Winter 2008 - Annie's published letters & online comments

Justice for Palestine: Support the Right of Return!

Mainstream media work... Help free Palestine with positive thoughts and efforts: As always (for good stories, and honest stories that help explain the very real plight of the Palestinians) PLEASE go to the link to read the story in full- to help let the newspaper know the story is popular- and to help bring in ad revenue for those newspapers who dare publish Palestinian perspectives... & feel free to write the newspaper a comment, note or formal letter.

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Houston Chronicle
12-22-8
RE: Arab Christians try to revive Holy Land village, Leaders work to attract more tourists, residents By ROBERT W. GEE
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/world/6174677.html#
comment I left online http://www.chron.com/disp/discuss.mpl/world/6174677.html

Dear Editor,

Thank you for publishing the revealing story "Arab Christians try to revive Holy Land village, Leaders work to attract more tourists, residents" by ROBERT W. GEE

So much of life - and our ability to survive really does come down to economics... and it is horrifying, utterly barbaric and wrong that the indigenous people of historic Palestine have been impoverished and displaced since the establishment of Israel in 1948.

I hope and I pray that Taybeh's children can return and flourish, along with all the many other Palestinian men, women and children who have been pushed into forced exile.

And if anyone is considering a trip to the Holy Land, I suggest they start by being aware of the importance of responsible tourism.

One can even be an armchair tourist to help promote such worthy endeavors... This Christmas week I have very much enjoyed perusing Siraj Center for Holy Land Studies http://www.sirajcenter.org/index.php as well as The Alternative Tourism Group : The Alternative Tourism Group (ATG) is a Palestinian NGO specializing in tours and pilgrimages that include critical examinations of the history, culture, and politics of the Holy Land. http://www.atg.ps/index.php?page=1177263078

Sincerely,
Anne Selden Annab

NOTES 12-20-2008
for
Annie's Letters
& Growing Gardens for Palestine

FREEDOM & RETURN: A Rights Based Solution to building a just and lasting peace in the Middle East ... Not just the return (al-awda) of the refugees, but also a return to the rule of law and respect for human rights: For more than five decades Palestinian refugees and internally displaced have struggled for a solution to their plight based on UN resolutions and international law, including the right to voluntarily return to their homes and lands of origin from which they were displaced/expelled during wars in 1948 and 1967 and due to other Israeli policies of forced eviction, deportation, etc....
http://www.badil.org/call-en.htm

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Dear Pres. Bush & Pres Elect Obama: Stopping a VERY BIG Ponzi-Pyramid Scheme
for Bush..etc http://www.congress.org/congressorg/bio/userletter/?id=20004&letter_id=2729907161
for Obama http://change.gov/page/content/contact/

Dear President Bush
& President Elect Obama,

I know that you both very much want to make a smooth transition during this difficult time for America- and so I am writing you both.

Our news is filled with the shocking reports about the alleged scoundrel Bertie Madoff and his huge Ponzi-Pyramid Scheme.

Most of his Madoff's marks were wealthy Jews and Jewish organizations here in America. And it got me thinking- about Israel... and knowing that Israel receives the lion's share of our foreign aid, as well as many charity funds.. in addition to far too much of our Congress's valuable time- and our hard earned tax money... Well it occurs to me that "The Israel Industry" itself is a type of Ponzi-Pyramid Scheme, and we are all being had by Zionists crooks and then played by many trouble makers who are profiting from the Palestinians' pain and just cause for complaint.

The men, women and children of historic Palestinian, so cruelly oppressed and displaced and impoverished, are the biggest victims and most vulnerable victims of course- but to a lesser degree so are Americans (of all religions, including Jewish).

The system is rigged so that those who have invested emotionally and/or financially in "Israel" are often blithely unaware of what exactly Israel really is and does... and those who might have a clue are in deep denial for they stand to lose so much if they withdraw their support.

It's like the dot.com bubble... and the real estate bubble... both exasperated by the information age and various scoundrels and 'experts' eager and able to profit from playing the market for short term personal gains rather than making good sound long term investments for both private and public good.

Israel- racist Israel -has inspired a huge amount of hate- even among its own supporters as Zionists seek to demonize and destroy the people of historic Palestine.

Already the vast majority of Palestinians have been pushed into forced exile and despair.

" In 1948, the international community felt a deep sense of responsibility for the mass dispossession, ethnic cleansing and the Zionist transfer policy that began then. United Nations Mediator Count Folke Bernadotte, who was later assassinated by a Zionist terrorist hit squad, stated: "It would be an offence against the principles of elemental justice if these innocent victims of the conflict were denied the right to return to their homes, while Jewish immigrants flow into Palestine" (UN Doc Al 648, 1948). This remains true today as any Jew, regardless of national origin, can gain automatic citizenship while Palestinian Arabs are denied their right to return to their own homeland." The Right To Return, a Basic Right Still Denied http://www.al-awda.org/facts.html

For everyones sake- including our own, we should gently but firmly withdraw all American support from Israel, for it has been constantly raising funds every where it can in order to systematically and intentionally build Apartheid in the Holy Land- and it has been ruining lives- and intentionally stealing land, rights, freedom and peace from the people of historic Palestine... and our support for it has been ruining our reputation in the Arab and Muslim world.

Sincerely,
Anne Selden Annab
American Homemaker & Poet

NOTES 12-20-2008
for
Annie's Letters
& Growing Gardens for Palestine

FREEDOM & RETURN: A Rights Based Solution to building a just and lasting peace in the Middle East ... Not just the return (al-awda) of the refugees, but also a return to the rule of law and respect for human rights: For more than five decades Palestinian refugees and internally displaced have struggled for a solution to their plight based on UN resolutions and international law, including the right to voluntarily return to their homes and lands of origin from which they were displaced/expelled during wars in 1948 and 1967 and due to other Israeli policies of forced eviction, deportation, etc....
http://www.badil.org/call-en.htm

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BRADENTON HERALD
online comment left in responce to Wilifred A. Cork's EXCELLENT letter "Tragedy in Gaza"

http://www.bradenton.com/letters/story/1093978.html
RE: Tragedy in Gaza

AnneSeldenAnnab wrote on 12/13/2008 08:24:03 AM:

Good to see this excellent letter concerning the TRAGEDY IN GAZA. Brave too of Wilifred A. Cork to speak out so clearly- including crucial information and facts.... brave for Zionist ideologues are sure to harass her for daring to speak the truth about the very real plight of the Palestinians.

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WASHINGTON POST
12-11-2008
comment I left online in their comment forum...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/09/AR2008120902780_Comments.html

RE: Israeli Wall Fuels Migration, Palestinians With Economic, Social Services Ties to Jewish State Are Integrating Neighborhoods That Won't Be Blocked by Barrier
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/09/AR2008120902780.html

""Palestinians cannot allow themselves to be trapped on the Palestinian side of the wall lest they be plummeted into poverty. They are culturally, politically and religiously tied to the West Bank, but economically connected to Israel."" Israeli Wall Fuels Migration, Palestinians With Economic, Social Services Ties to Jewish State Are Integrating Neighborhoods That Won't Be Blocked by Barrier http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/09/AR2008120902780.html

"The removal of Arabs bodily from Palestine is part of the Zionist plan to "spirit the penniless population across the frontier by denying it employment...Both the process of expropriation and the removal of the poor must be carried away discreetly and circumspectly." Theodore Herzl, founder of the World Zionist Organization Complete Diaries, June 12, 1895 entry." Famous Quotes http://al-awda.org/quotes.html

How much of what Israel does is really all about fragmenting Palestinian families, impoverishing Palestinian communities, and creating divisions everywhere every way it can in order to conquer and destroy the native non-Jewish population of the Holy Land.

" Last January, Karen Koenig AbuZayd, head of the UN agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA, wrote, "Gaza is on the threshold of becoming the first territory to be intentionally reduced to a state of abject destitution, with the knowledge, acquiescence and -- some would say -- encouragement of the international community."" Israel's "Auschwitz borders" revisited BY Ali Abunimah, The Electronic Intifada, 8 December 2008 .... Abunimah's story on the Electronic Intifada is aptly illustrated with a recent photograph of Israeli graffiti written in English "Arabs to the Gas Chambers"

"The humanitarian situation is dire for the people in the Gaza Strip, most importantly the children. The strip is home to 1.5 million Palestinians, 80% of whom are refugees denied by the Zionist state the right to return to their homes and lands of origin from which they were expelled by the Zionist occupation in 1948. Nearly half of the Gaza population are children who along with the elderly and ill remain completely deprived of food, water, fuel, electricity, humanitarian relief and medical supplies or facilities. UNRWA Chief of Operations in the Gaza Strip, John Ging calls the situation ‘very desperate at the humanitarian level’." BREAK THE SIEGE OF GAZA NOW! END THE OCCUPATION OF ALL OF PALESTINE!
IMPLEMENT PALESTINIAN RIGHT TO RETURN! http://al-awdacal.org/event-la-demo.html

Meanwhile swarms of Zionist propagandists world wide do all they can to demonize and stop criticism of Israel.

"Motion 25 - passed in May by the union's congress - was a renewed attempt to put pressure on Israel over its treatment of the Palestinians.... In 2007, a motion openly calling for a boycott was passed but was subsequently overturned at a special conference - though not before it had caused an international row that opponents claimed damaged the reputation of British academia...In response to this year's motion, a group of 12 members threatened to sue the union, arguing that it amounted to a boycott in all but name and was illegal discrimination contrary to the UCU's own rules." Academics 'have abandoned Israeli boycott', say opponents Exclusive: Lecturers' union denies u-turn on conference motion intended to show solidarity with Palestinians http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2008/dec/10/boycott-israel-ucu-palestinians

Dare speak the full and total truth about racist Israel's ongoing crimes against the men women and children of historic Palestine and you risk being sued- impoverished- harassed- discredited- or assassinated by Zionist ideologues intent on using both charm as well as bully tactics to empower The Israel Industry's institutionalized bigotry and injustice.

