Al Arish, still en route...

The internet wasn't working last night when I wrote this, but here it is today...

Day Two: Al Arish...so close, but there's a border in the way...

Today began at the US Embassy, which felt like a glorified DMV, where we paid $30 each to sign away our consular rights, because apparently it helps pave the very, very complicated road (of hoops) (is that mixing metaphors?) to Gaza. Then we drove to Al Arish, the town on the Egyptian side of the border. I caught a glimpse of the Nile in Egypt & the sea here in Al Arish, but there was no time to visit either...and tomorrow, early in the morning, we head to the border. It's strange to be in a place with so much vibrant history and no time to explore it.

Of course, that doesn't mean there isn't time for thoughts. Driving through the Sinai, looking out the window and watching the desert, the plants, & the people go about their days, I thought about how so much of Palestine would look similar if it weren't occupied – if so much of it hadn't been stolen. Even the land would be free to self-identify as “desert,” without anyone requiring it to bloom beyond its own inclination.

...More soon.
Also, check out this guy's blog: http://www.philipweiss.org/
He's on the same trip as I am.

In Cairo...

I'm in Cairo checking email, posting on facebook & my blog...
strange things can be so "typical" so far from home -
of course the music in the background is different...but the honking horns sound about the same.

In a couple of days I'll be in Gaza. Most of you who read my blog know this already, because I've told you, or because I mentioned it on facebook.
I was going to wait until I was in Gaza to blog, but then I realized that I DO already have things to say...

(one) I'm scared. I am writing that here because in our group conversation (I'm going with a delegation) we talked about check-ins & I began to think about emotion - how the trip will be more powerful in every way if we open ourselves up to what we will feel - how a lot of the organizations we will visit & meet with deal with trauma, and that to deny our own emotions, and pretend we are "above" them is to disrespect them & their work. So, I admit that I'm afraid.

(two) I'm excited. Before signing up for this delegation, I didn't even know the extent of work that is happening in Gaza. I'm sure I'll have more to say about this later. I'm also here with a lot of people I don't know, but people I suspect are pretty amazing. So that's exciting too. And there's a BIG student delegation here as well, and a bigger Code Pink delegation on its way in a few days...it's inspiring that so many people want to witness & share what they see.

a (brief) story of a young woman

Reprinted from Ma'an News:

Bethlehem- Ma’an – Israeli authorities released 25-year-old A’reen A’wad Husein Shu’eibat from prison on Thursday. The young woman was detained in 2002 during the Israeli siege of Bethlehem.
The young woman, from the Bethlehem suburb of Beit Sahour spent her seven-year imprisonment in the Israeli Ad-Damun prison in northern Israel.
The young woman prepared to launch a suicide bomb attack against the Israeli soldiers occupying Bethlehem in 2002. She left her home prepared to carry out the mission but had a change of heart and returned home. Israeli intelligence surrounded her home two days following the event. Forces imposed a curfew on the entire town, raided the home and arrested her.
A’reen was in her second year of a Business Administration degree at Bethlehem University when she was detained. She was charged with attempting to carry out a suicide attack.
A friend and colleague of A’reen continued with his attack mission and detonated the explosive device strapped to his chest at a bus station in Tel Aviv killing three and injuring several others.

Something about this woman's story just gets to me...Maybe it is because she is 25, as am I. Seven years ago, both of us were 18. Wow, 18. I was busy writing hippie poetry, attending anti-war meetings, and making plans to drop out of school and drive a bus across the country. I didn't follow through with my plans either, but I was lucky enough to find my way into other adventures. Not prison. It's hard to believe her change of heart cost her 7 years in prison. What went through her mind in those years? Did she ever regret her decision? Any of her decisions? ...I've never been in prison, but I imagine that it would involve a deep sense of isolation. ...Wow. But now she is free...and that is good. The sad part, still, though, is that in Palestine, there never seems to be enough time to heal from one trauma before the next one begins...

It's been awhile...

I know, I know. It's been awhile.
What happened was,
I got this adorable puppy. She makes me laugh, which is SO important. I tried to train her to chew up a flag of the United States, but her little teeth weren't quite up to it yet...but we'll get there.
Then, I got the flu, which was much less adorable, and much less fun.
I'm starting to feel better though.

I also came across this, and even though it's about the 4th of July, I'm going to post it in the spirit of Valentine's Day comin up tomorrow...

I'm usually cynical about Valentine's Day but this poem is better than cynical: it's just real.

