Thank you for recommending my diary on the Viva Palestina convoy which crossed the Egyptian border into Gaza on Wednesday in its campaign to break Israel's blockade. I was amazed by the response, as I pressed "Publish Diary" fully expecting to be flamed.
There has been an unmistakable change of heart at dailykos. Three years ago I was in Europe during Israel’s bombing of Lebanon and wrote a dailykos diary deploring those attacks. To my shock, I was pressured to delete it, which I did. It was only on return to the US that I realized almost no one here had seen footage of the massive explosions and bodies of children being carried out of buildings and the general carnage in Lebanon. But that footage was carried everywhere on European television.
In the comments there were many intelligent counters to the apologists for Israel’s blockade of Gaza, and little need for me to echo their answers. As a sort of meta-comment, I notice that most of the responses in Israel’s defense were either red herrings or ad hominem attacks on people like George Galloway and Cynthia McKinney.
Several people asked for an action list. Here are a few suggestions, ranging from the easiest to the most difficult:
Discover Palestinians in person. Try to meet some Palestinians in your local community. If you don't know where to start, you can meet an inspiring Palestinian activist who is based in Seattle through this short film just posted on Youtube.
Provide some financial support. Even a modest contribution ($5, $10, or $50) will make a difference to initiatives designed to lift the siege. Viva Palestina is organizing several more convoys. Free Gaza is another active group. Visit these sites and offer moral support and/or a donation.
Write to your local editor. The next time your local newspaper carries a story on the Middle East peace process (or the latest Middle Eastern calamity), write a letter to the editor to make sure they cover both sides of the story.
Write to your representatives. Write to executive and legislative officials in the US and press for diplomatic intervention, upholding of Palestinian human rights, and US insistence that Israel comply with UN resolutions.
Participate in vigils and demonstrations A growing number of communities are holding regular vigils specifically to lift the siege and more generally, to inform people about Palestine. Despite the occasional barb, most people are receptive and want to understand more about what is really happening there. Some of the events in the next month can be found here.
Visit Palestine yourself. Gaza is obviously difficult to get to, but it is not that hard for internationals to tour the West Bank cities of Bethlehem, Nazareth, Ramallah, East Jerusalem, and even Jenin and Bi’lin by way of Israel. This helps the crippled Palestinian economy, and if you have been schooled to think of Palestinians as sub-human terrorists (as virtually all of us have been) will radically change your views.
The following links provide information on how to make a trip to Palestine:
The Palestinian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
Alternative Tourism Group
The Holy Land Trust Organises a summer camp and stays with local families while visitors learn the language or do volunteer work in Bethlehem.
Zaytoun Coordinates volunteer olive harvest tours with International Women's Peace Service.
The Olive Co-operative Volunteer with the olive harvest. Stay with a local family in Bethlehem, and take Arabic classes - beginners to advanced.
The Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD) Study tours.
Universities Educational Exchange with Palestinians (UNIPAL) Volunteer English teaching.
Siraj Centre for Holy Land Studies Travel programs, interfaith, ecumenical dialogue, culture and youth exchange programmes.
Many more ways to press for upholding of Palestinian human rights and an end to the occupation and blockade are listed at http://endtheoccupation.org//article...