The evidence is clear, right before our eyes an intentional genocide continues unchecked as Israel's immigrant bigots, convinced they have every right to usurp and/or destroy Palestinian land, rights and life, spin every story to diminish and dismiss the men, women and children of historic Palestine.

So much really is all about economics... as jobs are lost and American newspapers, our Fourth Estate, scramble to cover expenses, it behooves us all to do what we can to help support and encourage America's newspapers (such as the Washington Post) who dare publish more honest and revealing stories concerning The Israel/Palestine conflict- and the very real plight of the Palestinians.

Ignore Zionist rags for they can not be trusted- instead help empower those brave newspapers who dare break free from the Zionist stranglehold on free speech.

Sincerely,
Anne Selden Annab

Annie's Letters
Notes
& Growing Gardens for Palestine

Words to Honor: The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights:
Article 1. All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood....The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

No Return = No Justice = No Peace
for the men, women and children of Palestine.

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The Christian Science Monitor

Letters to the Editor

from the December 9, 2008 edition

http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/1209/p08s04-cole.html

Should teenagers be allowed to navigate the Net alone?

It is a bad idea to assume a teenager will always make good choices on the Internet. Keeping a teenager's Internet access in a family-oriented room, with the computer positioned in a way that a busy parent can easily glance over to see where their teenager's mind might be wandering to, is a key component in encouraging the best in our children rather than inadvertently empowering the worst. The computer then also becomes more of a social interaction tool, as our teens tend to share entertaining discoveries on the Internet that they think we, their parents and siblings and friends, might enjoy.

Anne Selden Annab
Mechanicsburg, Pa.

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WASHINGTON TIMES
11-30-2008

RE: LETTER TO THE EDITOR: The Gaza conundrum by ERIC ROZENMAN Washington director Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America Washington
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/nov/30/the-gaza-conundrum/
comment I just left opnline
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/nov/30/the-gaza-conundrum/#comments

Comments 1 - 1 of 1

By: AnneSeldenAnnab

The Gaza conundrum letter by ERIC ROZENMAN Washington director Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America Washington is very misleading. Just as racist Israel itself seeks to divide, displace and destroy the people of historic Palestine, Rozenman seeks to divide, displace and destroy the conversation itself with distractions. Israel shuts down Gaza, controls all airspace and easily imprisons and starves countless men, women and children and Rozenman claims there is no Israeli occupation.

Then Rozenman goes on to do what he can to dismiss the very real plight, pain and suffering of the Palestinian refugees- the many men, women and children denied their inalienable legal, moral and natural right to return to original homes and lands inside Israel proper.

The exact number count is not what matters as much as the fact that there is a HUGE number of displaced Palestinians still denied their inalienable legal, moral and natural right to return to original homes and lands. I find it utterly despicable that Rozenman callously claims "The number of actual Arab refugees in 1948 was no more than 650,000, the majority of whom are no longer living." as if the eventual death of innocent and vulnerable Palestinian men, women and children so cruelly displaced in 1948 erases the crimes against humanity committed by Zionist terrorists... crimes by the way that continue to this day as racist Israel continues to impoverish and destroy Palestinian families, homes and communities:

Please notice that generations later time and time again (Jewish) individuals reclaim stolen artwork and property belonging to family members tortured and killed by the Nazi Holocaust. Makes sense to me that Palestinian heirs have the same expectation that what was rightfully belonging to their family remains in their family.

* Words to Honor: The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Article 1.

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. http://annies-notes.blogspot.com/

November 30, 2008 at 5:36 a.m.

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WASHINGTON TIMES

11-3-2008

RE: LETTER TO EDITOR: Every citizen to get involved
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/oct/31/every-citizen-to-get-involved/
comment i just left online-

By: AnneSeldenAnnab

Disgusted and frankly frightened by the hate mongering insults inspired by those who idolize "Israel" rather than American ideals of real democracy with true freedom, justice and equality for ALL, I am relieved to see that you published the excellent letter by Anisa Abd El Fattah of the National Association of Muslim American Women.

Yes indeed as Anisa Abd El Fattah wisely concludes, "Every American citizen must get involved in our country's political process - and we must remain involved."

However I think one crucial point very much needs to be made: Anti-Zionist sentiments are not limited to Muslims...or to any one religion: Thanks to the Information Age many people of diverse backgrounds and beliefs - including Christian as well as strictly secular- have been horrified to learn what modern man made Israel really is and does.

In 2005, there were approximately 7.2 million Palestinian refugees, equivalent to 74% of the entire Palestinian population which is estimated at 9.7 million worldwide. http://al-awdacal.org/facts.html ...and yet, rather than respecting international law and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by welcoming home the children of historic Palestine with full and equal rights racist Israel continues to destroy Palestinian homes and families- intentionally and systemically pushing countless more into forced exile and despair.

Christians in Jerusalem decreased from 50,000 to 10,000 due to Israeli policy.

On both sides of that monstrous Israeli built Apartheid wall Palestinian men, women and children are harassed, impoverished, insulted, oppressed, disenfranchised and displaced in many ways. For instance "Palestinians denied visit to villages of ancestors" http://www.thenational.ae/article/200810...

Rather than investing in the rule of fair and just laws and true democracy, racist Israel has been investing in bigotry, injustice and religious extremism:

""The production of olive oil is absolutely central to the Palestinian economy," European Commission representative John Kjaer said earlier this month after lending a hand in the harvest... But many farmers are cut off from their olive groves by the Israeli separation barrier and Jewish settlements, and need special permits to access their fields through barriers that only open at set times....In addition, farmers working in proximity to settlements risk attacks by firebrand settlers who believe they have a God-given right to the Holy Land." Olive groves on frontlines of West Bank conflict http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081103/wl_...

The Nakba - the Catastrophe- of 1948 continues unchecked. This genocidal crime against all of humanity created by Zionists should concern us all simply as citizens of the world.

Sincerely,
Anne Selden Annab

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ECONOMIST online comments
November 06, 2008 18:15

anne selden annab wrote:

Comment on: Great expectations of Barack Obama | Great expectations | The Economist at 11/6/2008 6:15 PM GST

Yes indeed this is a huge achievement for all of America- and a rather big hint that segregation should be a thing of the past: Let freedom ring!

Let freedom ring for America- and Palestine: It is my hope that President elect Barack Obama sees the writing on the wall and comes to realize the importance of distancing America from the divisive and costly Zionist Project that has been cruelly persecuting, impoverishing and displacing Palestinians for the past 60 years.

into Autumn- my comments published on line from tributes to Palestinian Poet Mahmoud Darwish to Kay Mukhar 's A Yank In Palestine October 26,2008

Atlantic Free Press
http://www.atlanticfreepress.com/content/view/5576/1/

A Yank In Palestine

Written by Kay Mukhar

Anne Selden Annab: WOW!

Thrilled to see this.. An important story well told !

1

October 26, 2008

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Boston Globe
online comment regarding A Mideast plan for the next president THE NEXT president of the United States, in addition to dealing with the overwhelming global economic crisis, will have to contend with problems that have arisen recently in the Middle East. They include:

READ FULL ARTICLE >

READER COMMENTS (1) Post a comment

http://people.boston.com/articles/oped/?p=articlecomments&activityId=5424612719250763103

Op-ed writer Ephraim Sneh retired general, former Israeli deputy minister of defense and the chairman of the "Strong Israel" party is right to realize that the best way forward for everyone is to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict - but he is wrong wrong wrong to dismiss the Palestinian refugees (inalienable legal, natural and moral) right to return to original homes and lands.

Full respect for basic human rights and the rule of fair and just laws has got to be the priory, otherwise we are only perpetuating a very dangerous status quo and fomenting even more hate with generously subsidized Zionist immigrants persecuting, impoverishing and displacing even more Palestinians.

Jonathan Cook writes in "Israel's 'City of Coexistence' Shows Its True Colors- Model city of harmony overcome by hatred" http://www.thenational.ae/article/20081015/FOREIGN/809484013 that "Despite pronouncements from Israeli leaders that the violence is damaging Acre’s image as a model of coexistence, the reality is of a deeply divided city, where the wounds of the 1948 war have yet to heal."

Start the healing with full respect for FULL return - empowering The Universal Declaration of Human Rights "Whereas recognition of 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..."

by anneselden October 18, 6:05 AM

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Washington Times
online comment on LETTER TO EDITOR: No attack on Israel
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/sep/24/no-attack-on-israel/#comments

Comments 1 - 5 of 5

By: AnneSeldenAnnab

KUDOS to BOB AND HIRBOD RASHIDI for pointing out the obvious: Islam's third-holiest site - the al-Aqsa Mosque, including the Dome of the Rock - is in Jerusalem, and therefore, Iran would not seek its destruction. I also sincerely doubt that Iran would want to be slaughtering Palestinians which would be the inevitable consequence of bombing Israel.

Nations make war- but people make peace... and peace depends on justice. It behooves us all to be doing what we can to try to get beyond all the hate mongering and misinformation that has been convincing people to believe that violence is the only answer. The first best step is to step away from the epicenter of so much hate mongering and misinformation- racist Israel.

The Palestinians really do have just cause for complaint, beginning with racist Israel's long term violations of international law and basic human rights, including but not limited to the Palestinian refugees' very real right to return to original homes and lands.

Zionist terror has been non-stop and the vast majority of Palestinians have been pushed out into forced exile and statelessness. Unlike sovereign nations which have tax payer funds, formal armies, intact economies and protected infrastructures easily able to generate positive PR and security for their people, Palestinians are scattered, fragmented, vulnerable, harshly oppressed and in dire need of individual and collective freedom, justice and peace.

For everyone's sake, we need to be listening to what the Palestinians have to say:

"With each passing day, more of Arab East Jerusalem vanishes as bulldozers clear the land for more Israeli settlements. Since the November 2007 Annapolis conference, which was supposed to revive the peace process, Israel has only accelerated its settlement building, especially in Jerusalem; this despite more than a hundred meetings between Israeli and Palestinian officials holding “peace negotiations.”