Al Jazeera says "No Change"

Now, let me be clear: I don't want to dismiss the power of the positive decisions that Obama has made thus far. I'm really glad that he's going to close Guantanamo and not torture people and talk to Iran instead of bomb them and not take away abortion rights. Really. This is good. It's not enough. Not nearly enough.
Personally, when I hear the word "change," I want MORE. Like, for example, I want us to not bomb Pakistan and kill 19 people.
And I want us to not blame Hamas for the fact that Israel just massacred over a thousand people in Gaza.
Those are just two things I want when I hear the word "change." There are many more, but I can list them another day. It would take a long time.
I'm so tired of bittersweet victories. I'm done with the "bitter." Ready for just plain sweet. I want to know what it's like to taste just plain sweet. Was there ever a time? ...I don't remember.?

And I guess, this is what it feels like to hope. To hope is to feel your heart crushed over and over and over.
And yet, we still hope. Because it is worse not to hope. Not to hope is to have your heart disappear. Not to hope is never to feel at all.

This post is incredibly depressing. I apologize. I think we DO need to hope. I think we just need not to place it in the hands of one man who, regardless of his personal qualities, is now the head of a capitalist, imperialist, patriarchal war machine that calls itself a country. I think we need to place it in ourselves.
One of the weirdest parts of this whole thing is...I'm pretty sure He says the same thing.

I was working on a long post about Obama, but then I came across this on someone's Facebook profile and I figured...
that's basically all I have to say.
I love this image.

From Gaza to Oakland...Resist!

Hip Hop vs. State Violence

Oakland:


Gaza:


Gaza...and Oakland:
(I couldn't get the 'embed' code to work, so go to this link and press play)
http://emergencemusic.net/node/118

can't stop now

And so the war criminals finally call for a ceasefire.
...If only this were cause for celebration.
Instead, it is cause for nothing more than a moment of relief.
Yes, I am glad that perhaps tomorrow morning, I will not have to wake up and check the rising death count...Or perhaps I will. Just in case. Because, Ehud Olmert, I don't trust you.
What are the terms of this "unilateral" ceasefire?
Well
(1) Israeli troops will remain in Gaza
(2) The blockade of Gaza will continue
(3) A threat to continue the war if another rocket is fired
...So of course it's unilateral. This way, it's all on their terms.

In many ways, this is the most difficult part about organizing in solidarity with Palestine. I imagine it is far more difficult for those who actually live there. "Normal" consists of a list of atrocities that become mundane. "Normal" means occupation, blockade, & the looming threat of all out war. Again. "Normal" means you have only a moment to mourn before something else happens, someone else is killed. "Normal" means you are faced with a choice: Resist and face massive destruction OR Don't Resist and live in an occupied prison with little or no access to resources such as food, electricity, & medicine. In other words...still massive destruction...just slower.

A few weeks ago, I posted a blog about "cautious optimism." Even Al Jazeera was using that term (that's where I got it). Now, the best I can manage is "cautious relief." The ceasefire will give us time to mourn, if it gives us time at all, and this is good. If it lasts, it will give us time to organize, hopefully in sustainable ways...like boycott, divestment, and sanctions, for example.
When a war ends, the victor/victimizer celebrates. And what of the victims? The death count - - of Palestinians- - is 1,230. And of Israelis? 12. 9 of whom were soldiers. How can they even pretend that this is justified? Before the "ceasefire" was declared, the Israelis shelled another UN school today. They have what they call "smart weapons." They are not bombing schools by mistake. And as for civilian areas, as many people have pointed out, there are no non-civilian areas in Gaza; it is a crowded prison, surrounded by an apartheid wall. This is 'business as usual.' This has all been 'business as usual.'

So, now, even if israel doesn't back out of it's ceasefire - I urge everyone to remember that if we don't keep organizing...boycott, divestment and sanctions, ongoing support for the Palestinian people, more marches, lobby days, etc...this WILL happen again. This has been happening since before 1948...
We can't continue to be surprised every time!
And we can't just be appalled every time; we need to be appalled ALL the time.

And as for "not in our name," I feel even more strongly now, after giving it a lot of thought, that this is not the right slogan. Because it is in our name. Because until we build ourselves up big enough, strong enough, brave enough to truly make it STOP it will be in our name. So we can't stop now. Not just Jews, but everyone in the US...We can't stop now.

