http://www.openbethlehem.org/>http://www.openbethlehem.org/
Date: Fri Dec 02 08:26:52 CST 2005 Subject: Fwd: FW: Letter to Hilary Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton Leo W. O'Brien Federal Office Building 1 Clinton Square Room 821 Albany, NY 12207 Phone: (518) 431-0120 Fax: (518) 431-0128 <http://clinton.senate.gov/email_form.html>http<http://clinton.senate.gov/ema il_form.html>://clinton.senate.gov/email_form.html> A letter to Senator Rodham Clinton from Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb Greetings to you from Bethlehem, the birthplace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the center of the world for billions of Christians in the 2000 years since the Word became flesh, and the home of a dwindling population of Palestinian Christians who, despite the continued pressures of living under Israeli policies of occupation and segregation, still hold onto their lands and dignity. I was encouraged when I met your husband here in Bethlehem in 1999, during the preparations for the Bethlehem 2000 millennium celebrations. I was also encouraged when in 1998 you said that it will be in the long-term interests of the Middle East for Palestine to be a state, a conviction which is shared today by the entire international community, including many Israelis. I was surprised last week when I saw your picture in Haaretz (November 15, 2005), which was taken near the Wall, just outside of our town. I know that many Palestinians would have loved to welcome you in their homes in Bethlehem, but you did not come to visit us. Perhaps you simply did not have time to stop by and greet us, the people who would be the other half of any agreement which would allow Israel to live in security and peace. Or perhaps while you had Bethlehem in the background of the publicity photos, you had certain of your constituents in New York in the forefront of your mind.? In one month's time you will be singing O Little Town of Bethlehem. I wonder how you will sing it this year, having declared your support for transforming our little town into a big, open-air prison, leaving no green space for our children to play or our olive trees to grow? Your comment that the Wall is not against the Palestinian people & [it] is against terrorists is deeply offensive in its ignorance and glossy portrayal of the effects of Israeli policy in the West Bank.? We would like you to know that the Wall is affecting the daily life of every Palestinian person, not only in our town but throughout the West Bank. The Wall is less about security than it is about colonizing land and controlling its indigenous population. It is designed to allow maximum expansion for Israeli settlements (which are unequivocally illegal under international law) and minimal space for Palestinian towns and villages to grow or even draw their livelihood. The Wall is limiting Bethlehem to an area of about 6 square miles, while the settlements which surround us continue to expand on stolen Palestinian land. After taking such a courageous standpoint in 1998, why are you suddenly abandoning international law, the consensus of the international community, Christian notions of justice and reconciliation, and the American values of freedom and dignity which you have sworn to uphold? Please do not try to gain political support at the expense of the Palestinian people. We thank God for all of our American friends who visit us, work with us, support us, and help us build bridges, not walls. You will be hearing from some of them, those who are your constituents in New York, and we hope you will listen to what they have to say. We are not asking for your pity, but we do ask you to reconsider your position in support of the Wall, which is illegal and violates our rights to land, jobs, family, free movement, dignity, and self-determination. These are American values, and we merely implore you to ensure that they are upheld here. Sincerely, Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb Pastor, Christmas Lutheran Church General Director, The International Center of Bethlehem & Dar al-Kalima Academy ------------------------------------ Open Bethlehem is a civil society initiative established to respond to the state of emergency in Bethlehem as the wall is going up turning a city that resonates with millions of people around the world into a 21st century prison. *** PLEASE SIGN AND CIRCULATE -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of CPTnet editor, Webster, NY Sent: Friday, December 02, 2005 4:01 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: CHICAGO/TORONTO: Petition calling for the release of four CPTers held in Iraq now available on-line CPTnet 2 December 2005 CHICAGO/TORONTO: Petition calling for the release of four CPTers held in Iraq now available on-line Today activists who run Electroniciraq.net have made available a petition in Arabic and English calling for the release of James Loney, Tom Fox, Harmeet Singh Sooden and Norman Kember (See www.cpt.org.) Signatories include a wide and illustrious array of scholars, activists and religious leaders. Christian Peacemaker Teams encourages everyone reading this release to sign the petition. Below is the appeal as it appeared on the newslist of Ali Abunimah, founder of the Electronic Intifada: Arabic version at http://electroniciraq.net/news/2210.shtml Sign the English petition at http://freethecpt.org Four members of Christian Peacemaker Teams were taken this past Saturday, November 26, in Baghdad, Iraq. They are not spies, nor do they work in the service of any government. They are people who have dedicated their lives to fighting against war and have clearly and publicly opposed the invasion and occupation of Iraq. They are people of faith, but they are not missionaries. They have deep respect for the Islamic faith and for the right of Iraqis to self-determination. C.P.T. first came to