Acknowledging the Past; Imagining the Future: Palestinians and Israelis: 1948 & the Right to Return
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- Written by Peter Miller Peter Miller
- Published: 01 April 2008 01 April 2008
- Hits: 2824 2824
“Acknowledging the Past; Imagining the Future:
Palestinians and Israelis On 1948 and the Right to Return."
Reed College
Vollum Lecture Hall
on April 1st, 2008 at 6:30 p.m.
The two speakers at the event are Muhammad Jaradat and Eitan Bronstein. Mr. Jaradat is the co-founder of Badil Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights based in Bethlehem, in the occupied Palestinian West Bank. Badil (Arabic for “alternative”), has the mission to advance the application of international law in the formulation of a just resolution to the Palestinian refugee crisis and to increase refugee involvement in finding durable solutions. Mr. Bronstein is representing Zochrot (Hebrew for “remembering”), an Israeli advocacy and educational organization based in Tel Aviv dedicated to raising awareness about the Palestinian expulsion and dispossession among Jewish Israelis. For more information about Badil and Zochrot, see www.badil.org and www.zochrot.org. The event is FREE and open to the public.
Americans United for Palestinian Human Rights is a Portland-based grassroots organization that advocates for a US foreign policy that promotes adherence to and compliance with international human rights norms by all countries including Israel.
The American Friends Service Committee is a Quaker organization that includes people of various faiths who are committed to social justice, peace and humanitarian service. Its work is based on the belief in the worth of every person and faith in the power of love to overcome violence and injustice.
The event is co-sponsored by the following organizations: Friends of Sabeel North America, Jews for Global Justice, Portland Peaceful Response Coalition, Lutherans for Justice in the Holy Land—Central Lutheran Church, Eastminster Presbyterian Church, Northwest Jews Against the Occupation, Chaverim—Reed College, and Middle East Cultural Dorm—Reed College.
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76% of Israeli Jews favor ethnic cleansing Palestinian citizens of Israel
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- Written by Jewish Telegraph Agency Jewish Telegraph Agency
- Published: 01 April 2008 01 April 2008
- Hits: 4160 4160
Three in four Israeli Jews favor the idea of transferring their Arab compatriots to the jurisdiction of a future Palestinian state, a poll found.
According to a survey commissioned this week by the Knesset Channel, 76 percent of Jews in Israel believe all or selected Israeli Arab communities should be included within the borders of "Palestine" when it arises. Some of those favoring the idea proposed that Arab citizens deemed loyal to Israel be given the option of staying.
Twenty-four percent of respondents were opposed to the proposed "transfer."
Arabs comprise 20 percent of the Jewish state's population, and long-simmering racial tensions have been pushed to the boiling point by the past eight years of Palestinian violence. Many in the Israeli Arab sector openly identify with the Palestinians, including their radical anti-Zionist elements like Hamas.
Israeli demographers also note that the relatively higher birthrate in Arab communities poses a long-term threat to the Jewish majority.
The Knesset Channel poll had 668 respondents and a 3.7 percent margin of error.
Birthright Unplugged trip, Apply by April 4th!!!!
- Details
- Written by Birthright Unplugged, co-opting special "rights" for human justice! Birthright Unplugged, co-opting special "rights" for human justice!
- Published: 01 April 2008 01 April 2008
- Hits: 4520 4520
Apply by next week!!
*********************PLEASE FORWARD
WIDELY**********************
Please note that this e-mail includes 2
announcements for education and travel opportunities in
1. Birthright Unplugged trip plus
Boycott/Divestment/Sanctions against
2. Birthright Unplugged trip (June 2-7)
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1. Birthright Unplugged trip plus
Boycott/Divestment/Sanctions against
Calling all student and faculty activists,
faith-based organizers, community leaders, and justice seekers!
Are you currently involved in, or planning to
launch, a campaign of boycott, divestment, or sanctions against
Are you interested in spending time in
Birthright Unplugged announces its first
Boycott/Divestment/Sanction (BDS) + Investment Institute!
Dates:
June 23-July 3, 2008
Application deadline:
April 4, 2008
Travel component (June 23-28):
In six days, we will visit Palestinian cities,
villages and refugee camps in the West Bank and spend time with internally
displaced Palestinian people living inside
Institute (June 30-July 3):
The following week, we will have a series of
workshops, presentations, and meetings designed to support organizers and
activists to be better able to apply their knowledge to campaign work. We
will invite colleagues who are activists in the movement and experts in
campaign planning, and we also expect participants to take an active role in
preparing presentations and conducting research that will help with the
launching or continuation of their own campaigns.
