Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice Spotlight

 

Dena Eakles, WNPJ Board Member, 1/30/23

This past week, nine Palestinians were murdered in the West Bank city of Jenin by Israeli forces. I went to one of WNPJ’s member groups, Madison–Rafah Sister City Project, to learn more about the massacre in Jenin and the current plight of the Palestinian People. 

From “A Massacre Took Place in Jenin”:

“2022 was the deadliest year for Palestinians in the West Bank in nearly 20 years, with the most deaths since the United Nations began recording fatalities in 2005. The new, far-right Israeli government and its forces remain adamant about continuing, if not increasing, their brutality. We're only 26 days into 2023, and Israel has already killed 30 Palestinians, including five children—setting a pace to double the murder of Palestinians in 2022.” 

The Madison-Rafah Sister City Project is a wonderful website, full of good endeavors like creating housing, playgrounds, providing fresh food and clean water as well as hosting educational events and providing well-written articles on BDS and more. How to Help will bring you additional information and offer ways for you to be involved. 

I have deep appreciation for the efforts of our member groups that keep us informed and inspired. May Peace Prevail.

 

Kuffiyeh Contingent at the National March on Madison

Show your support for Palestinian women during the January 22 National Women’s March in Madison! Join the Kuffiyeh Contingent and stand with us in the State Capitol Rotunda.

Madison Rafah Sister City Project plans to be in the Rotunda of the State Capitol near the State Street entrance at 1:00 pm.

Wear your Kuffiyeh (we’ll have some available to buy or borrow) and bring a Palestinian flag and signs that celebrate the strength and resilience of Palestinian women at this important event.

Event info at National Mobilization on Madison – BIGGER THAN ROE

We hope to see you there!

Note: This is a change from the original plan to assemble on the Library Mall.
 

Join the Kuffiya Contingent at the National March on Madison

    January 22, 2023
    Rally on Library Mall 12:00-12:45
    March to the Capitol Building 1:00-1:45
    Speakout at the Capitol 1:45-4:00

Show your support for Palestinian women during the January 22 National Womens March in Madison! Join the Kuffiya Contingent and walk with us as the March moves to the Capitol.

Madison Rafah Sister City Project will be on the steps of The UW Library facing Library Mall at Noon. Wear your Kuffiya (we’ll have some available to buy or borrow) and bring a Palestinian flag and signs that celebrate the strength and resilience of Palestinian women at this important event.

Event info
National March on Madison
Kuffiya Contingent at the Madison Womens March
Patti Smith and Over 600 artists worldwide sign #MusiciansForPalestine letter
 

Palestine has won the World Cup

Palestine has won people’s hearts and captivated the world’s attention — and its team isn’t even playing.

YUMNA PATEL, MONDOWEISS, DECEMBER 9, 2022


MOROCCAN NATIONAL TEAM UNFURLS PALESTINIAN FLAG AFTER VICTORY OVER SPAIN (PHOTO VIA TWITTER)

As the World Cup enters its final 10 days, and the remaining eight teams gear up for the quarter final rounds, many can only guess at who might take home the whole thing. 

What can be said for certain, however, is there’s one nation that has won people’s hearts, and captivated the world’s attention like no other — and their team isn’t even playing.

Since the World Cup began last month Palestine has taken center stage in Qatar, both on and off the field. Symbols emblematic of Palestine, like the flag and Keffiyeh, have been present in the stadiums at nearly every match, in the crowds on the streets, on international TV broadcasts, and in fan parks. 

The national team of Morocco even used their moment of glory following their victory over Spain in the round of 16 to hoist up the Palestinian flag alongside their own. 

For Palestinians, the displays of solidarity have been nothing short of momentous. 

“It’s just been very exciting to experience,” George Zeidan, a Palestinian from the town of Beit Jala who has been in Qatar for the World Cup, told Mondoweiss

“The Palestine solidarity I’ve experienced here in Qatar has been amazing. It’s a great thing, to not just see people showing solidarity when they see a video of horrible crimes by the Israeli army, but to see people raise the Palestinian flags in their happy moments as well,” Zeidan said.

