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Welcome to the website for Alaskans for Palestine. We believe that education and dialog will help in creating a just and peaceful outcome.
Send comments by gmail or email to-alaskansforpalestine@gmail.com
New postings:
Dec. 13, 2011
UN cultural agency UNESCO holds flag raising ceremony in Paris to welcome Palestine as a member…
www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2011/12/20111213134259952607.html
early December posting:
Panetta tells Israel “Get back to the damn table”
At least something besides the US congress obeisance to whatever Israel wants and does……..
www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2011/12/20111231539907422.html
November 21, 2011
Finally, real criticism of Israel regarding Palestine state building efforts
www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=438460
Nov. 17
Israeli forces block Palestinian Freedom Riders
www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=437117
Nov. 12, 2011
Israeli forces shut down protests in West bank
www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=435998
While protests continue in the Occupy movement across the US, along with many other protests against injustices, protesting the taking of their land is not allowed in Occupied Palestine by the Israeli occupiers.
Nov. 7th
Israel’s Hijacking of Freedom Wave Flotilla “Violent and Dangerous,” Activists beaten…..
www.freepalestinemovement.org/nl11072011.html
When US Congress members defunded USAID they are hurting Palestinian children especially…..
www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=428877
BREAKING NEWS!
Nov. 5th Flotilla participants detained in Israel
english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/11/2011115446073214.html
Nov. 4th “Israeli navy boards Gaza-bound vessels
english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/11/201111414120219661.html
Nov. 3 Update and live report from flotilla on Democracy Now today
www.democracynow.org/2011/11/3/exclusive_video_report_from_gaza_bound
(November 2, 2011)
New Flotilla ‘headed toward Gaza’ carrying $30,000 in medication Should arrive by Friday……..
www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=434651
November 1
In an opinion piece, M. J. Rosenberg presents the situation for the US regarding its vote to quit funding UNESCO: ”The UNESCO Mess”. Rosenberg discusses negative consequences in putting the interests of Israel above the interests of the US citizens and we should consider the impact he suggests.
english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/11/201111175413649373.html
And, the full vote tally:
mondoweiss.net/2011/10/unesco-votes-to-admit-palestine-as-a-full-member.html#more-55449
October 31
Wouldn’t you know it! What can we citizens of the US who realize that there must be peace between Palestine and Israel do with the US government policies?
US cuts off UNESCO funding after vote to admit Palestine
At least the vote passed by the majority of nations……
www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=434178
And, “UNESCO admission affirms Palestinian rights to their heritage in Palestine and Jerusalem, the spokesman said, adding that it would help counter Israeli violations of Palestinian holy sites, particularly Al-Aqsa Mosque and the city of Jerusalem.”
While “Hamas applauds Palestinine’s admissions to UNESCO” in unity….
www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=434141
October 28
Israel protesters call for ‘return to the streets’
www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=433179
In photos: Soldiers target demo near Bethlehem
www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=433246
October 27
West Bank Olive Harvest ( seven photos)
www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=432776
October 17
Haniyeh celebrates swap deal in Gaza
www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=430508
And, more from Maannews – Hamas official: Israel agreed to lift Gaza siege
www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=430421
Announcement of event in Anchorage this week, Friday, Oct. 14th:
The film, Budrus, planned for this Friday night will be shown later in November and instead we will have a report from Anchorage peace and justice activists and Alaskans for Palestine supporters, Dawn and Mark Bonfield, who attended October 2011 events last week in Washington DC. Anchorage joined national protests with its own Occupy Anchorage demonstrations last week so Dawn and Mark’s report on their experience participating in Washington DC protests will extend the context. Dawn gave this perspective:
“There was certainly no single message, but the predominant thread was the 99% idea. The anti-war message did remain very strong, as did the environmental message; BUT, the thing that got people into the streets more than anything was the fact that our legislature, our president, and our courts serve the corporate 1% while the rest of us have been denied a voice in our government. So yes, regardless of what the planners’ original intent may have been, this organically became a part of the wonderful movement sweeping our country. It was very important to Debra Sweet that the anti-war message not be lost, and I believe she was the one who organized the march to the Air and Space Museum that resulted in the incident with the police, as well as a separate march to General Atomics where Mark and others infiltrated the lobby and were removed by police.”
Discussion will follow report
Friday, October 14th, 7:00, room 118 at UAA SS building, the south end of the library
*****************
October 11
Still working on a deal to release Israeli Shalit in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
news.yahoo.com/israel-hamas-announce-deal-captured-soldier-180846296.html
October 8
Thousands of Bedouins demonstrated in the southern city of Beersheba on Thursday to protest against a government project they say will displace tens of thousands of people from their land.
