International Workers Aid Flotilla to Gaza

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Comment by Joe Balkis on December 12, 2012 at 6:32

In a statement today, Palestinian prisoners’ rights group Addameer said: "At 3 am this morning, 11 December 2012, the Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights office was raided by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF). Four laptops, one hard disk and a video camera were taken among other materials. The IOF destroyed the office; desks, ransacked filing cabinets and files and scattered files around the office. At this moment, we are not clear as to what has been confiscated, but in the coming days we will know more about the level of destruction and damage. This is the first raid by the IOF since 2002, when the Addameer office was raided during the invasion of Ramallah. The offices of the Union of Palestinian Women’s Committee and the Palestinian NGO Network were also raided and ransacked last night. Addameer condemns this attack on human rights and civil society organizations, and sees it as an attempt to cripple solidarity with the prisoners movement."

The Electronic Intafada reported today - http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/israeli-occupation...
Amnesty International also released a statement - http://www.amnesty.org/en/for-media/press-releases/israel-must-stop...

Comment by Joe Balkis on November 28, 2012 at 18:31

FOR THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF SOLIDARITY WITH THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE

When: Thursday, November 29th at noon

Where: 200 N. LaSalle Street (in front of the TIAA-CREF Chicago office)

Signs will be provided.

November 29th is the UN's international day of solidarity with the Palestinian people. In Chicago, we choose to honor this day by responding to the Palestinian call for Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions. In the wake of Israel's assault on Gaza, we are holding accountable corporations that profit from attacks, siege, and occupation in Gaza and the West Bank.

We want TIAA-CREF to divest from the Israeli occupation of Palestine. With over $2.2 billion invested in corporations that provide weapons, surveillance systems, and settlement infrastructure to Israel, TIAA-CREF is violating its own mission for socially responsible investment. As TIAA-CREF clients and concerned citizens, we don't want our money funding military occupation and human rights abuses!

Join us on Thursday, and show your solidarity with the Palestinian people!

Daniel Kaplan

Chicago Divests Campaign Coordinator

----

chicagodivests.wordpress.com

Chicago Divests demands that TIAA-CREF divest from all corporations profiting from the Israeli occupation of Palestine. Chicago Divests specifically targets six corporations–Veolia, Motorola Solutions, Hewlett-Packard, Elbit, Caterpillar, and Northrop Grumman–for providing weapons, surveillance systems, and segregated services to enforce the occupation. Chicago Divests is a grassroots organization, organized in conjunction with the American Friends Service Committee.
Sign the petition here.

Follow us on twitter: twitter.com/ChicagoDivests

For more information about the divestment campaign, visit: WeDivest.org

Comment by Joe Balkis on November 28, 2012 at 7:56

www.aaan.org AAAN Video

Speaker's Bio: Lamis Deek is an attorney and human rights advocate specializing in defending Arab and Muslim community members, activists, and organizers against U.S. government attacks, including a number of the recent and prominent "entrapment" cases on the East Coast. Deek is a long time member of Al-Awda NY: The Palestine Right to Return Coalition, the Arab Muslim American Federation, and the National Lawyers Guild. She is also a co-founder of the US Palestinian Community Network (USPCN), and played a prominent role in organizing USPCN's popular conferences in 2008 and 2010 in Chicago, each of which was attended by close to 1,200 people.  She is considered one of the leading Palestinian activists and organizers in the U.S., and regularly speaks around the country on issues related to Palestine, the war in Iraq, civil liberties in the U.S., and community organizing.  On November 28th in Chicago, Deek will discuss the recent Israeli attack, and continued siege, on the Gaza Strip; the state of the national movement in Palestine and the U.S. today; and the civil liberties violations and other challenges faced by Palestinian and solidarity activists in the U.S.

Comment by Joe Balkis on November 21, 2012 at 20:21

Take Action Now to Stop Israel’s Attacks on Gaza

Since November 8, Israel has killed at least 21 Palestinians in the occupied and besieged Gaza Strip, the majority of whom are civilians, including children. In addition, 3 Israeli civilians have been killed by a Palestinian rocket.

Israel's attacks against the Gaza Strip are being committed with U.S. weapons given to Israel as military aid by the U.S. taxpayer. These weapons are being misused by Israel in violation of the U.S. Arms Export Control Act to commit grave human rights abuses of Palestinians.

We’re asking you to take three actions right now:

• Join an emergency protest or organize one yourself.  There are dozens of emergency actions planned across the country which you can view here.
• Write and call President Obama demanding that he exert diplomatic pressure on Israel for an immediate cease-fire and initiate an investigation into Israel’s misuse of U.S. weapons to commit human rights abuses of Palestinians.
• Visit US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation to learn more.

