Readers' Letters, Videos, & Announcements, February 2010

Former Iraq Ambassador Ryan Crocker confronted about war for Israel agenda on C-SPAN

http://www.youtube.com/watchv=VGM1RFxlmsI&feature=PlayList&p=83088C36C431EF5F&index=0&playnext=1
 
http://tinyurl.com/SacrificedforWhat
 
http://bit.ly/SacrificedForWHAT
 

Western Lawmakers Return From Gaza With Tales of Horror WON'T EVER BE SEEN IN U.S.

http://www.gilad.co.uk/writings/israhell-for-you.html 

Americans ! You better watch this ...

http://www.gilad.co.uk/writings/americans-you-better-watch-this.html 

Response to reader letter of Mr. Kennedy on Jan 24th

In Mr. Kennedy's letter published Jan 24th, 2010, about 5 and 6 pointed stars on the joints between seats in Congress, the reply he received from the clerk of the court said: "There are unfortunately no published images that show a detail of the stars at the joints of the seats in the current House Chamber, on the internet or in print."

 That is not true. I saw a picture of the six pointed stars on the joints in between the seats in Congress. It was years ago but I saw it. That really doesn't matter anyways.

Why doesn't the clerk of the court walk over to Congress and take a picture of the stars on her cell phone to give to Mr Kennedy? I am guessing because the picture would show six pointed stars.

Sincerely,

Woodrow Gillian

 
New Action Alert: Does NYT's Jerusalem Chief Have a Conflict?
 
FAIR has a new Action Alert out, "Does NYT's Top Israel Reporter Have a Son in the IDF?" (1/27/10), about the New York Times' failure to respond to questions about whether Jerusalem bureau chief Ethan Bronner's son is enlisted in Israel's military, and, if so, whether this poses a conflict of interest. If you send a message to the Times about the alert--or otherwise have thoughts you'd like to share about the alert--please make use of the comments thread for this post.

http://www.fair.org/blog/2010/01/27/new-action-alert-does-nyts-jerusalem-chief-have-a-conflict/
 
Also see:
 
Does NYT's Top Israel Reporter Have a Son in the IDF?
 
That said, Bronner's reporting has been repeatedly criticized by FAIR for what would appear to be a bias toward the Israeli government. For example, Extra! (3/09) questioned an article that Bronner (1/13/09) wrote on Israel's 2009 invasion of Gaza that claimed that unspecified "polls have shown nearly 90 percent support for the war thus far"; FAIR's magazine noted that this was "a statistical unlikelihood in a country that is 20 percent Palestinian." The same piece by Bronner claimed that "the largest demonstration against the war so far, with some 6,000 participants, was organized by an Arab political party"; an article by Agence France-Presse (1/3/09) had reported that "tens of thousands" of Israeli Arabs had protested against the war in the Israeli town of Sakhnin. (See also Extra!, 1-2/08, 7/09; FAIR Blog, 2/4/09).

http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=4004
 

Letter to the Editor

THE BOSTON GLOBE

Boston, MA

Re: Michael Felsen's letter to the Editor (January 28)

Re: It takes two to get to yes in the Middle East

Dear Editor:

Michael Felsen's letter to the editor (Jan 29) is so very dis-

proportionate, it reveals the total ignorance of those who would espouse Israel and its unbalanced causes.

News organs do not usually show the horror that Palestinians have had to face in Palestine and in East Jerusalem where Arabs and Muslims have lived quietly alongside neighbors for centuries--until 1948. To be ousted after decades from your homes, and onto the sidewalks would bring all kinds of anger into the fore.

Of course, do remember that Israel is a "democracy." Wherever do you find a democracy that throws people out of their homes?

Israel proposes to publicize itself as an innocent country surrounded by enemies. If she hadn't torn down homes, leveled olive fields, and just murdered in cold blood, also breaking international laws for its own greedy benefit, then, and only then, would she see Palestinians more than ready to sit at the table and negotiate.

Sadly, we no longer have Howard Zinn to counter the Michael Belsen's of the world (Michael Belsen, Jamaica Plain, MA, is the president of Boston Workmen's Circle).

Sincerely

Paul Bradford

Carol Rae Bradford                                

=========================================

AL-Awda Wishlist for Palestinian Refugees

Help Needed for Existing and Arriving Families 
http://amzn.com/w/1E435VMMYK0FR

Since Al-Awda's Wishlist was created in late October, over 200 items have been delivered to 20 Palestinian refugee families in 12 cities. Without your help, we could not have provided that much needed basic support. However, in the last few months, dozens of new families have arrived from Al-Waleed camp in Iraq, bringing the total number of resettled Palestinian refugees to over 90 in the US. With each new arrival, the need for support from our community becomes greater. And with each new arrival, we hear more disturbing and emotional stories of the treatment of Palestinian refugees in Iraq.
 
One such story is that of the widow Ibtisam in Cleveland. Ibtisam was married just 3 months before her husband became one of the many "disappeared". She fled, while pregnant with her daughter Malak, to the Al-Waleed camp where she lived until her recent arrival to the US. Ibtisam and her daughter came with few possessions and were grateful for the care package of Wishlist items they received from Al-Awda (and its generous donors like you). The minimum she and other refugees receive from federally funded resettlement agencies is simply not enough to initially sustain them, and we must do what we can to help.

