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Letter to President Obama - U.S. to Gaza

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Written by U.S. TO Gaza U.S. TO Gaza
Published: 21 June 2011 21 June 2011

As Bruce Dixon said, "We at BC have to believe that if the American people knew the truth about what their tax dollars pay for in Israel and what is left of Palestine, there would be a deep and widespread revulsion, similar to that occasioned by US support for apartheid in South Africa. ...Though unspeakably odious, racist South African was only marginally important to US interests. ...  The US is far more complicit in the crimes of the Israeli state than it ever was in South Africa."Letter to President Obama
On June 14, the passengers on The Audacity of Hope sent this letter to Pres. Obama. Copies went to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and 12 members of the Administration and Congressional leadership. Call the White House – 202-456-1111 – and tell them you agree with the letter and expect the U.S. to take action to uphold the rights of peaceful citizens to safe passage on the seas.

Dear Mr. Obama:
We are writing to inform you that 50 unarmed Americans will soon be sailing in a U.S. flagged ship called The Audacity of Hope as part of an international flotilla to Gaza.

Our peaceful demonstration will challenge Israel’s blockade of Gaza, which has effectively imprisoned 1.6 million civilians, almost half of whom are under the age of 16. The blockade has impoverished the people of Gaza, deprived them of needed materials and supplies to rebuild their lives after the Israeli attack of late 2008 – early 2009, impeded those who are ill or infirm from seeking outside medical aid, and prevented students from seeking education outside of Gaza. 45% of the working age population is unemployed.

Read more: Letter to President Obama - U.S. to Gaza

Gaza Island

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Written by AUPHR AUPHR
Published: 19 June 2011 19 June 2011

The Freedom Flotilla 2, with 12+ boats carrying humanitarian aid and 1000+ peace activists, is sailing to Gaza in late June. Alice Walker, who's sailing with us, calls this the Freedom Ride of our generation. We want to help open this Palestinian port and end the illegal Israeli blockade, which has caused so much suffering. Meanwhile, the global BDS (Boycott Divestment Sanctions) movement is calling on Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Laurie Anderson and Kiri Te Kanawa to cancel their 2011 Israel concerts and get on the boat!

Senator Wyden co-sponsors Senate Resolution opposed to viable Palestinian state

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Written by Peter Miller Peter Miller
Published: 17 June 2011 17 June 2011

Dear AUPHR supporters:

President Obama made it clear that a viable two-state solution must be based on the pre-1967 borders.  This is in line with all conventional thinking about what a viable two-state solution may look like.  Israeli prime minister Netanyahu is vigorously opposed to a two-state solution, at least one that contains any chance of viability and dignity for the Palestinans, and in his speech to Congress, Netanyahu received 29 standing ovations!  (See http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2011/05/24/israel)

Now Congress is moving full tilt to support Israel's right wing government against our own President and unfortunately, our own Senator Ron Wyden is at the forefront of these efforts.  Wyden has cosponsored Senate Concurrent Resolution 23 which states that "it is contrary to U.S. policy and our national security to have Israel's borders return to the armistice lines that existed on June 4, 1967."   This is a major departure from previous U.S. policy and a spit in the face of the Obama administration. It supports Israel's right wing government and its expanding settlements over our own President's much more reasonable policy and ensures not only that a two-state solution is dead, but gives a green light for Israel's territorial expansion.

During Israel's attack on Gaza in 2008 which killed hundreds of women and children, Wyden said, probably under pressure from AUPHR supporters, that he is both "pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian."  It was not true then, and with his co-sponsorship of this bill, it is obviously not true now.

Please call and write Wyden and tell him how angry you are at him for supporting Israel's destruction of a two state solution and for supporting Israel's right wing government over our own President.  If you have time, tell Senator Merkley NOT to support this bill!


http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=sc112-23

Wyden:
Phone: (202) 224-5244
Fax: (202) 228-2717
Portland: (503) 326-7525

http://wyden.senate.gov/contact/

Merkley:
Phone: (202) 224-3753
Fax: (202) 228-3997
Phone: (503) 326-3386
Fax: (503) 326-2900
http://merkley.senate.gov/contact/

Israel launches campaign before Palestinian statehood vote

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Written by Harriet Sherwood in Jerusalem Harriet Sherwood in Jerusalem
Published: 10 June 2011 10 June 2011

Classified diplomatic cables from Jerusalem to foreign embassies outline plan to mobilise against UN recognition

Israel has launched a global diplomatic campaign to persuade countries to vote against recognition of a Palestinian state at the UN general assembly in September.

Classified cables have been sent from the foreign ministry in Jerusalem to embassies around the world, instructing diplomats to draw up plans to mobilise against the Palestinian campaign for recognition, according to the newspaper Haaretz, which obtained the documents.

Diplomatic missions have been told to lobby government officials in the countries in which they serve, offer articles and interviews arguing against recognition to media outlets, enlist the help of local Jewish communities and if necessary request visits from top Israeli officials.

Read more: Israel launches campaign before Palestinian statehood vote

Freedom For Palestine

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Written by One World One World
Published: 06 June 2011 06 June 2011

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