Comment by Joe Balkis on November 19, 2012 at 20:16

Dear all,
The City is preparing to install the big Christmas tree at Daley Center, so we had to change our route. We will still meet as planned at Federal Plaza, but end back at Federal Plaza for the rally rather than at Daley Center. Here is the new route of our march: http://goo.gl/maps/LJeiE. Information below has been edited.
---------- Forwarded message ----------

Mass March and Rally for the People of Gaza!

When: TODAY, Monday, November 19th, 4:30 pm
Where: March will begin at Federal Plaza (219 S Dearborn St, Chicago, Illinois 60604)

Come out and protest Israel’s ongoing attacks on in Gaza, killing and injuring Palestinian civilians (including many children) and destroying infrastructure, homes, and livelihoods.
We will not stand for another Operation Cast Lead. Let us stand in solidarity with Gaza by calling on the US government to end its unwavering support of Israel’s human rights abuses. Demand the Obama administration put pressure on Israel to end its attacks on the people of Gaza and end the illegal blockade of Gaza.

** Signs will be provided. Any signs or chanting that engage in hate speech will not be allowed at this protest. Those who do not abide by these rules will be asked to put away their signs or leave. We oppose racism and bigotry in any form. Read a statement from Palestinians on why the struggle for Palestinian rights is incompatible with any form of racism or bigotry. **
March will begin at the Federal Plaza, go toward Michigan avenue, and end back at Federal Plaza, where a rally will be held. (map of the march route: http://goo.gl/maps/LJeiE)
Buses will depart from the following locations at 3:30pm:
*ICCI - 6435 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago, IL 60634 *Mosque Foundation - 7360 W 93rd St., Bridgeview, IL 60455
Folks are also meeting at the AAAN (3148 W. 63rd Street, 2nd Floor) at 3:30 PM SHARP!!! to travel together by public transportation!
Organized by: American Muslims for Palestine – Chicago Chicago Movement for Palestinian Rights Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago Palestine Solidarity Group – Chicago
US Palestinian Community Network – Chicago

Comment by Joe Balkis on October 29, 2012 at 0:32

PROTEST
FRIENDS OF THE ISRAELI DEFENSE FORCES (IDF)
ANNUAL FUNDRAISER

The guest speaker is an Israeli Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Strategic Affairs and was chief of

the IDF in suppressing the Palestinian resistance to occupation from 2002 to 2005.

NO TO IDF KILLING OF CIVILIANS AND TORTURE OF PRISONERS
NO TO ISRAEL DRAGGING US INTO A WAR WITH IRAN
NO TO THE OCCUPATION - NO TO THE SIEGE OF GAZA
YES TO JUSTICE FOR THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE
Meet at the Chicago Cultural Center
78 E. Washington St
March steps off at 4:30PM
Picket from 5:00PM to 6:30PM
at the Chicago Hilton
720 S. Michigan Ave

Please let us provide the signs in order to create a powerful and unified message.
Please wear black and bring a candle for a vigil.
Get Involved! Palestine Solidarity Group – Chicago www.psgchicago.org
Jewish Voice for Peace – Chicago www.jvpchicago.org
US Palestinian Community Network – Chicago www.uspcn.org
Endorsed by:
Palestine Solidarity Group – Chicago, Jewish Voice for Peace – Chicago, US Palestinian Community Network – Chicago, Chicago Movement for Palestinian Rights, American Muslims for Palestine, Gay Liberation Network, Episcopal Peace Fellowship – Chicago Chapter, American Friends Service Committee, Committee Against Political Repression

Comment by Joe Balkis on February 8, 2012 at 16:44

**URGENT CALL TO ACTION**PLEASE SHARE**


WHAT: Peaceful Silent Demonstration in solidarity with political prisoner Khader Adnan who has been on Huger Strike in Israeli Prison for 53 days. http://bit.ly/w5qjBf

WHEN: Tomorrow February 8, 2012 at 5:30 PM

WHERE: Outside of the Israeli Consulate of Chicago
500 West Madison, Suite 3100
Chicago, IL

WHY: Stand in solidarity with Khader and all political prisoners in a peaceful demonstration tomorrow

WHAT TO BRING: Bring Palestinian flags, blindfolds and signs


For more information:

TAKE URGENT ACTION: DAY 53 OF KHADER ADNAN'S HUNGER STRIKE

http://samidoun.ca/2012/02/take-urgent-action-day-53-of-khader-adnans-hunger-strike/ 

Shortlink: http://samidoun.ca/?p=133

On the 17th of December 2011 (53 days ago), Khader Adnan began his hunger strike in protest of his ill-treatment in Israeli detention and his arbitrary detention without charge or trial (known as Administrative Detention). 

