Friday, May 18, 2018

Say no to the assault of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip./Beginning of the end of Israeli occupation?

Join Baltimore Jewish Voice for Peace in a day of mourning and resistance for Gaza on Sat., May 19 from 1 to 3 PM at the World Trade Center Institute, 401 E. Pratt St., Suite 232, Baltimore 21202.  Israeli forces continue the killing spree against the people of Gaza. As we gather in front of the office of the Maryland Israel Development Center, we will demand that our city and state governments withdraw from all partnerships with the Israeli government. Stop the killing!  Join a day of mourning and resistance for Gaza

This is not a protest, it is an action to publically honor the 116 Palestinians who have been killed by the Israeli military in the past weeks fighting for the right to return to their homes.  Thousands have been wounded, and some of them remain in serious or critical condition.  Jewish Voice for Peace is a national membership organization inspired by Jewish tradition to work for the justice, equality, and dignity of all the people of Israel/Palestine. Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1949206155153412/.

Also note that concerned citizens will also gather to condemn the slaughter on Sun., May 20 at 11 AM at Park Heights and Slade Aves. Contact Ronda at [mailto:rondacooperstein@hotmail.com].


Beginning of the end of Israeli occupation?

U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley said Tuesday that Israel had acted with "restraint" in its deadly confrontation with Palestinians at the Gaza border, while Kuwait's ambassador urged the U.N. Security Council to offer protection to unarmed Palestinians.
Of course, very few legislators with the exception of Sen. Bernie Sanders have condemned the brutal Israeli assault on the people living in the Gaza Strip (“U.S. opens its Jerusalem embassy amid bloodshed,” May 15). The numbers of dead and wounded indicate a bloodbath on a people suffering from occupation. The occupation itself is violent, as the Palestinians lack sufficient medical supplies to provide adequate care to the wounded. I have yet to hear of an Israeli being wounded.
During the First Intifada, I was part of a human rights delegation to Israel/Palestine. In my opinion, the situation facing the Palestinians today is much, much worse.
This current slaughter reminded me of two scenes from possibly the best bio-pic ever made, “Gandhi” by Richard Attenborough. The movie is quite accurate to historical fact as the people of India struggled against the British occupation. First, there was a scene depicting he Amritsar massacre which took place in 1919 when British troops under the command of Col. Reginald Dyer killed close to 400 nonviolent protesters and wounded more than 1,000. Some believe the figures were actually much larger. Another scene in the film, 11 years later, shows the march on the Dharasana Salt Works. The brutality against the nonviolent protesters is very difficult to watch.
Nevertheless, in the film, the journalist played by Martin Sheen calls in a report of what he has just witnessed at the salt works and proclaims that the people of India have won their independence. Some historians consider the Amritsar massacre as the beginning of the end of British rule in India. I am hoping that the sacrifice of so many brave Palestinians in the Gaza Strip will contribute eventually to an end of the Israeli occupation. Viva Palestina.
Max Obuszewski, Baltimore
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