Morocco celebrates with Palestinian flag after historic World Cup victory

Morocco becomes first Arab nation to make it to the last eight of international soccer tournament

Morocco's players celebrate with a Palestinian flag at the end of the Qatar 2022 World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Morocco and Spain at the Education City Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha on December 6, 2022. (Glyn Kirk/AFP)
Morocco’s players celebrate with a Palestinian flag at the end of the Qatar 2022 World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Morocco and Spain at the Education City Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha on December 6, 2022. (Glyn Kirk/AFP)

Associated Press and Times of Israel, 6 December 2022

AL RAYYAN, Qatar — Morocco became the first Arab nation to advance to the World Cup quarterfinals, beating Spain 3-0 in a penalty shootout on Tuesday.

Pablo Sarabia, Carlos Soler and Sergio Busquets missed their penalties for Spain, with Sarabia hitting the post and Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou stopping the other two.

The teams drew 0-0 in regulation and extra time.

Morocco has been the biggest surprise of the tournament and will next face either Portugal or Switzerland.

As the Moroccan team gathered on the field to celebrate, players raised aloft a Palestinian flag alongside several Moroccan ones, the latest sign of solidarity with the Palestinians at the first World Cup held in the Middle East.

The move came despite Morocco’s increasingly close relations with Israel after signing the Abraham Accords that normalized ties.

FIFA regulations prohibit the display of banners, flags and fliers that are deemed to be “political, offensive and/or discriminatory nature.” In the past, soccer’s governing bodies have issued fines for displays of the Palestinian flag inside stadiums.

Morocco’s players also displayed the Palestinian flag after the team’s win against Canada during the group stage last week.


Morocco’s Romain Saiss fights for the ball with Spain’s Marco Asensio during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Morocco and Spain, at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, Dec. 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Morocco is also the only team from outside Europe or South America to make it to the last eight. The team made the round of 16 once before, at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.

Continue reading

Intersectional Palestine: Linking Liberation Struggles

Voices for Justice in Palestine (VJP), October 13, 2022

Please join us October 24th (6 pm CT) on the UNC Campus for a night of discussion with Dr. Noura Erakat, Dr. Khury Petersen-Smith and others!

If you are not able to attend in person, please join us on zoom. The password to join is: pal1948

Zoom Link

Justice-seeking friends,

We appreciate your interest in our work. Voices for Justice in Palestine posts a newsletter twice a month on alternating Tuesdays. We will take a pause in October. Amber is traveling to Palestine!

Look for a resumption of our twice-monthly scheduled VJP newsletter in November. The November newsletters on Nov 8th and 22nd will feature in-depth interviews with members of Voices for Justice in Palestine who have recently traveled to Palestine-Israel – Amber Smith, Paul McAllister, Ron Shive, and Burhan Ghanayem.

Peace,
Rev. J. Mark Davidson, Exec. Dir., VJP
Ms. Amber Smith, VJP Intern

President Biden: Stop Israeli Government’s Attacks on Palestinian Civil Society

(Final version, emphasis added)

Dear colleagues and comrades,

Thank you so much for signing on to our global open letter calling on the Biden administration to take immediate action in response to Israel’s escalated attack on Palestinian civil society. The letter was signed by over 290 social justice, civil rights, human rights, and faith-based organizations, as well as grassroots movement partners from around the world. President Biden’s chief of staff has confirmed receipt and we will keep you updated on next steps.
 
We called on President Biden to not only condemn and reject the Israeli government’s authoritarian assault on Palestinian civil society, but to take concrete steps to protect our colleagues and work to eliminate the conditions that make their vital work so necessary.
 
Here is the link to the letter on our website, and links to our social media accounts – TWIGFB – for you to share with your networks.

Thanks again and onward,

Nadia Ben-Youssef
Advocacy Director
Center for Constitutional Rights | Justice takes a fight.
666 Broadway, 7th Floor New York, NY 10012 (Lenapehoking)

President Biden: Stop Israeli Government’s Attacks on Palestinian Civil Society