| Added: December 05, 2007 06:07 AM |
| Please respect Palestinian refugees RoR- |
| achieving lasting peace requires respect for the rule of fair and just laws and policies...sovereign respect for basic human rights- including respect for the Palestinian refugees' very real right of return- it really is the only positive way forward into a just and lasting peace: "'Under international humanitarian law the right of refugees to return to their homes is an inalienable, individual human right. Like all human rights, it is invaluable and cannot be bought. Under Israel and Bush’s 'solution', Palestinian refugee families who had been expelled from what is now Israel would be consigned to return, not to their homes, but to small, non-contiguous parts of less than 22% of their original homeland. Jews from anywhere in the world, on the other hand, would be free to 'return' to more than 78% of historic Palestine, frequently to live on land seized from those same Palestinian refugees. Such clear discrimination against Palestinian refugees and privileging of Jews from anywhere in the world illustrates clearly that these proposals would further a separate but unequal solution that cannot result in peace.... Neta Golan is an Israeli peace with justice activist living in Ramallah, and a founder of the International Solidarity Movement. For more information see: www.apartheidmasked.org'" - from IMEU a good place to find helpful information http://imeu.net/news/article007223.shtml |
| By: Anne Selden Annab |
| Website: annies-letters.blogspot.c |
Israel, the Palestinians and peace
12-1-2007I was thrilled to see the great letter by Ray Gordon, which pointed out that America really should cut off all aid to Israel "until a firm, just peace settlement is in place."
To take the conversation a step further, I very much believe (based on an appreciation for and understanding of America's own secular ideals of a real democracy with freedom, justice and equality for all) that the only acceptable solution for everyone's sake is a rights-based solution — beginning with but not limited to the Palestinian refugees' right to return. A true return — not more forced transfers.ANNE SELDEN ANNAB
Mechanicsburg, Pa.Submitted by Anne Selden Annab, Nov 12, 2007 07:57
To quote Rick Richmond's conclusion in What Most Palestinians Believe: "The Palestinians do not lack a vision. They adhere to their vision of a "right of return," refusing to recognize the validity of a Jewish state..."
Is that really such a bad thing? What has Israel as the supposed Jewish State really done for Jewish people - and Judaism itself. Zionist propagandists blithely ignore the full and total ugly truth about racist Israel's many crimes against the people of Palestine. And the more that Zionists ignore the more the evidence piles up everywhere as the information age compiles a huge body of evidence proving that the Palestinians really do have just cause for complaint.
The people of Palestine are being oppressed and tormented and intentionally impoverished by Israeli Apartheid and they are being vilified because they dare object. The very freedoms, rights and respect that Palestinians cry out for are the same freedoms and rights - basic human rights as clearly affirmed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights from 1948, that will help keep Jews safe world wide where ever they might be.
Modern man made Israel as is is a war on all of Palestine- and it is a war on all human beings, regardless of religion, who understand that "the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world..."
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights ( http://www.unhchr.ch/udhr/lang/eng.htm ) really is a document well worth reading and thinking about.... and respecting.
Perhaps John R. Cohn thinks his sarcastic op-ed "Annapolis Media Guide" is entertaining, but the native non-Jewish people of historic Palestine are being starved, imprisoned and killed by the entity called Israel and there is nothing funny about that.
The Palestinian refugees' inalienable right to return to original homes and lands has been clearly affirmed and reaffirmed by international law as well as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights since Israel came to be in 1948. Jews who escaped the horrors of the Nazi Holocaust have benefited from the ability to return to their country of origin, yet Zionists deny this same basic right to the Palestinians.
Anne Selden Annab
Mechanicsburg, Pa.
THRILLED to see Michel Shehadeh's " Charges dropped against last of 'Los Angeles Eight'" ! It made me cry for his dignity and decency are so very very obvious- and his hope is so uplifting and inspiring.. utterly contagious in a good way. The story of the LA8 really is so chilling- shocking really for how can it be that this foreign country called Israel can so easily harass and harm Palestinians and silence dissent here there and everywhere. This whole cruel mess really has been "an embarrassment to the rule of law" and real democracy ... but justice did prevail. May the children of Palestine prevail too, no matter where they might go- and hopefully soon they will also be free to return home to a fully free Palestine. May ALL their stories become known and their heritage be respected.
Posted 11/15/2007 3:22:22 AM
UN General Assembly Resolution 194 has been affirmed by the UN over 130 times since its introduction in 1948.... "11. Resolves that the refugees wishing to return to their homes and live at peace with their neighbours should be permitted to do so at the earliest practicable date, and that compensation should be paid for the property of those choosing not to return and for loss of or damage to property which, under principles of international law or in equity, should be made good by the Governments or authorities responsible;
Instructs the Conciliation Commission to facilitate the repatriation, resettlement and economic and social rehabilitation of the refugees and the payment of compensation, and to maintain close relations with the Director of the United Nations Relief for Palestine Refugees and, through him, with the appropriate organs and agencies of the United Nations"
http://domino.un.org/unispal.nsf/0/c758572b78d1cd0085256bcf0077e51a?OpenDocument
Clearly the Palestinians were already specifically promised and already reassured constantly by the international community that their right of return to original homes and lands is to be respected- as soon as possible please. 60 years and counting... and one very racist Israel continues to push more and more Palestinians into forced exile and despair.
Start peace at the beginning- with full respect for basic human rights including but not limited to the Palestinian refugees inalienable legal and sacred right to return.
Anne Selden AnnabWish in tackling this topic, the author had made mention of the Palestinian refugees' inalienable, legal and natural right to return...
"Israel's admission to the UN was conditional on its acceptance of UN resolutions including 194. Denying the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and lands is a war crime and an act of aggression which deserves action by the international community." http://www.al-awda.org/factsJerusalem is indeed an ancient city- but most of its history and heritage is actually Arab, not Israeli... "Israel" the formal modern partition of historic Palestine is only 60 years old, and all of those years have been basically a blatantly racist war on the native non-Jewish Arab Palestinians.
Political Zionism's militant hold over historic Jerusalem as well as all of historic Palestine, from the river to the sea, has been a brutal occupation where Jews from abroad have full freedoms, rights and economic opportunities while the native non-Jewish Arab Palestinians have a punitive Israeli imposed Apartheid, crushing poverty, and the sorrow and suffering of countless families forced into painful exile and despair.