Bulldozers also represent the hundreds of Palestinian villages levelled and thousands of homes demolished in Gaza, the West Bank and Jerusalem in Israel’s relentless violation of international law. In 2004 alone Israel flattened 2,243 houses in Gaza and the West Bank, leaving some 14,000 Palestinians homeless." Samah Jabr : Bulldozer “Terrorism:” It depends on who’s on top and who’s underneath
http://annies-letters.blogspot.com/2008/...
Sincerely,
Anne Selden Annab
http://annies-letters.blogspot.com/
& http://annies-notes.blogspot.com/
& http://growinggardensforpalestine.blogsp...

September 25, 2008 at 10:35 a.m.

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USA Today
online comment RE: Concern about Israel's arms, Elrado Ramsay - Decatur, Ga.
http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2008/09/concern-about-i.html#more

comment i left online in the comment section:

Regarding " Concern about Israel's arms "... I totally agree with the letter writer who aptly summed it up by stating "The problem in the Middle East is not Iran's nuclear ambitions; it is Israeli brutality with the support and the blessing of the U.S."

Thanks to Zionist pressure and propaganda, our Fourth Estate has seriously failed to keep America fully informed about racist Israel's ongoing crimes against the people of historic Palestine. Our Congress has also betrayed the people of America, in choosing to idolize and protect racist Israel rather than American ideals of real democracy with full and equal rights for all, regardless of supposed race or religion.

Our best chance for getting back on track with what we are supposed to be- a fair and just nation, and our best bet for a better future is to be very very wary of Israel. In addition, we need to seriously listen to and respect the people of historic Palestine: "Implementation of the Palestinian refugees' right of return was and continues to be the main purpose for which the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) was established, a purpose which forms the central pillar of the PLO's legitimacy as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people." Letter of Palestinian Refugee Organizations to President Mahmoud Abbas, September 22, 2008http://annies-letters.blogspot.com/2008/09/letter-of-palestinian-refugee.html

As Al- Awda's popular logo says PALESTINE: 60 YEARS OF FORCED EXILE... TIME FOR RETURN

Sincerely,
Anne Selden Annab

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NEWSWEEK WORLD VIEW

online comment on The One-State Solution- A two-state solution was a compromise. But talks have gone nowhere, so many Palestinians are giving up. By Sari Nusseibeh | NEWSWEEK

http://www.newsweek.com/id/160030/output/comments/CommentSuccess/true#CommentBox

Posted By: AnneSeldenAnnab @ 09/21/2008 8:24:24 PM

Comment: Israel is an investment in institutionalized bigotry- and ongoing cruelty: I very much disagree with Sari Nusseibeh's assumption that a two state solution is the best way out of the Zionist made mess in the Holy Land. In fact- as an American appreciating separation between church and state (and real democracy with full and equal rights for all) I am totally convinced that the dangerous pseudo religious/pseudo secular disaster called Israel "The Jewish State" should be erased. Gently and with compassion... and let Palestine (gently and with compassion) return in full with all the Palestinian refugees.

The tricky part is the transition. Rather than trusting racist Israel to ever do right by the Palestinian, in my own personal opinion, I think it would be better to ask Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon to form a Palestinian confederation- a new social, political and economic entity, separate from those four nations, and yet linked to them and all the Arab world. Meanwhile Zionists organizations should be tasked with helping to fund true freedom and return in addition to reparations for the all people of historic Palestine.

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Wall Street Journal

online comment Fri Sep 19, 2008 6:55 am http://forums.wsj.com/viewtopic.php?t=4036

Post subject:

Re: Israel and Palestine Can Still Achieve Peace

Dear Editor,

Good to see the Palestinian op-ed by Mahmoud Abbas, chairman of the executive committee of the PLO and president of the Palestinian National Authority, clearly calling for true freedom and justice for the persecuted and oppressed people of historic Palestine.

More and more people worldwide, including me (an American homemaker), suspect that it is already too late for a two state solution, and that the peace process itself is simply another way for racist Israel to further impoverish and displace even more Palestinians.

Abbas sums up his official position in saying "Rather than a partial outcome, we seek an agreement resulting in two viable and sovereign states based on 1967 borders, including a Jerusalem that is the capital of two states and a just resolution that honors the rights of the Palestinian refugees." I firmly believe, for everyone's sake, that one state, two states, or twenty seven states, the highest priority must be full respect for basic human rights, including but not limited to the Palestinian refugees' inalienable legal, moral and natural right to return to original homes and lands: Start peace, a just and lasting peace with true return, not more forced transfer.

Sincerely,
Anne Selden Annab
http://annies-notes.blogspot.com/

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Washington Post
comment I just left on line
RE: Iceland Takes Palestinians Leaving Iraq

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/08/AR2008090802637.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/08/AR2008090802637_Comments.html

Thank you for publishing a bit of information concerning Palestinian refugees- and the good news that at least some of the persecuted and displaced Palestinians will find welcome and a safer sanctuary while the world waits for Israel to respect international law and the Palestinians' basic human rights ( http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html ) including but not limited to the inalienable legal, natural, moral, logical and sacred right to return to original homes and lands:

"The future of the Palestinian people is at a crossroads; 2007 - 2008 marks a historic opportunity for faith-based organizations, individuals, community groups, the solidarity movement, unions and political parties to pool resources and activities and campaign for a rights-based solution and end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Critical is the focus on the enforcement of the rights of Palestinian refugees under international law.

This may well be the last decade anniversary when Palestinian eye-witnesses from the 1948 Nakba (catastrophe) are still alive. Now more than ever Palestinians are counting on local and global society to build pressure for the enforcement of international law – the foundation for a just peace.

Let's make 2007 – 2008 into 'the campaign of freedom and return'. Not just the return (al-awda) of the refugees, but also a return to the rule of law and respect for human rights." http://www.badil.org/call-en.htm

United Nations Relief and Works Agency's website is well worth explaining to get a better sense of what it means to be a Palestinian refugee. They have statistics and reports- but they also have many photos and essays- and even a beautiful poem "I Come From There" by the beloved Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish (1941-2008) , described in UNWRA's recent tribute to him as "a uniquely compelling voice and a passionate advocate against dispossession and the pain it engenders." http://www.un.org/unrwa/news/statements/2008/MahmoudDarwish_aug08.html

Marking World Refugee Day this past summer Karen AbuZayd, Commissioner-General, United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNWRA http://www.un.org/unrwa/ ) said: "The horrors of the Second World War gave impetus to a quest for universal peace, justice and human dignity, with the United Nations at the fore. It is a disturbing commentary on our quest that as we commemorate the sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Palestinians mark six decades of what they refer to as the Nakba, or catastrophe, with many languishing in conditions of exile, exclusion and isolation. This is a testament to our collective failure to give meaning to human dignity for Palestinians and to achieve a lasting, just peace in the Middle East. We who serve Palestine refugees believe that there is time to make amends..." Exile, Exclusion and Isolation: the Palestine Refugee Experience, Op Ed by Karen AbuZayd, Commissioner-General, United Nations Relief and Works Agency, To Mark World Refugee Day: 20th June 2008 http://www.un.org/unrwa/news/statements/2008/WRD_20jun08.html

Time will not erase the crucial importance of FULLY respecting and honoring the Palestinians' basic human rights- including but not limited to the right to leave... and the right to return.

Sincerely,
Anne Selden Annab

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ECONOMIST
online Comment on: Repatriating refugees | Managing the right of return | Economist.com at 9/5/2008 8:37 AM EDT
http://www.economist.com/members/persona.cfm?econUId=2778935

anne selden annab wrote:

September 05, 2008 08:37

All through out historic Palestine involuntary migrants (Palestinian refugees) have been intentionally and cruelly pushed out into forced exile by voluntary migrants (Zionists) from abroad in a genocidal campaign shaped by a generously subsidized invading nation-state called "Israel" that actively seeks to invest in and favor one religion over another as the ticket to freedom, rights, citizenship, jobs, security and respect for its privileged ruling elite... Jews with full and equal rights and job opportunities in multiple wealthy nations insist on sustaining and defending "The Jewish State". Meanwhile Palestinian men, women and even mere children are vilified, persecuted and imprisoned because they dare object to such blatant injustice. More forced transfer of Palestinian men, women and children to a fragmented series of impoverished prison camps called "Palestine" is certainly not the answer.

Zionists should not be rewarded for stealing Palestinian land, rights, life, freedom and jobs. Had Israel respected international law and the Palestinians' basic human rights from the beginning, everything would be very very different right now. Instead what we have are 60 sovereign years of the heavily armed racist crime called Israel intentionally making life miserable for countless innocent and increasingly vulnerable people- the people of historic Palestine.

Israel's institutionalized bigotry, brutality and manipulative lies have had numerous negative ramifications, but rather than being able to fully express righteous indignation and disgust at this outrageous state of affairs, we are all expected to be polite and even protective of racist Israel... well No Thank You! I for one, firmly object to any and all tax dollars and/or charity funds empowering toxic Zionist propaganda and the continuing crime called Israel.

Anne Selden Annab
NOTES September 5, 2008

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Washington Post
RE: Boats Depart Gaza After Aid Delivery, 7 Palestinians Leave With Activists Who Flouted Blockade
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/28/AR2008082803533.html
comment I left online http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/28/AR2008082803533_Comments.html

(Dear Editor)

Good to see news coverage of "Boats Depart Gaza After Aid Delivery, 7 Palestinians Leave With Activists Who Flouted Blockade" in the Washington Post today. They wanted media coverage- and they certainly did get that! Yahoo photos has done a good job too in covering the expedition, posting some beautiful photos of the wooden boats bobbing in a beautiful sea, flying flags for Palestine. Free Gaza's web page and mission statement proves that they are concerned about all of Palestine- not only Gaza.

