Learn about the issues involved in the Palestinian
conflict, using resources suggested on this site. Visit the
Institute for Middle East Understanding (IMEU) website (http://imeu.net/) and the
Israeli newspaper Ha’aretz Daily (www.haaretz.com) regularly
to stay abreast of developments in the region. Subscribe to
the clipping service provided by the American Task Force on
Palestine in Washington (http://www.americantaskforce.org/news/roundup.htm).
This will keep you up to date on developments not covered in
the mainstream media.
Call a meeting in your home to discuss these
realities with your friends, using resources recommended on
this site. The book Witness in Palestine and accompanying presentation
by Jewish American Anna Baltzer provide an excellent starting
point for discussion (See recommended books and films.). Book
Clubs and adult study groups should be encouraged to focus on
this topic. The Israeli/Palestinian conflict is one of the most
important issues of American foreign policy, and American tax
dollars are the key reason the Israeli occupation continues.
Call your members of Congress and the White
House to tell them we must not deny humanitarian support for
the Palestinian people. One quarter of Palestinian adults depend
on government salaries to survive and feed their families. Others
work for nongovernmental organizations. Our President and Congress
are cutting off all funds, including money needed to pay schoolteachers,
nurses, social workers, police and other vital employees. This
will increase the influence of radical groups and send a message
that democratic elections are valid only when the United States
approves the outcome.
Tell your elected officials to withhold American
tax dollars from Israel until it stops expanding settlements,
agrees to abide by international law, and guarantees the maintenance
of Jerusalem as an open city for people of all faiths. Ask that
Israel be held to the same standard as the Palestinians. Remind
them that Israel killed and wounded hundreds of Palestinians
while Hamas kept a 16-month cease fire. Israel never accepted
the Roadmap, issuing 13 major objections that undercut the agreement.
Israel continues to take land and water from Christians and
Muslims, violating many UN Resolutions and international laws.
This endangers Israelis and damages prospects for peace.
Join and support Jewish Voice for Peace. This
is an outstanding group that sends occasional e-mails with excellent
explanations about events in the region and what you can do
to respond to them. It has more than 10,000 members in the United
States.
Reach out to people of other faiths to broaden
the discussion of these issues. Form an interfaith peace initiative
in your community for respectful exchange of ideas.