Banner Drop

From JATO's press release:

NYC Jews Call for an Immediate End to Israel's War on Gaza: Banner Drop at U.S.S. Intrepid Marks Spread of U.S. Jewish Solidarity With Palestinians

A banner drop over New York City's West Side Highway, carried out by members of Jews Against the
Occupation/NYC, declared “Jews Say: End Israel's War on Gaza NOW!” This action by Jewish New
Yorkers continued the wave of increasingly public Jewish solidarity with the Palestinians targeted by the
Israeli government's ongoing attack on the Gaza Strip, which has killed over 1,000 people, nearly 1/3 of
them children.

The banner, which was seen by thousands of commuters during morning rush hour on Friday, January 16th, 2009, expanded the public presence of the many New York Jews who strongly disagree with the self-appointed community spokespeople who have repeatedly expressed support for the bombing and invasion of Gaza. “We are standing up for justice,” said Niuta Teitelboim, one of the JATO/NYC activists, “which is a Jewish tradition that many Jewish organizations seem to have abandoned. Too many have vocally endorsed a war which has involved a continuous string of Israeli war crimes: the mass killings of children and families at UN schools designated as places of refuge; the targeting with bombs and artillery fire of hospitals and ambulances; and most recently the destruction of food and medical aid supplies in a UN facility.”

JATO/NYC placed the banner at the U.S.S. Intrepid to highlight the role of U.S. aid to Israel in the
current war and massacres. “Palestinian doctors, ambulance drivers, and children are being killed by
bombs paid for with U.S. taxpayers’ money, dropped from planes paid for with U.S. taxpayers’ money,
sent by an Israeli administration that could not maintain one of the world's largest militaries without a
constant flow of cash from the U.S. treasury,” elaborated R. Rosenthal, another JATO/NYC member
involved in the action. “That means all of us are involved in this bloody war. Even if foreclosures and
unemployment weren’t decimating our neighborhoods, surely there are better uses for $3 billion a year
than helping the Israeli government commit war crimes.”

Over the past week, Jews across North America and Europe have shown their opposition to Israel's latest
war, as well as its ongoing military occupation of the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem and
denial of Palestinian refugees right to return home. Jewish groups have held sit-ins at Israeli consulates in
Toronto, Los Angeles, and San Francisco; taken it upon themselves to declare the cancellation of a
London rally in support of the war; participated actively in the many demonstrations calling for an
immediate end to the bombing and invasion of Gaza; and joined the worldwide campaign for boycott,
divestment and sanctions on Israel until Palestinian rights under international law are respected. “Today’s
action is one small contribution to the growing movement in solidarity with the 1.5 million Palestinians
being bombed, shelled, and shot by the Israeli army," JATO-NYC member Sholom Schwartzbard
explained. "We know from our own history what being sealed behind barbed wire and checkpoints is like,
and we know that ‘Never Again’ means not anyone, not anywhere - or it means nothing at all."

I <3 San Francisco

Watch SF activists be amazing &
Listen to ABC call Israel's actions "Genocide":
(well, kind of...)
(i mean they kind of called it that, not it kind of is, it definitely is)
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local/san_francisco&id=6606245

A Poem for Gaza

My most recent poem...for Gaza, of course:

a powerful video

a cautious comment on the "not in our name" demo

"Not in Our Name"?
What about, NOT AT ALL…?

First, let me explain why I'm writing this entry: I think it's important for us, as Jews, to be able to critique our own organizing strategies & slogans. I also think it's important for these discussions to happen in a public forum, rather than behind closed doors & over personal phone calls & emails. I realize my blog isn't exactly a "public forum," (even though anyone can read it, I guess) but it's the most public forum that I have access to, so that's why I'm posting this here. It's about accountability. I'm not calling out other people and my tone is not accusatory towards any of the organizers of Monday's demonstration. Instead, I'm bringing up an issue that I think is important to discuss.

Personally, I think it's great that a Jewish demonstration was organized in NY against the massacre in Gaza. I think it's great every time a demonstration is organized against the massacre in Gaza (or in solidarity with Palestine in general), and the variety of options here in New York has been, for me, a real source of hope. The demonstration on Monday was organized with urgency and desperation, and, I think, without much debate around the specifics of slogans and framing. This urgency makes sense. However, I think it's important that even in times of crisis, we think strategically about our messaging and how we are framing our voices, and the situation/struggle in general.