On their mission statement they are clear about where this boat trip really begins, and that is with The Nakba of 1948, which long predates the emergence of Hamas : "May 2008 marks the 60-year anniversary of the Nakba, "the catastrophe", when the overwhelming majority of Palestinians were forcibly evicted from their ancestral homeland to create the state of Israel. In contravention of International law, human rights, and basic principles of morality, Israel continues to deny these refugees and their descendants their right to return home." http://www.freegaza.org/index.php?language=EN&module=our_mission

Furthermore "While approaching Gaza beach, the two boats released 5,000 balloons of four colors of black, red, green and white, which are the colors of the Palestinian flag.... Each of the balloons bears the slogan of "Free Palestine" and a drawing of the pigeon of peace" http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-08/24/content_9671702.htm

One of the boats was the SS Liberty .... Before setting off they held a memorial service to "commemorate the 14 fishermen of Gaza who have been killed by the Israeli Navy over the past four years as they were fishing off their coast. The service will also be held for the 34 American sailors killed aboard the US LIBERTY by Israeli forces in 1967. We will lay flowers in the water for these forgotten seamen from two countries, the Palestinians killed while trying to feed their families and the American sailors who were attacked by Israeli fighter jets and submarines for 75 minutes on June 8, 1967." http://www.freegaza.org/index.php?module=latest_news&id=03c7064759458a9f65c3b8c35a23b091

I hope good comes out of this daring voyage that these well meaning people just made- for everyone's sake.

Sincerely,
Anne Selden Annab

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The Nation
http://www.thenation.com/bletters/20080818/omer

Truth and Consequences Under the Israeli Occupation

By Mohammed Omer

Thank you for publishing Mohammed Omar's chilling account. More truth about Israel's extensive institutionalized bigotry and its ongoing brutal mistreatment of the native non-Jewish men, women and children of historic Palestine would be most helpful for all concerned, including every American deceived and manipulated into supporting the idea of Israel--and every taxpayer forced to fund, empower and protect The Israel Industry.

People's rights are more important than Israel's "rights." 1948 gave us both Israel and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Sixty years later, as more and more Palestinian men, women and children are harshly persecuted, impoverished, imprisoned and/or displaced and cruelly demonized because they dare object, it looks to me like the world can have one or the other--but not both.

I vote for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Let God take care of religion; we need to be investing in the rule of fair and just laws, and a fully free Palestine for all the people.

Anne Selden Annab

http://annies-notes.blogspot.com
Mechanicsburg , PA

08/01/2008 @ 11:13am

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Washington Times
RE: LETTER TO EDITOR: Palestinians exposed by Palestinian American MAI ABDUL RAHMAN
http://www.washtimes.com/news/2008/aug/24/palestinians-exposed/
posted online

By: AnneSeldenAnnab

How safe are any of the token Arabs currently allowed to remain in racist Israel for now as even the Knesset discusses more forced transfer? Israel has already created and constantly exasperates the largest, longest running refugee crisis in the world today- there is nothing trivial about that!

August 24, 2008 at 8:42 p.m

*********************************

By: AnneSeldenAnnab

Dear Editor,

It was a relief to see the letter by Palestinian American Mai Abdul Rahman, concerning first of all Israel's extensive and brutal mistreatment of the Palestinians- and in turn the Palestinian Al-Haq report "calling on Hamas and the PA to immediately cease torturing political detainees and hold those who have authorized such torture responsible."

Apartheid Israel, a nation of heavily armed immigrant bigots who want the land but not the people of that land, is in clear control of all airspace and all Palestinian men, women and children's ability to move from place to place, with hundreds of IDF checkpoints crippling Palestinian communities and destroying Palestinians livelihoods. Israel harshly oppresses and cruelly displaces the people of historic Palestine and rather than making right a terrible wrong it expects Palestinians to be the prison guards in this utterly insane and cruel situation.

Considering how nefarious and persistently cruel Zionists have been and continue to be, it is utterly amazing, miraculous really that the people of Palestinian have been able to survive and do what they can to organize and wisely reject violations of human rights across the board.

Sincerely,
Anne Selden Annab
http://annies-notes.blogspot.com/2008/08...

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7558825.stm

Your tributes to Mahmoud Darwish

Palestinians have paid their last respects to poet Mahmoud Darwish in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

Widely considered the Palestinian national poet, Mahmoud Darwish died after open-heart surgery in Houston, Texas, on Saturday at the age of 67.

He was one of the most influential cultural figures in recent Arab history, encapsulating the Palestinian longing for independence.

BBC website readers have been sending in their tributes and memories of Mahmoud Darwish.

Below are a selection of your comments:

Read the full story

'Identity and humanity'.... I very much appreciate that the BBC honored Palestine's iconic poet Mahmoud Darwish by interviewing a Palestinian who was also a friend of Mahmoud Darwish, as well as a talented poet and thinker: Hanan Ashrawi was the perfect choice in my opinion, to try to explain the invigorating fresh air and inspiration that Darwish gives the world.

Anne Selden Annab, Mechanicsburg, USA

mid-summer 2008

Washington Times

RE: Plans for Mideast peace : U.N. reforms needed for Palestinian refugees
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/aug/05/plans-for-mideast-peace/

comment I left online in the comment section:

Comments 1 - 1 of 1

By: AnneSeldenAnnab

I object to this misleading op-ed pretending to be news by Peter Berkowitz "Plans for Mideast peace : U.N. reforms needed for Palestinian refugees" .

FULL respect for basic human rights- including but not limited to the Palestinian refugees' inalienable legal, moral and natural right to leave and right to return to original homes and lands as clearly affirmed by international law ( http://www.al-awda.org/facts.html ) is the only true reform needed for peace, for prosperity and for everyone's sake... for the sake of civilization itself really.

UNWRA has done an outstanding job meeting dire needs despite all the many obstacles and insults racist Israel creates. Zionism's ongoing genocidal crimes against the people of historic Palestine are the core problem, and that problem won't go away if and when Zionists manage to destroy UNWRA and every other NGO & charity that tries to help clothe, feed and educate the persecuted, impoverished and displaced men, women and children of historic Palestine.

August 5, 2008 at 8:03 a.m.

**********************************************

Washington Post online comments:
RE: Gazans' Access To Care Faulted: Israeli Interrogation Criticized in Report
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/04/AR2008080401933.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/04/AR2008080401933_Comments.html

annieannab wrote:

Divide, conquer and destroy- time and time again Apartheid Israel's nefarious practices and policies harm the people of historic Palestine. Forced transfer, segregation and collective punishments are the cornerstone of the current Israeli kingdom that has made hell out of the Holy Land... We knew enough to dismantle Jim Crow laws long ago- and to endorse the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights "Whereas recognition of 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..."

So why is modern man made Israel given carte blanche (plus huge sums of money and support) to freely and forcefully persecute, impoverish, imprison and/or displace the men, women and children of historic Palestine day after day after day in a slow motion genocide that has been going on for the past painful 60 years of cruel Israeli rule.

Meanwhile, as we notice the tip of the iceberg of Israeli war games in the open air prison and torture chamber called Gaza, please notice that everywhere it can the Zionist State is making life miserable for Palestinians.... In the West Bank: "The ongoing settlement plan reflects the true intentions of Israel to evade the peace requirements and disrespect the call of the international community for a stop of the settlement activities" AL official - Israeli settlement policy spoils peace chance
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/KLMT-7H842U?OpenDocument&rc=3&emid=ACOS-635PFR

Why aren't American newspapers publishing more revealing news and op-eds such as "Rabbis who bring shame to Judaism" By Khalid Amayreh in the West Bank who notices the chilling truth that : "In Israel, rabbis with hundreds of thousands of followers, many of whom serve in the Gestapo-like Israeli occupation army, openly teach that non-Jews are only human in form but animals in substance." http://annies-letters.blogspot.com/2008/08/rabbis-who-bring-shame-to-judaism-by.html

8/5/2008 8:45:43 AM

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THE Nation (online web letters)
http://www.thenation.com/bletters/20080818/omer?write=1

Truth and Consequences Under the Israeli Occupation

By Mohammed Omer

July 31, 2008

Thank you for publishing Mohammed Omar's chilling account. More truth about Israel's extensive institutionalized bigotry and its ongoing brutal mistreatment of the native non-Jewish men, women and children of historic Palestine would be most helpful for all concerned, including every American deceived and manipulated into supporting the idea of Israel--and every taxpayer forced to fund, empower and protect The Israel Industry.

People's rights are more important than Israel's "rights." 1948 gave us both Israel and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Sixty years later, as more and more Palestinian men, women and children are harshly persecuted, impoverished, imprisoned and/or displaced and cruelly demonized because they dare object, it looks to me like the world can have one or the other--but not both.

I vote for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Let God take care of religion; we need to be investing in the rule of fair and just laws, and a fully free Palestine for all the people.

Anne Selden Annab

http://annies-notes.blogspot.com
Mechanicsburg , PA

08/01/2008 @ 11:13am

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Time Magazine Blog

July 29, 2008 1:10

Trouble in Tel Aviv

Posted by Andrew Lee Butters

http://time-blog.com/middle_east/2008/07/trouble_in_tel_aviv.html

Thank you Andrew Lee Butters, for writing this- and handling a difficult subject so well. I like the way you phrase thing so clearly and succinctly summing up so much such as with this telling sentence "...But here I was having a grand old time in an Israeli restaurant with painted blatt tiles, soaring ceilings and arched doorways, that was clearly once an Arab home."

and this:
... "So why keep harping on Israel and the Middle East? Because the mess and the metaphors are so vivid."

Yes the mess and the metaphors really are quite vivid. It is obvious you are trying to honestly listen and trying to think clearly... trying to compassionately understand what this mess and the metaphors really are all about, trying to determine the truth, the full truth...

I am quite convinced that the key to peace in the region is full respect for the Palestinian refugees' inalienable legal, natural, logical, and moral right to return to original homes and lands.

When Israel came to be in 1948, the United Nations quite specifically affirmed and clearly spelled out the Palestinian refugees' right to return. 60 years of knowing that fact can't be erased or dismissed, nor can the personal histories of every Palestinian family on earth as Israel continues to exasperate and add to the largest, longest running refugee crisis in the world today.

