message does it send to the unknowing reader?? An article, in the liberal leaning Huffington Post clearly demonstrates the conundrum and bitter sweet victory, that this Oscar nomination brings. To your average reader, the article states the obvious point, in saying: ”Israel’s overall image in the world has taken a beating because of the decades-long conflict with the Palestinians.”

FINALLY! After over six decades of brutalized struggle, trying desperately, mainly in vain – to hold on to their land, this “beating” to the Israeli image (which is really the truth finally beginning to emerge, as is clearly exemplified in this film) that Palestinians and activists from all over the world-have been struggling tirelessly – at great personal cost, to convey to the world has finally begun to penetrate the main stream.

What comes in the very next sentence of the article, however, makes the exact point that threatens to effectively undermine all the hard work and upholds the false illusion of ‘democracy’ that the apartheid state works so hard to create. The article actually goes on to state: ”but even critics say its film industry shows that Israel remains a vibrant democracy.”!!!

Come again!

The bottom line is that creating one set of laws for one group of people, i.e. “Jews” and another one for “non-Jews”, makes it inherently impossible and therefore intellectually dishonest, to call it a democracy (click here to read more about, Israel’s illusionary democracy/system). In fact, the term ‘apartheid’ comes from apart or separate – as in laws, i.e. as was in the case of apartheid South Africa, which is why so many have come to use the term to describe Israel’s system.

Since zionists can’t silence it, they will do what they do best and appropriate it, then lie about its origins. Incidentally, that’s why there are strict guidelines against “normalization“. When this films gets recognized for its amazing work -at great personal risk to the film makers, the struggle of people of the village of Bil’in and all of Palestine – it is no doubt a victory. But the question is, who ultimately gains the most… on the back of Palestinians…yet Again…?!

Cause to Celebrate or Will Zionists Appropriate?

WE MUST BE VIGILANT!! SUGGESTIONS TO PLEASE HELP SPREAD THE WORD about this legendary Palestinian film of nonviolent resistance that so many have sacrificed, with their bodies and their lives for. 

1) ANY TIME YOU SEE OR HEAR IT CALLED AN ISRAELI FILM, PLEASE REPORT IT HERE

2) POST COMMENTS ON ANY MEDIA REPORTING ON THE FILM, AS PALESTINIAN! Let this film be for the purpose it was meant – to educate, and to raise our voice and just struggle to the world, and bring us one step closer to ending the cultural, and all appropriation of the Palestinian people and cause for freedom and justice, ONCE AND FOR ALL!

3) WRITE YOUR OWN BLOGPOST AND/OR OP-ED ALERTING READERS TO THIS ISSUE AND ASK THEM TO SHARE, THEN DO SUGGESTIONS 1 & 2

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!! AND FOLLOW #BABALSHAMS TO READ ABOUT THE LATEST PALESTINIAN NONVIOLENT RESISTANCE AGAINST SETTLEMENTS & LAND THEFT..

1) Huffington Post – ‘The Gatekeepers,’ ’5 Broken Cameras’: Israeli Documentaries Shortlisted For Oscar” – By Daniel Estrin 01/03/13http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/03/the-gatekeepers-5-broken-cameras_n_2404714.html

Israeli Illusionary Democracy: Beyond Apartheid

By Noura Khouri - Article from 2007

The saying that occupation exists best in the dark explains one reason for the controversy surrounding the use of the term Apartheid to describe the Israeli system. It also explains why what is a clear and simple fact to those intimately acquainted with the reality on the ground has caused so much confusion or strife among those who are not.

Generally speaking, there are three sides to the debate about the use of the term to describe Israel’s political system and its comparison with South African Apartheid. Staunch Zionist defenders are completely against the use of the term, charging it as ‘anti-Semitic’, with no thoughtful discussion of the issues. By dismissing the criticism as a personal attack, they fail to account for the basic facts and reality on the ground and reveal their limitations in understanding or wanting to know the severe injustices, committed in their name. Then there are activists, academic and legal experts who support the use of the term.

