[Peace-discuss] Fwd: [HumanRights] Optimism and Change

Fri Apr 15 18:46:29 CDT 2011

FYI. Note the story *Israeli Embassy in Cairo under siege.

Begin forwarded message:

> From: "Mazin Qumsiyeh" <mazin at qumsiyeh.org>
> Date: April 14, 2011 1:14:58 AM CDT
> To: Mort Brussel <brussel at illinois.edu>
> Cc: Human Rights Newsletter <humanrights at lists.qumsiyeh.org>
> Subject: [HumanRights] Optimism and Change
> 
> Optimism and Change
> 
> http://popular-resistance.blogspot.com/2011/04/optimism-and-change.html
> 
> 
> 
> According the latest survey of the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics,
> some 26.2% of families live in poverty and 14.1% live in deep poverty for a
> total of 40.3% living in poverty or deep poverty in the WB and Gaza.  The
> situation in Gaza is worse than in the WB. By contrast, any casual visitor
> to Ramallah is struck by 5 star hotels, fancy banquets, hummers and SUVs,
> and the latest models of Mercedes cars. And throughout the occupied
> Palestinian territories, over 200 thousand employees draw salaries from
> foreign aid channeled through the "Palestinian authority" with lots of
> strings attached (to support the status quo).  De facto one party rules
> function in the WB and in Gaza with economic incentives against radical
> change in toe.  Even a simple thing like university student union elections,
> parties were excluded. With so many people benefitting from a continuation
> of the status quo, some find it hard to envisage meaningful change.  But
> wasn't that the situation in Egypt for decades and that is now dramatically
> changing?  Now the Egyptian ex-President (a lackey of Israeli and US foreign
> policies) and his two wealthy sons are under detention and will be indicted
> soon. The Egyptian airline canceled its regular flights to Tel Aviv. The
> Egyptian government just ordered a review of the sale of natural gas to
> Israel (where it was sold below value with some benefits to the wealthy
> Egyptian elites); this was costing the Egyptian people 3-4 billion annually.
> And the demonstrators in Cairo marched to and surrounded the Israeli embassy
> demanding its ouster.*
> 
> 
> 
> In my talks in the US, I predicted that the President of Yemen will be next
> (he is the most subservient to Israeli and US governments).  A million
> marched in Yemen last Friday.  Syrian President (good on rhetoric but also
> serving status quo) is besieged.  The list goes on. Youth in many
> Palestinian cities including in Ramallah, Bethlehem, and Gaza are
> mobilizing.  There are ongoing hunger strikes, protest tents, and
> conventions (one in Bethlehem Saturday will have over 1000 attendees).  The
> winds of change are blowing. Israeli elites are shaken and have begun to
> debate among themselves what to do (maybe even accept a larger Bantustan and
> call it a Palestinian state without the refugees allowed to return). But it
> is too little, too late. A global intifada is ongoing.  We the people,
> insist on justice (which brings a durable peace). On the ground here in
> Palestine, our struggle is one person at a time, one village at a time. In
> my talks abroad, I gave the example of Al-Walaja village.  To really
> understand the Palestinian struggle come visit us and work with us. If you
> can't do that, watch this excellent documentary:
> 
> 
> 
> Al-Walaja story
> Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcodiFkotgk
> Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBeztx5Lcv8
> Part 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mramhyCQlI
> 
> Gaza war crimes investigation: Israeli drones (with Arabic subtitles)
> http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2009/mar/23/isreael-gaza-drones-arabic
> 
> *Israeli Embassy in Cairo under siege
> http://www.veteranstoday.com/2011/04/09/dr-ashraf-ezzat-israeli-embassy-in-c
> airo-under-siege/
> 
> 
> 
> Action: On Tuesday, some people from the Jenin Freedom Theater (founded by
> Juliano Mer-Khamis) came to our village and presented the film Arna's
> children (which everyone should see).  On Saturday at noon in front of the
> Muqata' there will be a demonstration by artists and friends of art
> demanding the Palestinian authority bring the killers to justice.  I
> recalled this paragraph from my 2004 book "Sharing the Land of Canaan: Human
> Rights and the Israeli Palestinian Struggle"
> (http://qumsiyeh.org/sharingthelandofcanaan/) that was put in practice by
> the Freedom Theater thanks to Jule's work: "Perhaps we need to teach
> children to value themselves, value teamwork, respect others, and defend the
> rights of minorities.  This is not as simple as it seems.  Adults need to
> learn to accept, in a very positive fashion, views that are foreign to them.
> In other words, someone who expresses his views should be listened to and
> respected regardless of how sacred the 'holy cows' are.  Would you be
> willing to listen rationally to a view radically different from your own on
> your religion or your way of doing things?  Would you be willing to defend
> wholeheartedly the right of that person to present his view?"
> 
> 
> 
> Mazin Qumsiyeh, PhD
> 
> http://qumsiyeh
> 
> 
> 
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