A similar story is that of Mohammed and his wife Rasha and their 1 year old daughter who just arrived to Buffalo. They had been living in Al-Waleed camp for several years after having to flee their home for their own safety. Mohammed's brother sadly was kidnapped and killed in Iraq, and his mother and sisters still remain there. Though we can't erase the memory or pain of events like these for the families, we can do everything we can to make their stay in the US more bearable through donations and community support. As with all the new arrivals, Mohammed has requested blankets, kitchen items, and other necessities which can all be donated via the Al-Awda Wishlist on Amazon.

Forty more families are expected to arrive over the next few weeks and will again be in need of your assistance, especially as all previous purchased items have already been delivered. The Wishlist includes items specifically requested by those who have arrived, as well as items we anticipate the new arrivals will need. Please give what you can by purchasing these items which will be delivered to these families in need. No donation is too small and every donation helps. With your help we can reach and assist every arriving Palestinian refugee family.
Al-Awda thanks you for your generosity!
http://amzn.com/w/1E435VMMYK0FR

Please note: Every family that has arrived has requested laptops in order to remain in contact with other families across the US as well as those left behind. For those that are able to help with this, affordable laptops are included in the Amazon Wishlist. Additionally, you can donate a working used computer. Please send a message to office@al-awda.org if you have a used computer you would like to donate.
 
Al-Awda, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition
PO Box 131352
Carlsbad, CA 92013, USA
Tel: 760-918-9441
Fax: 760-918-9442
Email: info@al-awda.org
WEB: http://al-awda.org

Al-Awda, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition (PRRC) is a not for profit tax-exempt educational and charitable 501(c)(3) organization as defined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the United States of America. Under IRS guidelines, your donations to PRRC are tax-deductible.

International Action Center calendar: Jan. 29-Feb.6

Friends:

Atlanta's community radio station, WRFG.89.3FM, continues to serve as a drop-off location for relief supplies for Haiti, particularly medical and first aid materials. New and usable items can be taken to 1083 Austin Ave NE (corner of Euclid and Austin) during the week. Please call 404.523.3471 for drop-off hours. Volunteers are needed to sort and box donations.

Numerous organizations and groups are holding benefits to raise funds and supplies for Haiti's suffering people. The IAC urges you to direct your financial and material support to efforts that have ties to grassroots Haitian organizations. The history of much of so-called "aid" to Haiti has often gone to projects that strengthen the grip of multi-national corporations or the elite class over the genuine needs of the people. The increasing militarization of the relief efforts by the US has hampered the distribution of water, food and medical supplies by Haitian community leaders and organizations. Haiti needs our political solidarity for their national sovereignty as well as our humanitarian relief for their physical survival. Please go to www.iacenter.org to sign a petition for Haiti.

Also while you are looking for items which you are willing to donate, you may come across things that are not useful to Haiti such as heavy sweaters, coats, business attire or not easily shipped such as dishes, pots and pans, furniture etc. Please consider local homeless shelters, refugee organizations or battered women's shelters as recipients of these things.

Calendar:

Monday, Feb. 1

1pm, Atlanta City Council meeting, Atlanta City Hall. The Hunger Coalition and the Up and Out of Poverty Coalition will be honored for its work on behalf of poor and working people, specifically for the 30th annual Poor People's Day at the Capitol events scheduled for Feb. 10 and 11.

Join housing and homeless advocates during the public comment section of the Council meeting in pressing city officials to take action on the unused federal funds designated for foreclosure relief, renovation of housing in low-income neighborhoods and protection of affordable housing stock.

Friday, Feb. 5 (multiple events)

noon-1pm, weekly Stand for Peace, Colony Square, 14th and Peachtree. Anti-war vigil. Sponsored by WAND.

noon-1pm, weekly peace vigil, Marietta Square. Sponsored by Cobb Citizens for Peace.

Saturday, Feb. 6 (multiple events)

9:30am-1pm, conference, "Saving Our Sisters, Saving Ourselves: HIV/AIDS and Other STDs," Victory Church, 1170 N. Hairston Rd., Stone Mountain 30083. Panel discussion. Free HIV testing provided by Dekalb County Public Health Department. Sponsored by Atlanta National Action Network.

1-3pm, Community Meeting: "Continuing the Conversation about Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Campaigns against Israel's Occupation of Palestine," Downtown Public Library, One Margaret Mitchell Square, 2nd fl. conference room.  Sponsored by Movement to End Israeli Apartheid-Ga.

8pm, Reggae concert to benefit Poor People's Day activities, 9 Gammon St (behind Carver HS off University). For more information, call 404.622.7778.

Upcoming:

Feb. 10-11, 30th Annual Poor People's Day at the Capitol. Two days of education and action on issues impacting poor and working people in Georgia. Wednesday, Feb. 10 - Education Day with plenary session and workshops, 9 Gammon St. 9am-3pm. Lunch provided.  Thursday, Feb. 11, Action Day. Assemble 9 Gammon St at 9am for People's Freedom Caravan; noon, rally on Capitol steps; 1pm Hearing on Jobs and Wages. For more information, call the Hunger Coalition at 404.622.7778.