No one should make peace with that! Make peace with Jewish people as individuals- as human beings- yes... but don't make peace with the collective insanity called political Zionism, for what is bad now will only become much worse.
Anne Selden Annab
Mechanicsburg, Pa.
"Five former State Department and Pentagon officials are proposing Israeli and Palestinian capitals in Jerusalem and excluding Arab refugees from returning to Israel as part of an Middle East accord."
Here's a better idea- Let's deploy THE Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you... Let every Zionist pundit and politician worldwide who myopically proposes that the Palestinian refugees continue to be denied their inalienable legal, natural and fundamental right to return to original homes and lands, lose his own personal home and rights.
Let every Zionist pundit and politician practice what they preach: Bring on the BULLDOZERS! Fragment and scatter their families worldwide, and let them live what they believe- systematically displace and impoverish them, deny them their basic human rights and freedoms, and then vilify them and imprison them when they object.
Posted 10/5/2007 7:59:52 AM
***********************************************Sept. 24, 2007
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/09/24/opinion/main3291435.shtml#Post
(AP / CBS)
Is a one-state solution the answer for Israel/Palestine?
Regarding the Opinion piece on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: I was delighted and relieved to see John Whitbeck's probing piece. Political Zionism is a huge problem mainly because the institutionalized bigotry, injustice, and hate inspired by political Zionism simply is not compatible with real freedom, equality, and the rule of fair and just laws – real democracy.
The Palestinian territories today are being brutalized – harshly oppressed, insulted, impoverished, and fragmented - and the Palestinians need our sympathy, compassion, and understanding.
Our highest priority really must be full respect for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, including but not limited to the Palestinian refugees' sacred and secular right to return: true return, not more forced transfer creating divisive segregation and despair.
Anne Selden Annab
Mechanicsburg, Pa.
Full story: Baltimore Sun
http://www.topix.net/forum/source/baltimore-sun/TMD7TPQ177MC5HVDHIsrael has been an outsider trying to bully its way into being beloved. Its many talented propagandists try every tactic to empower it, but time always tells and time has told the story of Palestine to the world.
Miracle of miracles the people of historic Palestine are much more than merely one religion or another, more than politics and petty bickering, more than puppets to be played on a stage... The people of Palestine simply are... They are men, women and children who have been cruelly oppressed and wrongly persecuted for generations. The people of Palestine are war and peace and everything in between in their ongoing struggle to be free from the barbaric bigotry and injustice brought by political Zionsim.
In both optimism and pessimism the people of Palestine are- and in their memories and dreams- in every heartbeat and blink- in every Arabic word and recipe and embroidered dress and bird and stone a very real Palestine will always be, no matter how hard Israel tries to erase Palestine from the map.
May the letter writer's words echo around and around the world to help build a battle cry for a just and lasting peace in the Holy Land and beyond.
And may hope, decency and true community return to the Holy Land with every home rebuilt and every heart healed by reconciliation.
Anne Selden Annab | 23 - 29 August 2007 Issue No. 859 Reader's corner |
Sir-- Why is it that here in the West most academics, scholars, news pundits, political heads and even religious leaders of every type, all as one blithely speak about the Palestinian refugees as if human beings should be categorised by religion, and based on that, be individually and collectively oppressed, harassed, expelled from their homes and denied basic human rights, privileges and freedoms? We have Holocaust museums -- we should know better! It simply is not reasonable to speak about "Israeli fears" as if the blatant institutionalised bigotry and injustice of political Zionism should be rewarded. The Palestinian refugees' right of return simply is and always will be. It has clearly been spelled out by international law for Israel's entire existence. And every day that goes by merely means damage done and the reparations due to the Palestinian refugees all add up exponentially. That's the real problem that racist Israel simply does not want to face.
Anne Selden AnnabTime Magazine Blog- Regarding Requiem for a Jewish Settler
http://time-blog.com/middle_east/2007/08/requiem_for_a_jewish_settler.html
Posted by Anne Selden Annab
August 25, 2007
The Palestinians, in honestly loving the land AND in being right about the many perils of political Zionism, won long ago- Tragically Zionist ideologues would rather play out this cruel and divisive charade called "The Jewish State" for as long as possible, as if there can ever be true peace or security for any one in the mess made by racist Israeli laws and walls.
August 25 12:40 USA
Simon- THANK YOU... Far too many bigots are far too eager to vilify and punish the persecuted and impoverished Palestinians no matter what they might do or not do as they struggle for freedom, rights- and basic respect.... You did a good thing in writing about the Palestinian kids with compassion, realizing that this situation simply is not fair- or right.
These kids chose to play sports and they worked hard, they trained to be the best team they could be under very difficult circumstances: They deserve our support and compassion.
| Yes indeed what to do about Hamas and the fact that the persecuted, impoverished and imprisoned people of Palestine, in total desperation and despair, have elected armed Islam to free them from Apartheid Israel's punitive stranglehold on land, life, liberty and real democracy with full and equal rights for all. A huge portion of Gaza's impoverished residents are Palestinian refugees who have long been denied their inalienable right to return to their original homes and lands. Zionist Israel's ideologues insist that allowing the Palestinian refugees to return would destroy Israel. Well then- so be it... Israeli racism really should be eradicated: If the only way Israel can continue to exist is by denying native non-Jewish Palestinians full freedom and rights in the land of their birth then good heavens get this mess over with as fast as you can- gently and with compassion and empathy, dismantle and disarm the blatant injustice and institutionalized bigotry that is Israel today. | |
| |
Comment No. 773537
THANK YOU Jonathan Cook !| | AnneSeldenAnnab wrote: What a shame that your letter writer (Judi Adler) simply can not see how cruel- and brutal- Israeli bigotry and Apartheid have been all along. The people of historic Palestine are belittled and demonized no matter what they do or don't do.... It is tragic that any American would join the agents for a very foreign country with its disastrously dangerous ideology in trying to bully and force the persecuted, impoverished and imprisoned Palestinians into signing on the dotted line to endorse an increasingly toxic situation whereby Hasbara efforts empower political Zionism and the Israel Industry with its continued war on the native non-Jewish Palestinians. In becoming a more real democracy, we wisely condemned institutionalized bigotry and formally ended government imposed segregation years ago here: Time to end it in our foreign policy too... Start by divesting emotionally and financially from the heavily armed manipulative delusion that has been misnamed "The Jewish State". Invest in a fully free Palestine instead, a place and a dream where all people are free and equal, and all refugees can return to their real homes and hope for a better life, and a better world- regardless of anyone's perceived race or religion. 8/22/2007 5:24:33 AM |
SIR –
Yakov M Rabkin's excellent letter on The One-State Option really should be headlined in all our mainstream newspapers... Personally I don't think any religion should be armed with lethal weaponry to 'defend' itself. Rather than investing in Apartheid brutality with heavily armed Jewish Jihad let political Zionism reinvent itself to become a better way to help heal the many wounds caused by racist Israel: Let Israel go back to the spiritual realm and help the Palestinian refugees return to full and equal rights in the land of their birth.