“Among the demonstrators were Arab Israeli MPs, local council leaders, Israeli activists and many civil society groups, all of whom were calling for the Bedouin to be allowed to remain on their land.”
www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=426941
October 3:
Mainstream media posts: US Defense Secretary, Leon Panetta, issues a warning to Israel about “Arab Spring” regime changes…….
abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/panetta-warns-israel-isolated-14652647#.Tonm5IlXp5E.email
October 2nd
Fatah: Arab countries will cover shortfall if US blocks aid to Palestinians
www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=425207
EU contributes 9.9 million pounds to the Palestinians
www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=425120
and read Robert Fisk in the Independent
October 1, 2011
report: U.S. blocks $200 million in aid to PA
www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=425022
If anyone has a question about the situation for the Palestinians in the West Bank comparing their lives to the Israelies living in settlements on occupied land, this article from UN Human Rights regarding a 166 page report gives an avid description.
www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/12/18/israelwest-bank-separate-and-unequal
September 29, 2011
“Condemnation grows against Israel’s settlement plans”
www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=424611
so—what will follow condemnation?
September 27, 2011
President Abbas explained in his address to the UN on Friday that:
“The core issue here is that the Israeli government refuses to commit to terms of reference for the negotiations that are based on international law and the United Nations resolutions, and that it frantically continues to intensify building of settlements on the territory of the state of Palestine.
Settlement activities embody the core of the policy of colonial military occupation of the land of the Palestinian people and all the brutality of aggression and racial discrimination against our people that this policy entails.”
And, “The occupation is racing against time to redraw the borders on our land according to what it wants and to impose a fait accompli on the ground that changes the reality and that is undermining the realistic potential for the existence of the state of Palestine.”
Yet, we read in Haaretz, the Israeli newspaper today that:
“Israel set to approve 1,100 new Jerusalem homes beyond the Green Line”
For the full transcript of President Abbas’ address to the 66th session of the UN General Assembly in New York on Sept. 23 see….
www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=422938
September 25, 2011
The Palestinian leadership is to press for a vote as soon as possible on its demand for full statehood at the United Nations security council as President Mahmoud Abbas returned to Ramallah to declare before cheering crowds that the “Palestinian Spring” had begun.
www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/sep/25/palestine-un-vote-full-statehood
September 24, 2011
“The struggle in the Middle East echoes in Alaska” channel 11 report on 6:00 news on Friday….
www.ktva.com/home/outbound-xml-feeds/The-Struggle-in-the-Middle-East-Echoes-to-Alaska–130484623.html
September 24, 2011
UNITED NATIONS (Ma’an) — President Mahmoud Abbas asked the United Nations on Friday to recognize a state for his people, in an impassioned plea for the international community to take on responsibility for ending the six-decade conflict.
“I am here to say, on behalf of the Palestinian people … We extend our hands to the Israeli government and the Israeli people for peacemaking,” Abbas told the world body.
“Let us build the bridges of dialogue instead of checkpoints.”
Addressing the delegates, he said, “Your support for the recognition of the state of Palestine is the greatest contribution to the state of peace in the region. I hope we shall not have to wait for long.”
www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=422928
A full transcript of President Abbas’ address to the 66th session of the UN General Assembly in New York on Sept. 23, as released by the Palestinian Authority news agency.
www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=422938
September 18, 2011
Alison Weir, now with CNI (Council for National Interest) sent the following article:
“’ U.S. Ambassador: Support for Israel drives all U.S. Policies’. While many Americans may believe that US policies are designed to address American needs, America’s new ambassador to Israel explains that this is far from the case.”
Alaskans for Palestine could check this site www.maannews.net/eng/Default.aspx for reports on current events on the Palestinian bid for UN recognition as well as other reports of interest in the region.
September 17, 2011
A peaceful protest at Qalandiya checkpoint on Saturday backed UN membership bid. About 200 people attended the demonstration. ”Many of them were members of “Palestine 194″ an organisation which supports the PLO’s bid for recognition. The group’s name refers to UN resolution 194 which deals with the rights of Palestinian refugees and the status of Jerusalem.”