The Institute's focus is to support the 2005
Palestinian civil society call for BDS as a nonviolent strategy that has been
critical in bringing about the end of other systems of oppression, most notably
apartheid in
It is our hope that institute participants can learn
from past examples, invigorate current efforts and bring their ingenuity to
bear in their own communities.
Costs:
Participants are responsible for their own
airfare. A sliding scale contribution of $500-$800 covers expenses during
the week of travel, and lodging, breakfast, and lunch, during the
institute. Participants should plan to spend about $15-25 per day on
dinner, transportation, internet, etc.
during the institute. Total costs should be
between $600-$1000 plus airfare. Feel free to consult with us about your
fundraising plan. A limited number of partial scholarships are also
available for those in need.
To apply or for more information about Birthright
Unplugged, please visit www.birthrightunplugged.org.
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2. Birthright Unplugged trip:
Are you thinking of going to
Are you interested in meeting Palestinian families,
activists, community leaders, and political figures, and learning about life
under occupation?
Are you committed to turning education into action
and working for justice?
Then BIRTHRIGHT UNPLUGGED is for you!
Join us for a 6-day trip through the
Trip dates: JUNE 2-7, 2008
Application deadline: APRIL 4, 2008
Cost: Sliding scale $350-$500 covers all food,
lodging, and transportation for the 6-day trip. It does not include airfare.
While most Birthright Unplugged participants are
Jewish people from
"Through Birthright Unplugged I met some of the
most amazing, heroic and inspiring people I've ever met in my life. I felt my
politics about Israel and Palestine were set before I went on the trip, but
experiencing it first-hand made me understand the realities of occupation and
resistance so much more deeply. The program gave me new perspective and renewed
passion to work for justice in
Trips run every summer and winter. For more
information about the itinerary, trip leaders, and application materials, visit
www.birthrightunplugged.org.
We look forward to hearing from you!
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Living Beyond Borders: The Iraq refugee crisis blog
- Details
- Written by AFSC's Middle East Peacebuilding Program AFSC's Middle East Peacebuilding Program
- Published: 01 April 2008 01 April 2008
- Hits: 4288 4288
• New displacement is continuing at a much lower pace than for the past two years but secondary displacement has been reported in Baghdad.
• Most of the Post-2006 IDPs come from Baghdad and Diyala.
• While the majority of Pre-2006 IDPs were displaced in the three Northern Governorates (53%) and in the South (33%), 58% of Post-2006 IDPs are displaced in the six Central Governorates, 27% in the South and 15% in the three Northern Governorates.
• Percentage of IDPs compared to total estimated governorate population is highest in Dahuk, Baghdad, Wassit and Kerbala.
• More than 560,000 IDPs are living in Baghdad Governorate. 40% of surveyed IDPs in Baghdad have fled due to direct threats and forced eviction from their property, while between 10% and 17% have fled due to generalized violence and fear.
• At present, large-scale return movements have not been noted. Actual numbers of IDP and refugee returnees are currently uncertain. According to the latest figures released by MoDM, nearly 6,000 IDP families have returned so far (2% of Post-2006 IDPs) and approximately 45,000 individuals have returned from Syria in 2007.The actual numbers are likely higher.
• Returnees mostly return to those neighbourhoods/districts/governorates under control of members of their sect. To date, only a few families returned to areas under control of another sect. No members of minority groups (e.g., Christians, Sabaean-Mandaeans and Yazidis) have been reported to be among the returnees.
• According to the current estimation, the number of IDPs in need of adequate shelter and food is now higher than one million. In addition, over one million cannot access regular income. Around 300,000 individuals have no access to clean water and are in need of legal aid to enable them to access other basic services.
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Bitterlemons: Reassessing the strategy on Hamas
- Details
- Written by Bitterlemons.org Bitterlemons.org
- Published: 01 April 2008 01 April 2008
- Hits: 4419 4419
. There is a clear alternative by Ghassan Khatib
The alternative is to go back to the Mecca model and pursue an inclusive, rather than exclusionist, strategy.
. The alternatives are grim by Yossi Alpher
Even without a peace breakthrough, the strategy appears to be coming apart at the seams.
. A fundamental misconception by Safwat Kahlout
After two years, the attempt to undermine Hamas' popularity has failed.
. Israel's tough choice by Nimrod Novik
Israel and the US need to free Abbas of the threat to boycott his government once he reengages Hamas.