Posted by anne selden annab at August 9, 2007 12:49 PM
http://www.topix.net/forum/source/baltimore-sun/TT5KKSLGFPH9KEKHE
RE: Uri Dromi's Peace in Middle East a tall order for Blair
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.blair30jul30,0,4249711.story
Dear Editor,
Israelis are very talented at spin pin spin! But sixty years and counting, seems to me that Zionist polices & propaganda have made all the world more and more insecure... so why not give Palestine and peace a real chance.
Start with full respect for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, including but not limited to the Palestinian refugees sacred and legal right of return.
Think about, dream about, invest in and defend secular rights and freedoms- true democracy with real justice for all.
Sincerely,
Anne Selden Annab
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comment published online Newsweek
Your Comments On
Comment: THANK YOU! Thank you for bringing attention to this crucial and compelling story concerning a beautiful young American poet and pacifist who had the background, the courage and the character to be a valuable witness to racist Israeli crimes- putting her own precious life literally on the line for Palestine...
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I do hope that everyone realizes that more forced transfer is not true return for any refugee...and international law has made it abundantly clear time and time again that true return to original homes and lands is a basic human right to be respected.
Israel Uber Alis insisting on a truncated Palestine shaped as a series of contained prison camps for non-Jews is simply more of the same insanely cruel institutionalized bigotry, blatant injustice & racist thinking that created this impossible situation in the first place.
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congress.org
7-12-2007
letter sent to my congress man via congress.org
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/bio/userletter/?id=497&letter_id=1296383306
Dear .......
Voluntary Jewish immigration to historic Palestine made the emergence of political Zionism as a powerful force and the subsequent political entity called Israel possible.
Zionist are very good at propaganda... Hasbara as well as Aliyah efforts continue to this day with Jews world wide encouraged and generously funded to 'settle' in what was historic Palestine, which now under full sovereign control of the "The Jewish State" as Israel is in control of all borders and airspace.
Jews have freedom- but Palestinian don't.
The process of creating 'The Jewish State" as defined by Zionist ideologues depended on eliminating and erasing the native non-Jewish population, the people known as Palestinians who had lived in the Holy Land since before recorded memory.
Zionists intentionally impoverished Palestinians, and Zionists terrorized Palestinians, eventually creating the largest longest running refugee crisis in the world today.... Zionists continue to pulverize Palestinian homes and communities, constantly pushing Palestinians into exile and despair while at the same time encouraging Jews from anywhere to come help defend and invest in "The Jewish State".
Israel today is institutionalized bigotry and injustice with privileged Jews thriving while indigenous Palestinian suffer and starve. Israel uses its power- and its bigotry- to make life miserable for the Palestinians. That simply is not right, just or fair.
Now, thanks to the internet the world at large is beginning to see the many racist crimes of the country called Israel. In response more and more people are crying out for a rights based solution to the Israel/Palestine conflict, a rights based solution based on the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights form 1948, the same year that Israel was officially created as a sovereign political entity. A rights
based solution that includes full respect for the Palestinian Refugees' sacred, natural, inalienable, legal, moral and ethical right to return to their original homes and lands as clearly spelled out by international law for ALL of modern Israel's existence.
Zionists, preferring to invest in Jewish privileges and pride have tried to demonize the Palestinian refugees Right of Return. They have failed- and rightly so.
In response Zionists are now disparate to once again push aside Palestinian rights by insisting that “explicit reference to Palestinian refugees be matched by a similar explicit reference to Jewish and other refugees, as a matter of law and equity.”
This new Zionist tactic is an obvious insult in light of Zionist violence towards the Palestinians, as Israel's immigrant bigots intentionally and systemically ethnically cleansed the Holy Land.
In 1921, Golda and her husband, Morris Myerson, emigrated to Palestine to help found a Jewish state: "Her rigid nationalism and blinkered view of the Arabs led her to say once: "There are no Palestinians." "
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/events/israel_at_50/profiles/81288.stm
For years Israel has insisted it is the homeland for all Jews.. and now Israel's generously subsidized Jewish citizens want to pretend they are refugees!
This new Zionist tactic is an obvious insult as well as a clear infringement on free speech, it is a manipulative game and not a sincere plea for real justice... a sincere plea for real justice should have emerged long ago, with Jews worldwide refusing to empower political Zionism in any way shape or form.
Please be polite - but do not fall for yet another Zionist trick.
Sincerely,
Anne Selden Annab
notes
A July 19 hearing in Washington DC, under the heading “Jewish
Refugees from Arab Countries: Truth, Justice, and econciliation,”It
will be the first time that the US Congress will hear testimony on the issue of Jewish refugees from Arab countries.... The CHRC
hearing will also include a screening of The Forgotten Refugees, produced by the David Project. The film is a documentary about the mass exodus of almost one million Jews from Arab countries......According to the proposed legislation, the US president would be obligated to instruct all official representatives of the United States that “explicit reference to Palestinian refugees be matched by a similar explicit reference to Jewish and other refugees, as a matter of law and equity.” (See Senate Res 85 for the full text.) ( is to be hosted by the CHRC in conjunction with B’nai Brith International and Justice for Jews from Arab Countries.
US Congress to Hold
Hearing on Jewish Refugees From Arab States)
http://www.israpundit.com/2006/?p=5275
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Yes, we can and must do more for the Iraqi refugees - but we also must honor and respect the millions of Palestinian refugees and those forced into exile and poverty by Israel.
