Sabra and Shatila Massacre

Hey all,
Last minute but tommorrow (October 22) is an event sponsored by the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee of WNY (ADC) entitled the "Sabra and Shatila Massacre 28 Years on". First-hand acccounts are being presented by Nabil Mohammad (survivor, ADC Organizer) and Don Wagner (eyewitness, Presbyterian Minister). It's in Knox 104, North Campus, UB at 7:30pm. Hope to see you there.

Gaza Aid Flotilla Attacks EMERGENCY PROTEST

Dear all:

Yesterday, Israel attacked the Gaza aid flotilla bringing humanitarian supplies to besieged Gaza. The ships were carrying European diplomats, Middle Eastern Diplomats, and nobel laureates in addition to humanitarian aid. 14 people aboard the first ship were killed when Israeli special forces launched an all-out attack on the aid convoy involving navy vessels, army helicopters and paratroopers. Those who were not killed have been detained by Israeli authorities in Haifa, Israel.

Buffalo will be holding a protest in solidarity of those killed. Here is the information:

All Out to Defend Gaza
Denounce Israeli Attack and Massacre on Civilian Freedom Flotilla Bringing Humanitarian Aid to Gaza!
Demand U.S. Stop All Funding for Israel NOW!
The U.S.-Israeli Siege of Gaza is a Crime Against Humanity — End it Now!

Demonstrate Tuesday June 1, 4:30pm
Senator Schumer's Office
130 S. Elmwood

The Israeli military committed the crime of attacking a flotilla of civilian boats in international waters on May 31 and massacred civilians on board. The Freedom Flotilla of 7 ships, with about 700 people from around the world on board, was bringing humanitarian aid to Gaza. The raid took place in international waters, with more than a dozen Israeli battleships surrounding the unarmed civilian ships. Israeli military commandos boarded and opened fire, killing 19 civilians and wounding dozens more. Israel is still refusing to fully report the numbers and identities.

This is a U.S.-backed Israeli crime that Obama remains silent about. The White House has said only that “The United States deeply regrets the loss of life and injuries sustained, and is currently working to understand the circumstances surrounding this tragedy.” The circumstances are the crime of the U.S.-Israeli siege of Gaza and the crime of collective punishment. The problem is U.S.-Israeli use of military solutions to political and humanitarian issues — just as the U.S. is doing internally with immigration.

We say NO! Join Buffalonians in denouncing the Israeli attack
and U.S. funding and protection for it.
Demonstrate June 1, 4:30pm Schumer's Office, 130 S. Elmwood



FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE ISRAELI ATTACKS ON THE GAZA AID FLOTILLA, SEE BELOW:

http://www.facebook.com/l/87639;www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37423584/ns/world_news-mideastn_africa/

http://www.facebook.com/l/87639;www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVd-pAQ5X7M&feature=player_embedded

http://www.facebook.com/l/87639;www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/israel-navy-commandos-gaza-flotilla-activists-tried-to-lynch-us-1.293089

http://www.facebook.com/l/87639;www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/netanyahu-i-regret-gaza-flotilla-deaths-but-israeli-troops-had-right-to-self-defense-1.293187

http://www.facebook.com/l/87639;www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37423584/ns/world_news-mideastn_africa/

For video from various outlets:
http://www.facebook.com/l/87639;www.therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=33&Itemid=74&jumival=563

Live coverage on Al Jazeera English: http://www.facebook.com/l/87639;www.livestation.com/channels/3-al_jazeera_english

Boycott the Israel Ballet February 23rd

In 2006, the Israeli Foreign Ministry launched the “Brand Israel” campaign “to show Israel’s prettier face” abroad, diverting global attention from the Palestinians. This campaign includes the Israel Ballet, described by the Israeli Consulate in New York as a “cultural representative of the State of Israel.” On Tuesday, February 23rd, the Israel Ballet will show the University at Buffalo the peaceful, pretty, Western face of Israel. But instead, we should be seeing the growing list of UN reports condemning Israel for human rights violations in the occupied territories and the systemic discrimination of the twenty percent Arab population in Israel.

With twenty percent of its citizens of Palestinian Arab descent, Israel claims to be a multi-racial democracy. Yet not a single Israel Ballet dancer, not a single member of its staff or directors, is Palestinian. It does not represent the twenty percent of Israelis who attend separate schools, receive less funding for education, and face discrimination in employment, in property purchases, in language, and in law. And it certainly does not represent the 1.5 million Palestinians who suffer intolerable conditions in Gaza, where 80% live off of UN food aid and over 40% are unemployed.

In January 2009, Israel Ballet founder Berta Yampolsky said, “Luckily, right now we don’t have to worry about war: despite our problems, this is a safe place; there’s no crime, and you don’t have to be afraid at night.” I wish I could say the same thing to the Palestinian child blinded earlier that month by white phosphorus shells Israel launched at his UN School, or the other 1417 residents of Gaza killed during Israel’s widely-criticized “Operation Cast Lead”: 1181 of them civilians, 313 of them children.

People of conscience around the world have endorsed a Palestinian civil society call for boycott, divestment, and sanctions to be applied against Israel to end its discrimination against Palestinian citizens of Israel, to end its apartheid practices, to withdraw fully from all lands conquered in 1967, and to restore the rights of Palestinian refugees everywhere to either return to their homes or receive just compensation. In recognition of this campaign of non-violent action against Brand Israel’s state propaganda offensive, UB Students for Justice in Palestine calls on the university community to boycott the Israeli Ballet next Tuesday evening.

The Israel Ballet will perform at 8pm in the Center for the Arts, UB North Campus. Please email ubsjp48@gmail.com or call 518-364-2012 if you are interested in joining.

New Posts and Old Ghosts

Hello fellow advocates for justice,

As you have probably noticed, our blog has not been updated as frequently as we would like. So to make up for this, UB SJP has decided that we will have a weekly update, each from a different member. These updates will cater to the personality of the blogger and will be about everything from current events to past conflicts, anecdotes of those who have lived under the occupation, poems, videos, etc. This way, you can learn more about those who belong to UB SJP and as well as our efforts.

UB SJP

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The earthquake in Haiti and the overwhelming global support to its survivors has opened the world's eyes to the suffering of those who do not have access to world-class healthcare. While Haiti is being flooded by numerous global health associations, along with funding from various governments, Gaza still has yet to see the love and support from the global health community. However, this is not to say that Gaza does not have any help at all. In fact, Medecins San Frontiers (or Doctors Without Borders) has set up a field site that is helping those who still feel the effects of last year's Operation Cast Lead. MSF has created a youtube channel, which documents their efforts around the world and includes a profile on Gaza. Despite the help of their field staff and that of other humanitarian organizations, there is still a lot of work to be done.

Doctors in Palestine, both domestic and foreign, struggle to help their patients despite ambulances (and cars with the injured) being barred from crossing checkpoints without full inspections, violation of curfews, or just because the soldiers feel the person seeking healthcare may be a threat. Facilities either lack supplies, specialists, or have mediocre sterilization of their rooms and equipment.

These issues need to be addressed by the global community. The aftermath of Haiti's disaster has shown the compassion present worldwide for human suffering. It is time to extend that same compassion and drive to help to our brothers and sisters in Palestine.

Different aspects of the health care crisis in Gaza and other parts of Palestine will be discussed in greater detail in coming weekly updates. As for now, I leave you with MSF's video about Gaza.

Dr. Nummy