Posted by Anne Selden Annab | July 29, 2008 7:27 PM

************

Natalie, a refugee's right to return is a universal basic human right- regardless of race or religion. Jews who fled Nazi Germany had and continue to have the right to return plus compensation for their loses. Court cases continue to arise to help give back to individual Jewish families artwork and property that stolen from them during the Nazi Holocaust. The precedent has been clearly established in multiple courts of law.

Its a very civilized idea... Do you really want to continue endorsing the idea that when a person leaves their home for any reason (such as to go work or on vacation) armed ideologues from abroad are entitled to swoop in claiming that all that was yours is now theirs?

As far as implementing the right to return the first step is education. That is making sure that every one is aware of the importance of FULLY respecting basic human rights, including but not limited to the refugees right to return to original homes and lands. Not more forced transfer but true return.

Posted by Anne Selden Annab | July 29, 2008 10:11 PM

*****************
Hi N-N

Are you asking a serious question in search of a better way forward for the many victims of violence and injustice in the Middle East, or are you mainly looking for a way to propagate nasty thoughts about Arabs and Muslims- and Palestinians?

Looks to me like you are mainly looking for a way to plant negative ideas and nasty stereotypes about Arabs and Muslims in general- and Palestinians in particular...

While you wile away your time looking for ways to spread nasty propaganda about Palestinians the reality is this: Israel continues to invest in and defend Israel's many Jews-only settlements on both sides of that monstrous Israeli made Apartheid wall.

Israel continues to destroy Palestinian homes and communities, continues to impoverish and imprison and/or displace the men, women and children of historic Palestine

And earlier today: "Israeli troops on Tuesday shot dead a 12-year-old Palestinian boy during a protest against Israel's separation barrier in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian medical sources said. Hammad Hossam Mussa was hit in the head by a live bullet fired by Israeli soldiers during a demonstration in the village of Nilin, said Salah Al Khawaja, a member of Nilin's Committee Against the Wall." http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080729/wl_mideast_afp/mideastconflictwestbankbarriertoll_080729175548

Posted by Anne Selden Annab | July 29, 2008 11:57 PM

**************************

Andrew's haunting phrase "that was clearly once an Arab home" conveys a larger truth that Zionists don't want America to see:

Fact is Zionist immigrants to Arab Palestine have been intentionally impoverishing and displacing the indigenous people of historic Palestine- specifically targeting and harassing the native non-Jewish Palestinians all along: In 1947-48 "Some 675 towns and villages were seized and their populations forcibly removed or massacred. On the day that Israel came in to existence 85 per cent of Palestinians whose homes had been on the land occupied by the newly created state found themselves refugees, and remain so until today.

Al-Nakba goes on. It continues every day, in different places and through different means. Whatever the legal cover fabricated by Israel the process remains the same. People are uprooted, and thrown to the four corners of the earth; their land is taken, their landscapes and history obliterated." Salman Abu Sitta http://www.plands.org/articles/14.htm

Zionist crimes against the people of historic Palestine continue unchecked: " 0 Israeli homes have been demolished by Palestinians and 18,147 Palestinian homes have been demolished by Israel since 1967." http://www.ifamericansknew.org/

The larger picture is becoming clear and clearer, thanks in a large part to the information age... As my favorite blogger sums it up so well in her latest post http://umkahlil.blogspot.com/ Until the web of deceit no longer informs . . ."...deny all you want; this is a long, long struggle, and many of us in different ways, are prepared to continue, until the web of deceit no longer informs public consciousness."

Posted by Anne Selden Annab | July 31, 2008 2:10 PM

Natalie-

Your questions "Who are you educating here? Who is doing the educating, and what is the motivation for it? How long is this going to take, what do you think the effects will be on the "educated", how successful do you think this will be?" are silly questions and a waste of time- an intentional distraction.

I was inspired to comment here in this Zionist dominated comment section of the Time Magazine Blog because I very much struck by Andrew's writing skills- the poetry really in the way he uses words and how he is able to honestly express his thoughts and impressions as he put it so beautifully with sentences like this: "So why keep harping on Israel and the Middle East? Because the mess and the metaphors are so vivid".

Fact is modern man-made "Israel" is in long term and flagrant violation of international law and the Palestinians' basic human rights. What ever Zionism once was- or might have become- it has become an armed and dangerous ideology with horrible ramifications for countless people (including Jews).

I don't think America should be empowering Zionism... and I really have no interest in getting bogged down chatting with you Natalie, because in my opinion (although I don't know this for a fact, just a general impression) you don't seem like a very nice person, or a very well informed person, as you are so deeply mired in Zionist ideology and harassment techniques... perhaps on other topics I would enjoy and appreciate chatting with you. But from what I have seen of your comments so far, I really have no interest in finding out more about you and what we might have in common on more neutral grounds. You are free to continue grumbling and trying to find ways to waste my time or trip me up or whatever- but I am also free to flit away from you : )...

And in doing so I am inspired to quote one of my favorite writers, Saree Makdisi ( and the author of Palestine Inside Out: An Everyday Occupation http://www.amazon.com/Palestine-Inside-Out-Everyday-Occupation/dp/0393066061 ) from his recent article in the Guardian - "The question, in other words, is not whether there will be a one-state solution, but when; and how much needless suffering there will be in the meantime, until those who are committed to the project of creating and maintaining a religiously exclusivist state in what was historically a culturally and religiously heterogeneous land finally relent and accept the inevitable: that they have failed." http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/jul/28/israelandthepalestinians.middleeast

Posted by Anne Selden Annab | July 31, 2008 7:20 PM

****************************************************

RE: from our Readers- Israeli-Palestinian prisoner deal underscores divide
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080724/OPINION04/807240335/1072

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080724/OPINION04/807240335&s=d&page=18#pluckcomments

*AnneSeldenAnnab* wrote:

Why does any one assume that modern man made Israel ever told the truth about what happened - or what happens now, as legions of Zionist propagandists constantly clamor to spin everything into yet another way to empower and promote Zionism.

Today we see some valiant letters that try to help explain the Palestinian perspective and the truth about monstrous Israeli crimes against the people of historic Palestine... and hopefully tomorrow there will be many many more as the miracle of the information age combined with free speech and the quest for a just and lasting peace makes it possible to prove once and for all that racist Israel is wrong- simply and completely wrong.


7/24/2008 8:15:07 AM

letters & online comment published 2008

Detriot Free Press
comment i posted online regarding Palestinian Christian leader calls for American support
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080703/NEWS05/80703036/1007/NEWS

AnneSeldenAnnab wrote:

I am grateful to see this story published, and thrilled to see umkahlil's excellent comment in response, concerning the importance of respecting basic human rights- and i like that she remembered the Palestinian refugees. It's the core of the conflict, all else really is derivative. The Palestinian refugees' right to return to original homes and lands- and full and equal rights- is an inalienable right, a legal right and a natural right, clearly and specifically affirmed by international law since 1948. Sixty years of knowing that fact won't be erased.
7/3/2008 8:24:03 PM

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http://www.pennlive.com/letters/patriotnews/index.ssf?/base/news/121391071454260.xml&coll=1

Rogue nation

Friday, June 20, 2008

What a shame that syndicated columnist Thomas Friedman uses his obvious talent and podium (June 13) to empower Zionism and the rogue nation known as Israel, the country that has intentionally and extensively oppressed, impoverished and displaced the men, women and children of historic Palestine.

Manmade Israel, with its apartheid laws and walls, is the very nemesis of all that America is supposed to be. Buffett and Friedman could be and should be investing in and believing in America and our ideals of real freedom, justice and equality.

And what about American jobs? What about America's future ? Friedman might as well have written a column encouraging the U.S. to send our economic stimulus checks straight to Israel. Where will America be in another 20 years, as its wealthiest businessmen and popular columnists (plus many a myopic religious leader) betray America in order to idolize a very foreign country?

-- ANNE SELDEN ANNAB, Hampden Twp.

©2008 The Patriot-News © 2008 PennLive.com All Rights Reserved.
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Houston Chronicle

June 15, 2008, 11:35PM
LETTERS
Debating Israel, U.S. policy
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/outlook/5839458.html

An obvious bad idea

Great to see professor of law George Bisharat pop up in the Chronicle's pages. As usual, he tackles a crucially important and difficult topic, and he deals with it better than any others I have seen.

While our politicians across the board foolishly pander to the Israel lobby, it becomes more and more obvious that Israel itself is a bad idea.

While halting Israel's illegal settlements is a good first step — as is dismantling them — halting half the occupation won't halt the hate festering in the hearts of generously subsidized Israeli settlers trained to believe they have a right and a duty to treat Palestinians horribly.

ANNE SELDEN ANNAB
Mechanicsburg, Penn.

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Letters to the Editor

from the June 10, 2008 edition

http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0610/p08s03-cole.html

Would a unified Israeli-Palestinian state work?

In response to Ghada Karmi's recent Opinion piece on a "one-state solution": The two-state "solution" has been a cruel one to the people of historic Palestine, and it has been a farce, for it has not been a solution at all. It's been yet another way to oppress, impoverish, and displace the native non-Jewish population of the Holy Land.

Simply respecting basic human rights would go a long way toward creating a just and lasting peace in that very troubled region. And it has to start with the people.

Anne Selden Annab
Mechanicsburg, Pa.

**************************************************
Pessimism over prospects for fair and just peace in the Middle East
http://www.alarabiya.net/views/2008/06/08/51168.html
Sami- I like your comment- and several other comments here. The guy responding to your comment uses all CAPS and is clearly an idiot- a rude idiot- an imbecile. How is one supposed to respond to someone who starts by saying "WHAT IS WRONG WITH ARABS IS THAT THEY ARE ...VERY DIS-LIKABLE." ??!! That writer is clearly a nasty bigot - and is not worth the waste of time it takes to read his comment beyond that first stupid line.... Let him wallow alone in his nasty thoughts- no need to waste even a minute worrying about him as his obvious goal in life is to spread hate.
annie

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New York Daily News
6-8-2008
letters

http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2008/06/08/2008-06-08_voice_of_the_people_for_june_8_2008.html?page=1

Israel and the Arabs

Mechanicsburg, Pa.: The snide letter by Voicer Michelle Wudowsky insulting the teenage Palestinian-American letter writer is not merely rude, it is wrong. Israel's barbaric brutality toward native non-Jewish men, women and children of historic Palestine is well-documented.

