Palestine, I'm Sorry My Nation...

Has failed you again. I'm sorry that the President we all hoped would free Palestine up to become what she once was failed us all.

I'm sorry that our wunderkind George Mitchell capitulated to Israel and it's settlements that encroach upon the West Bank.

I'm sorry that our government doesn't understand how it feels to have your sacred Mosque trampled on by IDF soldiers and to have settlers enjoy their Purim rites on your sacred space, or to have them destroy the very foundations of your sacred building.

I'm sorry your people have no water, food, work, homes and that our government pays lip service to your people.

I'm sorry that some of you have to look at that ugly Apartheid Wall every day to be reminded of the loved ones, farms, the sea that you cannot visit.

I'm so so sorry.

And most of all, I'm sorry my little sorry blog does not have a "delete" button to make all the harm and evil in your lives magically disappear.

I will keep working, Palestine. I will not fail you, capitulate to anyone regarding you, pay you lip service or build walls between us to shut you out.

-The Dork

America & Settlements In Israel

Yet another article today about Netanyahu digging in his heels regarding settlements in Jerusalem. http://reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE56I12020090719 . The interesting line was the one about the wealthy American financing these settlements.

Last week, Egypt had come this close to arranging a deal for the release of Gilad Shalit in exchange for hundreds (yes hundreds & that doesn't count the thousands left behind...) of prisoners in Israeli prisons. Netanyahu balked at the last minute.

U.S. Envoy, George Mitchell is said to be visiting Israel this week to resume talks regarding the continuation of settlement building. Building of settlements is against the Oslo Accords developed in 1993 that the International Court agrees to and expects Israel to abide by. If Israel wants the cessation of rockets from Gaza to continue, Israel must abide by the Oslo Accord.

Please, write your government officials and implore them to stop negotiations with Netanyahu and start the sanctions the U.S. is so quick to throw at every other country we 'disagree' with.

American taxpayers are paying for Israels' war against Palestine. Our boycotts are working, our letters have changed the tides, our donations have helped Palestinians in the immediate. But no group of people can live under Occupation and behind an Apartheid Wall and expect that they will remain peaceful.

This must be resolved. And Soon. The Palestinians deserve Human Rights and basic human necessities-just like the Israeli Settlers.

-The Dork

Israeli Settlements and U.S. Policy

According to the research and Documentation Unit at the Jerusalem Center for social and economic Rights, January and February of this year are reported to be the highest ever in home demolitions by Israelis of Arabs in East Jerusalem. Over 2000 people have been displaced and more than 300 homes destroyed.

Still, the U.S. says Israel's "settlement building" (notice it is not called home destruction, eviction, or racism) is "unhelpful".

Palestines get the correct permits to build on their own land...a few years later they are told the permits a re not valid and their homes get bulldozed.

Then, as Obama's "peace" agenda turns it's head toward Israel and Israel elects a "hawkish" government, the Israeli Ambassador to Washington resigns. Here's an article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/05/sallai-meridor-resigns-fr_n_172200.html

If this isn't frightening you...well-you aren't paying attention.

Please folks, write a letter to your government asking for peace in the Middle East. Join a group like CODEPINK or Amnesty International or International Solidarity Movement. Make your voice heard. I dare you.

-The Dork

Hillary says it's "unhelpful"

I cannot believe that the understatement of the Century is that Israeli destruction of Palestinian homes and continued building of settlements on Palestine lands is "unhelpful".

Seriously?

I mean, seriously?

Unhelpful...

I believe that what is "unhelpful", Hillary and Barack, is the fact that virtually no U.S. Government official will admit what the rest of the World sees happening in Palestine. No U.S. Government official is willing to sacrifice his/her career to the greater good of the planet. No U.S. Government official wants to accept responsibility and a role in genocide and apartheid in Palestine.

Our money will mean nothing until we do what is right by Palestine. And that is to stay the hand of Zionism and racism in Palestine (and the U.S. are the only ones to do it-it means nothing to Palestine otherwise).

To be "helpful" would be to admit our wrongs in the past.
To be "helpful" would be to concede that when you ask people to democratically elect a government, you ought to help that government govern, rather than scream "terrorist!" and ignore the voice of a nation of people.
To be "helpful" would be to prove to the Middle East that we are interested in human rights for all, not just ourselves and those we deem "worthy" of Sovereignty.

Seriously? Settlement building is "unhelpful"?

-The Dork