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June 9, 2007
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070609/OPINION04/706090320/1068/OPINION
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Posted By: Anne Selden Annab (5/30/2007 at 8:06:22 AM)
Comment: Jerusalem's increasing poverty and problems under Israeli rule is primarily due to political Zionism and the many blatantly racist laws, polices, charities and enterprises that encourage, subsidize and reward Jews only on both sides of that monstrous Israeli made Apartheid Wall while many an immigrant bigot from abroad freely persecutes, oppresses, insults and harms the native non-Jewish Palestinians..... Thanks to the Information Age with cell phones and The Internet kick starting our ability to see beyond tall walls of Zionist propaganda, forty years latter the myth that merely 40 years made this mess will also soon enough be brushed aside to reveal that this cruel fiasco has been sixty sovereign years of hell on earth for those who believe in the rule of fair and just laws and the inherent dignity of every child- regardless of supposed race or religion.
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http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0516/p08s02-cole.htm
A binational Israel-Palestine: Good for all, or for none?
In response to Ali Abunimah's Opinion piece on resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, from May 14: What a joy and a pleasure to come across this excellent Opinion piece. Thanks for publishing a Palestinian perspective.
It really is quite reasonable and compassionate to call for one state for all its citizens – with full and equal rights for all, regardless of religion.
I agree with Mr. Abunimah's statement that, "The case of South Africa shows that a unity government can succeed."
Anne Selden Annab
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online comment form
| Posted by Anne Selden Annab | Thank you Time Magazine- for noticing and publicizing the plight of the Palestinian refugees and the Iraqi refugees. Zionists, many of them privileged immigrants with full and equal rights in more than one wealthy country, have been richly rewarded and praised by US for arming religion and encouraging injustice and extremists everywhere... and what a mess racist Israel has made, with disastrous consequences for millions of innocent and increasingly vulnerable people. With racist Israel refusing to respect the Palestinians' basic human rights- including but not limited to the Palestinian refugees inalienable right to return to original homes and lands- and the West basically oblivious about this huge problem, many in the Middle East have had lost both homes and hope that things will ever be better for anyone. |
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online comment
http://news.monstersandcritics.com/middleeast/news/article_1294179.php/King_Abdullah_to_pay_historic_visit_to_Israel_report__Roundup_15:40:58***************************************************
Anne Selden AnnabApr 20th, 2007 -Bravo to King Abdullah of Jordan for doing all he can to try bring
peace to the Middle East. I was very impressed by his inspiring speech
before the joint session of Congress not long ago when he made it clear
that 'Sixty years of Palestinian dispossession, forty years under
occupation, a stop-and-go peace process, all this has left a bitter
legacy of disappointment and despair, on all sides. It is time to
create a new and different legacy, one that begins right now'.
Zionists worldwide are totally deluded to think that more bigotry, more
Israeli-made-apartheid and injustice, more forced transfer translates
into true return- much less a lasting peace & security for any one!
The Palestinian refugees right of return to original homes and lands is
an individual and collective right; an inalienable legal, moral and
ethical right; a sacred right clearly reaffirmed and spelled out by
international law since 1948.
Getting right to the point on the right to return... From Sabbah's blog
today, 'This issue is one of the most intractable barrier to a Middle
East peace settlement. Millions of Palestinian refugees will always
fight for their right to return to their occupied lands and property
that was occupied by Israel and now is called the State of Israel.'True return-not more forced transfer and racist segregation.
NOTES as links come up as spam: Sabbah's blog
Doha Debate: 82% Support Palestinian Right of Returnhttp://sabbah.biz/mt/archives/2007/04/20/doha-debate-82-support-palestinian-right-of-return/
4-o4-2007
http://www.vermontguardian.com/commentary/042007/Apr20Letters.shtml
Giving voice to Palestinians
I was delighted to see published “Gaza reporter defends stories” (Vermont Guardian, April 19), the excellent and well-informed letter by Mohammed Omer.
He wisely, firmly confronts and refutes the slanderous as well as totally toxic Zionist propaganda that is so pervasive in U.S. newspapers. I have been hoping for years that (for everyone’s sake) more people would start sincerely challenging Israel’s manipulative public relations games that have created so much havoc (and planted hate) everywhere they can reach.
I have also been hoping that the people of Palestine would be given more chances to simply speak for themselves, although that is quite hard to do in a world where Palestinians are routinely demonized and dismissed.
I do hope that Omer’s letter is the beginning of a trend with more and more Palestinians everywhere speaking out to explain what they know to be true about our “friend” Israel. And, I do hope that soon everyone on Earth understands the vital importance of fully respecting the Palestinian refugees’ sacred right of return to original homes and lands as clearly spelled out by international law since Israel came to be a sovereign state in 1948.
Anne Selden Annab
Mechanicsburg, PA
***************************************************USATODAY
4-30- 2007
comment published online
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2007-04-29-iraqi-refugees_N.htm
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http://www.fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2007/032007/03182007/266840
Date published: 3/18/2007
Political Zionism has incited bigotry
Thank you for publishing "It's Israel that incites hate" by Caroline Borden [March 11]. It is crucial that the world wake up to the horrific injustices, large and small, wrought by political Zionism, not so that we can incite more bigotry, violence, terror, and cruelty by investing in even more of the same, but so that we can empower peace, true freedom, and relief for the many people trapped, tormented, and harmed by the misnamed "Jewish state."
Israel's blatantly racist war on the people of Palestine is a barbaric situation and a brutal reality that simply should not be.
Anne Selden Annab Mechanicsburg, Pa.
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Loved the column by Cynthia Tucker, U.S. history, black history inseparable (Feb. 27). I have actually very much enjoyed the many edifying offerings on black history that have occurred over this past month.
I read this column with its very relevant facts and thought about pure poetry, both the meter and the meaning in Tucker's impassioned line, We are threads in the American fabric, without which the entire thing unravels. How can a single month convey that?
But on further reflection, I cannot help but think -- yeah, it should be every day and in every way, including all throughout every textbook, not just in special segregated boxes.
Perhaps Black History Month should be thought of as a transition now, a time to gather up resources and galvanize true freedom by celebrating simply America every day, with all our collective dignity and freedoms and all the many contributions of all Americans, a wondrous diversity that goes beyond all possible description.
We The People are one in simply being America -- and in building the dream, however we might be able, one day at a time -- right into a better future for all our children.
-- ANNE SELDEN ANNAB, Mechanicsburg
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letter I just sent via congress.org
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/bio/userletter/?id=20004&letter_id=1091245036
& to Rice http://contact-us.state.gov/cgi-bin/state.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php
Dear President Bush
Thanks to C-span, I had the honor of hearing King Abdullah's speech given before a joint meeting of Congress. It really was a great speech.
