Monthly Archives: December 2003

Issues for UFPJ SC Meeting (NYCLAW)

From: Michael Letwin <mletwin@comcast.net>
Date: Thu, Dec 11, 2003 at 10:05 PM
Subject: [ufpj-sc] Issues for UFPJ SC Meeting (NYCLAW)
To: “Ufpj-Disc@Yahoogroups.com” <ufpj-disc@yahoogroups.com>, UFPJ Iraq <ufpj-iraq@yahoogroups.com>, UFPJ Palestine <ufpj-pal@yahoogroups.com>, UFPJ Steering Committee <ufpj-sc@yahoogroups.com>

The following is a *brief* summary of New York City Labor Against the War’s position on a number of issues facing UFPJ.  We look forward to constructive dialogue at this weekend’s Steering Committee meeting.

1.  UFPJ Should Consistently Advocate “End the Occupation and Bring the Troops Home Now!”

In contrast to empty promises by Bush and numerous other politicians, protests on October 25 and U.S. Labor Against the War’s conference on October 24-25 unambiguously demanded “End the Occupation and Bring the Troops Home NOW.”[1]

This cutting-edge slogan effectively conveys growing sentiment amongst Iraqis, military families, vets, G.I.s, workers and people of color -– those who suffer the war most acutely and whose resistance is critical.

While its importance may seem obvious, “now” does not appear in UFPJ’s campaign plan.  One result is the proposed demand that presidential candidates “commit to withdrawing all troops from Iraq by a fixed date.”

We propose instead that UFPJ consistently and prominently emphasize “now” throughout our work.

2.  UFPJ Should Not Endorse U.N. Military Occupation of Iraq

UFPJ member organizations almost certainly agree on the need to oppose U.S. military and economic occupation; to demand reparations for sanctions, war and occupation; and to support Iraqi trade unions and other democratic institutions.

But it would be presumptuous, unnecessary and divisive for UFPJ to call for military occupation by the U.N. — whose brutal sanctions, complicity in the war, and collaboration with U.S. occupation has earned it well-deserved Iraqi enmity.

3.  UFPJ Should Not Endorse “Geneva”

Palestinians throughout the world have denounced the “Geneva process” as a betrayal.  As one recent statement argues, “Geneva” would “terminate the Palestinian march to freedom . . . nullify indefinitely and de-legitimize the Palestinian right to return, and . . . subordinate the Arab nation to a heavily militarized outpost.”[2]  Numerous other Palestinian statements express the same view.[3]

It may not be essential for UFPJ, as such, to take any position on “Geneva.” But given the overwhelmingly (and understandably) negative Palestinian response, we certainly have no business adopting Tikkun’s proposal that UFPJ support it.  Member organizations can express their individual positions on this issue.  But UFPJ should remain focused and united in opposition to U.S. support for Israeli apartheid.

4.  UFPJ Should Not Seek to Marginalize ANSWER.

Notwithstanding backlash and some red-baiting, October 25’s display of broad and growing antiwar sentiment vindicated UFPJ’s decision to cosponsor with ANSWER, which, like UFPJ, has played a major role in mobilizing thousands of people against the war and occupation.

Therefore, while UFPJ’s recent outreach to other coalitions is welcome, it should not serve as a maneuver to marginalize or isolate ANSWER.

————————–
Notes

1.  See, for example, NYCLAW Report on October 25 Protests, USLAW (November 17, 2003), <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LaborAgainstWar/message/1915> .

2.  The Reality of the “Geneva Accord,” December 11, 2003, at
<http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article2249.shtml>.  So far, at least two UFPJ Steering Committee members have signed this statement.

3.  These include, in chronological order:

**Throwing away Palestinian refugee rights, (BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights, October 13, 2003), at
<http://www.badil.org/Press/2003/press315-03.htm >

**Al-Awda Action Call: The Right to Return Under Attack (October 13, 2003),
at <http://www.al-awda.org/defendtherightofreturn/>

**Haithem El-Zabri, Palestinians Outraged by Geneva Accord,
Alaqsaintifada.org, October 19, 2003, at
<http://www.palestinemonitor.org/Analysis/palestinians_outraged_by_geneva.ht
m
>

**Ali Abunimah, A disastrous dead end: the Geneva Accord, The Electronic Intifada, October 28, 2003, at
<http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article2110.shtml>

**The Geneva Accord: Beyond Time and Space, Challenge Magazine editorial, November 3,  2003, at <http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article2130.shtml>

**Final Statement:  4th Annual Meeting Palestine Right-of-Return Coalition (November 5-10, 2003), at
<http://www.badil.org/Campaign/4th-London-Statement.htm>

**Switzerland and the Geneva Accord: Undermining the Rule of Law (Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, November 13, 2003), at
<http://www.pchrgaza.org/Interventions/possi.htm>

**George Bisharat, Who caused Palestinian Diapora?, Sacramento Bee, November 30, 2003, at
<http://www.sacbee.com/content/opinion/forum/story/7896505p-8834995c.html>

**Marwan Bishara, The Geneva Accord: a critical assessment, The Daily Star (Lebanon), December 1, 2003, at
<http://www.dailystar.com.lb/opinion/01_12_03_b.asp>

**Iqbal Jassat, “Geneva Accords” Endows Spurious Legitimacy to a “Bantustan” Palestine, Media Review Network, December 3, 2003, at
<http://www.montrealmuslimnews.net/genevaaccord.htm>

**Khaled Amayreh, Geneva dissension, Al-Ahram Weekly, December 4-10, 2003,
at <http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2003/667/re1.htm>

**Ali Abunimah, The False Hope of the Geneva Accord, Chicago Tribune, December 3, 2003, at <http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article2223.shtml>

**Fateh, What Palestinians are saying about the Geneva initiative (BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights, December 5, 2003), at <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Al-Awda-News/message/13503>

**James Bennett, An Ally of Sharon Foresees a Palestinian State, N.Y. Times, December 6, 2003, at
<http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/06/international/middleeast/06ISRA.html>

**Abdul-Ilah As-Saadi, The right of return, Aljazeera, December 9, 2003, at
<http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/C82E25A7-9393-40EC-9011-C9F5468C8BB4
.htm
>

Academics, activists and writers oppose “Geneva Accord”

Electronic Intifada

Academics, activists and writers oppose “Geneva Accord”

More than 500 academics, civil society activists, writers, and journalists signed up to a public statement “The Reality of the ‘Geneva Accord’ ” expressing their opposition to the document that was recently signed by Israeli and Palestinian figures. The undersigned, consider this initiative as “inconsistent with the prerequisites of a just and durable peace”. The petition will be presented to all US members of Congress, the European Union, the Arab League, the Palestinian Authority, major press outlets and various international organizations and figures.