Anne Selden Annab

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RE: No refuge from responsibility,Attacks on Unrwa are disingenuous and serve only to absolve Israel of culpability for the squalor and limbo in which Palestinians exist by Seth Freedman
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/seth_freedman/2008/05/no_refuge_from_responsibility.html

comment left online

AnneSelden

Comment No. 1386684

May 30 11:34

USA

Thank you Seth for tackling this crucial topic, and handling it so well. The way I see it is its all part of the Golden Rule- Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Respecting basic human rights (including but not limited to every refugees' inalienable legal, moral and natural right to return) is crucial for everyone's sake.

60 years ago our governments signed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for good reasons- now there is a new initiative for people to read and sign it too:

"2008 is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 60th anniversary. It's time for a global conversation about human rights and the values that unite us as one human family. But it can also be a time when each of us chooses to take human rights into our daily lives..." Every Human Has Rights http://www.everyhumanhasrights.org/

I don't know if you have seen the inspiring pledge- but you certainly are living it by writing so honestly and beautifully on the subject of UNWRA and doing what you can to try to stop the hate mongering and the misinformation being generated by some very misguided zealots.

******************************************
RE: Historical perspective, May 24th responses, inbox 5-29-8
http://www.economist.com/blogs/theinbox/2008/05/historical_perspective_may_24t.cfm#list-comments
comments posted online

anne selden annab wrote:

The basic human rights "of Jews" are the exact same as the basic human rights of "non-Jews" - that is the whole point: It is wrong to have double standards granting privileges, freedoms and respect for some people but not for "others" based on religion or race...etc... UNIVERSAL HUMAN RIGHTS: Jews are human- that should not have to be explained- or do you have your doubts ? If so please seriously consult with a Rabbi, Priest, or Imam, depending on who you feel most comfortable consulting.

5/30/2008 4:19 PM EDT

anne selden annab wrote:

Davka: "basic Jewish rights" ??? !!! The point has got to be basic human rights period- there are no special rights for Jews. Universal basic human rights- and investing in the rule of fair and just laws and polices, regardless of a person's supposed religion or race.

5/30/2008 8:02 AM EDT

anne selden annab wrote:

The responses you published concerning 'Historic Perspective" were angry Zionists who seek to dismiss and/or demonize the Palestinians' very real cause for complaint. Zionists are very good at writing letters and op-eds and speeches, but they are not very good at respecting the Palestinians' basic human rights- or property lines... or peace agreements.

An interesting fact: reported today on the wire services: Bahrain has no diplomatic relations with Israel. Do you think that is bigotry- if so why did Bahrain just name a Jewish woman as ambassador to US ? http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080529/ap_on_re_mi_ea/bahrain_jewish_ambassador_1

5/29/2008 8:37 PM EDT

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LA Times online May 16th

DUST-UP: ISRAEL AT 60

George E. Bisharat debates Judea Pearl online in the LA Times

my comment posted on online comment section

Should the U.S. help broker peace?
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oew-du15may15,0,7128501.graffitiboard

9. Really great to see these difficult questions tackled head on in this fascinating online debate... Looks to me like it already is one state, with a Jews-preferred Israel controlling who gets public funds, positive PR, jobs and security and who gets kicked to the curb. What is bad now will only be worse tomorrow. Pearl worries about 'the dangers those Jews might face". Surely that danger grows exponentially the longer Israel itself violates the Palestinians' basic human rights!

Submitted by: Anne Selden Annab

3:30 AM PDT, May 16, 2008

Israel, starting from scratch
11. The proof is in the pudding as they say: I do not have the urge to dig up and quote obscure Zionist papers, but I can simply see what is now as the internet helps Palestinians publicize their perspectives. I like reading Bisharat. Some of his comments are AMAZING- and very thought provoking, such as the fact that "Zionist - and later Israeli- leaders have been careful to admit only what political traffic would bear". Facts on the ground, including the settlement projects on both sides of that ugly Israeli-made Apartheid-security wall, plus the ongoing Palestinian refugee crisis prove Bisharat's point.

Submitted by: Anne Selden Annab

7:24 AM PDT, May 13, 2008

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Letters to the Editor
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/letters/bal-ed.le.letters184may18,0,2415931.story

Palestinians still have right to return

May 18, 2008

It was good to see Alice Rothchild's column "The other side of Israel's birth" (May 14), with its focus on the Nakba created by Israel - the dispossession and expulsion of more than 700,000 Palestinians living in what was to become Israel, and Israel's subsequent refusal to respect the Palestinian refugees' right of return.

As she notes, yes, it is "time to acknowledge that other anniversary and to move forward with eyes and hearts open to the suffering of all the children of Abraham."

However I am deeply concerned that - rather than simply respecting basic human rights (which include but are not limited to the Palestinian refugees' inalienable legal, moral and natural right of return to their homeland) - there is a bit of a sleight of hand here with regard to what Ms. Rothchild calls "creative solutions - from resettlement to financial compensation."

Sixty years ago, return or compensation for lost property was a formula that made immediate sense - but 60 years later, with even more Palestinians impoverished and pushed out into forced exile by a Jews-preferred Israel, return and compensation is the only way to right this terrible wrong.

Anne Selden Annab
Mechanicsburg, Pa.

***********************************************
Washington Post online
5-13-2008

RE: Bush's Legacy on Israel Debated on Eve of Visit
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/12/AR2008051202957.html

comment i posted online http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/12/AR2008051202957_Comments.html

annieannab wrote:

Israel is responsible for its own crimes- and its own sovereign self, its own bad choices and its own duty to make right by the many people wronged by Zionist crimes.

What Bush and any other US President does or does not do has always been adeptly used by the misnamed Jewish State to excuse and empower racist Israel's cruel persecution, oppression, dispossession and displacement of the people of historic Palestine.

>From left to right, no doubt about it, Zionist Israel is (and has been) institutionalized bigotry and injustice, some is just more obviously abhorrent than others. It could have been anything in 1948, but it chose to treat the people of Palestine horribly... and things have only gone from bad to worse.

Zionist terror and bigotry created and continues to exasperate the largest longest running refugee crisis in the world today. Flagrantly violating international law and the Palestinians' basic human rights, Israel expects its neighbors to 'absorb' the people of historic Palestine, and it expects the Palestinians to simply be polite about this despicable situation.

We have to assume that on this current trajectory, given more time, Israel will eventually expect Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Syria and/or Egypt's neighbors to 'absorb' the people that Almighty Apartheid Israel does not want around for what ever reason. Abusing the idea of 'security' Zionist choices have already been making life very very insecure for everyone in the region, with world wide consequences:

After the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, Israeli propagandists quickly stepped up to spin everything to their advantage- ever eager to usurp American money and sympathy for a country that is actually the antithesis of American ideals of freedom, justice, and equality for ALL.

Perhaps the ultimate legacy of the Bush administration will be an increasing awareness that no one should make peace with The Israel Industry and its blatantly racist war on the people of historic Palestine, a war that has been undermining American democracy in many ways:

It certainly would be nice to have an American election free from a foreign country's interference, as right now all candidates are very much bullied and bribed into idolizing Israel so they can get elected.

It would also be nice not to have to deal with the pervasive nastiness, hate mongering, divisivenesses, religious extremism and wars inspired by "Israel". 60 years of this man made mess have been bad enough- imagine another sixty more?!

5/13/2008 9:36:49 AM

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Shaping More Powerful Arguments for Palestine

General view of Nablus (Matson collection: before 1920)