I thought is was beautiful and inspiring and very sensitive, especially in that he has his facts straight, rather than pretending this fiasco started recently the way many politicians do ( or thousands of years old the way many religious zealots do), his statement begins at the sovereign beginning of the mess we are in now with a clear reference to "Sixty years of Palestinian dispossession" :
"Sixty years of Palestinian dispossession, forty years under occupation, a stop-and-go peace process, all this has left a bitter legacy of disappointment and despair, on all sides. It is time to create a new and different legacy, one that begins right now"
"Sixty years of Palestinian dispossession" is a very important point to remember as the Palestinian refugee crisis is the largest and longest running refugee crisis in the world today. It is also important to be mindful of the fact that many Palestinians have no security anywhere-no real home- no job- no hope and no passport out of this stateless hell.
King Abdullah's speech had many good lines, well worth quoting such as "We must make our process serve our purpose"...
And he is right- We can wait no longer... "We must work together to restore Palestine, a nation in despair and without hope. We must work together to restore peace, hope and opportunity to the Palestinian people. And in so doing, we will begin a process of building peace, not only throughout the region, but throughout the world."
Please don't let bigots, hate mongers and the Zionist ideologues of AIPAC and the Israel lobby and that awful Israeli built Apartheid Wall keep ruining peace and that place so many call The Holy Land.
No matter where the borders might be it still has to be one land, one people, one peace, with everyone willing to work together to help make a better world for ALL our children.
Sincerely,
Anne Selden Annab
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comments published online
USA Today
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online comment Wash Post
Israel first formally fractured and severed Palestinians from their homes and schools and fields and lands in 1948 by refusing to respect the Palestinian Refugees Right of Return to original homes and lands. Its been divide, conquer, torment and destroy ever since, as political Zionism freely wrecks havoc in the Holy Land, destroying countless families and communities. Generously subsidized Jews worldwide get to go play God in the Holy Land, while the indigenous Palestinian men, women and children are horrifically oppressed and impoverished- and vilified because they dare object to such blatant injustice. The economic and social crime that is Israel today is barbaric and cruel... SHAME SHAME SHAME on anyone who funds, arms, and in any way encourages or excuses Israels blatantly racist war on the persecuted people of Palestine.
By annie.annab | Mar 10, 2007 6:06:04 AM | Request Removal
Comment No. 492389
USALaila- I so admire you ! Another totally perfect column... so honest & right... My prayers are for both you and the BBC's Alan Johnston- and all the many other good and decent people who, despite huge restraints, have worked so tirelessly to do all they can to help gently, with grace and honor, tell the story to help free Palestine.
Date published: 3/18/2007
Political Zionism has incited bigotry
Thank you for publishing "It's Israel that incites hate" by Caroline Borden [March 11]. It is crucial that the world wake up to the horrific injustices, large and small, wrought by political Zionism, not so that we can incite more bigotry, violence, terror, and cruelty by investing in even more of the same, but so that we can empower peace, true freedom, and relief for the many people trapped, tormented, and harmed by the misnamed "Jewish state."
Israel's blatantly racist war on the people of Palestine is a barbaric situation and a brutal reality that simply should not be.
Anne Selden Annab Mechanicsburg, Pa.Date published: 3/18/2007
Comment No. 487594
USAIsrael did not just make a few refugees in 1948 and again in 1967- Israel created the largest and longest running refugee crisis in the world today... AND Israel as a sovereign nation with one of the most powerful miltaries on earth continues to pulverize Palestinian homes and impoverish the Palestinian individually and collectively. The way that Zionist immigration and investments and propaganda works is that the game is now very much rigged so that one very racist Israel, what ever promise it might have had in 1948, will only become more and more monstrous towards the native non-Jewish population of the region.
The only way to forward toward real justice and a lasting peace is by fully respecting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights from 1948 in general - and specially the INALIENABLE right to leave- and return. People world wide do it every day when we leave for work or school. It is reasonable and right to expect that you can leave and return to your home. It is also reasonable and right to expect full and equal rights ( and economic opportunities) in the the land of your birth.
It simply is not right, just or fair that Israel captures land, torments and impoverishes the people of that land, cuts them off from jobs and schools while subsidizing Jewish communities and Israeli only roads all over that land. Nor is it honest to call what Israel has been doing to Gaza withdraw!........ Israels quest for all its sovereign existence has been to empower Jews world wide with Palestinian land and resources. This situation is utterly insane and cruel- and transparent if you bother looking. Zionists have been both using and abusing any law they can to inflict horrific injustice and misery on millions of innocent and vulnerable people....... Kudos to the Washington Post for bothering to look- and for listening to Palestinian voices... and kudos too for your online comment section allowing even more perspectives and responses to be heard. I think the internet is freeing Palestine in many ways, allowing all the world to see beyond the tall walls of Zionist propaganda that once successfully hid Israeli crimes and the blatant bigotry that drives Israeli policy.
By annie.annab | Mar 21, 2007 6:43:48 AM | Request Removal
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/comments/display?contentID=AR2007031801056
For true peace and prosperity in the region, racist Israeli injustice and apartheid must end and the quickest route to that is full respect for the Palestinians basic human rights, including but not limited to the Palestinian refugees inalienable legal and moral right to return to original homes and lands...... Pretending to make peace while still maintaining a totally toxic status quo where Palestinian land, rights and life continue to be usurped and destroyed by Israels sovereign war machine as one of the worlds most powerful miltaries intentionally torments one of the worlds most vulnerable people wont work any more- the Palestinians have caught on to that trick.
By annie.annab | Mar 19, 2007 5:42:36 AM | Request Removal
Of course Israel objects to the Palestinian Refugees Right of Return- Israel also objects to Palestinians having full and equal rights and freedoms here, there and everywhere!
Stop putting off the inevitable- do we really want a world where bigotry reigns supreme and religion is armed to terrorize and build concrete walls of hate where ever it can ! The misnamed 'Jewish State' has made a huge mess of the Holy Land for generations by systematically targeting, displacing, impoverishing, vilifying and torturing Palestinians in every way it can.
Israel, racist Israel- a generously subsidized world wide war on the people of Palestine has literally gotten away with murder for decades. Israel as is has been both a social and an economic crime. Enough with maintaining a totally toxic status quo and a very sick situation: Israel- it is time to pay the piper.... time for true return for the Palestinians and an end to the largest and longest running refugee crisis in the world today- not more forced transfer. TRUE RETURN to original homes and lands as clearly spelled out by international law for ALL of modern man made Israel's existence!