He is in danger of dying at any moment. His wife, Randa, who saw him for the first time since his detention today described his condition as rapidly deteriorating and that he has lost a third of his weight and his hair.

TAKE ACTION NOW!

1.Call and demand the release of Khader Adnan, who has not been charged with any crime but instead is being held under Administrative Detention. 
Call the Israeli Embassy in Washington DC (1.202.364.5500) OR your local Embassy (for a list, click here).

Call the office of Jeffrey Feltman, Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs (1.202.647.7209)

Demand that Jeffrey Feltman bring this issue urgently to his counterparts in Israel and raise the question of Khader Adnan’s administrative detention.

2. Organize a protest outside your local Israeli Embassy (for a list, click here).

Post your local actions to the Khader Adnan facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Free-Khader-Adnan/236953309725144

Help us spread the word with social media after you take action.
Download this photo of Khader Adnan to use for your social media profile pictures and click on the suggested messages below and they will be automatically tweeted.  

Tweet Now: Take Action Now for #KhaderAdnan http://samidoun.ca/?p=133  #Palest...

Tweet Now: I just called my local #Israel Embassy to demand #KhaderAdnan’s rel...

Tweet Now: Sign Petition to #FreeKhader hunger-striking Palestinian prisoner h...

3. Other Actions

To contact the authorities within Israel, see Addameer’s appeal.

Other ideas for actions and a letter-writing template can be found on this action alert from Samidoun (The Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network).

See Amnesty International’s report and appeal to action.

Khader Adnan, the father of two daughters and with a third child on the way, is a baker, a Masters student in Economics at Birzeit University, and a political activist. Khader, was arrested on December 17, 2011 by masked soldiers who raided his home in the middle of the night (the village of Arrabe near Jenin in the occupied West Bank). Between the 18th and the 29th of January 2012, he was subjected to almost daily cruel and inhumane interrogations. During interrogations, he was shackled to a crooked chair with his hands tied behind his back in a position that caused him back pain. He said that interrogators threatened him constantly and verbally abused him and his family.

Khader was given a four-month administrative detention order on January 8, 2012. Khader’s interrogation period has ended but he refuses to accept the unjust system of administrative detention [more details], continuing his strike on the principle that such detention is a violation of his rights and identity. Administrative detention, a regular practice of the Israeli occupation, violates the internationally-recognized right to a fair trial. International standards for fair trial must be upheld for all political detainees, including those accused of violence, even under states of emergency. A military judge reviewed the administrative detention order on February 1, 2012 and is expected to inform lawyers of her decision later on this week.

Meanwhile, Khader’s health is deteriorating rapidly and doctors don’t expect him to be able to survive for much longer.

Comment by Joe Balkis on July 29, 2011 at 17:38

Striking Palestinian quarry workers need your help today. Is this email not displaying correctly?
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It's now been more than a month since 35 Palestinian workers began their strike at the Salit quarry in the occupied West Bank.

They have now asked for a global online campaign to pressure their Israeli employer to come back to the bargaining table.

Please send off your message and spread the word.

Thank you.



Eric Lee


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Comment by Joe Balkis on July 24, 2011 at 13:06

Take Action: Tell U.S. Not to Veto Palestine's Membership in UN Security Council!


Please take action today to support recognition of Palestine at the UN!

Add your name
to the petition today.




Tweet this Petition


Share on Facebook

Occupation isn't Pretty:
Wear the message!

(above: CODEPINK's new online organizer Sanaa
sports a t-shirt with a purpose.)


Last Friday an estimated 2,000 Palestinians and Israelis marched together through the streets of Jerusalem in support of Palestinian efforts to gain
UN membership and additional statehood recognition when the UN meets this fall.

Envisioning a future free of Israeli military occupation, apartheid and colonization, these protesters carried placards declaring "We March Together for Liberation," and "Solidarity with Palestine."

Who stands in their way? Our government does. The United States might veto Palestine's application to the Security Council and Palestinian statehood could be debated in the Security Council as early as next Monday, July 25, and we need to send a clear message to our US government not to veto.

Will you join us today in signing this important petition to the US State Department and to US Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice?

Friday's demonstrators reminded us: "Only Free People Can Negotiate." And Palestinians are not free people while living under Israeli occupation, as second-class citizens of Israel, or as refugees whom were exiled from their homes.