"Not in Our Name" can be interpreted in various ways:
"You're not doing this in our name," directed at the Israeli government, doesn't sound problematic. However, "This is not in our name," directed at the world seems…well…is that really the message we want to prioritize?

At the demonstration, I overheard a conversation between a few people attending. One of them was explaining how she was glad this Jewish demonstration was organized – she opposed the massacre in Gaza, but did not feel comfortable at the larger, Palestinian-organized demonstrations.
Why?
I think there was talk of "anti-Semitism," etc. You know, the usual.
But why really?
In my opinion, racism. Racist fear of being surrounded by Palestinians and, probably, discomfort with signs like "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free." (I call that discomfort racism too, because it's based on Zionism, which, I believe we all know, = racism).
So what does it mean for us to be creating space for people like this without challenging them directly through our messaging, flyering, and talking points?
Is this really helpful?
To whom?

Then, there is the overall difference in messaging between the demonstrations. At the Jewish demonstration, very few signs referenced Zionism itself as a violent ideology. There was a focus on "End the Massacre" – which is important – but what about the right of return for Palestinians? What about an Apartheid framework? What about an anti-imperialist framework? When we say "end the occupation" are we talking about 40 years or 60 years? I've said before, "it's all occupation," but is it perceived this way when we don't specify? I'm pretty sure it isn't.

So how does this present us? As the "rational" and "reasonable" Jews, of course, in contrast to the "angry," "radical," and "irrational" Palestinians. In other words, it provides fuel for the fire of racism and reinforces the very stereotypes that we're supposedly trying to challenge. This is a problem. We need to recognize that this is a problem and strategize around it.

It's a question that's been asked time and time again: How do we use our voices/privilege not only to express our own opposition Israel & it's actions, but to highlight and carve out space for Palestinian voices?
And if that isn't what we're doing…then what ARE we doing?

Racist, Colonial, Apartheid State

In case you've had any doubts about whether or not Israel is really an Apartheid State:

"Israel on Monday banned Arab political parties from running in next month's parliamentary elections..."
Seriously? Apparently,
"Parliament spokesman Giora Pordes said the election committee voted overwhelmingly in favor of the motion, accusing the country's Arab parties of incitement, supporting terrorist groups and refusing to recognize Israel's right to exist."
Wow.

Also, read this article: "We could hear their bodies burning," on Ma'an News.

The death toll is nearing 1,000, according to Al Jazeera. It's been 18 days of war. To me, it simultaneously feels like it's been 3 days and 100 days...18. Well, and also 60+ years, depending you how you define "war."

Video from tonight's "Not in Our Name" Protest

Phone Call for Gaza

I just got this email twice in about five minutes.

I admit, calling politicians is not generally my recommended course of action.
But, as one friend pointed out, it can't hurt.

Apparently, Obama's staffers are "tallying votes" on the issue.

This is the text of the email that's being passed around, in case you haven't received it yet:

Dear Friends:
I just called 202-540-3000, then pressed 2, and spoke to a
volunteer with the Obama-Biden team about Gaza. They are TALLYING phone
calls. PLEASE CALL. I just elaborated on one point, that Obama must
call for an IMMEDIATE cease-fire. That it's an ongoing massacre, that the
Gazans are fish in a barrel, that Obama must SAY something, that it
will be a historic moment. PLEASE CALL NOW.

Boycott & Divest

On Safety and Justice:

State Violence, Racism, and a "World on Fire"

I just posted a facebook status that said that three meetings in one day had left me too tired to blog, but then I realized I was wrong.

I'm going to take a break for a moment from discussing/critiquing U.S.-funded Israeli State violence in Gaza to discuss U.S.-funded U.S. State violence in Oakland.
I think there's a theme here.
On New Year's Day, the BART police shot a 22 year old man.
Guess what?
He was unarmed.
Why do you think they shot him?
Yup, that's right. Because he was Black.
Racism did not end because Obama was elected.
Are you surprised?
…Oscar Grant was apparently already restrained with zip tie handcuffs on both his ankles and his wrists when he was shot.
Do the BART police learn their techniques from the Israeli soldiers or do you think it's the other way around?
Okay, okay, it's neither. This is just the way that violent, racist Institutions function.
According to an article from KTVU that I got via the Critical Resistance listserv –
"Grant's family says his lungs were damaged in the shooting when the bullet went through him and then ricocheted off the ground and re-entered his body. Family members confirmed that Grant died from his injuries late Thursday morning. He leaves behind a four-year-old daughter."