It is time for real justice for historic Palestine. Time to invest in fair and just laws and expectations- including the expectation that all children should be cherished and nurtured and given every opportunity to thrive so that they can disclose and discover their own innate gifts and talents so that they may grow up to become productive citizens of the world no matter where they might be.
It is time to start the process of investing in hope and creating a chance for peace all through out the Middle East and beyond.... It is time to take the Universal Declaration of Human Rights from 1948 seriously.... It is time to FULLY respect the Palestinian Refugees inalienable legal and moral Right to Return ASAP.
Israel first formally fractured and severed Palestinians from their homes and schools and fields and lands in 1948 by refusing to respect the Palestinian Refugees Right of Return to original homes and lands. Its been divide, conquer, torment and destroy ever since, as political Zionism freely wrecks havoc in the Holy Land, destroying countless families and communities. Generously subsidized Jews worldwide get to go play God in the Holy Land, while the indigenous Palestinian men, women and children are horrifically oppressed and impoverished- and vilified because they dare object to such blatant injustice. The economic and social crime that is Israel today is barbaric and cruel... SHAME SHAME SHAME on anyone who funds, arms, and in any way encourages or excuses Israels blatantly racist war on the persecuted people of Palestine.
By annie.annab | Mar 10, 2007 6:06:04 AM | Request Removal
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Monsters and Critics.com - Glasgow,UK
3-2-2007
Thrilled to see Marcus Hadden's excellent comment... I think that as as time goes by it becomes increasingly obvious to ALL that (racist) Israel never has wanted peace- Israel simply wants all of historic Palestine minus the Palestinians.
And don't think this situation will bet better if we can only calm it down now to a dull roar rather than the loud mess it is right now... the system is rigged to favor increasing Israeli bigotry and cruelty in both war and 'peace' as more Palestinians are pushed into poverty and exile.
Zionists (regardless of religion) have been empowered by political Zionism's economic and social crimes against humanity, specifically racist Israel's refusal to respect the Palestinian refugees right of return as clearly spelled out in 1948 by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as well as by UN Resolution 194 and multiple resolutions through out the years.
Israel's eagerness to demonize and dismiss this basic human right, and to vilify and torture the people of Palestine no matter what they say or don't say, no matter where they are, is proof enough to me that there is something very rotten to the core about political Zionism and the ongoing Hasbara efforts on the part of many idiots and fools who think arming any religion with lethal weaponry is a good idea.
Thank you for using Congress.org Mail System***************************************************
Message sent to the following recipients:
Senator Casey
Senator Specter
Representative Platts
Mr. President
Message text follows:
March 1, 2007
[recipient address was inserted here]
[recipient name was inserted here],
And I am sending a copy of this letter to my Congressmen and my current
President, because I very much believe in American ideals- and I believe
for everyone's sake, in order to end this war on and of terror, we all
need to be saying firmly, with compassion- Palestine: Peace not Apartheid.
Dear Jimmy Carter,
I must thank you for standing up to, as Paul Findley might say, Dare Speak Out... about Palestine !
I know how horrible the hate mongers are on every side of this issue and I applaud you for standing up to do the right thing. I know it is hard-
and I know it hurts when people say cruel and thoughtless things, because you dare speak out for Palestine.
Right now it seems that every one I know is busy busy busy being angrily 'anti-war' ...
but not really building peace... not really Building the Dream (I lift that phrase from the new memorial to be built on the National Mall in
Washington DC in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. & America's battle for civil rights).
Right now there seems to be a whole huge and sophisticated EMPIRE of "peace
groups" condemning "American Imperialism" with slick campaigns. And in everyone's rush to complain about war and "American Imperialism", every
one seems to be forgetting basic human rights and dignity- real democracy... and most importantly- dear to my heart- Palestine...
specifically the vital importance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights from 1948;
including but not limited to the refugees inalienable legal, moral and sacred individual and collective right to leave- and the right to
return.
The people of Palestine are in danger- and they are in pain. As I am sure your are aware religious hate arming violence &
terror is everywhere in Israel on both sides of that awful apartheid wall and it is in Iraq with Iraqis right now killing each other as well
as harassing and killing Palestinian refugees.
In addition Jordan and Syria and Lebanon are very much overwhelmed with refugees in
a humanitarian crisis that began 60 years ago when Israel foolishly refused to respect the native non-Jewish Palestinians as the rightful
owners of their ancestral homes, land and property. Israel still refuses to grant the token Palestinians known as "Israeli Arabs"
remaining in "Israeli-proper" full and equal rights, refuses to respect the Palestinians as citizens entitled to peace and security, entitled
to respect, entitled to true dignity... There are now over 5 million Palestinian refugees, with Israel making more and more every day. Plus
the Lebanese refugees internally displaced by last summer's war. Plus all the refugees trying to escape from the violence and chaos in Iraq.
I don't think any religion should make families homeless. I don't think any religion should be armed with lethal weaponry and the will to kill
"others" however that "other" might be defined. And I don't think any one religion should own the Holy Land- or righteous indignation... I
think Palestine needs to be free in every possible way, including free to celebrate all of historic Palestine past, present and future...
everywhere.
We just got our tax refund back this week before it all gets spent I made a donation to BuildtheDream.org that is creating
an amazing and beautiful and totally inspiring Memorial on the National Mall in Washington DC to honor Martin Luther King Jr. I like that it is
not honoring war or death or politicians- but it is honoring life and a civil rights victory.... and a noble man of peace and justice- a man of
words... a man with a deep love for all of humanity: Let Freedom Ring!
And now I am making a donation to your The Carter Center which is according to the website "committed
to advancing human rights and alleviating unnecessary human suffering. Join us in creating a world in which every man, woman, and child has
the opportunity to enjoy good health and live in peace."
I make my donation in honor of Palestine: Peace not Apartheid ... and in honor of all those who dare speak out with courage and
honesty to do what they can to help build a better future for all our children.
And I am sending a copy of this letter to my Congressmen and my current President, because I very much believe in
American ideals- and I believe for everyone's sake, in order to end this war on and of terror, we all need to be saying firmly, with
compassion- Palestine: Peace not Apartheid.
Sincerely,
Anne Selden Annab
http://www.sacbee.com/110/story/128103.html
anneselden at 6:34 PM PST Sunday, February 25, 2007 wrote:
Delighted to see the articulate and compassionate George Bisharet in your pages!
