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May-24-2011 14:50printcomments

Human Rights: Change we make

We call on civil society organizations and people of conscience to support and join the other important challenges this summer to the Israeli apartheid system.

Free Palestine
Artwork by the amazing Carlos Latuff, friend of Salem-News.com located in Rio de Janeiro.
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(BETHLEHEM) - 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?v=Rif2ZSSeRok>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rif2ZSSeRok
or  <http://www.europalestine.com/spip.php?article5786>
http://www.europalestine.com/spip.php?article5786

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> 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,

http://www.alrowwad-acts.ps

www.alrowwad-acts.ps

Alternative Information Center - AIC -

http://www.alternativenews.org

www.alternativenews.org

Ansar Youth Center, Al-Walaja BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights:

http://www.badil.org/

www.badil.org/

Bil'in Popular Resistance Committee

http://www.bilin-village.org

www.bilin-village.org

Friends of Freedom and Justice, Bil'in

http://www.bilin-ffj.org

www.bilin-ffj.org

Grassroots Palestinian Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign

http://www.stopthewall.org

www.stopthewall.org

Handala Center -

http://www.handalla-center.org

www.handalla-center.org

Holy Land Trust:

http://www.holylandtrust.org

www.holylandtrust.org

Ibdaa Cultural Center

http://www.dheisheh-ibdaa.net

www.dheisheh-ibdaa.net

International Solidarity Movement:

http://www.palsolidarity.org

www.palsolidarity.org

Open Bethlehem:

http://www.openbethlehem.org

www.openbethlehem.org

Palestinian Centre for Rapprochement between People

http://www.PCR.PS

www.PCR.PS

Palestinian Conflict Resolution Center (Wi'am)

http://www.alaslah.org

www.alaslah.org

Palestine Justice Network

http://www.palestinejn.org

www.palestinejn.org

Palestine Medical Relief Society

http://www.pmrs.ps

www.pmrs.ps

Palestine Solidarity Project

http://www.palestinesolidarityproject.org

www.palestinesolidarityproject.org

Phoenix Center, Dheisheh Camp

http://www.phoenixbethlehem.org

www.phoenixbethlehem.org

Popular Struggle Coordinating Committee

http://www.popularstruggle.org

www.popularstruggle.org

Siraj Center for Holy Land Studies,

http://www.sirajcenter.org

www.sirajcenter.org

Youth Against Settlements (Hebron)
Youth Activity Center - Aida Camp

http://www.key1948.org

www.key1948.org

and popular resistance committees in 12 Palestinian villages and towns so far

_________________________________

Mazin Qumsiyeh, PhD - Popular Committee to Defend Ush Ghrab (PCDUG) "A Bedouin in Cyberspace, a villager at home. Mazin is a Professor in Bethlehem and Birzeit Universities, Chairman of the Board, Palestinian Center for Rapprochement Between People, pcr.ps. He has been an Associate Professor of Genetics; Director, Cytogenetics Laboratory at Yale University School of Medicine. He previously held a similar position at Duke University. Professor Qumsiyeh has authored over 110 scientific papers in areas of mammalogy, biology, and medicine including mammalian biology and evolution, clinical genetics, and cancer research. He has published over 100 letters to the editor and 30 op-ed pieces in International, national, regional and local papers on issues ranging from politics to environmental issues. His appearances in national media included the Washington Post, New York Times, Boston Globe, CNBC, C-Span, and ABC, among others. He is the founder and president of the Holy Land Conservation Foundation and ex-President of the Middle East Genetics Association, and Prof. Qumsiyeh won the Jallow activism award from the Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee in 1998. Those are just a small list, visit Mazin Qumsiyeh's amazing and informative Website to learn more: qumsiyeh.org.




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