  • BY TOPIC: Geneva Accord
  • BY TOPIC: Refugees

    The Reality of the “Geneva Accord”

    The Geneva Accord was signed Monday, December 1, 2003, amid great media and political fanfare. The 50-page document lays out a plan for a presumed “peace agreement” between Israel and the Palestinian people. We, the undersigned, consider this initiative as inconsistent with the prerequisites of a just and durable peace for the following reasons:

  • It attempts to nullify the Palestinian right of return, both as a collective national right and as an individual right. By doing so, it strengthens existing attempts to relocate and scatter Palestinian refugees throughout the world and gives credence to plans to abrogate international

    law pertaining to the inalienable nature of the Right of Return. The net result would be to extract the very anchor of the Palestinian struggle for self-determination: the indivisible oneness of the Palestinian people and their right to their homes, properties and homeland.

  • It provides a Palestinian-Arab cover for the exclusive nature of the Israeli polity as a “Jewish State”, thus abrogating the national character of the Palestinian people within 1948 borders. It therefore fails to recognize the right of the 1.2 million Palestinian citizens of Israel to

    live in a democratic state for all its citizens: Jews and Palestinians, and it sets stage for mass transfer and ethnic cleansing in the future to maintain demographic Jewish dominance.

  • It accepts the reconfiguration of Jerusalem based on Israeli annexation plans, and grants Palestinian-Arab legitimacy to the colonial process that altered the Arab character of Jerusalem, making it impossible for the Palestinians to exercise control over “East Jerusalem,” not to say anything about “West Jerusalem,” which was conquered and ethnically cleansed in 1948.
  • It permanently accepts the presence of the vast majority of Israeli settlement colonies, particularly those that surround Jerusalem from the east, south, north and northwest, where most post-1967 settlers live, and alters the geography of Palestine to accommodate such colonial seizures.
  • It codifies a process that would limit the upper ceiling of a potential Palestinian polity to a truncated and demilitarized entity void of sovereignty, and sets in motion a process of expanding Israeli political oversight and control over any potential Palestinian entity.
  • It paves for an economic/political relationship that subordinates the Palestinian people to an exclusive and dominant Israeli polity, thus strategically de-linking the Palestinians from the Arab people and subjugating the national interests of all Arabs to the singular power of an

    Israeli-US alliance.

  • It allows for Israeli military and economic penetration and permanent outposts into the presumed Palestinian entity.
  • It leaves open all Israeli claims to the region’s water resources, natural wealth, and airspace. The text makes several references to annexes, but these issues have, in effect, been deferred, and may become the “final status” issues of the Geneva understanding.
  • It dilutes the international consensus on the conflict and attempts to transform the basis of the Palestinian struggle from one of national self-determination and return to that of modified civil rights within a prescribed political framework.
  • Most importantly, it weakens the national unity and resolve of the Palestinian people leading to the potential defeat of the current Intifada in the same manner Madrid and Oslo destroyed the first a decade ago.
  • It diminishes European commitment to Palestinian sovereignty, and most importantly, it expands the margin of Palestinian concessions, which have been bottoming out during the past two decades, making it very difficult for future Palestinian negotiators to back away from these concessions, including the renunciation of the Right of Return.
  • It assumes the Palestinian victims of Israel are the criminals, and the new judges allegedly more liberal than previous ones in the sentencing.

    The Geneva Accord is a natural extension and an inevitable result of the “Road Map” and all associated models. The outcome of all, if allowed to succeed, would be to terminate the Palestinian march to freedom, to nullify indefinitely and de-legitimize the Palestinian right to return, and to subordinate the Arab nation to a heavily militarized outpost with normalized relationships with its surrounding.

    This statement (in both English and Arabic) along with the final signatories will be bound and presented to the indicated recipients above immediately after December 15, 2003.

    You can join by writing to: gaoppose@yahoo.com.


    570 signatories, listed by alphabetical order. The asterisk (*) notation indicates for “identification only”.

