President Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke to the Israel lobby in Washington essentially promising to liquidate the central struggle for freedom today. Politicians whether Hosni Mubarak or Netanyahu or Obama do not change their behavior unless we the people change ourselves and decide to take matters into our own hands. We the people in the Arab world and all people of conscience are doing so and we urge you to join us in this summer of change.
Palestinian civil society organizations applaud the Freedom Flotilla that will again, in June, challenge the brutal and illegal siege of the people of Gaza. Decent people around the world will be working in support of this international initiative. While we rightly focus on Gaza we must not forget that Israeli colonial authorities are implementing their racist apartheid policies throughout historic Palestine. In the West Bank (including East Jerusalem) and in the Negev and the Galilee, ethnic cleansing and killing/injuring civilians are just some of the many violations of basic human rights. The aim is always to keep us isolated as well as divided, the better to achieve the goal of dispossessing us.
We call on civil society organizations and people of conscience around the world to support and join the other important challenges this summer to the Israeli apartheid system. After the very successful events on May 15, there are now two dates of significance: June 5 and July 8-16. On June 5, again, there is a call for everyone to converge on borders and on checkpoints throughout Palestine and on embassies and consulates of the apartheid state everywhere in the world.
We will also have a week of solidarity and action 8 – 16 July. Hundreds of men, women and children will fly into Tel Aviv airport to visit us in Palestine. The international community must recognize our basic human right to receive visitors from abroad and support the right of their own citizens to travel to Palestine without harassment. Where Israel works to isolate us, we invite you to join with us openly and proudly as the decent human beings you are. We do not accept the attempts to keep us apart or to force you to speak less than with the honesty you are used to.
You will be accommodated locally. You will enjoy Palestinian hospitality and a program of networking, fellowship, and volunteer peace work in Palestinian towns and villages. Local activist groups in Europe and in the United States have organized delegations and hundreds have booked their flights. Once here much can be done. See this tape about a previous visit organized by our group http://www.youtube.com/watch?
or http://www.europalestine.com/
Dozens of local groups and popular resistance committees* have sponsored the events and many have been working hard on mobilizing locally. But this work will need to be intensified to make it a great success that it will be with your help. We could use all kind of volunteer help (locally and internationally). Volunteers with different backgrounds and with varied skills or those willing to be trained are welcome. Email us at info@palestinejn.org with your name, location, and background so that you can join us to be part of this practical response to the machinations of politics.
Sponsoring local groups in Palestine
[Local list in formation. Many international groups joined us and organized delegations. Send us name and contact of your organization/group if you would like to join]
Al-Rowwad Cultural and Theatre Training Centre, www.alrowwad-acts.ps
Alternative Information Center - AIC - www.alternativenews.org
Ansar Youth Center, Al-Walaja
BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights:www.badil.org/
Bil’in Popular Resistance Committee www.bilin-village.org
Friends of Freedom and Justice, Bil’in www.bilin-ffj.org
Grassroots Palestinian Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign www.stopthewall.org
Handala Center - www.handalla-center.org
Holy Land Trust: www.holylandtrust.org
Ibdaa Cultural Center www.dheisheh-ibdaa.net
International Solidarity Movement: www.palsolidarity.org
Open Bethlehem: www.openbethlehem.org
Palestinian Centre for Rapprochement between People www.PCR.PS
Palestinian Conflict Resolution Center (Wi'am) www.alaslah.org
Palestine Justice Network www.palestinejn.org
Palestine Medical Relief Society www.pmrs.ps
Palestine Solidarity Project www.
Phoenix Center, Dheisheh Camp www.phoenixbethlehem.org
Popular Struggle Coordinating Committee www.popularstruggle.org
Siraj Center for Holy Land Studies, www.sirajcenter.org
Youth Against Settlements (Hebron)
Youth Activity Center - Aida Camp www.key1948.org
and popular resistance committees in 12 Palestinian villages and towns so far
http://popular-resistance.
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