Madison Rafah Journal

We recently received this e-mail from Lora Gordon, an activist now living in Chicago who spent time in Rafah and Gaza about six years ago, around the time of Rachel Corrie's death. Lora visited Madison and spoke on the first anniversary of Rachel's death at the Madison premiere of "The Killing Zone" about the murders of Rachel, Tom Hurndall and journalist James Miller.

Lora is planning to return to Gaza and plans to work for a few weeks with our partner in Rafah, the Al Mezan Center for Human Rights.

Please consider if you can help defray the costs of her trip. Instructions for that are below. They are also taking donations for water purifiers.

Thanks,
Barb O.

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1. Watch the Ad on Gaza that DIRECTV Refused to Air

Watch the 30-second commercial we produced about the U.S. role in Israel's recent war on the Gaza Strip, which was censored by DirectTV.

2. Learn More

Since Dec. 27, 2008, Israel killed more than 1,300 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, more than half of whom were civilians, and is continuing to maintain an economic blockade of its 1.5 million residents with U.S. weapons and political support. Israel has placed the Palestinian West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip under military occupation since 1967, in violation of international law and UN resolutions.

Learn more about how U.S. military aid and diplomatic support sustain Israel’s illegal military occupation and enable its human rights abuses of Palestinians by downloading our recent fact sheet.

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11 am – 8 pm
Overture Center
Madison

Saturday, February 21 is the International Festival at the Overture Center, and as usual the Madison-Rafah Sister City Project will have our crafts and oil sales table. Playgrounds for Palestine-Madison is also having a table there.

Although we do have Palestinian olive oil and many small items to sell, our crafts supply is limited because our two shipments were trapped in Gaza during the assault. We hope to get them out before too long but they are unlikely to arrive prior to the festival.

However, we are planning to make people aware of the Gaza situation with a special display and some literature, and will also be raising funds for Gaza relief. So please stop by and enjoy the items from all over the world and check out the programming. There are extended hours this year (11 am – 8 pm).

Wednesday, Feb 18, 7 PM
James R. Connor University Center, Room 275A
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

A screening of the film Occupation 101 with a discussion panel on the situation in Gaza. Sponsored by Peace, Education and Activism through Creative Engagement (PEACE — UW-Whitewater). For more information, see below or contact Karen at drydykkr23 (at) uww.edu.

Students participate in Gaza Awareness Project

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, January 28, 2009

Traditional black and white woven Kaffiyeh scarves symbolizing Palestinian nationalism cover the necks of several students on the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater’s campus. These scarves are part of a 10-day campaign from Jan. 20-30, by UW-Whitewater students to demonstrate solidarity for the citizens of Gaza and Israel who were injured or killed during the 22-day war (Dec. 27, 2008-Jan. 18, 2009) between Hamas (Islamic Resistance Movement) and Israel Defense Forces.

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Monday, Feb. 16, 7:30 pm
Tuesday, Feb. 17, 5 pm and 8 pm
Helfaer Theater, Marquette University

Marquette University's Helfaer Theatre in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, will be staging a production of My Name is Rachel Corrie on February 16-17, and best of all, admission is free. The play is being put on as part of a senior project featuring Jennifer Shine (pictured) as Rachel and is directed by Phylis Ravel. A "talk back" discussion session is scheduled to follow each of the three performances.

These pictures show that our Rafah playground in Tal al Sultan survived the Israeli assault. The photos were sent by Susan Abulhawa of Playgrounds for Palestine.