As a matter of convenience, they borrow the term from the oppressive South African regime, which most people know to be reprehensible, in order to strengthen the Palestinian case. They argue that although the term may not be entirely representative of the situation – the underlying racism and discrimination are the same. They would add that, due to the advances made in South Africa in ending oppression, it is useful to leverage the parallels and draw on the successes of the anti-Apartheid movement, as a means for building the boycott-Israel campaign. Finally, even amongst Palestinians and solidarity activists, there are internal disagreements about the use of the term. Critics say, that because the term “Apartheid” is borrowed from South Africa, it fails to portray the complexity of the Israeli system and in fact, causes more confusion rather than understanding.

Most well intentioned people however, would agree that the only way to end the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict is to first engage in honest analysis of the situation. Still, generalities are made, distinctions are muddled and people with the best of intentions are often left alone to interpret meanings, or worse, completely confused by the insidious details of the system at work.

Jimmy Carter’s well intended book titled, Palestine Peace Not Apartheid, is an example which in fact feeds into these misconceptions. He asserts that Apartheid is found in the West Bank and Gaza Strip but ignores the regime existing inside Israel, thereby implying that the situation there is fine. Yet, inside Israel the comparison with Apartheid is more accurate; the case can be made from the basic laws alone, and the result is cultural genocide(¹) of the Palestinian identity within Israel.

The system of domination and militarized control of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip is actually, more accurately described as one on the path of ethnocide.(²) Although the means of the Zionist settler project may vary within Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory (OPT), the goals are the same and should be analyzed as such: its demographic objectives and colonization of all of historic Palestine (“Eretz” Israel) translate into the dispossession and transfer of Palestinians.

Still, Zionist leaders know that to the outside world they must walk the fine line and uphold the appearance of a democracy while maintaining the Jewish state. As both Israel and the Palestinian people are extremely dependent – economically, politically and in the realm of public relations – the conflict ultimately becomes a war of public opinion. Perhaps this is why Israel’s main success lies in its public relations campaign. Indeed, over the years, Zionist leaders have engaged in the world’s most brilliant and cunning PR campaign. Adding to the complexity, confusion and profound misunderstanding of the state of Israel is perhaps the fact that Israel is one of the most multi-cultural places on earth. In South Africa racist practice was identified much more easily; it manifested itself in separate laws for “Whites”, and “non-Whites” based on the color of one’s skin. In Israel, you are either a Jew, whether religious or not (which makes it a matter of race), or a non-Jew.

For Israel, as was for the Apartheid South Africa, the goals are/were colonial and imperialistic in nature. However, in former South Africa, the system of control and separation was designed to expropriate the valuable natural resources for the ruling minority through oppression of the natives, who did not enjoy the right to vote. Whites there were the extreme minority; they therefore realized the impossibility of upholding even a fallacy of a democracy, and laws were made and upheld by and for the ruling class. The Palestinian populations of the OPT and Israel will soon surpass the number of Jews. Hence, the question of how to achieve and maintain the demographic majority of Jews in Palestine has become the single most important obsession of Israel’s leaders. The fact that Palestinians in Israel are allowed to vote adds to the confusion and the illusion of democracy. Moreover, the basic laws in Israel, and countless military orders in the OPT, which exclude Palestinians are so deeply embedded in the fabric of Israeli Apartheid, that they are seldom questioned in a systematic manner.

As a result, the point which begs understanding – although obvious to Palestinians, anti-Zionist Jews and other scholars – is that Israel as a state ‘for Jews’ leads directly to the oppression and subjugation of Palestinians. Herein lies the inherent racism against Palestinians on both sides of the ‘Green Line’: either we come to terms with Jewish superiority and Israel’s “right to exist” as it is as “Greater Israel,” or we cannot ‘coexist’ at all. The implication is that it is naïve, unrealistic, perhaps ideal but definitely impossible, to live as equals on this land, if Israel continues to be allowed to define itself exclusively as a Jewish state. This message advanced clearly by representatives of Palestinians in Israel in their “Future Vision of Palestinian Arabs in Israel:”

Defining the Israeli State as a Jewish State and exploiting democracy in the service of its Jewishness excludes us, and creates tension between us and the nature and essence of the State. Therefore, we call for a Consensual Democratic system that enables us to be fully active in the decision –making process and guarantee our individual and collective civil, historic, and national rights.(³)

Israeli ‘Democracy’: The Formula for Dispossession

Since the inception of the state, the basis of Zionist ideology and Apartheid has been manifest in Israel’s Law of Return of 1950, which states that any Jew in the world, spanning three generations, is allowed to ‘return’ to the ‘promised land’ of over 2000 years ago. This stands in stark contrast to the laws for Palestinians who are forbidden to return to their own homes of just 60 years ago. This law alone, makes it impossible to construct, much less uphold, a democratic system. Such discrimination contradicts every democratic principle and the otherwise universally recognized right of 6 million 1948 Palestinian refugees, who are entitled to Israeli nationality based on the right of return and the law of state succession.