    A.Thieme, The Netherlands; Abbas Ali, Ph.D., Professor and Director, School of International Management, Indiana University of Pennsylvania*; Abbas Alnasrawi, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, University of Vermont*, Shelburne, VT, USA; Abbas Hamideh, Palestine Right of Return Congress, CO-Coordinator, Al-Awda/Palestine Right To Return Coalition, Director, Deir Yassin Committee of New York; Abbas S. Rangwala, IT Professional, Toronto, Canada; Abdelhaleem Ashqar, Ph.D., Former Director of Public Relation Department-Islamic University of Gaza*, a Palestinian Activist in Washington, D.C.; Abdelhameed Siyam, Political Scientist, Writer and Media Analyst, New York; Abdul-Wahab Kayyali, Tufts University*, Medford, Massachusetts; Adrianne DeSantis, Writer, American Canyon, CA; Ahmad Jaradi, President of Palestinian American Congress, Houston Chapter, Houston, Texas; Ahmed Shawki, Editor of International Socialist Review, Chicago, IL, USA; Aisha Dixon-Peters, Los Angeles, CA; Alan Papscun, S. Egremont, MA; Alberto Gonzalez, Casa Grande, Arizona; Alexander Martin Remollino, Writer/Journalist, Philippines; Ali Abunimah, Writer/journalist, Electronic Intifada*, Chicago; Ali Khalaf Al-Tawil, Law student, Michigan State University*, Michigan; Alice Bach, Archbishop Hallinan Chair of Catholic Studies*, Professor, Women’s Studies, Case Western Reserve University*; Alice F Azzouzi, Abrahams Salon*, a mission of the Potter’s House Church*, Washington, D.C; Allen Maki, San Francisco, California; Allison Byrum, Wimberley, Tx, USA; Aly Elrefaie, Ph.D., American University of Sharjah*, Sharjah, UAE; Aman Khalaf Al-Tawil, Attorney at law (international), Washington, D.C.; Amr Darrag, Ph.D.; Ana Kelly, Artist/Filmmaker, Pittsburgh, PA; Ana Kirola; Anahid Kassabian, Director, Literary Studies Program, Faculty, Women’s Studies Program, Associate Professor, Department of Communication and Media Studies, Fordham University*; Andrew Kalukin, Ph.D., Scientist, Arlington, VA; Angela Saad, Students for a Free Palestine, Salaam: Arab and Middle Eastern Students Group, Wesleyan University; Annie C Higgins, Ph.D., Researcher, Chicago, IL; Anthony Ocone, Artist, Ojai, CA; Anthony Watt, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Anthony Zahlan, Ph.D., Scientist/Author, United Kingdom; Arab Abdel-Hadi, Egypt; Arnold F. Walter, Guerrilla Writer; Arthur H. Whitman, Auburn, Maine; As`ad AbuKhalil, Ph.D., Department of Politics, California State University*, Stanislaus, California; Ashraf El-Bayoumi, Ph.D.; Assaf Kfoury, Ph.D., Professor of Computer Science, Boston University*; Baha Al-Abed, Chicago, IL; Bahieh E. Musa, M.A., Falls Church, VA; Ban Al-Wardi, Esq., President, American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee*, Los Angeles/Orange County Chapter; Barbara Evans, writer, Seattle WA; Barbara Nimri Aziz, Ph.D., Writer/anthropologist, Radio Producer, WBAI-Pacifca*, NY; Barbara Warner, Lebanon, KY; Barry Flanagan, Ph.D.,UNC-Chapel Hill*; Barry J. Ziegler, Thurmont, MD; Basel Bahhour, Al-Bireh Palestine Society, California Chapter, Free Palestine Alliance, Los Angeles, CA; Bashar Al-Madani, Student, Chicago, IL; Bassam Bahhour, Free Palestine Alliance, Los Angeles, California; Bassam Habal, Everett, MA; Ben Eckstein, Revolution Youth, San Francisco, CA; Benjamin Grunde, Ashland, Oregon, USA; Bernard Leeman, Melbourne, Australia; Beth Massey, International Action Center-Chicago/Chicago Coalition Against War and Racism*; Betsy Hooker, Ormond Beach, FL; Betty J. Carr, Denver, CO; Bill Kong, Peace Action and Gray Panthers, Sacramento, California; Bill Massey, International Action Center-Chicago/Chicago Coalition Against War and Racism*; Bill Ross, Ontario, Canada; Blair David Anundson, Activism Coordinator- Allegheny College Peace Coalition*; Blanca CoreaLondon, Los Angeles, Ca; Bob Oort, Author, Artist, Composer, Teacher, Georgica NSW Australia; Bobby Wiliamson, Vallejo, CA; Bonnie Weinstein, Bay Area United Against War*, San Francisco, CA; Brian Becker, National Steering Committee, International A.N.S.W.E.R.; Coalition, New York; Brian Smith, Student, Tacoma, WA; Brock L. Bevan, Researcher/M.A. Candidate AUB*, Washington, DC; Bruce J. Malina, Ph.D., Dept. of Theology, Creighton University*, Omaha, NE; Cameron McLaughlin, Pensacola, Florida; Carl Messineo, Esq., Partnership for Civil Justice*, National Steering Committee, International A.N.S.W.E.R.Coalition, Washington, D.C.; Carla Burton, world citizen; Carlene Clements, retired nurse; Carlos A. Navarro Cases, Huesca, Spain; Carlos MoralesMateluna, MD, Philadelphia, PA; Carol Holland, Larchmont, NY; Carolyn Apsey; Carolyn E Krause, Artist, La Quinta, CA; Caryl Guisinger, Central Nebraska Peace Worker*, Nebraska U.S.A; Cat Greenstreet, Sloatsburg, NY; Cathryn Sells, Grover Beach, CA; Charles Byrne, Kids in Distressed Situations, Inc.