Filed under israel and palestine articles by on Dec 1st, 2011. Comment.
In a message dated 12/1/2011 9:08:15 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, contact@ifamericansknew.org… writes:
Dear Friends,
We’re writing to remind you about our campaign to distribute “Bethlehem Cards” — informational cards designed for people to spread awareness about Bethlehem and Palestine during a season dedicated to “peace on earth and good will towards men.”
We know many of you give out these cards at cafes and farmers’ markets, shopping malls and carol sings, to Nutcracker crowds and church attendees, in Christmas cards and on windshields…
If you haven’t gotten your cards yet, you can use the files we’ve created to make your own (download front | download back), or place your order online or by email (instructions below).
We ask a donation to cover the printing costs — $3 per 50 cards, minimum order, plus postage, which starts at $4.75 (the USPS charges by weight). If you can’t afford this donation, we’ll still do our best to help you out in getting this information to your community.
Please note these informational cards don’t have room for a personal message and can’t be mailed on their own, though we encourage enclosing them with other cards.
Front of the card:
Text on Back:
The people of Bethlehem are asking for our help.
Towering walls and militarized fences now encircle Bethlehem, turning the 4,000-year-old city into a virtual prison for its Palestinian Christian and Muslim citizens. Bethlehem has only three gates to the outside world, all tightly controlled by Israeli occupation forces.
Israel has confiscated almost all the agricultural land in the area for illegal settlements, making it impossible for many Palestinian farmers to continue tending their land. Outside the town, the fields where shepherds once watched their flocks are being filled by Israeli housing blocs and roads barred to the descendants of those shepherds.
“It is unconscionable that Bethlehem should be allowed to die slowly from strangulation,” says South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Bethlehem’s residents increasingly are fleeing Israel’s confining walls, and soon the city, home to the oldest Christian community in the world, will have little left of its Christian history but the cold stones of empty churches.
Though most Americans don’t know it, we are directly involved in Israel’s strangulation of Bethlehem. Fortune Magazine and other analysts consistently rank the Israel lobby as one of the most effective special interests in Washington; Americans give Israel about $7 million per day. In its just over 60 years of existence, Israel has received more US tax money than any other nation.
As we seek peace and joy for the world, it is time to reconsider an expenditure that perpetuates injustice, tragic violence, and conflict. Please help.
For more information: IfAmericansKnew.org…
To order:
Order Online Now
Or email your order to orders@ifamericansknew.org…. Tell us your mailing address and the quantity you wish to receive. You can then mail a check, money order or donate online.
*A note on the suggested donation: We offer our published materials free, as supplies allow, though we request donations whenever possible to cover the printing and shipping costs. The “suggested donations” listed are designed to cover only the cost of printing the materials. We incur many other costs in creating, updating, and packaging them, and gladly accept donations towards those expenses from those who can afford it.
**A note on shipping: We generally ship materials using U.S. Post Office Priority Mail envelopes and boxes. These offer a flat rate rather than charging for the weight of the materials included and we have found them to be generally more economical than other methods (remember, printed materials are very heavy, and the Post Office usually charges by weight). They have the added advantage of arriving in two to three days and being very quick and easy for us to send. Current rates (subject to change by the Post Office) are: $4.75 for a large envelope, $10.50 for a medium box and $14.20 for a large box.
Thank you, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Alison Weir, Executive Director
3020 El Cerrito Plaza #157
El Cerrito, CA 94530
(202) 631-4060
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Filed under israel and palestine articles by on Dec 2nd, 2011. Comment.
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Dear Roy ,
What an amazing year it’s been.
I’m so proud of what Jewish Voice for Peace has done this year. I’m really proud that no matter what or who we go up against—how big their titles or budgets, our members and friends and allies are never afraid to speak out. We’re not afraid to hold them accountable or to make them uncomfortable if that’s what it takes for the truth to come out. I think what I—and all of us at JVP—are experiencing is a reflection of events all over the world in this landmark year. All year long, people everywhere have been rediscovering how much power we really have—even in the face of armed governments and billionaire banks. Whether in the Arab world or on Wall Street, we’re getting in the streets, saying the things that must be said, and challenging power.

This is what solidarity looks like.
Meanwhile, here in the U.S., a bunch of big Jewish national groups like Hillel and the Jewish Federations of North America are trying to ban any discussion at all of the nonviolent Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement. But despite their best efforts, we have been able to bring the debate into synagogues and other major Jewish spaces all up and down the East Coast this year.