Since 1950, the Absentee Property Law has ensured that the new immigrant settlers find a comfortable home in the properties belonging to those who fled or were forced to leave because of Zionist terrorism during the 1948 War. The same law was later applied to Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip after the 1967 war. Property rights were transferred to the Custodian of Absentee Property without compensation and effective appeal. In the OPT the seized land has been used predominately for military bases, Jewish-only bypass roads, and settlements. So-called “state land” also allows for the Apartheid “roads and tunnels plan”. Israel is currently in the process of completing 24 tunnels for Palestinians to drive through and connect with their Palestinian prison-islands, and paving the 56 settler-only Apartheid roads for Jews only to travel on!(⁴)

In order to prevent additional Palestinians from becoming Israeli citizens, against international law, on 14 May 2006, the Supreme Court of Israel, issued a decision to uphold the racist Nationality and Entry into Israel Law of 2003, which violates the right of Israeli citizens to family reunification with their Palestinian spouses from the OPT.

These laws combined with countless supplemental policies result in the cleansing of Palestinians and the population of the land with Zionist settlers. The suffering of Palestinian residents of Jerusalem has reached tragic proportions; while illegally annexed to Israel, they are considered “permanent residents” whose residency permits can be taken away if they go abroad for more than 7 years. Jews may have dual citizenship, but a non-Jewish Jerusalemite loses residency if acquiring additional citizenship. Palestinian communities in East Jerusalem are enduring the same systematic process as those in the rest of the West Bank as the Wall leads to house demolitions, property confiscation, forced displacement, isolation and denial of access to social services. Such practices found in Jerusalem, can also be seen from the Galilee to the Naqab and the Jordan Valley. It all adds up into one bigger picture, and the larger context, its analysis and the recipe become clear to see.

It is time to define our own terms and claim our rights, in practice and as enshrined in human rights conventions and international law. In addition to the concept of Apartheid, it is critical we challenge the acquiescence to cultural genocide and ethnocide, in part and in full.

Noura Khouri is a Palestinian American activist who has written on the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories. This is a shortened and edited version of a longer article which can be found in full at: http://palestinehumanrights.blogspot.com/

Endnotes:

(1) Article 7 of the “United Nations draft declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples” defines Cultural genocide as (a) Any action which has the aim or effect of depriving them of their integrity as distinct peoples, or of their cultural values or ethnic identities; (b) Any action which has the aim or effect of dispossessing them of their lands, territories or resources; (c) Any form of population transfer which has the aim or effect of violating or undermining any of their rights; (d) Any form of assimilation or integration by other cultures or ways of life imposed on them by legislative, administrative or otherwise.

(2) Raphael Lemkin, the linguist and lawyer coined the term genocide as “the union of the Greek word genos (race, tribe) and the Latin cide (killing), used ethnocide as an alternative form representing the same concept, using the Greek ethnos (nation) in place of genos.” The broader definition of ethnocide may be useful in addressing perceived shortcomings and restrictions of genocide law and in identifying cultural destruction when it occurs by less violent and less visible means (All Experts Online Encyclopedia: http://en.allexperts.com/e/r/ra/raphael_lemkin.htm)

(3) The National Committee for the Heads of the Arab Local Authorities in Israel, of the Palestinian Arabs in Israel presented titled, A Manifesto for the “Future Vision of Palestinian Arabs in Israel”.

(4) Negotiations Support Unit Website –

http://www.nad-plo.org/inner.php?view=palisraeli_Roads_faq%20roadfinal

Aid Projects – #Gaza

The following is for those who have asked to give directly to families, rather than donating through aid organizations and/or NGO’s:

Thank you so much for your offer of support and solidarity to the people of Gaza. I’ve talked to some trusted allies and this is what we need to know, in order to best facilitate the process.