*, New York, NY; Charles C. Ford, Ph.D., retired university lecturer, member of the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign, London,UK; Charles Hallenbeck, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Psychology, The University; of Kansas*; Charles McGee, San Jose,CA; Charles Philbrick, Providence, Rhode Island; Charlotte Kates, New Jersey Solidarity, Newark, NJ; Cheryl A. Rubenberg, Ph.D., Retired Professor, Florida International University*, North Miami, Florida; Chicago Coalition Against War and Racism (CCAWR), Chicago, IL; Chris Adams, Member, Veterans for Peace, Carlsbad, CA; Chris Leadbeater, Arab Media Watch*, Oxford, England; Christiana Mauro, Committee Against Impunity in Guatemala, Outremont, QC; Christine Madore, Jose, CA; Christine Stanfield; Clark Gabriel Field, MPS, Evansville, Indiana; Cory Thrall, Wurmfang International, Santa Rosa, California, USA; Cris Staubach, Librarian & Poet, Niantic, CT USA; D.B.Black, Charlotte, NC; Dahlia Wasfi, M.D., Denver, CO; Dalia Sadiq, Free Palestine Alliance, Aliso Viejo, California; Dalia Sadiq, Free Palestine Alliance, Los Angeles, CA; Dan Bacher, Central America Action Committee*, Sacramento, CA; Dan Elliott, Sac Coalition to Stop the Patriot Act*, Sacramento, California; Dan Roth, High School Student, Ohio; Daniel Sapoznick, MSW, San Francisco, California; Daniela Montesinos, Art Buyer, Grey Healthcare Group*, NYC; Danilo Mandic, Princeton University*, U.S.A; Danny Dayus; Daphne Yassir, Spain; David Dixon, Coordinator, Charlotte Fellowship Of Reconciliation*, Charlotte, NC; David Houck, Pennsylvania State University*, State College, PA; David Lewis; David Mellow; David Singer, New York, NY; Dee Knight, New York, NY; Denise Owings, Student, Garden City, Kansas; Dette Mc. Loughlin, Mandate Trade Union Representative/SWP, Republic of Ireland; Diana Arezzo, Ph.D., Arlington M; Dianne Comini, urban & regional planner, Davis, CA; Dick Canby, Rites of Passage Establishing Self (ROPES)*, Sedona, AZ USA; Dick Reilly, Hammerhard MediaWorks, Chicago Coalition Against War and Racism*, Chicago, Illinois (Former Midwest coordinator and NEC member of the Palestine Solidarity Committee); Dima Zein, English Literature, Damascus, Syria; Dolores Reynolds, Bloomingdale, MI; Dominique Jourdain, Avocat, Rochefort, France; Donald B. Clark, United Church of Christ*, Network for Environmental & Economic Responsibility*, Pleasant Hill, TN; Donna D. Stevens, SFC E7, US Army, Retired, Findlay, Ohio; Donna M. Joss, Ph.D., Professor, Worcester State College*, USA; Donna Wallach, Justice for Palestinians, San Jose, CA; Dorli T Rainey, Seattle, WA; Douglas C. Estes, San Francisco, CA; Dr. Carl F. Selnes (MSgt Ret.), Walla Walla, WA; Dru D. Carter, Former Teacher, KNOW(Kalamazoo NonViolent Opponents of War*), Women in Black*, Code Pink*, Kalamazoo, MI; E Dangor, Imperial College*, London UK; E. Vaughn Guloyan, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, Northeastern University*; Eamon Aloyo, graduate Student at Lehigh Univ. Bethlehem, PA, USA; Ed Hunt, SEIU Local 925*, Seattle, USA; Ed Mast, Palestine Solidarity Committee, Seattle, Washington USA; Edith Cacciatore, Novato, CA; Edward Childs, Chief Steward Local 2* Boston Hotel Employees & Restaurant Employees*; Eid B. Mustafa, M.D., F.A.C.S., Texas; Elaine Hagopian, Ph.D., Professor Emerita of Sociology, Simmons College*, Organizer of the April 2000 Right of Return Conference; Eli Stephens, Left I on the News; Elias Davidsson, composer, Palestinian, Reykjavik, Iceland; Elias Rashmawi, Free Palestine Alliance, USA, National Steering Committee of International A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition, California; Elizabeth Fenton, Member of BCPR*, Cambridge, Massachusetts; Elizabeth Harrington, One World Society, University College Cork*, Ireland; Elizabeth Viering, Small Business Owner, Stonington, CT; Elizabeth X. Kligge, Reading, PA, USA; Encke King; Eric Andrade, Member, ACLU*, New York, NY; Eric Bourgeois Ph.D., Cambridge, MA; Eric Raed, M.A. Students for Social Justice, Palestine Solidarity Group, Students for Justice in Palestine, University of Illinois Chicago; Erica Dodd, Ph.D., Adjunct Professor, University of Victoria*, Victoria, BC, Canada; Eugene H. Craig, Steward, Service Employees International Union, Local 715*, San Jose, California; Evalyn F. Segal, Professor Emerita, San Diego State University, Philadelphia PA; Evangeline Binder, Sparta, N; Fadhil AlKazily, Ph.D., Parttime Professor, Civil Engineering, California State University*; Fadi Kiblawi, Students for Justice in Palestine, George Washington; University Law School, Washington D.C.; ; Fadwa El Guindi, Ph.D., University of Southern California*; ; Faith T. Zeadey, Ph.D., Professor of Sociology, Worcester State College*,; Worcester, MA; ; Farouq Shafie, Ann Arbor, MI; ; Fawzi Asmar, Ph.D., Writer/journalist, Washington, D.C; ; Fouad Elhage, Ph.D., Chairman of the Australian Iraqi Friendship; Association; ; Fr Geoffrey Bottoms, St Monica’s RC Church, Blackpool, England UK; ; Fulvio Grimaldi, Journalist and Videographer, member of the Italian; Palestine Forum*, Rome, Italy; ; G.L. Maddalena, Italy; ; Gabriel Camacho, Chapter President, Labor Council for Latin American; Advancement*, Massachusetts Chapter; ; Gary Rothberger, Cambridge, MA; ; Genevieve Cora Fraser, Journalist/Poet/Playwright, Massachusetts; ; George Bisharat, Ph.D., Professor, Hastings College of Law*, San Francisco,; California; ; George Rogers, Portland, Oregon; ; George Zahr, Ph.D., Past Board Member, Garnet Valley School District,; Pennsylvania*, Past President of Palestine Aid Society*, Board member,; AmericanArab AntiDiscrimination Committee*, Greater Philadelphia Chapter,; Pennsylvania; ; Ghada