Jimmy Carter did what needed to be done. He provided a compassionate glance at Palestine and some (but not all) of racist Israel's ongoing crimes & Kyle Szarzynski writes a great op-ed explaining that. However I do not agree with Szarzynski 's conclusion that "Carter paints a bleak picture for the Palestinians, but then strips them of their only method of resistance armed struggle."
Armed resistance is not at all the only method of of Palestinian resistance! Heavens many many MANY non-violent ways to resist have been used all along. Ignoring or diminishing that fact insults all the many gentle, non-violent Palestinians who do not like violence of any type, state sponsored or otherwise. It also belittles and dismisses the many talented artists and poets and painters and academics and letter writers who have devoted their lives to freeing Palestine in peaceful ways.
Sincerley,
Anne Selden Annab
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http://pod01.prospero.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?redirCnt=1&msg=1093&nav=messages&webtag=kr-kctm
| THANK YOU ! Thank you Andrea Whitmore for speaking out and thank you Kansas City Star for letting her voice be heard. "Deliberate Destruction" is if anything an understatement, a meek but noble attempt to describe the horrors wrought by the institutionalized bigotry, blatant injustice, and inherent cruelty of political Zionism. The Palestinians are bearing the brunt of the pain and suffering incurred by Apartheid Israel's ongoing crimes against humanity, but this situation is not healthy for any one. | |
| |
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The Emory Wheel
| Posted by Dr. Khalil Zahr | Unfortunately, it is officials like Mr. Dennis Ross, who had substantial influence on American Middle East policy, who caused irrepairable damage to US influence in the region, and put all democratic and moderate people in the Arab World on the defensive. |
| Posted by Anne Selden Annab | BRAVO Dr. Khalil Zahr - thrilled to see your comment- Thank you for speaking out in response to this Ross piece ! I totally agree with you. Personally I am quite convinced that the highest priority and first order of business should be FULL respect for the the Universal Declaration of Human Rights from 1948 in general and specifically full respect (plus reparations) for the millions of impoverished Palestinian Refugees whose inalienable right to leave and return has been ignored for far too long. |
Supporters of the Palestinian cause should have no truck with anti-semitism.
Comment No. 438758
USApersonally I think "anti-Semitism" is an extremely racist term- an ugly left over from the Nazi era.... would really like to see that word put on a shelf and only trotted out to display how once upon a time narrow minds and privative thinkers empowered a word that totally contradicted its own definition on multiple levels.
Palestine should be the priority.... for any one who supports Palestine !
Even Mideast pessimists find hope in the Abraham peace plan
Regarding the Feb. 13 article, "Tracing Abraham's path to Mideast peace": Most of the time I am wary and weary of insincere peace efforts undertaken by trapped Israelis and Palestinians seeking to merely tweak a very toxic status quo.
But this project sounds sincere and good. It is humble yet amazing, relying on one path to peace, going simply step by step, in honor of one shared heritage; walking, not bickering about who is best – or who is the biggest victim.
I can't think of a better way to honor a patriarch and all of humanity's history.
Anne Selden Annab
Mechanicsburg, Pa.
| Posted by Anne Selden Annab | Wow !!! I was surprised to see this on Time Magazine's online page- I am just so used to America's mainstream ignoring the truth about modern man made racist Israel thanks Time & thanks Tim for blogging - and explaining the situation so well... America needs to know! |
| 20. | The pen is mightier than the sword | 13:40 | | | Anne Selden Annab | 14/02/07 |
| A mother's resistance | ||
| By Ofri Ilani | ||
| Laila El-Haddad's blog took shape in a very unusual way. Her son, Yousuf, was less than a year old when she returned to her Gaza home from a visit to the United States, where her husband, Yassine, lives. The blog, "Raising Yousuf" (a-mother-from-gaza.blogspot.com), had just begun, and it dealt with common child-raising experiences, mainly first syllables and words. | ||
Thank you USA Today, and thank you Oliver "Buzz" Thomas for opening up a more honest and compassionate conversation about Israel/Palestine.
Thank you for publishing Paul Findley's "Carter enters lions’ den; Despite criticism, his book is work of a true patriot" (Commentary, Feb. 7) and then following up with the letters basically in response on Carter’s book "Palestine: Peace not Apartheid,"
I am very grateful to all the many intrepid Americans bothering to listen to and compassionately understand the people of Palestine, for everyone's sake, with more and more concerned citizens noticing the stateless Palestinian refugees and the largest, longest running refugee crisis in the world today:
It is not always easy as our 'friend' Zionist Israel has a way of inspiring hate and division and religious extremism everywhere.
Seems to me that modern man made Israel as the supposed "Jewish State", has been investing heavily in bigotry, segregation, and war with Judaism armed and empowered by heavy weaponry and a whole bunch of angst; shaping a clash of civilizations to both hide and justify political Zionism's many crimes against the people of Palestine... and an Israeli made clash of civilizations is becoming more and more true.
Swapping armed Judaism for armed Islam in the Holy Land is not going to make the world a better place for anyone. I think all Israel/Palestine should be demilitarized and secularized for everyone's sake. One state or two does not matter as much as disarm the conflict. Stop the violence, stop the hate.
One child at a time, one home at a time, one country at a time- start with ourselves and what we can personally change to rebuild a decent world where all our children are safe and able to realize their own unique individual preciousness and potential as respected citizens of one world united for justice, peace and prosperity.
Posted by: Anne Selden Annab | Feb 12, 2007 8:57:13 AMThank you for noticing the refugees, the hidden victims of all wars.
And in particular thank you for pointing out that "Now, the United States and its allies again have caused a refugee crisis in Iraq — "the largest population movement in the Middle East since Palestinians were displaced following the creation of the state of Israel in 1948" ...and that "the camera's are missing"
It is crucial that we do all we can to help the many innocent victims including countless children, whose lives have been ravaged by war. We must also start noticing that forced migration on such a massive scale causes a huge economic and social burden on the countries kind enough to host refugees. And this has been going on a very very long time in the Middle East, long before we invaded Iraq.
I do not understand why Israel itself which is right there, is not being called upon to respect international law and the Palestinian refugees right of return. Many religious bigots and Zionist extremists demonize or simply dismiss Palestinian refugees, but I do not understand why the rest of the civilized world does not rise up to simply say firmly and clearly that such bigotry is wrong. Both politics and religion should be all about helping the homeless, not making more families destitute.
