What I Learned on My Summer "Vacation"...
Reageer (0)Dear G,
Last
Friday, I and 22 others returned from the second US Campaign-Interfaith
Peace-Builders delegation to Palestine/Israel. As I was warned before
I left, this was a life-changing experience. Our meetings with
Israelis and Palestinians inspired, frustrated, and ultimately
reaffirmed my resolve for the work that we do at the US Campaign.
Repeatedly, fathers who feared for their children's futures and activists beleaguered by apartheid policies beseeched
me to return to my own country and work for boycott, divestment, and
sanctions as well as an end to U.S. military aid to Israel. After
being allowed into the lives of my Palestinian and Israeli
counterparts, I am asking you to help me fulfill my promises to these
beautiful people. Please click here to help the US Campaign to continue the work called for by our Israeli and Palestinian counterparts.
One of the life-changing aspects of this delegation, for me, was my new understanding of the word sumud or "steadfastness," often used by Palestinians struggling with apartheid, occupation, and exile. Spending the night with a family in the village of Bi'lin and meeting with a peace group in Sderot,
I experienced the daily struggles of people to bring normalcy to their
children's lives in the face of violence and discrimination.
Palestinians' daily struggle for survivial in the face of occupation is
sumud. Making a financial contribution or signing up as a local organizer for a US Campaign program are two ways that you can help me support the sumud of
our sisters and brothers in Israel/Palestine; another way is to bring
their stories directly to your community. If you would like to help me
or one of my fellow delegates honor the openness of our Israeli and
Palestinian hosts by organizing a speaking event in your community,
please click here. If you're inspired to share these experiences yourself, click here to find out more about upcoming Interfaith Peace-Builders delegations.
Spending the past two weeks with Palestinians and Israelis
struggling for freedom from occupation and apartheid, it became quite
clear that the specifics of a solution - one state vs. two states, the
status of Jerusalem, even water rights - should be left to the people
who live on the land in question. Repeatedly I was told that the role
of peacemakers in the U.S. is to pressure Israel through ending U.S.
military aid and withhold economic support for corporations profiting
from occupation and apartheid. One friend told us that "it is
impossible to negotiate when your 'partner' has his boot on your
neck." Help the US Campaign lift this boot of occupation by removing
the weight of U.S. military aid and corporate support. Click here to make a tax-deductible contribution to this critical cause today!
Peace & Power,
Katherine M. Fuchs
National Organizer
US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation
Source