Palestinians are seeking membership in the United Nations as a way toward Palestinian freedom and self-determination, but President Obama mistakenly has equated this with "efforts to single Israel out" at the UN and has promised to "stand up against" this initiative. The US Congress even passed a bill to place crippling sanctions on Palestinians if they continue to press for statehood in the UN or continue to actively seek recognition as a state from other countries.

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., wrote in his Letter from Birmingham Jail that the worst stumbling block to freedom's advance is the person who "believes he can set the timetable for another" person's freedom.

The US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation will deliver this petition with signatures from many organizations and individuals to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and U.S. Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice before the vote.

Want to learn more about Palestine UN membership and statehood recognition? Check out this FAQ and analysis created by the US Campaign to to explore the political, legal and historical issues.

Join the US Campaign, CODEPINK, and prominent national organizations including the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, American Jews for a Just Peace, American Muslims for Palestine, Fellowship of Reconciliation, Friends of Sabeel--North America, Interfaith Peace-Builders, Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD)--USA, Jewish Voice for Peace, and Peace Action--to urge the Obama Administration not to set a timetable on another's freedom by vetoing Palestine's UN membership application.

Thank you for taking action to tell the Obama Administration not to veto Palestine's UN membership application!

In solidarity,
Alli, Medea, Rae, Sanaa, and the CODEPINK Team

PS: The Security Council might vote on this in just five days! Will you sign today?

Comment by Joe Balkis on July 17, 2011 at 19:10

Labor for Palestine + www.laborforpalestine.net + info@laborforpalestine.net

U.S. Trade Union Statement in Support of Palestinian Call for Full and Immediate Arms Embargo Against Apartheid Israel
Sign on: click here or email info@laborforpalestine.net
June 13, 2011 -
Whereas, on May 4, 2011, the Palestinian Trade Union Coalition for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (PTUC-BDS) specifically called "on trade unions around the world to actively show solidarity with the Palestinian people by. . . . divesting from Israel Bonds and all Israeli and international companies and institutions complicit in Israel’s occupation, colonization and apartheid"; and
Whereas, on July 8, 2011, the Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC) urgently called for "immediate international action towards a mandatory comprehensive military embargo against Israel similar to that imposed against apartheid South Africa in the past"; and

Whereas, since the Nakba (Catastrophe) of 1947-1948, Israel has used at least $108 billion from the U.S. government to carry out ongoing war, ethnic cleansing, racism and apartheid against the Palestinians and many other Arab nations; and

Whereas, in the past ten years alone, the U.S. government -- with overwhelming bipartisan support -- has given Israel $17 billion in military aid; over the next decade, it will give another $30 billion; and

Whereas, as a result, Palestinian workers continue to be killed and maimed by U.S.-supplied naval vessels, jet fighters, Apache helicopters, white phosphorous and other weapons; and

Whereas, in 2008/2009 alone, Israel used these weapons to enforce the brutal and illegal siege by killing 1400 people in Gaza, most of them civilians -- a massacre condemned by the UN, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and other human rights organizations, including those that are Israeli; and

Whereas, U.S. supplied-weapons were similarly used in the deadly May 31, 2010 Israeli attack on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, and to kill scores of unarmed Palestinian refugees exercising their right to return in 2011; and

Whereas, in 2006, Israel turned Lebanon into a killing ground, slaughtering and maiming thousands of people, destroying the civilian infrastructure, and turning a quarter of the population into refugees in their own land; and

Whereas, the U.S. and Israel provided similar support to the apartheid South Africa regime, just as they now arm and finance dictatorships to suppress the Arab Spring; and

Whereas, veteran South African freedom fighters have observed that Israel’s treatment of Palestinians is “worse than apartheid”; and

Whereas, amidst spiraling economic crisis, workers in this country pay a staggering human and financial price for U.S.-Israeli war and occupation from Palestine to Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan; and

Whereas, just as trade unionists fight “replacement” of striking workers, we stand against the dispossession, occupation and inequality inflicted on millions of Palestinian working people and their descendants for more than six decades; and

Whereas, the campaign for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against apartheid Israel has been endorsed by numerous labor bodies around the world, including the trade union congresses of South Africa, Egypt, Brazil, Ireland, Scotland and the UK, and labor bodies in Australia, France, Canada, Norway, Catalunya, Italy, Spain and Turkey; and

Whereas, numerous U.S. labor bodies participated in similar divestment campaigns against apartheid South Africa; and

Whereas, following the May 31, 2010 Israeli attack on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, members of ILWU Local 10 in Oakland courageously followed the South African dockers’ example by refusing to handle Israeli cargo; and

Whereas, such solidarity stands in the proud tradition of West Coast dock-workers who refused to handle cargo for Nazi Germany (1934) and fascist Italy (1935); those in Denmark and Sweden (1963), the San Francisco Bay Area (1984) and Liverpool (1988), who refused shipping for apartheid South Africa; those in Oakland who refused to load bombs for the Pinochet dictatorship in Chile (1978); and those at all twenty-nine West Coast ports who held a May Day strike against the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan (2008).

