Recent events in support of Palestine

author : Molly Gibbs topic : Israel Lobby | Palestine

by Molly Gibbs

Local Peace activists express concern for Palestinians under Israeli Occupation

June was a horrific month for people enduring the Israeli Occupation in Gaza and the West Bank. The right-wing Likud Party and the Israeli government has taken advantage of the split between Hamas and Fatah, as civil war erupts with Fatah in control of the West Bank, and Hamas in Gaza. Many fear the vengeful attacks on Gaza's citizens may destroy their society, and any possibility of peaceful coexistence for and among Palestinians.

Olympians for Peace in the Middle East -- June, 1967 Teach-in

On June 5 at the Olympia Center, the Olympia Rafah Sister City Project (ORSCP) provided citizens with an overview of the effects of the 1967 War on the Palestinians. Dr. Steve Niva, Terese Saliba and Farihan Bushnaq spoke; Phan Nguyen moderated. The June 1967 War is commonly known as the "Six-Day War," which began when Israel launched a preemptive attack on Egypt's air force in the midst of growing tension in the region. After quickly defeating Egypt, Israel fought Syria in the North and then invaded the West Bank following minor skirmishes with Jordanian forces. At war's end, Israel had gained control of eastern Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip, the Sinai Peninsula, the West Bank, and the Golan Heights.

This war, 40 years ago, secured US military, political, and financial support for Israel, helped shape current US policy in the Middle East, began the establishment of illegal Israeli settlements, and started the longest military occupation in modern history.

Northwest Convergence

On June 6, I carpooled with Cindy and Craig Corrie to Vancouver, Washington to protest at the NW Conference. We joined Voices for Middle East Justice to demand observation of Palestinian human rights in the occupied territories on the 40th Anniversary of the Israeli Occupation. The Convergence Conference organizers, led by Rep. Tony Zarelli and his wife, invited Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and three extreme right wing members of the Israel's Likud Party to speak at the conference, held in the Vancouver Hilton Hotel.

The purpose of this two-day meeting was to merge US, Israeli and "anti-terrorism" political agendas. The Likud platform states that there shall be no Palestinian state within historic Palestine and that the land and settlements are the Jewish peoples' "unquestionable right." This conference presented only the most extremist, militarist voices in Israel, not the voices of peace in that country (which are the majority, also true of the US population.) Representative Zarelli's agenda is to influence the religious leaders and the US government to support the "security needs of Israel," wherein lies a direct conflict with our foreign policy need for peace in the Middle East. See http://www.ifonlyamericansknew.org

Voices for Peace in the Middle East effectively organized communication and news coverage. Vancouver police illegally videotaped our peaceful interactions with conference goers. Our crowd at its height numbered 40, including both protesters and counter protesters. Some of our representatives attended the Vancouver Convergence; both Senator Cantwell and Governor Gregoire had representatives present for unknown purposes.

DC Lobbying on the 40th Anniversary of Israeli Occupation

The breakthroughs in DC lobbying are directly attributable to our Palestinian friends and supporters. Farihan Bushnaq, Palestinian-American from Olympia, put her soul on the line in congressional offices. She talked about her teen years in 1967, and her family fleeing during the 1967 War, some of whom were resettled multiple times.

Husam el Nounou, Director of Public Relations at Gaza Community Mental Health Program told us: "Homes by the thousands have been demolished. Houses must be rebuilt and we are raising funds to build more. Our message from Palestine is that Gaza is an occupied land. It is a prison, where people are killed inside, unable to move without permits. Food and medicine are unavailable. The sky, sea and land are filled with bombs, or threat of, day and night. The humanitarian affects are indescribable. Stress and anger are constant."

"Is this violence in the interest of the United States?" asks El Nounou? "The whole world is tied to the story of the Palestinians. Christians, Jews and Muslims with interest in the Holy Lands must understand that the violence stems from almost 60 years of occupation. Now we are locked in a vicious circle in this 'peace process.' Meet, talk, no action. The Palestinians cannot take more sacrifice of human life and dignity. How do you think they feel about the Arab Peace Initiative at this point?"

Mohammed Abu Asaker, from Rafah, addressed Legislative Aide to Adam Smith, Mark de la Iglesia: "Gaza is double the size of DC. Over 8,000 homes have been destroyed; over 30,000 are homeless. My father was a refugee. I was a student, blocked at checkpoints from getting to college classes. It took me three to 10 hours each time I had to go through the checkpoints. I was unable to complete my last semester. No, you are not allowed to leave Gaza. Those between 18 and 35 couldn't leave. There were 150 others trying to get out when I wanted to accept the scholarship offered to me from American University. I stayed in Egypt for three months. There I couldn't get back in to Gaza, and it can take from a few days to a few months to re-enter Gaza. Economic and political freedoms are zip in Gaza. Are you recognizing Palestinians as human beings?"

McDonald Sullivan, president of the Washington Sabeel chapter, grew up in China under Japanese occupation, and after visiting the Occupied Territories stated emphatically, "People are treated like animals at checkpoints. This is immoral, inhuman and a threat to world security."

Following pleas for US humanitarian intervention, Cindy Corrie explored with Mark de la Iglesia his possible interest in going to Palestine and Israel, to observe firsthand what is taking place. Jonathan Hale promises to get back to us for Senator Cantwell.

Post-DC demonstration opposing the US-Israeli Occupation of Palestine

The World Bank gives de facto recognition to Israel's annexation of Palestinian land by financing the checkpoints, defined as "development assistance" for Palestinians. The International Court of Justice verdict ruled against the wall in 2004, which makes this financing a violation of International Law. Israel's per capita income is too high to receive World Bank loans, so the funding is channeled through the Palestinian Authority, who have no discretion in spending funds designated for the checkpoints.

June 13: Civil War Announced, dividing Gaza from the West Bank

Hamas, no matter what one thinks of it, fairly won the January election. On the eve of its victory, it had already observed a one-year unilateral truce with Israel. According to the Israeli human rights group B'Tselem, "Israel killed almost 700 Palestinians in 2006, of whom half were unarmed civilians, and 141 were children. By contrast, Palestinians killed 23 Israelis."

On what basis did the US shun the elected representatives (Hamas) of an occupied people, while allowing their occupiers to continue killing civilians and stealing land for Jewish-only settlements? Hamas tried to enter mainstream politics through the front door -- and received sanctions in return. The door was slammed shut as the US funded and armed unaccountable, corrupt militias whose job was to undermine the results of a democratic election.

Israel increased its attempts to bring about the collapse of Palestinian society. This was done via "targeted" assassinations, nightly arrests, home demolitions, and over 500 military checkpoints. One million olive trees were uprooted, $800 million in Palestinian tax revenues were withheld, and an internationally condemned illegal 25 meter-high separation wall on Palestinian lands was built. This is the context leading to the violence in Gaza.

Current events did not drop unexpectedly out of the sky. Combine 40 years of Israeli occupation, a US-led coup to collapse a democratically elected Palestinian government, a shift in internal Palestinian power-sharing, plus 40 years of single-party authority, and the international community's failure to uphold its obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention, and we get to where we are today.

The American government has a biased policy. Sanctions punish victims. And the United States has backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' so-called 'emergency government'. These unjust, double standards must stop. The American government influences the EU and other nations to not support Palestine. Many call for an international force to approach peace. Will the Israeli war crimes and violations of the UN charter continue?

Molly Gibbs chairs the Olympia Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Committee. An active member of Veterans for Peace, Rachel Corrie Chapter 109, she is Program Coordinator for Know All You Can Know, which serves high school and college students. She can be contacted at kayck@olywa.net.