Estimates from $300 million in total damages, to $700 million in indirect losses, from this massacre. So there is no shortage of people, projects or potential projects to give to. But, in order to make sure the funds are going to the best sources, please answer the following questions:

1) What are you most interested in giving to? From what I’ve gathered, for the meantime it seems most of the injured are getting treated. But what is more urgent, are those that need their homes built. From this bombing campaign – Around 200 buildings were completely destroyed and 8,000 other damaged during the conflict and 92 homes were completely destroyed.  There area also still many injured and homes destroyed from the last, 2008/09 massacre. Or???

2) Also, how much in funding are we talking about? The amount available will give us a better idea of how the funds can be best spent…and or are we talking about an individual case basis, or several/large projects??

The more detailed information you can provide, the better I can help facilitate it to make sure it’s best spent and goes to the right people.

Thank you for your support!

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If you would like to give to a trusted NGO, Middle East Children’s Alliance is collecting funds for Emergency Aid for Gaza: 

Help MECA provide whatever is needed most—food, medicine, blankets, warm clothing—to children and families in Gaza.

MECA is a tax-exempt 501(c) 3 organization. Your gift is tax-deductible. 

An important note: I typically do not believe in giving charity with regards to Palestine work, as the Palestinian issue, is not a humanitarian cause. If one is to do humanitarian work, it must be done in parallel with working for long term/justice based solutions! #BDS #Ror etc. 

#AUC convoy, elevates Egypt/Palestine relations

During ‘Operation Pillar Cloud’ Israel’s most recent bombardment of the besieged Gaza Strip, I was invited to attend a delegation to Gaza, led by students from the American University of Cairo (AUC). The delegation was organized by the student union – which is made up of elected representatives of the students on campus. The students decided on their own, and of course without any support by the university administration – to collect donations and take a convoy of 90 students, and medical and humanitarian supplies to Gaza, during this most recent massacre. The day the convoy was planned to leave, the ‘cease-fire’ was announced and the massive bombing campaign, halted; at least temporarily.

What should have been at most a 4-5 hour trip from Cairo to the Rafah border, took us 36 hours – mainly due to many stops by the Egyptian authorities for “our security”, which many students suspected were politically motivated. After four hours of waiting at an Egyptian checkpoint(!) before reaching the Salem bridge, for four hours – students decided to block the only artery of traffic leading to the Sinai, for at least 20 minutes, until we were permitted to move. We were forced to stop several more times,  and provided a police escort – that was given ‘direct orders’ to take us directly to the Swiss Club-the Sinai’s premier resort-effectively derailing the trip, which was planned to turn back immediately after dropping off supplies at the hospital. However, though the students were all overwhelmed by midterms, papers and work, they did not hesitate to put their education on short hold, in order to successfully complete their mission, and show of solidarity.

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Finally, what should have been our sheer joy at entering Gaza, was instantly destroyed with the news we heard immediately upon arrival that, as usual (and as is always the case with who began this massacre) – Israel broke the ceasefire-and killed two Palestinian brothers in a zionist airstrike, just a few hours prior. Upon arrival we went directly to the house of the martyr’s family in Khan Younis, who warmly received our delegation. As can be imagined, the family was struck with utter grief at the loss of this 25 year old man who was recently married, with a beautiful 5 month old boy, who will, like so many other Palestinian babies – grow up fatherless.

Exponentially compounding this severe and tragic injustice is the knowledge that no one outside those intimately tuned into this ‘conflict’ will ever have heard his story – nor about how Israel broke the ceasefire – and is yet another example of ‘collateral damage’, disregarded by history- in “Israel’s” ongoing war of attrition.

Unable to hold back a river of tears, as what often happens when I try desperately and futilely to console Palestinians, or communicate in words – a fraction of my pain and condolences for their loss, I find myself completely at a loss. Then what also often follows is they end up staring directly into my eyes and as if instinctively begin to comfort me, telling me not to be upset! They say ‘humdullila’/ praise God, ‘la ila il Allah’/  There is no god but God, and so on – revealing the source of their unending strength, and ability to project an ounce of normalcy in the face of such overwhelming inequality and ongoing, tragic injustice.

