The photo-op which was the Annapolis peace conference is over.
The State Department defined the conference as "a launching point for negotiations leading to the establishment of a Palestinian state and the realization of Israeli-Palestinian peace."
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas issued a joint understanding committing "to immediately launch good-faith bilateral negotiations in order to conclude a peace treaty, resolving all outstanding issues, including all core issues without exception". (For the full text of the understanding, click here.)
President Bush stated in his speech at Annapolis that Israel "must show the world that they are ready to begin -- to bring an end to the occupation that began in 1967 through a negotiated settlement." (For the full text of his speech, click here.)
As Palestinian and Israeli negotiators now begin this renewed negotiating process, it is important for civil society to commemorate the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on Thursday, November 29. With renewed negotiations taking place, the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People reminds us of the fundamentals: Palestinians—whether living under Israeli military occupation, living as refugees who aren't allowed to return home, or as second-class citizens of Israel—are denied their right to self-determination.
This year's International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People marks the 60th anniversary of the United Nations vote to partition Palestine into two states. It also commences a year-long commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Nakba, the destruction of much of Palestinian society and the ethnic cleansing of Palestine which accompanied the establishment of the State of Israel.
Member groups of the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation voted at our last annual organizers' conference to make it a priority to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Nakba with educational resources and days of action. We begin this campaign by offering you educational resources and suggested actions to take on tomorrow's International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
TAKE ACTION
1. Download and distribute the US Campaign's new fact sheet on the Annapolis conference. The fact sheet addresses how current U.S. policy toward Israel/Palestine should be changed in order to facilitate a just and lasting peace between Palestinians and Israelis based on human rights and international law. To download the fact sheet, click here.
2. Hold a vigil or protest in your community on Thursday. Organize a candle-light vigil or protest in your community to mark the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. Pass out copies of the US Campaign's fact sheet to educate people in your community.
If you're in the Boston area, please join the Boston Committee for Palestinian Rights and Jewish Voice for Peace—Boston Chapter for a vigil tomorrow:
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF SOLIDARITY WITH THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE THURSDAY NOVEMBER 29th
STAND/WALK WITH US 12:30 - 1:30 PM Meet outside Park Street T-station 12:30 PM March to Downtown Crossing Where we will Vigil and Flyer until 1:30 PM Bring your signs, flags, banners, drums.... Please mark your calendars now! Boston Coalition for Palestinian Rights
And Jewish Voice for Peace, Boston Chapter
3. Enjoy Palestinian fair trade olive oil this holiday season. Help Palestinian farmers in the West Bank to non-violently resist Israeli military occupation by purchasing certified fair trade, organic olive oil. Since launching this program one week ago, the US Campaign has sold more than $10,000 of Palestinian fair trade olive oil! Purchase yours today in time for the holidays to give to family and friends. Or order a whole case at a discount and have your group sell it in your community. To order, click here.
4. Watch on-line videos of Palestinians describing their experiences of the Nakba. The US Campaign has compiled links to video resources on the Nakba. See below.
Palestine Remembered - Nakba Oral History Interviews
http://www.palestineremembered
Online videos of recorded interviews
Arab Film - Al Nakba: The Palestinian Catastrophe 1948
http://www.arabfilm.com/item/2/
Documentary film about the Nakba, available for purchase or rental
You Tube - Palestinian Women: Stories of Nakba in their Villages
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v
10-minute clip of interviews with Palestinian women
Palestinian Refugee ResearchNet - Videos and Documentaries
http://arts.mcgill.ca/mepp/new
Several video clips -stateless people in Canada, Lebanon
Dreams of a Nation
http://www.dreamsofanation.org
Log of films by Palestinian directors dealing with Palestine
Palestine Online Store
http://palestineonlinestore
Videos for sale
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