Karmi, M.D., Author, United Kingdom; ; Giorgio Riboldi coordinamento nazionale Slai Cobas RSU Regione; Lombardia Italia; ; Giulia El Dardiry, Environmental/Mental Health Researcher, Institute for; Community and Public Health, Birzeit University*, Palestine; ; Gloria Rubac, A.N.S.W.E.R., Houston, Texas; ; Greg Spence Wolf; ; Hanna Aboulghar, Lecturer of Pediatrics, Cairo university, Cairo, Egypt; ; Hanna Batarseh, Board Member, Sacramento Peace Action*, Free Palestine; Alliance, California; ; Hanna Yousef, Uppsala, Sweden; ; Hannah Cherkassky, Student/Activist/Environmentalist, San Ramon, CA; ; Harvey Baylis; ; Hasan Abunimah, Former Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Jordan at; the UN*; ; Hasan Newash, Poet, activist, and Member Coordinating Committee for the; Detroit Peace with Justice Network* (DAPJN.) Grosse Pointe, Michigan; ; Hassan ElZein, Brisbane, Australia; ; Hassan Fouda, Ph.D., Groton, CT; ; Hassan Waarie, Palestine Cultural Forum*, Norway; ; Hatem Bazian, Ph.D., University of Califonia Berkeley*, CA, USA; ; Hazem Nashif, Ph.D., California; ; Heather Reid, Brookville, OH; ; Hefny Ellithy, Finance & Accountant Manager, SAMACO*, Kingdom of Saudi; Arabia; ; Heidi Zwicker, Colorado Jobs With Justice*, Denver, Colorado; ; Hernán LópezGaray, Profesor Titular, Universidad de Los Andes*, Mérida,; Venezuela; ; Husam Abusneineh, President, AmericanArab AntiDiscrimination Committee,; Greater Sacramento Area Chapter, Free Palestine Alliance, California; ; Hussein Agrama, Ph.D. Candidate, Anthropology, Johns Hopkins University*,; Washington D.C.; ; Hwaa Irfan writer, editor, consultant and counselor at IslamOnline.net,; Cairo, Egypt; ; Ibrahim ElHakim Ph.D., Professor, Ain Shams University*, Cairo, Egypt; ; Ibrahim Imam, Ph.D. University of Louisville*; ; Ihab Darwish, Free Palestine Alliance, Washington, D.C.; ; Imad Khadduri, Ph.D., former Iraqi nuclear Scientist, Toronto, Canada; ; International Action Center, Chicago Chapter, IL; ; Isma’il Kamal, Muslim Student Association* National, Washington, D.C.; ; Issam Naqib, Ph.D., Former Dean, Graduate School, Kuwait University*; ; Ivar Jørdre, Masterstudent in Archaeology, Univ. of Bergen, Norway; ; J. Glenn Evans, writer, poet and historian, Seattle WA; ; J. Hymans, Bridgeport, Connecticut; ; J. Nisha Mohammed, Legal Assistant, Bloomington, Illinois; ; Jaber Suleiman, Cofounder of Ai’Dun, Lebanon; ; Jack Gubanc, Oakton, VA; ; Jack Tobin, Ed.D., Boston, MA; ; Jacqueline Taylor Basker; ; Jamal Aruri, Esquire, Lowell, MA; ; Jamal Kanj, San Diego Ca; ; Jamal Saleh, Free Palestine Alliance, Sacramento, California; ; James Buffaloe; ; James F. Harrington, New Hampshire; ; James Lafferty, Executive Director, National Lawyers Guild/Los Angeles*,; Los Angeles, California; ; James Slater, Kissimmee, FL; ; James W. Donaldson, Twisp, Wa; ; Jamie HagenHolt, Educator, San Diego, CA; ; Jamil Dakwar, Attorney, General Assembly Member, Adalah; ; Jamil Fayez, M.D., Professor, Washington, D.C.; ; Jamil S. Ibrahim, Students for Justice in Palestine, University of; California, Davis; ; Jane Starfield, English Department, Vista University* Soweto Campus; ; Janet AbuLughod, Ph.D., Professor Emerita of Sociology, The New School,; New York*, East Quogue, New York; ; Janice Nakashima, Sacramento, CA; ; Janice Rael, Political Activist, Clayton, NJ, USA; ; Janice Robin, Pittsburgh, PA; ; Janis Martiez; ; Jean Harrington, Writer/Reader, Hopewell Borough, New Jersey; ; Jean Pauline, Oakland, CA; ; Jeff Honings, Edgecomb, ME; ; Jenaro Rodriguez, Pax Christi of the Alleghennies, Hastings, PA; ; Jennifer Loewenstein, Ph.D., Senior Lecturer, Professional Communications,; University of Wisconsin Madison*, Madison, Wisconsin; ; Jennifer Rebecca White, St. Nicholas Neighborhood Preservation Corp.*,; North Brooklyn Greens*, Brooklyn, New York; ; Jenny Lynn McNutt, artist and educator, New School University and Pratt; Institute, New York; ; Jeremy M Brown Student, aspiring journalist, angry democrat; ; Jerri Higgins, Group facilitator/teacher, writer/singer/actress, Parent,; Montague City, Massachusetts; ; Jess Ghannam, Ph.D., Professor, University of California, San Francisco *,; Right of Return Congress, AlAwda Coalition; ; Jesse Heiwa, Queers For Peace And Justice; ; Jesse Thorn, Garner, NC; ;JG, Burdett, NY; ; Jill Bourget, Laguna Niguel, California; ; Jim Helriggle, East Liberty, Ohio U.S.A; ; Jing Zhao, Ph.D., Senior Fellow of USJapanChina Comparative Policy; Research Institute*, San Jose, California, USA; ; JoAnne Pritten, Writer, Carlsbad, California; ; Jodie DowNovaes; ; Joe Mustich, Connecticut; ; John Caruso, Writer, Steering Committee, VT Local, National Writers Union*,; Braintree, VT; ; John Dumser, Northport, NY; ; John Estes; ; John F. Robertson, Ph.D., Professor of History, Central Michigan; University*; ; John Glansbeek, Palestinian Solidarity CommitteeSeattle, WA; ; John Neal, Cleveland, Ohio; ; John Perry Ryan, Braintree, VT; ; John Reese, Campaign to Stop the Wall US, Seattle WA; ; Jon Paul; ; Jon Salenger, Recovering Corporate Propagandist, Los Angeles, CA; ; José Lagardera, writer, Pueblo Insurgente, Venezuela; ; Joseph Catron, Williamsburg, VA; ; Joseph Massad, Ph.D., Professor, MEALAC, Columbia University*, New York,; N.Y; ; Joseph J. Zefran, LCSW, Visiting Lecturer, Northeastern