Iraq in October 2002 to oppose the US invasion, and it has remained in the country throughout the occupation in solidarity with the Iraqi people. The group has been invaluable in alerting the world to many of the horrors facing Iraqis detained in US-run prisons and detention centers. C.P.T. was among the first to document the torture occurring at the Abu Ghraib prison, long before the story broke in the mainstream press. Its members have spent countless hours interviewing Iraqis about abuse and torture suffered at the hands of US forces and have disseminated this information internationally. Each of the four C.P.T. members being held in Iraq has dedicated his life to resisting the darkness and misery of war and occupation. Convinced that it is not enough to oppose the war from the safety of their homes, they made the difficult decision to go to Iraq, knowing that the climate of mistrust created by foreign occupation meant that they could be mistaken for spies or missionaries. They went there with a simple purpose: to bear witness to injustice and to embody a different kind of relationship between cultures and faiths. Members of C.P.T. willingly undertook the risks of living among Iraqis, in a common neighborhood outside of the infamous Green Zone. They sought no protection from weapons or armed guards, trusting in, and benefiting from, the goodwill of the Iraqi people. Acts of kindness and hospitality from Iraqis were innumerable and ensured the C.P.T. members' safety and wellbeing. We believe that spirit will prevail in the current situation. We appeal to those holding these activists to release them unharmed so that they may continue their vital work as witnesses and peacemakers. Signed,** * Arundhati Roy, author, The God of Small Things * Tariq Ali, author, Bush in Babylon * Denis Halliday, former U.N. Assistant Secretary General and Head of the U.N. Humanitarian Program in Iraq (1997-1998) * Cindy Sheehan, mother of Casey Sheehan * Noam Chomsky, Professor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology * Haifa Zangana, Iraqi novelist * Kamil Mahdi, Iraqi economist and anti-occupation activist. Lecturer, University of Exeter * Mahmood Mamdani, "Herbert Lehman Professor of Government," Columbia University * Rashid Khalidi, "Edward Said Professor of Arab Studies," Middle East Institute, Columbia University * Cindy and Craig Corrie, parents of Rachel Corrie, killed by Israeli military * Hasan Abu Nimah, Permanent Representative of Jordan at the United Nations (1995-2000) * Ralph Nader, former independent presidential candidate * James Abourezk, former US Senator * Howard Zinn, historian * Naseer Aruri, Professor (Emeritus) University of Massachusetts Dartmouth * Kathy Kelly, Voices for Creative Nonviolence/Nobel Peace Prize Nominee * Naomi Klein, author/journalist * Michael Ratner, President, Center for Constitutional Rights * Rev. Daniel Berrigan, poet * Jeremy Scahill, independent journalist * Mazin Qumsiyeh, author, Sharing the Land Of Canaan, board member US Campaign to End the Occupation * Milan Rai, author, War Plan Iraq: Ten Reasons Against War on Iraq * Sam Husseini, writer * Dahr Jamail, independent journalist * Ali Abunimah, Co-founder, Electronic Iraq/The Electronic Intifada * Nigel Parry, Co-founder, Electronic Iraq/The Electronic Intifada * Leslie Cagan, National Coordinator, United for Peace and Justice * Eve Ensler, author * Jennifer Harbury, Director, Stop Torture Permanently Campaign * Bishop Thomas J. Gumbleton, Auxiliary Bishop, Archdiocese of Detroit * Anthony Arnove, author, Iraq: The Logic of Withdrawal * Medea Benjamin, Global Exchange * G. Simon Harak, SJ, War Resisters League * David Hartsough, Co-Founder and Capacity Building Director of Nonviolent Peaceforce and Executive Director of Peaceworkers. Nonviolent Peace Force * Blase Bonpane, Office of the Americas * Carol Bragg, Coordinator, Rhode Island Peace Mission * Rev. Richard Deats, former Executive Secretary and Fellowship Editor, Fellowship of Reconciliation * Omar Diop, Président de la Coalition Sénégalaise des Défenseurs des Droits humains * Jim Forest, Secretary, The Orthodox Peace Fellowship * Thomas C. Cornell, The Catholic Worker * David Grant, Nonviolent Peaceforce * Ted Lewis, Global Exchange * Charles Jenks, Chair of Advisory Board, Traprock Peace Center * Jeff Leys, Voices for Creative Nonviolence * Andréa Schmidt, independent journalist * Michael Albert, ZNet * Richard McDowell, Senior Fellow for Iraq Policy, Friends Committee on National Legislation * Dave McReynolds, former Chair, War Resisters International * Peter Lems, Program Associate for Iraq, American Friends Service Committee * Kevin Zeese, Director, Democracy Rising * Sunny Miller, Director, Traprock Peace Center * Dave Robinson, Director, Pax Christi USA * Rev. Osagyefo Uhuru Sekou, National Coordinator, Clergy and Laity Concerned about Iraq * David Swanson, Co-Founder, After Downing Street, Board Member Progressive Democrats of America, Washington Director Democrats.com * Mary Trotochaud, Senior Fellow for Iraq Policy, Friends Committee on National Legislation * Michael Birmingham, activist * Barbara Wien, Co-Director, Peace Brigades International/USA * Bishop Gabino Zavala, President, Pax Christi USA **Organizations and institutions are listed for identification purposes only. Contact: <freethecpt(at)gmail.com> _______________ Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) seeks to enlist the whole church in organized, nonviolent alternatives to war and places teams of trained, peacemakers in regions of lethal conflict. Originally a violence-reduction initiative of the historic peace churches (Mennonite, Church of the Brethren and Quaker), CPT now enjoys support and membership from a wide range of Christian denominations. To receive news or discussion of CPT issues by e-mail, fill out the form found on our WEB page at http://www.cpt.org/subscribe.php