Therefore, we join with the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), the Brazilian CUT, and other labor bodies, in specifically reaffirming support for an immediate and comprehensive arms embargo; and

Whereas, Israel has now sought to repress the growing BDS campaign by banning recognition of the 1948 Nakba or advocacy of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions;

Therefore, we call on all labor bodies to divest from Israel Bonds; and

Therefore, we call on workers not to handle weapons and all other military cargo destined for Israel; and

Therefore, that these and other necessary measures be maintained until the Israeli apartheid regime recognizes Palestinian human rights and self-determination by immediately:

1. Ending its occupation and colonization of all Arab lands and dismantling the Wall;

2. Recognizing the fundamental rights of the Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel to full equality; and

3. Respecting, protecting and promoting the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties as stipulated in UN resolution 194.


Signers (List in formation — ALL UNION BODIES LISTED FOR IDENTIFICATION ONLY. Sign on by clicking here or emailing info@laborforpalestine.net.)
Monadel Herzallah, Arab American Union Members Council, San Francisco, CA

Larry Adams, Former President, NPMHU L. 300; Co-Convener, New York City Labor Against the War; People’s Organization for Progress

Michael Letwin, Labor for Palestine; Former President, Association of Legal Aid Attorneys/UAW Local 2325

Brenda Stokely, Former President, AFSCME DC 1707; Co-Convener, New York City Labor Against the War; Co-Chair, Million Worker March Movement

Carl Gentile, National Representative, American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), AFL-CIO

Joe Iosbaker, SEIU Local 73, Executive Board member


Carol Gay, President, NJ State Industrial Union Council, Chairperson, NJ Labor Against War


Andre Powell, Delegate, Baltimore MD Metro AFL-CIO Central Labor Council, AFSCME


Bill Bateman, Coordinator, RI Unemployed Council, Member, Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 271


Steve Gillis, Vice-President, USW Local 8751, The Boston School Bus Drivers' Union, Roslindale, MA


Manzar Foroohar, , Former Chapter President, California Faculty Association (CFA), Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo


Amy Hines, Labor Relations Representative/Organizer, AEU, Concord, CA


Dan Kaplan, Executive Secretary, AFT L. 1493; San Mateo, CA


Dennis Kortheuer, California Faculty Association, Long Beach, CA


Joseph Agonito, American Federation of Teachers, Local 1845, Syracuse NY


Nathaniel Miller, Industrial Workers of the World, Philadelphia, PA


Carole Seligman, retired member South San Francisco Classroom Teachers Association, CTA, NEA


Mike Gimbel, retired Executive Board member, Local 375, AFSCME


Joe Lombardo, CSEA,Troy Area Labor Council, Co-coordinator United National Antiwar Committee


Stephen Cheng, Brandworkers International/Industrial Workers of the World, New York, NY


Sherna Berger Gluck, former vice-president, California Faculty Assn/SEIU 1983


Mary Scully, IUE-CWA Local 201 (retired)


Walter Birdwell, retired shop steward, National Association of Letter Carriers


John Dudley, SEIU, Branford, CT


Garrett Wright, Member, Industrial Workers of the World, New York City


Anna Potempska, Public Employees Federation, Staten Island, NY


Mark Clinton, Massachusetts Community College Council, Holyoke Community College Chapter


Jerry Silberman, Senior Staff Representative, Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals, AFL-CIO, Philadelphia, PA


Anthony Arnove, National Writers Union

Azalia Torres, Former Executive Bd. Member, ALAA/UAW L. 2325, Brooklyn, NY

Martha Grevatt, member UAW Local 869

David Heap, UWO Faculty Association, London, Ontario


Mike Treen, National Director, Unite the Union, Auckland, NZ


Sabah al-Mukhtar, President, Arab Lawyers Association (UK), London

Theresa Peters, National Union of Teachers, England
Sign on: click here or email info@laborforpalestine.net
Labor for Palestine (U.S.) + http://www.laborforpalestine. net + info@laborforpalestine.net

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