By Anne Selden Annab Following the lead of many others, in "Sinkable Israel," Ayman El-Amir writing for Al-Ahram(1) compared the plight of the Palestinians to that of the Native Americans... Sinkable Israel, would sink much faster if Arab writers realized that they undermine their own arguments by trying to equate the devastation of early Native American communities to modern Israel's barbarically modern and intentional ethnic cleansing of historic Palestine. Zionist propaganda makes Israel float. Zionists want Americans to believe that "Israel" is a worthy and a necessary investment. You don't need to convince Arabs (or Muslims) that racist Israel is wrong- you need to convince all the taxpayers and charities in the West, especially Americans, that Israel is really is a rogue nation in long term and flagrant violation of international law and the Palestinians basic human rights. Early America was not at all like Palestine. First and most obviously, Palestine was not an isolated island totally untouched by the influence of long established trade routes as well as various alphabets and manuscripts- book learning. Palestine was a well known place, with known written history as well as many stone buildings including ancient (or at least old) churches, mosques, synagogues, schools, businesses as well as permanent homes (2). Palestine, just like America one hundred years ago, had both urban as well as rural communities. When Zionists began to invade Palestine, the people of Palestine had the ability to read and write (primarily in Arabic), they had books and they knew all about paper, glass, metal and other such crafts that help enhance the quality of life in many ways, as well as the rule of law. Palestinians had door keys, whereas in Early America, there were no door keys, nor were there land deeds- in fact there were not even horses. Horses were introduced by Spanish settlers in the sixteenth century, very much revolutionizing travel, trade, hunting and tribal warfare. Gallop up to 1776 and the official founding of the USA with our Declaration of Independence and the emergence of our Constitution with our Bill of Rights: Think about the very real potential for real freedom, equality, and prosperity for all people, including those now known as Native Americans, that was able to eventually emerge from "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America..." (3) When the USA was first founded, women had no vote, nor did blacks or Native Americans. Those really were primitive times- worldwide. However our basic laws and ideals have enabled women, blacks and native Americans to gain legal rights, freedoms, economic opportunities, respect and relative security, whereas racist Israel's basic laws and policies ensure that the people of historic Palestine will continue to be harassed, oppressed, demonized and displaced in a continuing Nakba that has already targeted and destroyed countless Palestinian men, women and children, because they have been deemed the 'wrong' religion by the misnamed "Jewish State" that has been dividing and destroying historic Palestine for the past 60 years. The rule of fair and just laws is a good foundation for any nation: The Indian Citizenship Act of 1924 (4) gave United States citizenship to Native Americans, while halfway around the world, the ink was still relatively fresh on Balfour's formal endorsement of early Zionism on the condition that "nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine"(5). Was Balfour aware that the father of modern Zionism, Theodor Hertzl, clearly encouraged some rather underhanded tactics based on bigotry that remain the basic philosophy of the misnamed "Jewish State" today? Tactics that clearly prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine. "In his diaries, Herzl made it clear that “the existing landed property was to be gently expropriated, any subsequent resale to the original owners was prohibited, and all immovables had to remain in exclusively Jewish hands. The poor population was to be worked across the frontier ‘unbemerkt’ (surreptitiously)… This population was to be refused all employment in the land of its birth… In 1901, the 5th Zionist Congress founded the Jewish National Fund. According to the by-laws of the JNF, acquired land became inalienable Jewish property and could no longer be sold or leased to non-Jews...”(6) Never ever forget that when Israel declared itself a sovereign state in 1948, Native Americans legally had full and equal rights in America, plus tribal rights. Time lines are important to keep in mind. In equating the two very different tragedies in hopes of gaining American sympathy for the Palestinian cause, you actually prevent Americans from more fully understanding the escalating catastrophe that has been created by modern "Israel." Never ever forget that in today's world, unlike even 100 years ago, we now have international law and known words coined to firmly condemn genocide. We also have the Universal Declaration of Human Rights from 1948 (7) which clearly states in Article 1: All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. This year, this month of May, as our gardens bloom with spring flowers, this year is the 60th Year of Al-Nakba and Struggle to Return: Palestine 60 Years of Forced Exile (8). It is Time For Return (9). It is logical--it is legal--it is moral--it is right. Notes: (1) El-Amir, Ayman. "Sinkable Israel." http://weekly. ahram.org. eg/2008/895/ op2.htm (2) Palestine Remembered http://www.palestineremembered.com/ Khalidi, Walid. Before Their Diaspora: A Photographic History of the Palestinians 1876-1948. Washington D.C.: Institute for Palestine Studies, 1991. (3) Preamble to the Constitution of the United States http://www.ushistory.org/documents/constitution.htm (4) Indian Citizenship Act of 1924 http://www.nebraskastudies.org/0700/frameset_reset.html?http://www.nebraskastudies.org/0700/stories/0701_0146.html (5) Balfour Declaration of 1917 http://www.yale. edu/lawweb/ avalon/mideast/ balfour.htm (6) Sakhnini, Nizar. "The Zionist Project in Palestine: Colonial Settlement, Land Robbery and Ethnic Cleansing," 7 October 2005, http://www.al- awda.org/ zionists3. html (7) Universal Declaration of Human Rights http://www.un. org/Overview/ rights.html (8) The 60th Year of Al-Nakba and Struggle to Return http://www.al-awda.org/convention6/index.html (9) Al-Awda Fact Sheet The Right To Return, a Basic Right Still Denied* http://www.al-awda.org/facts.html

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Baltimore Sun
4-28-2008
Comment posted online regarding: The Palestinians' melancholy anniversary :Israel's birthday reminds exiles of their lost homes
http://www.topix.net/forum/source/baltimore-sun/T7GL4KI9SP55134FG#lastPost

I am immensely grateful and relieved to see the telling story " The Palestinians' melancholy anniversary : Israel's birthday reminds exiles of their lost homes". The more that America knows and understands about the very real plight of the native non-Jewish Palestinians the less likely public and private funds (and lethal weaponry) will be sent to sustain and defend the institutionalized bigotry, injustice and escalating brutality of the Jews-preferred Israel Industry:

The Nakba of 1948 is an ongoing catastrophe, and with the internet we are now able to see what is really going on: Palestinians continue to be harassed, oppressed and intentionally displaced by Zionist laws and polices.

Pre-1948 photos of Palestine show a very civilized country with a wide mix of people, with some dressed in charming traditional costumes that varied from village to village, as well as many people wearing what we would call modern Western dress. Palestine was not "a land with out a people for a people with out a land" as early Zionists liked to claim. And more importantly international law made it quite clear in 1948 that the Palestinian refugees have an inalienable legal and natural right to return to original homes and lands.

18,147 Palestinian homes have been demolished by Israel since 1967 (http://www.ifamericansknew.org/ ), which is a continuation of the original Nakba of 1948 when "Jewish forces depopulated more than 450 Palestinian towns and villages, most of which were demolished." (http://imeu.net/news/article008085.shtml )

The nation called "Israel" has not made a safe haven for anyone, plus it inspires anti-Semitism worldwide as well as the rise of Islamic resistance: This is not a good year for any one to celebrate Israel for well documented Zionist crimes against the native non-Jewish men, women and children of historic Palestine (both Christian and Muslim) continue unchecked, generously funded actually by American taxpayers who are being forced to finance and empower this misguided Jewish variation of "church and state".

And tragically for all, odds are that next year Apartheid Israel's crimes will only be more monstrous.... Perhaps, I hope, one day we the people of the world will look back and be able to say with compassion that Israel's greatest gift to the Middle East was convincing ALL people that it really is a very bad idea to arm any religion with lethal weaponry.

Anne Selden Annab

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Economist
4-25-2008
RE: Matthew Pflaum's perfect gem of a letter on Israel
http://www.economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11082004
comment i posted online in the comment forum:
http://www.economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11082004&mode=comment&intent=readBottom

anne selden annab wrote:

April 25, 2008 08:59

I really liked Matthew Pflaum's perfect gem of a letter on Israel- so little says so very very much, and as they say 'silence is complicity'... It is obvious to any one who seriously studies the situation that the crisis in Gaza is not simply a matter of Israel intentionally caging Palestinians in like animals- the real crime that makes all else possible is the fact that the vast majority of Palestinian men, women and children, including those currently trapped and being tormented in the open air prison camp called Gaza, are persecuted, impoverished and displaced Palestinian refugees long denied their legal and moral right to return to original homes and lands.

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WASHINGTON POST
4-20-2008
RE: Was 'Excluded' the Wrong Word?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/18/AR2008041802706.html
comment i posted online in the comment section:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/18/AR2008041802706_Comments.html

annieannab wrote:

I had to laugh on seeing ombudsman Deborah Howell's headline " Was 'Excluded' the Wrong Word? ", concerning reporting about Israel (Palestine) knowing that the core of the Israel/Palestine conflict is constantly excluded from the conversation in America, just as the vast majority of native non-Jewish men, women and children, the people known as Palestinians, have been excluded from full and equal rights in the land of their birth: The vast majority of Palestinians are refugees pushed into forced exile:

The Palestinian refugees' legal and moral right to return to original homes and lands as clearly affirmed by international law since "Israel" came to be, is constantly excluded from the conversation in many ways as Zionist ideologues seek to dismiss and ignore the Palestinians' basic human rights on both sides of that hideous Israeli-made Apartheid-security wall... all else, including that divisive land and rights grabbing wall as well as the abject ugliness of the occupation really is derivative.

I do like that Howell bothered to contact and quote Palestinians, such as Hassan Jabareen, executive director of Adalah, a legal center for Arab minority rights in Israel. That is a good step in the right direction- but the most important step for everyone's sake is for Americans to realize how important it is to understand the very real plight of the Palestinians as well as the vital importance of FULLY respecting the Palestinian refugees very real right of return.

4/20/2008 7:40:35 AM

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MIAMI HERALD
4-18-2008
comment i just left online...
RE: `Children deserve to grow up in peace' by RANIA AL ABDULLAH
http://www.miamiherald.com/851/story/500525.html
http://pod01.prospero.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?msg=41786&nav=messages&webtag=kr-miamitm

Comments

Thrilled, delighted and relieved to see this revealing article concerning Palestinian children by Rania Abdullah `Children deserve to grow up in peace' - for it is true and compassionate, and if anything it is far too gentle and polite considering all that the children of Palestine have had to suffer through. I admire her for being able to speak calmly and rationally in the face of this ongoing fiasco. Apartheid Israel's punitive siege and stranglehold on the people of historic Palestine should have ended long ago. Instead it only gets worse as well as more obviously bigoted and cruel and divisive as decade by decade the misnamed Jewish State finds ways to displace, imprison, segregate and destroy the native non-Jewish population of the Holy Land. And FYI Frida Ghitis is wrong to assert that "Hamas can end Palestinian suffering", for HAMAS did not create this situation, they are only a relatively recent reaction to it. The only solution to the mess in the Middle East is to recognize the fact that the vast majority of Palestinians are refugees pushed into forced exile and despair- and, as clearly affirmed by UN Resolution 194 from 1948, the Palestinian refugees have always had a legal and a moral right to return to original homes and lands... and always will.

Posted by: Anne_Selden_Annab

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Houston Chronicle
Comment I left online regarding

April 11, 2008, 11:40AM
POETRY: Healing verse, Palestinian-American doctor turns suffering into song, wins top U.S. prize

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/main/5691580.html

AnneSeldenAnnab wrote:

What a joy and a pleasure to see "POETRY Healing verse Palestinian-American doctor turns suffering into song, wins top U.S. prize" !

More and more, through the years, I have come to know and love Palestine- its people and its poetry- its truth. I very much look forward to buying Fady Joudah's book of poems when it hits the book stores this week... Spring is a wonderful time to celebrate poetry- and Palestine.

And anytime soon please, is a good time to start seriously respecting UN Resolution 194 from 1948- the Palestinian refugees very real right to return to original homes and lands.