That night, we stayed overnight at a school that was completely leveled by zionist airstrikes in the previous 2008-09 massacre. The school was recently rebuilt into an orphanage for Palestinian children whose parents were most likely wiped out in one of the countless zionist operations which at best, the media reports as a ‘mistake’ or more likely – simply ignores. Regardless of my continuous efforts, in vain, to stay strong – the beautiful and brave women and children at the school, only compounded my lack of self-restraint over repeatedly, as they watched and comforted me with their hugs, and knowing eyes.

The next day we went to a site of another airstrike, where once stood the house of the Dalou family (who have absolutely no ties with ‘militants’) in Gaza city, which was taken out in an instant last Sunday, along with the lives of 13 family members including four precious babies, their parents, aunts and other relatives.

I watched as the students, looked on in horror and utter disbelief, while half in a daze – as they sifted through the rubble and pulled out and carried around household items, such as a prayer rug, a tea kettle and a school book, with hand written arithmetic problems worked out, all charred and covered in ashes.  And for our last stop in the short trip, we went to Shifa hospital, where all of the killed and injured were taken – and dropped off over 60K(LE) of mostly medical, and other humanitarian supplies.

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What must be made absolutely clear and unambiguously understood, is that all of us that are outspoken critics of Hamas’ leadership – went immediately silent, with the ONLY option being the full and complete support for their brave and heroic resistance. This outcome is in direct contradiction to the stated zionist goal of “neutralizing” the resistance. The same is generally true of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood, which showed complete diplomatic support with Hamas – and as a result Egyptian revolutionaries were disappointed to see, how this immeasurably strengthened and consolidated Morsi’s position and power, as well.

Another important point to note, is that this was the first major Israeli operation conducted following the Egyptian revolution. Watching as students stared powerlessly at the images, and reflecting on the recent delegation of amazing activists from the #Egypt4Gaza caravan, that earlier in the week – instantly mobilized another convoy during the peak of these attacks, I could not help but feel an overwhelming sense – that Palestinians in Gaza would never again be alone during another zionist attack – and/or without Egyptians responding with full support, and likewise by providing a physical presence alongside their brothers and sisters.

It was truly amazing, and I was struck with overwhelming feelings to witness the personal ties and relations that were made, and bonds that were forged between Palestinians and Egyptians. Like I often say, the biggest shock for me over the past year and a half of living in Egypt, was to learn how very little the two peoples know about each other – much less relations they have – politically, socially and culturally. This is unacceptable, as we are not only our natural allies – that have been kept separated and made to fear each other due to a purposeful campaign of lies and propaganda – but we are also, quite literally ONE people, and in many cases (especially near the Rafah border) share citizenship and families, that are split on both sides of the zionist imposed border.

In a strong show of support and rejection of these imposed divisions and borders, Egyptians repeatedly chanted at each stop and during the entire trip – “ya fulusteeni ya fulusteen, demmek demi, wa deenek deeni”/ Oh Palestinian, Oh Palestinian – your blood is my blood, your religion is my religion”, “Gaza, Gaza, the symbol of dignity” (Ramz el Ezza), “Morsi, Morsi tell Haneya never to leave the rifle” and “Millions of martyrs, going to Gaza.”. And as more than one of the student organizers stated clearly – “an attack on Gaza is an attack on the Egyptian people.

It should be clear to everyone by now that governments provide no hope for peace or positive change, and in fact often purposefully advance the people’s dis-unity, misinformation and infighting – and if any positive change will come in the future, the only hope is with the people. These developments clearly indicate the next level in Egypt and Palestine relations, and in a time of gloomy outlooks and despair in the region – are a hopeful sign of what’s to come..as there is absolutely no limit to what is possible–when the people unite.

One love, one God, one people, one struggle. Solidarity and much love to all to those that understand that the struggle for Palestinian liberation, is the same struggle for freeing Egypt from zionist control, and those struggling for justice everywhere.

Please check back for pictures, videos and more delegation updates soon!

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Thank you to all that have generously offered to donate. Following is a link to a list of medical supplies that are still desperately needed. I am still in Gaza and am planning to stay for at least the next few days. Please contact me at: right2return@gmail.com, and let me know asap if you can help by providing aid, or helping facilitate getting items here:

Gaza | URGENT | Gaza’s Shifa Hospital Calls For Urgent Medical Supplies | REQUEST LIST INCLUDED