Illinois; University, President, Joyful Spirits Consulting, Chicago, Illinois; ; Judith Martinez, Port St Lucie, Fl; ; Julia Carpenter, Doctoral Candidate, Modern Thought & Literature, Stanford; University; ; Julia Sutton, Tustin, CA, USA; ; Julie Obermeyer, Anchorage, Alaska, USA; ; Julie R. Kornmeyer, Spokane, WA USA; ; June McKenzie, Crescent, PA; ; Justine McCabe, Ph.D., Member, International Committee, Green Party of the; United States*; ; Kamal Khalaf Altawil, M.D., Past president of the Arab American University; Graduates (AAUG), Past president of the National Arab American Medical; Association (NAAMA), Pennsylvania; ; Karen Havnaer, Tacoma Peace Justice and Healing*, Tacoma, Washington; ; Karma Nabulsi, Ph.D., Professor Nuffield College*, Oxford University,; United Kingdom; ; Kate Mullins, Chico, California; ; Kathleen Juranic, Edgewater Florida; ; Kay Kelly, Albany, New York; ; Keith H Thomas, Stroudsburg, PA, USA; ; Ken Adams, Tucson, AZ; ; Ken Cornet (American of European Jewish background) Connecticut; ; Kenneth R. Barney, Boston Committee for Palestinian Rights, Cambridge,; Massachusetts; ; Khairy N. Abuljebain, Free Palestine Alliance, Los Angeles, CA; ; Khaled Barakat, Editor AlShorouq Newspaper, Canada; ; Khaled Hroub, Cambridge University*, Anchor of the BOOK program on,; AlJZEERAH*; ; Khalil Barhoum, Ph.D., Stanford University*, California; ; Khalil Dughaish, MS, PE, Palestinian, Evansville, IN; ; Khalil Nakhleh, Ph.D., Anthropologist/Development Expert/Author, Ramallah,; Palestine; ; Kirsten Duell, Denver, CO; ; Kris Hamel, International Action Center, Detroit, MI; ; Krista Husar, Revolution Youth, San Francisco, CA; ; Kristal ‘Thor’ McKinstry, Entrepreneur, Spiritual counselor, Dir.; Utopian/Visionary Party*, member CFWP*, Los Angeles, CA; ; Krys Usack, Lockwood, NY; ; Lama AbuOdeh,Professor of Law, Georgetown University Law School*,; Washington; ; Lamis Andoni, Journalist/writer, California; ; Lara Kiswani, Students for Justice in Palestine, Third World Forum,; University of California, Davis; ; Larry Semark, PhD, CHES, Health Researcher, Albuquerque, NM; ; Larry Skwarczynski, Gray Panthers Metro Detroit*, Veterans for Peace*,; Swords into Plowshares Peace Center and Art Gallery*, Detroit, MI; ; Laura Marques, Graphic Designer Lisbon Portugal; ; Lauren M. Anzaldo, Pensacola, Florida; ; Lawrence Rulfs; ; Leigh Davis, Cranford, NJ; ; Lenni Brenner, Author, New York; ; Leonard D. Sanford, Jr., Waldorf, MD; ; Les Blough, Editor, Axis of Logic, Boston, MA; ; Liliane Wojczyk Bolland, Montreal, Canada; ; Linda Harrour, Oakland, California; ; Lisa Mee, Brisbane, Australia; ; Lois A. Turner (M.A. Canterbury), Writer, Christchurch, New Zealand; ; Lois Nakhleh, Artist, Ramallah, Palestine; ; Lois Swartz; ; Lori Lagorio; ; Louis Korn, Hawaii, USA; ; Louis Rue; ; M. Coleen Woody, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; ; M. Haitham Salman, Ph.D. Candidate, International Economic Law, University; of Portsmouth*; ; Maddi Breslin; ; Maggie Finch, Bath, Maine; ; Maha Risha, Journalist, Chelmsford, UK; ; Maher Osseiran, managing partner, the Democracy Workshop*, Connecticut, USA; ; Mahmoud Oriqat, P.E., Project Manager, The City of San Diego*, CA; ; Mahmud Ahmed, Free Palestine Alliance, Louisville, Kentucky; ; Malcolm Chapman, London, UK; ; Malika Berthelot, Bordeaux, France; ; Mamdouh Aldimassi, Free Palestine Alliance, California; ; Manae Ross, Student, Sacramento, California; ; Mansour H. Mansour, Dept. Ph.D. Dept. of History, Triton College*, River; Grove , Illinois; ; Mara VerheydenHilliard, Esq., Partnership for Civil Justice*, National; Steering Committee, International A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition, Washington, D.C.; ; Marcella Hammond, Student, University of California, San Diego; ; Margaret Quinn, Campaigner for a Just Peace for Palestinians, Belfast,; Ireland; ; Maria T. Vargas, Translator, Malaga, Spain; ; Marianne H. Hraibi, Hanover, NH, Beirut, Lebanon; ; Marilyn Robinson, Human Rights Activist, ISM* supporter, Denver, Colorado; ; Mark Graham, Gifted Education, Instructor at Brandywine Heights Hight; School, Topton, PA, USA; ; Marta Rodriguez, New England Committee to Defend Palestine & ANSWER,; Boston, Massachusetts; ; Martha Brummett, U.S. citizen, Denver CO; ; Martine Derouaux; ; Marwan H. Dajani, M.B.A, Beirut, Lebanon; ; Mary Ann Azevedo, President, AmericanArab AntiDiscrimination Committee; (Houston Chapter)*, Journalist/Writer; ; Mary Bailey, Potsdam, NY; ; Mary Ellen Callahan, New York, NY; ; Mary J. Bisharat, MSW, Founder, AmericanArab AntiDiscrimination; Committee*, Greater Sacramento Area Chapter, California; ; Mary Keenan, Retired Computer Scientist, Winthrop University, Rock Hill,; South Carolina; ; Maryam Khan, Civil Engineer,U.S. Army Corps of Engineers*, Baltimore,; Maryland; ; Masad I. Arbid, MD, writer, Kana´an * publications, USA; ; Masood A. Sheikh, Member, Merrimack Valley People for Peace*, North; Andover, MA; ; Maxwell Shaw, Geographer, College of Charleston*, Charleston SC; ; May Chamaa; ; Mazen Almoukdad, All for Justice, Anaheim, Ca; ; Mazin Qumsiyeh, Ph.D., Professor, Yale University*, CoFounder of Palestine; Right to Return Coalition, Connecticut; ; Mazin Yehya, Free Palestine Alliance, Los Angeles, California; ; Meagan