4/13/2008 7:14:48 AM

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Detroit Free Press
3-24-2008
comment i just left online regarding

Israeli ideals don't match the reality

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080324/OPINION04/803240306/1072

In your voice

AnneSeldenAnnab wrote:

It was great to once again see some excellent letters in the Free Press by a handful of reasonable rational people who believe in Palestine- and peace. If only more people took the time to simply explain the facts about Israel's constant crimes against the native non-Jewish population of the Holy Land... if only more people simply challenged Zionist propaganda, using words not weapons ( or endorsements of violence) to help free Palestine.
3/24/2008 7:36:45 AM


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WASHINGTON TIMES
March 6 2008
http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080306/EDITORIAL/108130116/1013/EDITORIAL

Letters to the Editor

Demographic panic

If indeed the numbers of Palestinians are terribly inflated ("Israeli-Palestinian demographics," Letters, yesterday) why is Israel so obsessed with oppressing and permanently displacing the people of historic Palestine? Why the perpetual panic about demographics?

More important, denying full and equal rights to one or several million oppressed and displaced people is wrong.

Every child should count and be valued by the powers that be. Members of every heritage, every religion and every family should be safe in their homes. Every child and every family should be able simply to be unmolested by racist laws and walls.

There is a reason for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights from 1948, including but not limited to the right to leave and the right to return: Most of the men, women and children trapped and tormented in Gaza are Palestinian refugees. That's a demographic we should all be noticing.


ANNE SELDEN ANNAB
Mechanicsburg, Pa.

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The Lantern
online comments

Refugees share their stories

http://www.thelantern.com/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticleComments&ustory_id=0db1a42d-e4ba-4369-86be-3d327fd802fb#1cc6776e-92b6-4d9c-89b0-94165dd51bda

Anne Selden Annab

posted 2/27/08 @ 11:53 AM EST

"The Lantern" is well named- I was delighted to come across this excellent article by Lesley Hernandez, reporting on "a panel of Ohio State refugee students discuss their experiences".

In particular I was relieved to see that a Palestinian had been included- and quoted at length concerning his family's long wait for their right to return to be respected. A basic human right by the way that has been clearly and irreversibly affirmed by international law all along.

Intrigued by his story about his grandfather, I very much hope that when Rami Arafah graduates he continues to find places and ways to honor and remember Palestine-and the Right of Return- and his family's story.

Anyway- thanks for publishing this well written and informative column!

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ChicagoTribune Online letters

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/letters/chi-080211forum_briefs,0,1524973.story

Comment forums reveal beauty of debate

February 11, 2008

I very much agree with letter writer Forest Ormes' disgust with nasty responses in comment forums; however, for democracy's sake, I think that we should more fear the conversation being stifled and stopped by the good intentions of reasonable folks who are concerned about the nastiness that erupts in many comment forums.

Surely a person educated enough to read can sort through various comments and skip over those that are obviously cruel or crazy. Sometimes precious gems pop up in unexpected places and a quick scan of comments in an open discussion can disclose important moods and thoughts that can be more revealing than carefully edited responses tend to show.

Yes, we are all accountable for our words, as well as our actions. We are also able to shun the more despicably rude troublemakers who want to poison and stop the conversation. We can also freely chose to walk away whenever we want, finding greener pastures for grazing. That is the true beauty of open debate.

--Anne Selden Annab
Mechanicsburg, Penn.

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I Have a Dream

Posted by Scott MacLeod

January 25, 2008 5:48

http://time-blog.com/middle_east/2008/01/i_have_a_dream.html

Posted by Anne Selden Annab
January 27, 2008

THRILLED with every inspiring word written by Scott MacLeod in his very modern and highly relevant "I have a dream"!

Very glad too to see Time Magazine helping create a more reasonable and intelligent dialogue by featuring these Middle East blogs, and providing a forum for comments....I might not agree with all they say at times- but I always find food for thought. One thing I have noticed is that Zionists really do tend to hate monger- and I do not like hate.

It is great to see the uplifting response by Nancy Harb Almendras saying "Thank you, Scott. This is a beautiful post and as a Palestinian-American, I am grateful." which includes a link to her own beautiful blog which really is well worth reading and thinking about. The more I listen and the more I research, the more I like the idea of a just and lasting peace for the children of historic Palestine.

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THE DAILY STAR
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/letters.asp?edition_id=10

Reader's Feedback Published on 26/01/2008

Rami G. Khouri
"Stalemate in Palestine after 60 years"
January 19, 2008

This is a perfect headline, and its amazing how headlining a few choice words can express so much. Communication really is the key to getting the message across and convincing people to care. I wish there were more columnists able to write honestly and compassionately about Palestine.

I think you are very right about the stalemate created by the violence between Israel and Palestine, as well as the fact that Israel will not be able to crush Palestinian resistance. However, the picture is much wider than what happens on the ground within the perimeters of what was once historic Palestine.

Apartheid Israel's real strength is in its ability to gather support and funds worldwide. Zionists really are quite good at PR and propaganda, knowing how to speak as well as who to speak to, thus ensuring that outside support sustains Zionist conquest through thick and thin.
Meanwhile, Palestinians, trapped and tormented by racist Israeli laws and walls and constantly forced to contend with the ugly reality of Israel, become more and more furious and frustrated that the justness of their cause is not immediately apparent to the Western world.

Many then foolishly cater their side of the conversation to appeal to a sympathetic radical fringe, rather than realizing that the radicalization of the conversation only alienates mainstream outsiders - in particular mainstream America - ensuring that Zionist fundraisers will continue to own and manipulate the conversation to their advantage.

In light of that, I like how you end your article, stressing the importance of negotiations based on respecting international law. It is so simple, and so right, as is full respect for the Palestinians refugees' inalienable right of return to their original homes and lands as clearly affirmed by UN Resolution 194 in 1948.

Anne Selden Annab
Pennsylvania, USA

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CONGRESS.ORG
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/bio/userletter/?id=20004&letter_id=1677351641
Subject: BREAK THE SILENCE ON GAZA!

To: President George Bush,

Connected by the internet and informed by the information age, on the eve of the day we are to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr.- and a more real democracy with full and equal rights for all, I am utterly horrified to know of the sorrow and suffering in all of Palestine so cruelly besieged by racist Israeli rule- in particular the prisoners of Gaza; the men, women and children trapped in the world's largest open air prison camp, and being bombed by the Jewish State because racist Israel wants all Palestinians either silenced or gone.

In the spirit of all that I know of American laws and ideals I firmly and formally object to my tax dollars supporting the Jewish State and its state sponsored terrorism- its blatantly racist war on the people of historic Palestine. I know that life is not fair- but at least we can try to be fair in all our dealings- and we must denounce injustice where ever it might be found. Right now it is found everywhere that our well funded, heavily armed, nefarious 'friend' Israel can reach... Racist Israel's reach is strangling and intentionally destroying the men women and children of historic Palestine.

Please stop idolizing the Jewish State with our hard earned tax dollars! Please stop investing in the institutionalized bigotry and Apartheid that is Israel today.

"When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promise" MLK

and that promise has to help free Palestine....

"I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal." " MLK

Please help the harshly oppressed and persecuted people of historic Palestine, including the many Palestinian men, women and children so cruelly imprisoned in Gaza. Please help free ALL the people of historic Palestine by supporting full respect for basic human rights, including the right to leave- and the right to return.

FREEDOM & RETURN: A Rights Based Solution to building a just and lasting peace in the Middle East ... Not just the return (al-awda) of the refugees, but also a return to the rule of law and respect for human rights: For more than five decades Palestinian refugees and internally displaced have struggled for a solution to their plight based on UN resolutions and international law, including the right to voluntarily return to their homes and lands of origin from which they were displaced/expelled during wars in 1948 and 1967 and due to other Israeli policies of forced eviction, deportation, etc....

The Palestinian refugees' right to return to original homes and lands really is legal- and really is right: Al-Awda FACT SHEET: The Right To Return, a Basic Right Still Denied

Please do not look away as so many did during the Nazi Holocaust- please step up to denounce the institutionalized bigotry, injustice and pervasive violence of the Jewish State.

Sincerely,
Anne Selden Annab

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RE: Middle East Triangle By Hussein Agha and Robert Malley (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/16/AR2008011603442.html
comment published online http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/16/AR2008011603442_Comments.html

annieannab wrote:

Politics are so beside the point- empowering fragmented 'groups' while the Palestinians' individual basic human rights are blatantly violated by racist Israeli laws and walls only undermines peace even more: For everyone's sake we should be advocating a Human Rights Based solution to the Israel/Palestine conflict with the highest priority simply on full respect for the Palestinian refugees' very real right to return to original homes and lands. Let true respect for human dignity and real democracy be the foundation for whatever will be ... one by one, we the people really can help make this world a better place for ALL.

*****************************************

RE: Bush's "New Middle East" Time Magazine Blog (online comment)
http://time-blog.com/middle_east/2008/01/bushs_new_middle_east.html

Posted by Anne Selden Annab
January 14, 2008

While speaking about SURVIVAL Tihiyeh seriously needs to notice the many ways in which both the West Bank and Gaza are besieged- that's not a "they want to destroy us" scenario that Zionists deploy in every conversation they can, but the actual strangulation and destruction of countless innocent and vulnerable people trapped and tormented by racist Israeli laws and walls.

*******************************************

1-14-2008
USA Today online comment published regarding

Middle East peacemaking requires steady mediation

http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2008/01/middle-east-pea.html#more

anneseldenannab wrote: <1m>

Good to see your editorial tackling Middle East peacemaking. However you dropped the ball in not realizing the importance of insisting on a rights based solution. A rights based solution which includes full respect for the Palestinian refugee's inalienable right of return to original homes and lands as clearly spelled out by international law all along.

In 1948 UN Resolution 194 phrased it as "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 or 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" http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/decade/decad17 1.htm

60 years later with Israel intentionally and systematically displacing even more Palestinian men, women and children all the while, true justice demands both return and compensation- otherwise we only reward and encourage Apartheid polices and genocidal campaigns worldwide.