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Time
To Hold Israel Accountable: Call the White House
09 June 2010 By Mazin Qumsiyeh
Israeli government refuses an International probe
into its illegal piracy and massacre of Gaza
humanitarian aid ships and 'accidentally distributed a
video mocking the humanitarian activists. The Israeli
occupation forces admitted doctoring one audiotape
from the Mavi Marmara ship.
The lies are beginning to crumple with testimonies
from survivors (see below).
But we will not drop this case because it may yet
prove to be the straw that breaks the back of
International complicity. Today in Beit Jala, we had a
mock coffin, a mock ship, Turkish and international
flags and of course the obligatory Israeli tear gas
and harassment.
One Israeli peace activist, Roni Barkan, was arrested.
We are dismayed that Palestinian security in
coordination with Israeli security decided to prevent
us from going to demonstrate from downtown Beit Jala
(or to return to downtown) but we keep going from
another location and we show Israeli war criminals
that we care about the land and we care about the
people of Gaza and we care about the victims of the
massacre committed at sea Monday (see video of the
event in Beit Jala at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4ClXZWokq0).
We also commemorate the aggression 43 years ago that
expanded the occupied areas from 78% to 100% of
historic Palestine.
Thus for 43 years, we had one contiguous state of
oppression and since then we have been working to
transform this state from a fascist oppressive racist
state to one of a democratic state for all its people.
Yet, the trauma of the massacres committed before and
after that pivotal date in June 1967 continue.
From the massacres in the 1940s, 1950s, to the mass
execution of prisoners of war in the Sinai desert by
Israeli generals who became prime ministers (a war
crime since forgiven by the puppet regime in Egypt),
to the massacres in the 1970s, the 1980s (in Lebanon
and Palestine) and on and on. Personally, I keep
seeing friends, colleagues, and those who I identify
with gunned down, murdered or injured without
protection by a fascist regime that feels it can act
with impunity because of US government support.
Many good people are imprisoned and psychologically
and/or physically tortured.
I cry regularly for all victims, those I personally
knew who were killed (e.g. Basem Abu Rahma), injured
(e.g. Emily Henochowicz who lost her eye), unfairly
imprisoned and mistreated (e.g. Lubna Masarwa) and
those I did not know personally but who are kindred in
spirit (e.g. 19 year old Turkish American Furkan Dagan
who was gunned down on the freedom flotilla).
It is really hard to express how one feels.
Perhaps this peace by Alice Walker sums it up: 'You
will have no protection' http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article11319.shtml
May they never be forgotten: Meet the victims of the
Israeli massacre: names, pictures and brief
biographies http://lawrenceofcyberia.blogs.com/news/2010/06/putting-names-to-faces.html
And here are interviews and reports of the injured and
kidnapped that contradict Israeli stories
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeUhwELoKWo http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/
2010/06/2010656545562651.html
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/features/they-came-from-the-villages-
to -aid-the-orphans-1.294407
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNLhjCkiZ9k
(By the way, Israeli forces have stolen passports and
belongings from dozens of activists)
Even in Israel within the green line, there were
demonstrations against the massacres, this one in Tel
Aviv drew 15-20,000 participants (and right-wing thugs
tried to attack 86 year old Uri Avnery after the
crowds dispersed) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsMjVp9IR-Y
and watch the Knesset fascists try to stop an Arab
member of the Knessetfrom speaking and then attacking
her (Haneen Zuabi has received many death threats and
hundreds have signed onto a facebook page calling for
her execution; so much for 'democracy' in the racist
apartheid state) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7OEzB1GgRs
ACTIONS: Protest at Israeli missions, Israeli
government appearances, and write to media, and
politicians to demand that Israel be held accountable
and end the siege on Gaza.
Call representative to Israel http://www.embassiesabroad.com/embassies-in/Israel
Call or send an email to US representatives http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/641/p/dia/
action/public/?action_KEY=397
3
Call the White House: 1.202.456.1111, Department of
State: 1.202.647.4000 Finally and most importantly,
support the call from Palestinian Civil Society for
Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel
http://www.bdsmovement.net/?q=node/710
Mazin Qumsiyeh, PhD A Bedouin in Cyberspace, a
villager at home http://www.qumsiyeh.org Professor,
Bethlehem and Birzeit Universities Chairman of the
Board, Palestinian Center for approchement Between
People, http://www.pcr.ps
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