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online comment
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Reader Letter: Iraq's Palestinian Refugees | | ||
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Published: January 27, 2007
To the Editor:
Jimmy Carter just proved that one can challenge Israel and speak out for the oppressed because one dares care about a whole nation of people who have been wrongly evicted from full and equal rights in the land of their birth.
Any variation of “Free Palestine” is simply a plea for real justice and a lasting peace, as is the reminder that the Palestinian refugees have always had the inalienable, legal and sacred right to return to their original homes and lands.
Anne Selden Annab| |
| Anne Selden Annab Joined: 25 Jan 2007 04:04 pm Posts: 1 |
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Apartheid Israel receives the lion's share of America's foreign aid, plus many a private donation and investment by American individuals, businesses, charities and religious organizations that have all been played by the agents for a foreign country and ideology. Thus, ironically, our money and resources have been used to stifle free speech and undermine real democracy, justice and peace both here and abroad.
Anne Selden Annab
Good to see news coverage on the fact that 'Palestinian refugees in Lebanon hope for better life'.
In accordance with international law, and UN Resolution 194 from 1948, I think full respect for full Palestinian return to original homes and lands - plus reparations- should be the highest priority. But in the meantime please don't persecute and insult and impoverish Palestinians anywhere.
When Palestine returns in full- and it will, it is only a matter of time, all the many people who have been forced into exile for whatever reason will bring back with them all the many gifts and values of the many cultures and countries they have been living in during the interim. The Palestinians can not help but use what they know to rebuild Palestine. Surely opening up gainful employment for them now will help shape a better - and more realistic future for us all, no matter where we might live.
Former President Jimmy Carter has been taking heat over his courageous new book, "Palestine -- Peace Not Apartheid." I shouldn't need to use the adjective "courageous" for someone writing a thoughtful book ...
A shame really that when glancing at the Refugee Crisis Exploding nary a word was spoken about the Palestinians- the largest longest running refugee crisis in the world. And please note that our "friend" Israel continues to attack and destroy Palestinian homes and communities- and refugee camps through out the illegally occupied territories.
Countless Palestinians are already in exile all around the world. Many, but certainly not all, are official refugees. Jordan right now is sheltering at least 700,000 Iraq refugees, however let us not forget Jordan is already (temporary) home to 1,780,701 Palestinian refugees.
Perhaps rather than shuffling people from camp to camp if we simply allowed ALL Palestinians world wide, a voice and a vote in American policies they could help steer more sane and reasonable conversations so that all of America - and Palestine- can in turn both be freed from the many perils of political Zionism.
Posted By: anneselden | January 16 2007 at 04:50 AM
Mon. 01/15/07 08:36 AM
Reading Kassem Dakhlallah's excellent Editorial Rebuttal "Keep pro-Israeli outsiders out of college hiring", I truly felt like I was finally celebrating today- in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. and his inspiring dream for a more real American democracy.
The content of character really is more important than the color of skin, and as King once said succinctly: "It may be true that the law cannot make a man love me, but it can keep him from lynching me, and I think that's pretty important. " Martin Luther King, Jr. http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/martin_luther_king_jr.html
Israeli laws and policies regularly lynch and impoverish Palestinians. Millions of Palestinian refugees have every right to return to their original homes and lands but rather than respect his basic human right racist Israel demonizes the Palestinians and bombs Palestinian refugee camps- this situation is absolutely insane and wrong!
I believe that all advocates of Israel are in fact outsiders, focused on promoting a very foreign country and toxic ideology that is the antithesis of true democracy with full and equal rights for all. The content of Israel's character is not very nice. Political Zionism methodically empowers and arms a chosen few at the expense of a harshly persecuted many... Israel today is a total fusion of "church and state" arming religion, imposing injustice, encouraging bigotry, state sponsored terror and inspiring anger and violence on both sides of that monstrously ugly Israeli built apartheid wall.
That in and of itself is bad enough, but to make it even worse Israeli outsiders corrupt American institutions and organizations and every conversation they can with aggressive albeit polished propaganda campaigns meant to stifle any real examination of Israel's many ongoing crimes against the people of Palestine.
Anne Selden Annab, Mechanicsburg, PA
• The Right to Return has a solid legal basis:
Interesting that you mention the Palestinians to illustrate the tragedy and danger of Iraq's growing refugee crisis. But what a shame you did not advocate that we kick start peace by demanding that Israel respect international and moral law by fully respecting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and UN Resolution 194, both from 1948 and both clearly spelling out the Palestinian refugees inalienable right to return to original homes and lands.... Not more forced transfer or terror tactics to push targeted ethnic and religious groups into exile, detention camps and despair but true return with true respect for the rule of fair and just laws.....
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other relief agencies, several hundred Palestinians who were forced to leave their homes in Iraq are now stranded in desolate areas on the Syrian and Jordanian borders. And every day in the illegally occupied territories Israel continues to attack Palestinian homes and communities- and refugee camps. This situation is absolutely insane and wrong!
.....Rather than shuffling these victims of multiple wars and bigotry from one bleak camp to another our highest priority should be to make sure that the children of Palestine are safe and respected in their country of origin no matter what it is named. Personally I think it should be called Palestine for ALL the people as the past 60 years of sovereign "Israel" have been nothing but an investment in institutionalized bigotry, injustice, escalating violence and punitive apartheid all along.
Anne Selden Annab wrote on January 04, 2007 1:51 PM:
Thank you for publishing "Hope flickers still in gloom of Bethlehem".
It flickers here too as long as people are willing to publish such truths remembering what really matters...and in many ways what really matters are ALL our children, including the Palestinians.
We need to take care that our words and our actions do not harm the past, the present and the future of human kind.
And I find great hope in your conclusion pointing out the story of Bethlehem today with the two Bethlehem residents stringing "more than two miles of Christmas lights despite the gloom and tension and despite the possibility they would not be paid.Samaan Shaheen is a Christian. His coworker, Kahlil, is a Muslim. But they were still able to work together, day after day."
Yes indeed, their example really does inspire...as true goodness and decency always does.
Israel's Apartheid is a despicable crime: My thoughts and prayers are for Palestine, and all the many oppressed and impoverished people who refuse to succumb to hate and despair... for all the many who have kept the beauty of Palestine alive simply be being. They are the living links to many precious and beloved symbols and stories embraced by the Abrahamic faiths. "
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