Mangum, Bartender, Dallas, Texas; ; Meg Madison, Photographer, Los Angeles, CA; ; Mekhala Devi Natavar, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Duke University*, Durham; ; Melinda Marshall, Michigan, US; ; Melissa Mandel, Oakland, California; ; Merrill Cole, Ph.D., Panama City, Florida,USA; ; Mia Colestock, Student St. John’s University*, Flushing, NY; ; Michael Cheng, Third World Forum Alumni, Martinez, California; ; Michael Letwin, Esq., CoConvener, New York City Labor Against the War*,; Continuations Committee, U.S. Labor Against the War*, Steering Committee,; United for Peace and Justice*, Former President, UAWLocal 2325/Assn. of; Legal Aid Attorneys*; ; Michael Malafa, Lakewood, Ohio; ; Michael Prior (The Very Reverend),C.M. PhD, Chair of the Holy Land; Research Project, St Mary’s College, University of Surrey*, United Kingdom; ; Michael R. Napp, Committee for Peace in the Middle East*, Modesto, Ca; ; Michael Shahin, Board member, National Lawyers Guild*Loyola Law School; Chapter, Free Palestine Alliance, Los Angeles, California; ; Michel S. Moushabeck, Publisher/Editor, Interlink Publishing*, Northampton,; Massachusetts; ; Michel Shehadeh, Free Palestine Alliance, Committee for Justice, California; ; Michelle Soto, Student, Vanderbilt University, Nashville TN; ; Miguel Pinheiro, Lisbon, Portugal; ; Miriam DesHarnais, Librarian, Baltimore, Maryland; ; Miriam M. Reik, Ph.D., New York, NY; ; Mohamed Hobeyl, public accountant and writer, Constantine, Algeria; ; Mohammed Abed, Department of Philosophy, University of WisconsinMadison*,; Alternative Palestinian Agenda; ; Mohammed AlSheikh, Arab American Community Center*, Chicago, Illinois; ; Mouna Schaheen, Tucson, AZ; ; Mounzer Sleiman, Ph.D., Journalist/Writer, Washington, D.C.; ; Muhammad A. Shuraydi, Ph.D., University of Windsor*, Ontario, Canada; ; Muna Coobti, Esq., International Action Center, Free Palestine Alliance,; California; ; Munir Akash, Editor/publisher, Massachusetts; ; Musa AlHindi, Palestine Right of Return Congress, AlAwda Coalition,; Nebraska; ; Mustafa YarKhan, Chicago, IL; ; Muttasem Razzaq, Physicist, Worcester, MA; ; Mysa Khalaf AlTawil, Communications students, American University*,; Washington, D.C.; ; Na’eem Jenah, Lecturer, University of the Witwtersrand*, President of; Muslim Youth Movement of South Africa, Spokesperson of Palestine Solidarity; Committee, Johannesburg, South Africa; ; Nabiha Ayoub, Tucson, AZ; ; Nabil Migalli, ArabAmerican Forum, Manchester, New Hampshire; ; Nada Elia, Ph.D., Redmond, Washington; ; Nader Abuljebein, Writer, Palestine Right of Return Congress, Free; Palestine Alliance, USA; ; Nadia Babella, Attorney, Naples,FL; ; Nadine Naber, Ph.D., University of Michigan*, USA; ; Nadine Saliba, San Antonio, TX; ; Nadine Dumser, Northport, NY; ; Nagi Nasser; ; Nan Stinson; ; Nancy Dollard, Activist, Valparaiso, IN USA; ; Nancy E. Olszewski, New Jersey Solidarity, New Brunswick, New Jersey USA; ; Nancy Harb Almendras, Teacher, Wiesbaden, Germany; ; Nancy Jakubiak, Clarksville, Indiana; ; Nancy McGuire; ; Nancy Mitchell, Installer, San Francisco, CA; ; Nargis Kher, Superior Court of California*, Airport Court Human Resources*; ; Naseer H. Aruri, Ph.D., Chancellor Professor (Emeritus), University of; Massachusetts Dartmouth*, Massachusetts; ; Nasser Abufarha, Department of Anthropology, University of Wisconsin; Madison*, Director of the Alternative Palestinian Agenda; ; Nasser Rabbat. Ph.D., MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts; ; Neville Wardle, Branford CT USA; ; Nick Marouf, RamallahOnline Editor, Harrisburg, P.A; ; Nizar Sakhnini, Board Member, Near East Cultural and Educational Foundation; of Canada, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; ; Noel Winkler, New Jersey Solidarity Activists for the Liberation of; Palestine, New Jersey; ; Nora Rodriguez, United Kingdom; ; Nur Masalha, Ph.D., St. Mary’s University College*, and Centre for Islamic; and Middle Eastern Law*, SOAS, University of London; ; Olaf Berggren, Librarian, Oslo Norway; ; Omar A. Sebakhy, Professor of Electrical Engineering, Alexandria; University*, Alexandria, Egypt; ; Omar AlQattan, BritishPalestinian filmmaker; ; Omar Barghouti, Philosophy Ph.D. Student, Activist & Dance choreographer; ; Omar Khalaf AlTawil, Medical student, George Washington University*,; Washington, D.C.; ; Omayma Zubaidi, Santa Clara, CA; ; Osama N. Abuljebain, Free Palestine Alliance, Los Angeles, CA; ; Ozlem Altiok, Cofounder of Brazos AntiWar Coalition*, Bryan/College; Station, Texas; ; P. Andrew Grant, Tech Director/Anim Professor, Brooks College*, Long Beach,; Ca; ; Patricia EcklundRuch, Sheridan, OR; ; Patrick McNally, Ph.D., Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan; ; Patsy McMichael; ; Patty O’Connor, Arlington, Virginia; ; Paul Eisen, Director, Deir Yassin Remembered (UK); ; Paul HagenHolt, San Diego, CA; ; Paul J. Balles, Ph.D., Researcher/Writer/Editor, Isa Town, Bahrain; ; Peer Nyberg, Education Director; ; Penny LaDeur, Floyd,VA; ; Peter Connell, ESL instructor, Loveland, OHIO; ; Peter Cook, Sharon, MA; ; Peter Dodd, Ph.D., Retired professor and United Nations official*,; Victoria, BC, Canada; ; Peter Klosterman, Ph.D., Biomedical Researcher, University of California*,; San Francisco; ; Peter Van de Cruys, computer technician, Belgium;