So in case it wasn't enough to mourn the 801 deaths in Gaza, now you have one more.
The description of his death makes me cringe. A ricocheting bullet. A young daughter left behind. Already bound by his ankes and his wrists.
In Oakland.

Oh. And in the village of Kfar Qaddum, near Qalqilya – which is in the West Bank, not Gaza- settlers invaded and started shooting at several homes. How did the Israelis soldiers respond? They invaded the village as well, of course, and prevented people from entering the mosque.
They have also announced a curfew in Huwarra, south of Nablus.

You know, I should be clear that all I'm really doing here is compiling information from Ma'an News, adding my commentary, and maybe including a couple things from Al Jazeera.
I mean, not the part about Oscar Grant. But the Palestine parts.

Recently a good friend expressed this sentiment: "The world is on fire."
I have to agree.
But some parts are burning a lot more than others. Some parts are barely burning at all.

And of course, i can't end this entry without at least a brief update on Gaza –
The Israelis have most recently destroyed:
The home of Palestinian journalist Ala Mortijar, killing him and injuring several others
A building complex in Gaza City that housed media and production studios of over 20 media organizations including several international news agencies
(I think they're hiding something)
The home of Nareman Abu Au'da in Beit Hanoun. She was killed by the shrapnel of an artillery shell.
The home of the Sa'id family in Al-Qarem in northern Gaza, killing Fatma Sa'eed Sa'id (42), Sumeya (25) and Ata Jamil (12).
The Salha family home in Beit Lahiya, also in northern Gaza, where seven people were killed including 60 year old Mohammed Mubarak Saleh and his wife Halim Saleh.
And for all you sports fans who need one more reason to be appalled and enraged: they also destroyed Gaza's International Football Stadium in Rafah.
I really don't understand why.
Again, source, Ma'an News.

By the way, here's just a little more from another source – "Dissident Voice," "a radical newsletter in the struggle for peace and social justice."
I don't know anything about this source except that this article seems to have some very detailed information about a certain ceasefire - - and who violated it - - and did/didn't intend it's sustainability. Interesting facts from this site/article include:
1. Prior to the ceasefire, Isreal had announced its intention to wage full-scale military operations against Gaza. The cease-fire did not end those plans.
2. Israel violated the ceasefire on numerous occasions by shooting Gazan farmers working on their land near the border. On June 27th, an 82 year old man was injured in one of these attacks. In another (date unspecified) a Palestinian woman (age unspecified) was wounded.
3. Israel made up this thing they called a "special security zone" WITHIN Gaza (seriously, what's with them? they sound like bush. "special security zone." "axis of evil." it's like these people think they're in a comic book). They decided that they could fire upon any Palestinian who entered into this special security zone in Gaza. Basically, this was what they used as an excuse to shoot farmers, as mentioned above.
4. ALL this was even BEFORE the Israeli airstrike on November 5th which killed five Palestinians in Gaza and wounded several others.
5. And then, of course, there was the blockade.
6. Oh, and the Occupation.
7. And it's ALL Occupation.

I have more to say, but I realize this is getting long. So I'll stop and I'll try not to just write again in another 15-20 minutes.

NOT IN OUR NAME

More Information on Monday's "Not in Our Name" Action:

PLEASE FORWARD WIDELY (and repost, etc)....

*PLEASE JOIN US*
Monday, January 12 at 5:30 P.M.
in front of the Israeli Consulate
800 Second Avenue between 42nd and 43rd Streets

We are Jews who say "Not in Our Name" to the Israeli Government.
*We ask you to stand with us as we call for:*

- an immediate end to the massacre of the Palestinian people
- an immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of Israeli troops
- an immediate end to the blockade of Gaza
- immediate steps taken to end the Israeli occupation

We stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people,
with our sisters and brothers in Israel who are bravely opposing the
brutality of their government,
and with all those around the world calling for justice and peace in the
Middle East.

There will be no speakers at this event. We will stand together in silence,
holding up signs reiterating the points above.


Initiators of this call for action:

Renate Bridenthal, Nina Felshin, Michelle Fine, Sherry Gorelick, Jane Hirschmann, Carol Horowitz, Esther Kaplan, Melanie Kaye/Kantrowitz, Abigail Levine, Alan Levine, Richard Levy, Donna Nevel, Michael Ratner, Amy Schoenwald, Len Weinglass, Dorothy Zellner