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Israel to mass build new Jewish settlement homes after UN Palestine vote

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Written by Chris McGreal in Jerusalem Chris McGreal in Jerusalem
Published: 30 November 2012 30 November 2012


Binyamin Netanyahu's plan for mass building on occupied terrorities seen as retaliation for recognition of Palestinian state

The Guardian, Friday 30 November 2012 12.14 EST

Israel's prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu as ordered thousands of new homes to be built on occupied territories after the UN voted to recognise a Palestinian state. Photograph: Jim Hollander/EPA


The Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, has ordered the construction of thousands of new homes in Jewish settlements in the occupied territories in what will be widely interpreted as retaliation for the United Nations vote to recognise a Palestinian state on Thursday.

Israeli officials said the construction would expand existing West Bank settlements and build more homes for Jews in occupied east Jerusalem, where the government is attempting to diminish the proportion of Arab residents. Netanyahu also ordered the speeding up of planning to link Jerusalem with a Jewish settlement, Ma'aleh Adumim, in a move that would cut deep into a future Palestinian state based on 1967 borders. The US and Europe have long asked the Israeli government not to build there.

The announcement is a reflection of Israel's anger at the vote, and the Palestinian leadership at pushing for it. The Israeli move drew strong criticism from Europe. "If Israel confirms these decisions officially, then it is an exercise in the most cynical, self-obsessed and self destructive policy-making imaginable," said one European diplomat.

Read more: Israel to mass build new Jewish settlement homes after UN Palestine vote

Examining the 3 Palestinian-Punishment Focused Efforts in the Senate

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Written by Lara Friedman Lara Friedman
Published: 29 November 2012 29 November 2012

Now that the Palestinian state has been given official non-member status by the UN, we can watch as the US congress introduces bills to punish Palestinians for seeking their right to self determination and to punish the 138 countries that voted to give Palestinians an admittedly small table at the UN.

The noxious nine states voting against Palestinian freedoms where: US, Israel, Canada, Czech Republic, Panama - and 4 small US-dependent island states (Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Nauru and Palau).  - AUPHR

Examining the 3 Palestinian-Punishment Focused Efforts in the Senate

Read more: Examining the 3 Palestinian-Punishment Focused Efforts in the Senate

Open Letter to Obama: US aid to Israel should be contingent on compliance with the law.

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Written by Jewish Voice for Peace Jewish Voice for Peace
Published: 20 November 2012 20 November 2012


Dear friend,

1. *Call the White House
right now
202-456-1414 or
202-456-1111 *
and ask President Obama to act:
Stop the Bombs. Stop the Siege. Stop Payment on the Israeli Military's Blank Check.

2. *Organize or attend a protest in your area [ http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/301/p/salsa/event/common/public/search.sjs?distributed_event_KEY=702 ]*

3. *Sign the
Open Letter to Obama: [ http://www.obamaletter.org/ ]*
US aid to Israel should be contingent on compliance
with the law.

The news coming out of Gaza and Israel these past few days has been truly horrifying. Drones and F-16s are dropping bombs over densely populated Gaza, which continues to be under Israel's control from infrastructure to border. Twenty Palestinians have been killed. Rockets being launched out of Gaza have killed three Israeli civilians.

This Operation "Pillar of Defense" is being paid for thanks to the blank check the Israeli military receives from the US government. Even as we take to the streets to call for an immediate cessation of the bombings into Gaza, the rocket attacks into civilian communities in Israel, and an end to the ongoing siege of Gaza, we are aware that more is required.

Now is the time to demand Obama take decisive action that honors all the lives being lost.

*Click here: http://www.ObamaLetter.org [ http://www.obamaletter.org/ ]*

Even before Israel's escalation of violence, we were calling for an end to the Israeli military's blank check along with a growing coalition of Jews, Christians, Muslims and human rights and solidarity activists. Together we are asking President Obama to make sure aid to Israel doesn't continue to violate US laws which specifically prohibit assistance to any country which engages in a consistent pattern of human rights violations.

Now is the time to make sure the US stops payment on the Israeli military's blank check. As Hillel the Elder taught: "If not now, when?"

Please join me in *signing this open letter to Obama.* [ http://www.obamaletter.org/ ]

With hope,

Rabbi Alissa Wise
Jewish Voice for Peace

Click here: http://www.ObamaLetter.org

Protest Wednesday Nov 21st: Stop the War on Gaza Pt 2

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Written by Peter Miller Peter Miller
Published: 20 November 2012 20 November 2012

*Please Forward Widely*


Stop the War on Gaza Pt 2
Wednesday Nov 21 at 5:30 pm
Pioneer Courthouse Square

As Israel's assault on Gaza continues into its 6th day the Palestinian Death toll has risen to a 115, with over 900 injured. 

The threat of a full scale Israeli ground invasion continues to loom even as Israel's airstrikes continue to rain death on Gaza.

As US Politicians continue their shameful political and material complicity in Israel's attack, it is up to people around the world to stand with the people of Gaza and against Israel's criminal attacks!!

JOIN PORTLAND as we continue to mobilize to say Stop the Attacks on Gaza!! Demand Israel end to its illegal policies of war, occupation, and apartheid!

Gaza Fact Sheet
http://gazaunderattack.org/media/pdf/factsheet.pdf

Talking Points from US Campaign
http://endtheoccupation.org/article.php?id=3350


How you can help:

Read more: Protest Wednesday Nov 21st: Stop the War on Gaza Pt 2

University of California-Irvine votes to divest

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Written by Ali Abunimah Ali Abunimah
Published: 19 November 2012 19 November 2012

The Electronic Intifada

11/14/2012

Just over a year since an Orange County jury, in a politically-motivated prosecution, convicted the “Irvine 11” students for disrupting a lecture by Israeli Ambassdor Michael Oren, the Associated Students of UC Irvine voted unanimously tonight to call for divestment from companies that profit from Israeli occupation.

The vote deals a major blow to intense efforts by Israel and allied organizations to suppress Palestinian solidarity activism on campus, particularly at UC Irvine, part of the University of California system.

 

Read more: University of California-Irvine votes to divest

More Articles ...

  1. Come stand with the people of Gaza and against Israel's criminal attacks!!
  2. Israel's Tourism Map
  3. Palestinian Loss of Land: 1946 - 2012
  4. The Map: The Story of Palestinian Nationhood Thwarted After the League of Nations Recognized It
  5. The March of Folly
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