Reports in Aljazeera and in Maannews.net today, 9/17/2011
September 15, 2011
Hamas and Fatah meet in Gaza before UN bid
Fatah national relations commissioner Diab al-Loh told Ma’an that officials from both factions discussed the reconciliation agreement which has faltered in implementation since its signing in May.
www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=420631
September 14, 2011
US ready to fight the Palestinians’ bid for UN membership to the bitter end….
www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=420220
Yet, pro-Israel groups in the US defend the continued aid to the Palestinian Authority, check it out………
www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=420020
Also, “Palestinians on statehood: ‘We want action not votes at the U.N.’” But, will votes at the UN finally lead to action?
www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/sep/14/palestinian-statehood-action-un
September 12, 2011
An update on support for Palestinian bid for statehood at the UN:
www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=419604
Palestinian activists are seeking EU support for their bid. UN secretary general, Ban Ki-Moon supports the bid though he can not speak for the general membership, yet……..Read on,
www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=419534
Your suggestions for additional recent updates and articles are welcome to this website. Comment or send to the gmail address: alaskansforpalestine@gmail.com
Older reports————-
Update on the Freedom Flotilla II – July 13, 2011
For several weeks now, the government of Greece has been preventing “The Audacity of Hope”, the American ship in the Freedom Flotilla II to Gaza, as well as several others, from leaving port in Athens–and now has cut off electricity to the ship, where most of the delegation members are after days of unsuccessful efforts and protest to the Greek and U.S. authorities. More on the current situation and where you can write or call to ask the authorities to release the ship and its passengers are at the ustogaza link below, in today’s letter from Ret. Col. Ann Wright, who as you’ll recall visited us here a few years ago.
Also, Israel has blocked or expelled most members of the “Flytilla”, 800 Europeans who attempted to fly to Tel Aviv last week to visit families in the West Bank of Palestine. Meanwhile, both houses of the U.S. Congress have voted to end aid to Palestine if it pursues its bid for statehood in the United Nations. More on these developments is available in the links below.
June 26, 2011:
The next international flotilla to Gaza—Freedom Flotilla II—is setting sail to Gaza by the end of June, with ships from around the world, including the United States, hoping to help end the Israeli blockade of Gaza from the sea and bring (as Alice Walker puts it in her article on CNN) messages of solidarity and love to the people of Gaza. Here are some links to up-to-date information on what is and will be occurring, and also how you can ask Secretary of State Clinton and President Obama to ensure safe passage of the ships, and ask the American media to cover the events accurately and fully.
Everyone’s comments and information on events as they develop are welcome.
witnessgaza.com (there are links to *all the Flotilla websites)
www.maannews.net/eng/Default.aspx
letter to President Obama:imemc.org
http://ustogaza.org/latest/letter-to-obam/
letter to Secretary of State Clinton
http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1439/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=6871
letters to CNN:
http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form1.html?35
(Letters should be kept under 150 words and be sure to include your name, address, and phone number for verification purposes.)
You can join www.writetruth.org for alerts by writing to writealert@yahoo.com
* UPCOMING EVENTS *
Alaskans for Palestine 4th annual BBQ
When: Sunday June 12, 2011 starting at 12:00 noon
Where: Campbell Creek Park
(on Lake Otis on the corner of 48th, which is a few blocks south of Lake Otis and Tudor Rd.)
(the park is on the northeast corner of Lake Otis & 48th)
(there is a parking lot and some street parking)
Why: For those who are concerned about Peace & Justice for Palestine and indigenous people around the world.
Meet & Greet and learn about Palestine and have fun.
What: Bring a dish, uncooked meat or fish or veggie burgers to cook on the grill. Paper plates etc. and extra chairs also welcome!
Contact alaskansforpalestine@gmail.com for more information.
Friday, March 25, 2011 – 7 p.m.
UAA, SSB Building rm. 118 (see map below)
By popular demand, our local high school exchange student from Gaza, Aboud, will again give his presentation on Palestine and his life there, and answer questions.
Co-sponsored by Alaskans for Palestine and the UAA Sociology Department
The SSB Building is located at 3190 Alumni Drive, and is the same building where the Consortium Library is located. (The Library faces Providence Hospital, but the building is reached by Alumni Dr. at the back of the building.) This is the link to a map:
http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/map/ (choose SSB in the directory)
Alaskans for Palestine is an informal group of diverse people in Anchorage and other communities in Alaska who are concerned with the decades-long occupation of Palestine and seek a just and peaceful solution for the Palestinian people. We believe that because our tax dollars help to support the occupation, we as Americans are obligated to know and to care about the occupation; and we believe that there will not be peace in the Middle East and in the world until it is justly resolved. For the past 6+ years, we have sponsored films, panel discussions, guest speakers and other events for Alaskans who wish to know more. Some of us are originally from Palestine, and some of us have visited Palestine. You are welcome to join our events-only mailing list by contacting:
alaskansforpalestine@gmail.com
and you are also welcome to let us know what might be of interest to you as we continue to (re)build our site and plan events for this year.
Here is the video of Dawn & Mark Bonfield’s presentation at the Bartlett Club on 3-17-11. A report of the event is on Progressive Alaska, http://progressivealaska.blogspot.com/2011/03/review-of-bonfield-vs-gottstein-katz-at.html
