Mazin Qumsiyeh
Yes, it is true that our struggle is more difficult than what transpired against apartheid in South Africa. Yes, it is true that our "leadership" has been reduced making weak declarations in fancy hotels and conference centers and to the media. This "leadership" is paid handsomely for doing nothing useful to change the political discourse or even increase the cost of this colonial Zionist venture. Worse yet, a good segment of this "leadership" actually aids and abets the occupiers. Salam Fayyad who worked at the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), declares that he is fully in favor of the appointment of the head of the Central Bank in Israel as head of the IMF! He also worked hard to get funding to pave alternative roads that made it easier on the apartheid system isolating Palestinians in cantons than need not interfere with the plans to control the natural resources and best lands of the West Bank. And then there is Mahmoud Abbas who declared on more than one occasion and also even signed a provisional agreement with Israelis that also declared that refugees need not return to their homes and lands but only to the demilitarized denuded bantustan called a Palestinian state. Abbas also declared repeatedly that his options are negotiations, negotiations, negotiations. He and his associates (Saeb Erekat, Abu Ala' etc) have been negotiating for 20 years with the only tangible accomplishment being giving Israel economic and diplomatic space to consolidate Zionist colonialism. But this era of Israeli colonial superiority must and is coming to an end.
While we in the civil society still hope for these "leaders" to change their ways, we have not been waiting. We have been acting and must act more. The upcoming escalation in confrontation will not be between states nor will it be with "insurgency" in its classic sense. What we see instead is a growth in boycotts, divestment, and sanctions and what transpired by freedom flotilla I, events of May 15, June 5th, the upcoming freedom flotilla II, and July 8-16 are so critical. We have individual and collective responsibility to change things by moral and determined ways. The other options have been proven catastrophically negative: relying on politicians (elected or self-appointed) or on the vagaries of shifting military capabilities (a dangerous development in the era of advanced science that makes development of weapons of mass destruction relatively easy even for small state and non-state actors). Let no one have any illusion: we are coming to a major confrontation. It can either be
For those of you in Palestine, you may want to join us for a workshop this Saturday, 18 June, at 11 Am in the Bethlehem area that will bring dozens of activists from throughout Palestine and some internationals to help organize us better for the week of activities in July and beyond. We also just updated our website with new answers to frequently asked questions on this (see http://palestinejn.org/section-blog ). For those of you abroad, you could intensify your efforts to challenge the status quo. We are one world and our struggles are one.
Freedom Flotilla 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXyR2_H0jXE
Calls for sanctions against Israel rise in EU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32t2bUzKmjE
People Power By Erica Chenoweth
From Cairo, Egypt, to Madison, Wisconsin, civil society is fighting back through massive nonviolent resistance. But what makes for a successful campaign? The data is in.
http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=magazine.article&issue=soj1105&article=people-power
Palestine Writing Workshop in Bethlehem, July 2011: additional information and registration at www.palestineworkshop.org
Action: 51,000 people signed asking TIAA-CREF to divest from apartheid. We must insist that they respond to investor demand for a vote on the issue. Their meeting is in Charlotte NC, USA July 19. There is a campaign where you can help from anywhere: http://wedivest.org/
[there are also other actions - email me for details]
Bienvenue en Palestine 2011 (French) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpVQIBpzsTI
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