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Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2014 17:19:11 +0300
From: "Mazin Qumsiyeh mazin@qumsiyeh.org [AcademicsforJustice]"
<AcademicsforJustice-noreply@
Reply-To: Mazin Qumsiyeh <mazin@qumsiyeh.org>
To: AcademicsforJustice@
Subject: [AcademicsforJustice] A Luta Continua
Good and bad news: A Luta Continua/The struggle continues
Notes from occupied Bethlehem by Mazin Qumsiyeh
Thousands of candles are being lit to challenge the darkness every day.
Examples are many. Over 90,000 Palestinians took the standardized high school
test in the Occupied State of Palestine and results are due next week. We had
a first meeting of volunteers on site at the Palestine Institute of
Biodiversity Research and Museum of Natural History (housed at Bethlehem
University). Despite the horrors of the current Israeli assault on
Palestinian civilians both in the WB and Gaza (see below), fasting in Ramadan
(Ramadan Kareem to all), and short notice, 25 volunteers attended and many
others said they will help. Progress is rapid on the ground but this is a
massive project and we could use all the help we can get. The mission agreed
to in the meeting is to research, educate about, and conserve our natural
world, culture and heritage and use knowledge to promote responsible human
interactions with our environment. Let us know if you are not getting the
museum newsletter via googlegroups and we can add you to the list of
volunteers and those interested to help.
Life does go on even under occupation: we celebrate weddings, births, mourn
the dead, treat the injured, build new facilities, deal with corrupt
politicians, hold vigils for the martyrs, demonstrate regularly, and much
more. Gaza people humble us by their persistence, resilience, and
resistance. The video of a mother saying goodbye to her dead son and just
speaking to him in dignity and compassion gives us pause to reflect on apathy
and collusion by many of the supposed "leaders" (including unfortunately some
Palestinians). The meaning of dignity escapes us when we see children burned
alive both in Jerusalem and Gaza while some talking heads (unfortunately even
some Arab "journalists" and politicians) try to make excuses. Demonstrations
were held around the world to demand Israel stop its insane assault on
civilians especially in this special month of Ramadan. While many Western
media outlets (influenced by the Zionist lobby) are trying desperately to
parrot Israeli propaganda and hide reality, the situation on the ground and
Israel's criminality are being exposed (thanks to personal communications
between hundreds of millions of people aided by alternative media including
social media).
The BDS movement is growing and is making a difference (notice for example
the rapid decline in Soda Stream stock price) and the Zionist fizzle after
the threats to the Presbyterian church. More people are taking actions -
lighting a candle instead of cursing the darkness. See also the good
statement below from the National Coalition of Christian Organizations in
Palestine on the situation. It gives us hope in humanity.
----------------------
Israel's Criminal Assault on the occupied State of Palestine: Gaza Under
Fire
During the latest Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip, Israel has
killed 86 Palestinians and injured more than 550. Just as during the Israeli
bombardments of Gaza in 2006, 2008/9 and 2012, the vast majority of the
victims are civilians, including children, elderly and women. This list
includes the killing of several Palestinian families (Haj, Halaby and Kaware
in Khan Younis, Hamad in Beit Hanoun). This Israeli criminal assault aims at
targeting Palestinian national unity, weakening Palestinian institutions and
enforce disconnection between the Gaza
Read the full report athttp://nad-plo.org/
[[I actually think the main reasons for attacking Gaza every 2-3 years is
because Israeli firms wants to sell more weapons and Gaza provides the
laboratory to test and demonstrate new weapons for potential buyers. There
is plenty of evidence for that and also for the psychological need to "show
who is boss" and keep Israelis afraid so that they let the elites continue to
profit from wars. ]]
------------------------------
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Statement from the National Coalition of Christian Organizations in Palestine
on the situation: Support Gaza’s Right to Life
“Justice and security are two sides of the same coin. Israel’s security can
never be an excuse for denying justice to the Palestinian people.”
In the spirit of the living God who sanctifies all life and in keeping with
our faith and its teachings we appeal to all people across the world to work
with their fellow citizens and governments to end Israel’s Operation
Protective Edge and the brutal military siege that has been going on for the
past seven years which includes a naval and economic blockade. Gaza has no
port or airport thus no way to import or export its products.