Rebecca Vilkomerson, Executive Director
Jewish Voice for Peace
P.S. If our work inspires you, you can support us now by going here.
- Click here to unsubscribe.
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- Inspired by what we’re doing? Please donate now. Every donation makes a difference.
- Contact us directly at Jewish Voice for Peace. 1611 Telegraph Avenue, Suite 550. Oakland, CA 94612 510-465-1777 info@jvp.org…
Filed under israel and palestine articles by on Dec 2nd, 2011. Comment.
Click here: Paul Flynn MP in anti-semitic row – Wales News – News – WalesOnline
Paul Flynn MP in anti-semitic row
Dec 2 2011
Paul Flynn, who represents Newport West, made the remarks while questioning Sir Gus O’Donnell during an inquiry by the Public Administration Select Committee into the role of the head of the civil service. The present civil service chief was being questioned about his investigation into Adam Werritty, the controversial friend of former Defence Secretary Liam Fox.
Mr Flynn questioned the appointment of ambasador Matthew Gould, who took up the post in Israel last year. It has been alleged by conspiracy theorists that Mr Gould, Dr Fox and Mr Werritty all met with Mossad, the Israeli secret service, in order to discuss a possible strike on Iran.
“I do not normally fall for conspiracy theories, but the ambassador has proclaimed himself to be a Zionist and he has previously served in Iran, in the service,” said Mr Flynn.
Referring to two of his constituants who had been imprisoned after participating in “flytilla” demonstration against the Gaza blockade in July, he added: “When they were briefly imprisoned in Israel, they met the ambassador, and they strongly believe… that he was serving the interest of the Israeli government, and not the interests of two British citizens.”Robert Halfon, MP for Harlow, who also serves on the committee immediately refuted the accusation: “Mr Flynn is implying that the British ambassador to Israel is working for a foreign power, which is out of order.”
It was later reported that Chief Whip Rosie Winterton called Mr Flynn in for a meeting to discuss his comments.
On his blog, Mr Flynn elucidated on his earlier comments.
“In appointing Gould, a British Jew, to the ambassadorship in Israel in September last year, the foreign office broke with long-standing policy.
“No Jewish diplomat has held the post before because of concerns that it might lead to a conflict of interest, or at the very least create the impression of dual loyalty.
“Given these traditional concerns, Gould was a strange choice. He is a self-declared Zionist who has cultivated an image that led the Forward, the most prominent Jewish newspaper in the US, to describe him recently as ‘not just an ambassador’.”
Fellow MP’s appeared to distance themselves from Flynn in the wake of his remarks. Louise Ellman, Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside, said: “I am astounded by these unfounded insinuations. Matthew Gould has a high reputation as an outstanding representative of the UK government.”
The Board of Deputies and the Jewish Leadership Council released a joint statement which said: “It is deeply disturbing to suggest that certain parts of public service are out of bounds for British Jews and a slur on the professionalism of a British ambassador who is widely recognised for effectively representing Britain’s interests.”
Flynn later released a statement which attempted to clarify these remarks.
“Today’s accusation that I have made an anti-Semitic remark is ludicrous. I have been a lifelong friend of Israel and Jewish causes.I have visited Israel on four occasions including a private family holiday.
“Never before in my long political life has such an accusation been made. But I have been accused of being too friendly to Israel on many occasions.
“ True. I am strongly prejudiced against a war in Iran and in favour of Israel. That is why I am demanded a legitimate inquiry into the Liam Fox/ Werrity affair by Phillip Mawer to include a full probe into the USA anti Neo-con groups influence in advancing their agenda.
“The issue is the possibility of the UK stumbling into a war with Iran.
“It is a disappointing Labour Party colleagues joined in the hysteria without any of them first contacting me. It’s the Ian Gibson syndrome. Attack on the basis of the publicity not on the truth of the issue.”
Read More www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2011/12/02/paul-flynn-mp-in-anti-semitic-row-91466-29883025/#ixzz1fPBjBRdF…Filed under israel and palestine articles by on Dec 2nd, 2011. Comment.



“re-energize efforts to resolve old regional conflicts,” between Israel and the
Middle East. (MaanImages/File)
Filed under israel and palestine articles by on Dec 2nd, 2011. Comment.
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