June 2008 - Posts
TACTICS THAT ENDED APARTHEID IN SOUTH AFRICA CAN END IT IN ISRAEL
Rather than post a comment by freepali.com, I thought this article which I got from The Electronic Intifada and written by an individual who led a movement to overthrow apartheid in South Africa was appropriate for the occassion.
Bill Fletcher, Jr., The Electronic Intifada, 29 June 2008
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An
Israeli soldier sits atop an army vehicle overlooking a protest by
Palestinians at the Beit Iba checkpoint outside Nablus in the occupied
West Bank, June 2008. (Rami Swidan/MaanImages)
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The Israeli-Palestinian conflict often inspires a sense of
powerlessness. What can average Americans do to bring an end to this
decades-old conflict when our leaders have failed so miserably?
And what good is speaking out about Israel's occupation of Palestinian
land as the primary obstacle to peace when even former President Jimmy
Carter and Nobel Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu are condemned for
their criticism of Israeli policies?
This month in San Jose, California, average Americans will have the
opportunity to take a stand for peace and justice in the Middle East.
The Presbyterian Church US's General Assembly began Saturday and runs
through Sunday at the San Jose Convention Center. At the meeting, which
takes place once every two years, delegates will make policy decisions
for the 2.3 million-member denomination.
They will consider corporate engagement, up to divestment, with
companies that profit from the obstacles to a just peace in Israel and
Palestine. The church is considering approaches to Caterpillar, ITT
Industries, Motorola and United Technologies.
The TransAfrica Forum, an organization which I was honored to head,
played a leading role in the movement to end apartheid in South Africa.
Corporate engagement was one of the most powerful tools in our
non-violent arsenal. It was the right moral decision then and it is the
right moral decision now. Just as it worked in South Africa, it can
work in Palestine and Israel.
Yet Presbyterian delegates are being pressured to vote against similar
measures. Some say the tactic unfairly singles out Israel for
condemnation. But it is not the country we condemn; it's a system of
segregation and inequality.
The Israeli government has established in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories a regime of systematic discrimination. It maintains two
systems of laws, and a person's rights are based on national origin.
Palestinian land is confiscated to build Israeli-only settlements and
roads. Palestinians wait hours in line at more than 500 Israeli
checkpoints and roadblocks in the West Bank, while Jewish settlers
speed by on modern, well-lit highways.
As Carter, and many Israelis have said, as long as this dual system
exists, any peace agreement between Israel and Palestine will be
impossible. Palestinians compare Israeli policies to those of apartheid
in South Africa. Former Israeli Attorney General Michael Ben-Yair wrote
in 2002, "In effect, we established an apartheid regime in the occupied
territories immediately following their capture. That regime exists to
this day."
South Africans who led the fight against apartheid, like Archbishop
Desmond Tutu and former United Nations envoy John Dugard, make similar
comparisons.
To the detriment of both Israelis and Palestinians, we provide
financial and diplomatic support to maintain these separate and unequal
policies. Israel is the number one recipient of US foreign aid: roughly
$2.5 billion last year alone. Our government has cast more than 40
vetoes in the United Nations Security Council to shield Israel from
international condemnation.
Divestment from companies that benefit from the occupation is an
opportunity for American citizens to do what our government leaders
have refused to do: say that our money will not fund human rights
abuses any longer.
With humbleness, with love, with compassion for Palestinians and
Israelis, I believe in the possibility that both can live as neighbors
with security, dignity and respect. As it did in South Africa,
corporate engagement, including divestment, can help make that
possibility a reality.
Bill Fletcher, Jr. is executive editor of blackcommentator.com
and former president of the TransAfrica Forum, which led the US
movement to overthrow apartheid in South Africa during the 1980s. This
article originally appeared in the San Jose Mercury News and is republished with the author's permission.
Calm in the Region?
What are we to wonder about our favorite racist state?
As the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is still in place,
you may want to breath a sigh of relief…oops, not so quick...I said you “may”
want to. The unrelenting misery those in
Gaza have been suffering
at the hands of the brutal Zionist forces appears to have been minimized for
the moment. Are we really supposed to feel better though knowing that by mid-year 2008 Israel has murdered more victims than all of 2007. This to include an unacceptable
number of children and infants (is there ever an acceptable number????)
Don’t be so quick to turn your attention away from the
region. Atrocities are still being
committed as Israel’s brutal
arm extends into the West Bank whereby atrocities
continue against the innocent Palestinian civilians. Murders, arrests, land expropriation,
restrictions in movement, destruction of land, inhumane treatment, torture…and
the list goes on, is business as usual for Israel. Whereas they utilized the feeble excuse of
rocket fire in Gaza as justification for their
actions, what excuse do they have in the West Bank?
When will they realize that their inhumane policies intended to break the will
of the Palestinians will never work? They
will never succeed in even fracturing the Palestinian will despite their terrorist
policy of unrelenting brutality against an entire population.
And the winner for Biggest Obstactle to Mid-East Peace goes
to……
And the US
government continues to support this terrorist state. Recently, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
pulled her head out of Israel’s ass and used “exceptionally harsh language” (as
quoted by the AP) criticizing them for undermining the peace process by
continuing to build illegal settlements in the illegally occupied territories. Although that may have appeased many, the
reality is that if there is a desire for true peace in the region, a true and
fair peace, it can be easily attained, but is dependant on applying the rule of
law to all. Oh yeah, and the US
foreign policy needs to rid itself of the words “double standard”.