This not a war. This is only vengeance and collective punishment. A
responsible authority works to stop useless vengeance and violence. Instead,
it fosters general atmosphere of incitement, in order to please a Palestinian
hating population, and not knowing what to do, the irresponsible Israeli
Authority, just kills Palestinians and demolishes their houses, in order to
please their people. We acknowledge the voice and action of the few Israelis
who expressed themselves against this policy of their government.
This is not an escalation or a war. Gaza has no military or ability to
protect itself other than to fire some homemade rockets. The 1.7 million
people, mostly children (2/3 of the population) are also mostly refugees (1.1
million) from areas of 1948 and 1967. Furthermore under the 4th Geneva
Convention Palestinians, as a militarily occupied people, have the right to
defend themselves.
Our justice loving God demands us to speak out on behalf of the security for
all people. In the name of the Advocate Spirit, we ask you to speak out now
to call a halt to this long term offensive operation which aims to wipe out a
lonely, besieged and unarmed people. Whether you think the new unity
government is viable or not, or if Hamas is a terrorist organization or not,
or whether you think they might have been behind the death of the three
Israeli teens murdered near Hebron, (which is not proven so far) it is
against international law to collectively punish or target an already
besieged 1.7 millon population. It is inhumane. It is a war crime.
As of July 10th, the date of this Appeal Israeli military struck 430 targets
across the Gaza Strip. 77 people have been reported dead and more than 500
wounded.. The majority of the dead are civilians. 18 are children including a
baby one month old.
We pray for the memory of those killed. Each of them has a name and a family
who is suffering great loss. We also pray for all those wounded or injured in
body, mind, or spirit. We pray for solace and comfort also for the families
whose homes, businesses, agricultural fields, or fishing boats that have also
been destroyed. We pray for the people of Gaza and ask that God be with them.
Support Palestinian’s right to life by joining with Christians throughout the
world in their call for a just peace in this land that all call holy. We have
been down this road one too many times and know what will happen if we fail
to act. Please join us through letters and petitions to your government
officials to raise awareness about this offensive military operation and
Gaza’s ongoing siege. Ask them to pressure Israel to stop its brutal assault
or face sanctions from the international community.
Support Palestinian’s right to life, say with a loud voice: stop killing and
demolishing houses. Join with Christians throughout the world in their call
for a just peace in this land that all call holy.
Quote from article by Jeremy Corbynn,, “Who Mourns for Palestine"
NCCOP
Jerusalem
· Arab Catholic Scouts Group
· Arab Orthodox Society – Jerusalem
· Caritas- Jerusalem
· Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees- Middle East Council of
Churches
· Greek Catholic Sayedat AlBishara Association
· International Christian Committee
· Laity Committee in the Holy Land
· National Christian Association
· Pontifical Mission Palestine
· SABEEL – Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center
· Seeds of Better life
· Union of Arab Orthodox Club - Jerusalem
· Young Men’s Christian Association –YMCA
· Young Women’s Christian Association –YWCA
Gaza
NECC office
Bethlehem (NCOB)
Network of Christian Organizations in Bethlehem
· The East Jerusalem YMCA /Beit Sahour Branch
· The Arab Educational Institute,
· Holy Land Trust, Bethlehem
· Wi’am Center, Bethlehem
· Saint Afram Assyrian Society,
· Holy Land Christians Ecumenical Foundation, Bethlehem
· Al-Ihsan Arab Orthodox Society, Beit Jala
· Arab Orthodox Club, Beit Sahour
· Arab Orthodox Club, Beit Jala
· Arab Orthodox Club, Bethlehem
· The Arab Orthodox Charitable Society, Beit Sahour
· Bethlehem Bible College
· Siraj Center for Holy Land Studies
· Alternative Tourism Group, ATG, Beit Sahour
· Senior Citizen Charitable Society
· Environmental educational Center, Beit Jala
· Saint Vincent Charitable Society, Beit Jala
· Shepherds' Children Society, Beit Sahour
and KAIROS PALESTINE
------------------------------Mazin Qumsiyeh
Professor and Director of the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity Research
and Museum of Natural History
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