Donate to CPT on-line with your credit card! Go to http://cpt.org/donate.php and click the DONATE button to make a contribution through Network for Good, a secure way to help support CPT. *** http://www.thenation.com/doc/20051219/scahill The Nation Thursday, December 1, 2005 The War on Al Jazeera by Jeremy Scahill Nothing puts the lie to the Bush Administration's absurd claim that it invaded Iraq to spread democracy throughout the Middle East more decisively than its ceaseless attacks on Al Jazeera, the institution that has done more than any other to break the stranglehold over information previously held by authoritarian forces, whether monarchs, military strongmen, occupiers or ayatollahs. The United States bombed its offices in Afghanistan in 2001, shelled the Basra hotel where Al Jazeera journalists were the only guests in April 2003, killed Iraq correspondent Tareq Ayoub a few days later in Baghdad and imprisoned several Al Jazeera reporters (including at Guantánamo), some of whom say they were tortured. In addition to the military attacks, the US-backed Iraqi government banned the network from reporting in Iraq. Then in late November came a startling development: Britain's Daily Mirror reported that during an April 2004 White House meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, George W. Bush floated the idea of bombing Al Jazeera's international headquarters in Qatar. This allegation was based on leaked "Top Secret" minutes of the Bush-Blair summit. British Attorney General Lord Goldsmith has activated the Official Secrets Act, threatening any publication that publishes any portion of the memo (he has already brought charges against a former Cabinet staffer and a former parliamentary aide). So while we don't yet know the contents of the memo, we do know that at the time of Bush's meeting with Blair, the Administration was in the throes of a very public, high-level temper tantrum directed against Al Jazeera. The meeting took place on April 16, at the peak of the first US siege of Falluja, and Al Jazeera was one of the few news outlets broadcasting from inside the city. Its exclusive footage was being broadcast by every network from CNN to the BBC. The Falluja offensive, one of the bloodiest assaults of the US occupation, was a turning point. In two weeks that April, thirty marines were killed as local guerrillas resisted US attempts to capture the city. Some 600 Iraqis died, many of them women and children. Al Jazeera broadcast from inside the besieged city, beaming images to the world. On live TV the network gave graphic documentary evidence disproving US denials that it was killing civilians. It was a public relations disaster, and the United States responded by attacking the messenger. Just a few days before Bush allegedly proposed bombing the network, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Falluja, Ahmed Mansour, reported live on the air, "Last night we were targeted by some tanks, twice...but we escaped. The US wants us out of Falluja, but we will stay." On April 9 Washington demanded that Al Jazeera leave the city as a condition for a cease-fire. The network refused. Mansour wrote that the next day "American fighter jets fired around our new location, and they bombed the house where we had spent the night before, causing the death of the house owner Mr. Hussein Samir. Due to the serious threats we had to stop broadcasting for few days because every time we tried to broadcast the fighter jets spotted us we became under their fire." On April 11 senior military spokesperson Mark Kimmitt declared, "The stations that are showing Americans intentionally killing women and children are not legitimate news sources. That is propaganda, and that is lies." On April 15 Donald Rumsfeld echoed those remarks in distinctly undiplomatic terms, calling Al Jazeera's reporting "vicious, inaccurate and inexcusable.... It's disgraceful what that station is doing." It was the very next day, according to the Daily Mirror, that Bush told Blair of his plan. "He made clear he wanted to bomb al-Jazeera in Qatar and elsewhere," a source told the Mirror. "There's no doubt what Bush wanted to do--and no doubt Blair didn't want him to do it." Al Jazeera's real transgression during the "war on terror" is a simple one: being there. While critical of the Bush Administration and US policy, it is not anti-American--it is independent. In fact, it has angered almost every Arab government at one point or another and has been kicked out of or sanctioned by many Arab countries. It holds the rare distinction of being shut down by both Saddam and the new US-backed government. It was the first Arab station to broadcast interviews with Israeli officials. It is hardly the Al Qaeda mouthpiece the Administration has wanted us to believe it is. The real threat Al Jazeera poses is in its unembedded journalism--precisely what is needed now to uncover the truth about the Bush-Blair meeting. Conservative British MP Boris Johnson, who is by trade a journalist and is editor of The Spectator magazine, has offered to publish the memo if it is leaked to him. It should be published, and if any journal is prosecuted for doing so, it should be backed up by media organizations everywhere. The war against Al Jazeera and other unembedded journalists has been conducted with far too little outcry from the powerful media organizations of the world. It shouldn't take another bombing for this to be a story. ------- Jeremy Scahill, an independent journalist who reports frequently for the national radio and TV program Democracy Now!, has spent extensive time reporting from Iraq and Yugoslavia. He is currently a Puffin Writing Fellow at The Nation Institute. He can be reached at [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> DonorsChoose.org helps at-risk students succeed. 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