This past week the focus has been on Israel and Iran. We have read how Israel
has been carrying out military exercises which appear to be a rehearsal for
attacking Iran’s
nuclear facility. What about Israel’s
nuclear arsenal? Why hasn’t Israel
been willing to sign any nuclear non-proliferation agreements? Who is the true aggressor in the region? So many questions to ask.
Anniversary of Attack on the USS Liberty Ignored
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On the anniversary of the attack of the US Navy Intelligence
ship, the USS Liberty, those few who are even aware or remember the tragic
occasion remember the 34 victims which
were murdered and the 174 that were injured as a result of the deliberate and brutal Israeli military
attack on the ship which was in international waters.
There is unanimous agreement by United States government officials and intelligence
agencies that the attack was made with full knowledge that it was a US
ship and that the attack was deliberate. Israel obviously acknowledged the attack, but claimed it was mistaken identity. Declassified government documents prove otherwise.
The irony resulting from this tragic event in history is how
it is not reported with an obvious attempt to cover it up. Initially by our government, to spare the reputation of Zionist Israel, and also the media
in the United States. This was a deliberate attack on the U.S. Where are all the reporters and
politicians who claim to care and respect the service of our armed forces? The bias reporting of Mid East politics can
not be any clearer when your own armed forces can be attacked and murdered and
there is no decency to make any mention of such attack on the anniversary date. Maybe the
media is too busy concentrating their efforts on trying to portray Israel as a
victim all the time and craftily attempting to lay blame for certain acts on
groups not even involved as our politicians have carefully placed their heads
in the rectum of the Zionist Lobby.
This behavior should not be condoned. It is the responsibility of us all to honor
the innocent victims that lost their lives for no reason at the hands of the
true terrorist regime.
For detailed information including a summary of events leading to the attack, FAQs, pictures and more, visit the USS memorial site at www.gtr5.com.
GAZANS DENIED SCHOLARSHIP FOR LIVING UNDER OCCUPATION
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So what's the worst part of living under occupation. Hmmm....denial of basic human rights, home demolition, false imprisonment, torture, having your family killed, being denied water and electricity, general unbearable living conditions, the list goes on.....well now let's add another reason:
RECEIVING A PRESTIGIOUS FULBRIGHT SCHOLARSHIP AND BEING SENT AN EMAIL THAT THE SCHOLARSHIP IS BEING WITHDRAWN DUE TO ISRAEL REFUSING TO GRANT EXIT VISAS TO THE RECIPIENTS.
The Fulbright scholarship was founded by US Senator Fulbright in the aftermath of WWII and is a program allowing for international exchanges and promoting peace and understanding with regards to educational exchanges for grad students, scholars, educators, etc. It is considered to be one of the most prestigious of programs and operates in nearly 150 countries.
Eight Palestinians in Gaza recently had their scholarships withdrawn because they live under occupation in the Gaza Strip and Israel is refusing to grant them visas to go abroad to study. How unfortunate that the mission of this scholarship is being trampled upon by the inherent racism which is so deeply rooted in the Israeli government. Consider that these students have gone through so much to receive this award to include learning a second language. The State Department has gotten involved and they were advised to reapply for the program next year. These are individuals living in a huge "prison" due to the occupation and have no ordinary means of surviving due to Israel's attempt to starve the population of Gazans to death. What does the State Department have to do with the scholarship anyways.
If the State Department is to get involved, maybe they should put pressure on the government they are supporting to grant the visas. How ridiculous that the US has no power or influence in this matter when we provide billions of dollars of grant money to support Israel's terroristic policies? Supposedly this issue is going to be revisited. Let's hope the proper decision is made and these students are given the opportunity they have rightfully earned.
Dunkin' Dipshits
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Just when you felt people couldn't fall to lower levels of ignorance, Michelle
Malkin reappears.
This past week, a Dunkin’ Donuts ad featuring celebrity chef and television host
Rachel Ray was pulled when ultra conservatives such as Michelle Malkin were critical
as to the choice of scarf Rachel Ray wore during an ad to promote iced coffee. Critics complained that the scarf was much too
similar to the kaffiyeh (a scarf) that has become a chic fashion accessory
throughout the world although its origins are from the Mid East.
Imagine the
suffering we may have endured by the Donuts of Mass Destruction (and calories)
being promoted by the donut chain and the spokesperson turned terrorist known for her great
culinary talents. Let us especially thank
Michelle Malkin who took the lead in this war on powdered pastries.
Let us commend the half-wits such as Malkin for their ability to uncover
the secret relationship between fashion attire and terrorism. The world is a much safer place now. Truly, it was a surprise to all that
terrorists had infiltrated the donut chain and recruited extremists like Rachel
Ray to promote terrorism through her fashion sense. Rumor has it the ad was pulled after Homeland
Security raised the terror alert to RED after uncovering "chatter" of random
jelly filled explosions throughout the chain.
As ridiculous as this may sound, consider that those who uncovered this
"terror advertising" are commonly seen commentating on stations like
Comedy Central...or is it FOX News??? Michele Malkin and other critics argue
that Rachel Ray should not wear the scarf due to its symbolizing Muslim
extremism and terrorism. Maybe if we put someone like Malkin in charge of
Homeland Security, she would do a better job of protecting us.
She can monitor clothing stores in the mall and arrest anyone making
suspicious purchases of scarves and jeans.
My hat (not worn by terrorists) goes off to Dunkin’ Donuts for yielding to
such ridiculous criticism. Will they realize that the majority of terror planning takes place in their stores and begin banning all Middle Eastern looking patrons?
As foolish as this all may appear, it should open your eyes to the fact that
there are individuals among us that continue in their attempt to promote fear and hatred against an entire group of people.