Chronology Update
A History of the Madison-Rafah Sister City Project
November 22, 2008
Let's hope Obama won't be a 'friend of Israel'
w w w . h a a r e t z . c o m
Gideon Levy, 09 Nov 2008
The march of parochialism started right away. The tears of excitement invoked by U.S. president-elect Barack Obama's wonderful speech had not yet dried, and back here people were already delving into the only real question they could think to ask: Is this good or bad for Israel? One after another, the analysts and politicians got up – all of them representing one single school of thought, of course and began prophesizing.
They spoke with the caution that the situation required, gritting their teeth as though their mouths were full of pebbles, trying to soothe all the fears and concerns. They searched and found signs in Obama: The promising appointment of the Israeli ex-patriots' son, whose father belonged to the Irgun, and maybe also Dennis Ross and Dan Kurtzer and Martin Indyk, who may, God willing, be included in the new administration.
But in the background, a dark cloud hovered above. Careful, danger. The black man, who had associated with Palestinian expats, who speaks of human rights, who favors diplomacy over war, who even wants to engage Iran in dialogue, who will allocate more funding for America's social needs than to weapons exports. He may not be the sort of "friend of Israel" that we have come to love in Washington, the kind of friend we have grown accustomed to.
What's the panic all about? The truth needs to be said: At the base of all of these fears is the angst that this president will push Israel to end the occupation and move toward peace.
A Bone in America's Throat
The Fates of Americans and Palestinians are Deeply Intertwined
JEFF HALPER, CounterPunch, November 10, 2008
Even before the voting began, Israeli politicians and pundits were asking: Will an Obama Administration be good for Israel? “Be good for Israel” is our code for “Will the US allow us to keep our settlements and continue to support our efforts to prevent negotiations with the Palestinians from ever bearing fruit?” For Americans the question should be: Will the Obama Administration understand that without addressing Palestinian needs it will not be able to disentangle itself from its broader Middle Eastern imbroglios, rejoin the community of nations and rescue its economy?
The Israel-Palestine conflict should be of central concern to Americans, near the top of the new Administration’s agenda. It may not be the bloodiest conflict in the world – its minor when compared to Iraq – but it is emblematic to Muslims and to peoples the world over of American hostility and belligerence. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not merely a localized one between two squabbling tribes. It lies at the epicenter of global instability. Go where you may in the world and you will encounter the same phenomenon: a sense that the suffering of the Palestinians represents all that is wrong in an American-dominated world.
As Obama comes into office, he will encounter a global reality very different from that of eight years before: a multilateral one in which a weakened and isolated US must find its place. He will discover that much of America’s isolation comes from the view that the Occupation of the Palestinian territories is, in fact, an American-Israeli Occupation. If restoring a weakened American economy depends on repairing relations with the rest of the world, he will learn that without resolving the Israeli-Palestine conflict he will not create those conditions in which the US will be accepted once more into the wider global community.
To be more specific, the Israel-Palestine conflict directly affects Americans in at least five ways:
Free Gaza to Aid Agencies: "Deliver it by Sea"
Free Gaza Movement, Nov-18-2008
The Free Gaza Movement today issued this open letter to all organizations delivering humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
Israel's closure of its land borders with Gaza, and Egypt's submission to Israeli pressure to close the Rafah border is a humanitarian disaster for 1.5 million Palestinians. The United Nations announced last Thursday that inside Gaza it had run out of the food essentials to supply 750,000 desperately needy citizens. "This has become a blockade against the United Nations itself," a spokesman said.
The Free Gaza Movement now has an inspection procedure in place in Cyprus to ensure the boat and contents comply with international regulations. In addition, we publish information about our passengers and cargo that ensures nothing and no one harmful is on board. Israel has shown itself willing to accept such assurances from us.
December 6, 2008
Annual Fair Trade Holiday Festival
Bigger and better than ever!
Find the perfect unique gift while you support fair trade producers around the world.
Fair Trade seeks to shorten the path between you and the artist who makes your gift, so the artist can make a living wage and you can know they receive the largest possible portion of the purchase price.
Shop a wide selection of art, crafts, clothing, home decorations, pottery, weavings, food gifts, and more. International fair trade products will be available from Mexico and Latin America, Africa, the Middle East and beyond.
New for 2008: Domestic Fair Trade products made in Wisconsin and throughout the country, with the goal of supporting sustainable small businesses and family farms. Domestic fair trade products will include cheese, maple syrup, honey, sausage, granola, wool products and more.
For more information (including a list of items for sale) visit www.calamadison.org, email Festival (at) calamadison.org, or call 286-0865.
November 23, 2008
ORCHARD RIDGE FAIR TRADE CHRISTMAS SALE
Sunday, Nov. 23
8:30 am to 3:00 pm
2008 FAIR TRADE CHRISTMAS SALE
ORCHARD RIDGE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
1501 Gilbert Road, Madison
Orchard Ridge UCC has been sponsoring this event for over 20 years…here you will find unusual and beautiful gifts and holiday items. Proceeds go to organizations that help people around the world to be self-sustaining.
Come and get an early start on your holiday shopping, and give the gifts that give twice: once to the recipient and once to the producers who receive a living wage and the ability to support themselves and their families. MRSCP will be selling our crafts, olive oil and olive oil soap.
For more information contact: 271-7212.