  • National Labor Assembly: An Advance for Opposing the War in Iraq! (Justice Speaks)

    National Labor Assembly: An Advance for Opposing the War in Iraq!
    Justice Speaks (Black Workers for Justice)

    The National Labor Assembly convened by US Labor Against the War (USLAW) was a very important development despite some weaknesses which we hope will be corrected.

    There were about 200 participants representing 94 local unions, state organizations, central labor councils allied national unions and worker organizations. This was an impressive turnout, especially since the historical record of the AFL-CIO around wars, has been to support the US policies, as were done doing the Vietnam War and those prior.

    The Mission Statement addresses a number of concerns centered around the US war against Iraq in particular and US foreign policies.  It also addresses the “war at home”-the impact of the war in Iraq on the conditions of working people in the US, including workers, immigrants and communities of color.

    The center piece of United Labor Against the War (USLAW), the name voted on at the Assembly, is the Iraqi Labor Rights Campaign. This campaign is important for at least a couple of reasons.  It seeks to build support for the Iraqi workers to organize democratic unions so that in addition to fighting for labor rights, they will have powerful worker organizations to
    help them impact on shaping the reconstruction and direction of Iraq, which US corporate power led by the Bush administration is currently dictating.

    The other reason, is that many of the major US corporations who have contracts to “rebuild” Iraq, are the same ones who exploit and try to bust the unions of workers inside the US and internationally. USLAW is operating on the principle of international labor solidarity.

    This USLAW formation has the potential to influence the direction of the AFL-CIO around the continuing US war and occupation of Iraq. The AFL-CIO took a lukewarm position calling for the US to seek support from the UN and international allies before going to war; which in essence, was not really in opposition to the war.  This has been the stand of many in the Democratic Party, to give the impression that they are opposed to the war and different from the Republican Party, who make no bones about being in favor of the war.

    USLAW has been very careful not to take positions they feel would not be supported by the AFL-CIO bureaucracy, which in the short term may be tactically necessary; but becomes problematic as USLAW sets itself out as being a voice for labor on US foreign policies.

    The obvious silence on the Palestinian struggle in the decisions at the Assembly, reflect a serious weakness USLAW and the unions which has to be overcome, if the US labor movement truly wants to deal with the problems of US foreign policies in the Middle-East.

    USLAW set up 6 the following Task Forces to carry out its program and to go deeper in the rank-and-file of the labor movement so that labor’s anti-war and foreign policy voice comes from the bottom up:

    Defending Social Programs and the Public Sector: Will publicize what the $87 Billion could buy at home, do teach-ins and actions such as on tax day, and do community forums with votes on supporting social programs and defending public services and the workers who provide them.

    Defending Civil Liberties and Labor Rights: Will act as an information clearing house on the web site and will work against the Patriot Act and in defense of labor rights in the U.S.

    Labor Veterans and Military Families Against the War: Will reach out to and involve union members and retirees who are veterans or members of military families, set up a speaker’s bureau, participate in a March 20th national anti-war event and fight for vets benefits and rights.

    Defending Immigrants and Communities of Color: Will highlight military recruitment of high school youth during Black History Month, focus on unjust incarceration and work for amnesty for immigrant workers. It will help mobilize labor’s response to discrimination and harassment based on race, ethnicity, religion, or gender.

    Popular Education and the War Economy: Will develop materials for trainings and coordinate among people wanting to promote and lead educational workshops that make the connection between U.S. foreign policy, a militarized economy and budget, and the impact they have on workers, jobs and communities. Interested labor organizations are encouraged to host and organize a workshop available from United For a Fair Economy, in conjunction with USLAW, for officers, staff and members.

    International Solidarity and Labor Rights for the Workers of Iraq: Proposed activities to promote the right of Iraqi workers to organize in the unions of their choice, and to educate the labor movement and the public about the conditions Iraqi workers are facing under the US Occupation. It will help mobilize labor solidarity with workers in other countries who are affected by U.S. foreign policy and military action.

    The Assembly was highlighted by presentations and slide show by Clarence Thomas of the ILWU Local 10 and David Bacon of the Newspaper Guild on their trip to Iraq in October as part of an international delegation and by Bill Fletcher, Jr. head of Trans Africa Forum and long time labor activist, who spoke about the history of labor and US foreign policy.

    Even though the participation of workers of color at this Assembly increased from the first USLAW meeting held in January, the numbers were still low. This is also true for the composition of the Continuations Committee which serves as the USLAW Coordinating body.

    The Southern region was also under represented at the Assembly. Only 3 of the 19 states represented were from the South-North Carolina, Florida and Kentucky.

    Black Workers For Justice had representation at the Assembly and has a member that sits on the USLAW Continuations Committee.

    To contact USLAW at: U.S. Labor Against the War, P.O. Box 153, 1718 M
    Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 www.uslaboragainstwar.org
    info@uslaboragainstwar.org

    RE: [ufpj-news] Israeli Left praises Geneva

    ———- Forwarded message ———-
    From: Michael Letwin <mletwin@comcast.net>
    Date: Tue, Dec 2, 2003 at 9:42 PM
    Subject: RE: [ufpj-news] Israeli Left praises Geneva
    To: Awaskow@aol.com, ufpj-news@yahoogroups.com, ufpj-pal@yahoogroups.com, ufpj-disc@yahoogroups.com

    UFPJ should *not* support the Geneva Initiative, which is premised on maintaining Israeli apartheid.

    As the Palestinian American Congress stated yesterday:  “the right of return of Palestinian refugees is a natural individual right, and that this right can not be part of any concessions by any party. . . . We urge the Palestinian Authority not to endorse the Geneva Accord.”  (Full text below.)

    Michael Letwin
    New York City Labor Against the War (NYCLAW)
    UFPJ Steering Committee

    ——————————

    Palestinian American Congress Nixes Geneva Accord

    PRESS RELEASE

    For Immediate release

    December 1, 2003

    Media Contact: Marwan ElMasri

    1-888-PACUSA1

    The Geneva Accord was launched today in Switzerland at a ceremony in the presence of former American President Jimmy Carter. While it is an unofficial document, it proved to be of considerable controversy.

    In response to the launching if this document, the Palestinian American Congress categorically rejects this document. The Geneva Accord contradicts with our principle of adhering to the right of return of Palestinian refugees to their land as emphasized by international law, in particular UN resolution #194.

    According to the Geneva accord, Palestinians would give up the right of return for the millions of refugees who were forced to leave their lands. It is worth noting that a few might be allowed back, that number will be determined by Israel, while the rest would be allowed to live in a Palestinian State and host countries mainly Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. Also, a few will be entitled to some form of compensation.

    We at the Palestinian American Congress, feel that the right of return of Palestinian refugees is a natural individual right, and that this right can not be part of any concessions by any party.

    We urge the Palestinian Authority not to endorse the Geneva Accord.

    We urge the US administration to pursue a peaceful solution to the Middle East based on UN resolutions, particularly #242, and #194.

    END

    For the full text of the Geneva Accord, please visit our web site

    <http://www.pac-national.org/>www.pac-national.org

    The Palestinian American Congress is a national grass roots organization that defends and represents the interests of Palestinian Americans