July 13, 2010
Gaza Palestinian Fatma Sharif wants to get a Masters degree in Human Rights. Unfortunately, the Israeli government won’t let her.
As with many other Gazans, the Israeli government has barred Ms. Sharif from leaving Gaza to attend Birzeit University in the West Bank. The Israeli High Court affirmed the decision.
Will you stand up for Fatma Sharif and her freedom to learn? Will you call on the Israeli government to let Gaza live?
Please click here.
It has been nearly a month since Israel announced changes to its Gaza blockade. Unfortunately, these “new” policies still keep Gazans from living normal lives.
Israel still blocks Gaza businesses from directly accessing raw materials like cement and steel. Israel still prevents Gazans from exporting their finished goods outside the territory.
No raw materials + no exports = closed factories = mass unemployment
That’s why Israel’s decision to let more consumer goods into Gaza is unlikely to have significant impact. If you can’t get a job, you can’t earn the money necessary to purchase new products.
So long as Israel maintains its Gaza blockade, peace is but a dream. And so long as U.S. taxpayers are forced to give Israel billions, U.S. policy must link those funds to an end to the Gaza blockade.
Please click here to show your support for Fatma Sharif and the 1.4 million Gaza Palestinians who still live under an Israeli blockade.
They deserve the freedom to live their lives – a first step towards meaningful peace.
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Action, Let Gaza Live, Palestine | Tagged: Gaza blockade, Israel, Fatma Sharif | 
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Posted by sanjeevbery
June 26, 2010
The U.S. war in Afghanistan rages on, with no positive end in sight. It is now longer than World War II, and it has cost over $300 billion. That’s $1,000 for every person in the U.S.
We at Freedom Forward want your help as we craft our policy position on the Afghanistan war.
Specifically: What is the most morally responsible way to leave Afghanistan?
Click here to give us your thoughts.
Your feedback can be as simple as a sentence or as in-depth as an essay.
As we think about what a responsible exit looks like, here are some of the questions we are asking. Feel free to answer any that stand out to you. You may share other concerns as well.
- If we leave, what about the interests of Afghan women who currently live in areas free of Taliban control?
- What about Afghans who worked for the U.S. military or international aid agencies?
- How should the U.S. interact with a future regime if it includes Taliban leaders?
- What if the future regime is ONLY Taliban?
- Should international aid continue to flow to Afghanistan after a military withdrawal? To who?
- Are there ways to minimize potential internal repression after a full withdrawal?
- What about the interests of neighboring nations?
Officially, the debate over an exit strategy continues. President Obama now seems to be wavering on his original date of July 2011 for the beginning of troop withdrawals. And there are other questions as well. For starters, will there be permanent U.S. military bases in Afghanistan?
But back to our request. What is the most morally responsible way to leave Afghanistan?
Thanks for your input. Click here to give it.
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Posted by sanjeevbery
June 22, 2010
The pro-Israel lobby group AIPAC is recruiting U.S. senators and representatives to defend Israel’s siege on Gaza. A large number of elected officials have already signed Senate and House letters to President Obama.
While the Israeli government has announced that it will be changing its Gaza blockade policies, pro-Israeli lobby groups in the U.S. are still trying to defend past Israeli actions.
Your elected members of Congress need to hear from you. If they have already signed the AIPAC letters, tell them that you oppose their decision. If they haven’t yet done so, please tell them that you don’t want them to.
Click here to take action.
We have already done the work for you. Once you type in your zip code, our online activist system will automatically determine which message you should send — and to whom.
Please click here to take action.
The Israeli blockade of Gaza has been an obstacle to regional peace and Palestinian freedom. It is time to stop defending it.
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(Links: the AIPAC Senate letter, House letter, Senate signers, and House signers. PDF format.)
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Posted by sanjeevbery
June 14, 2010
In the latest effort to advance Middle East peace, Jewish activists in Europe have announced that they will sail a ship to Gaza in July. The goal is to challenge the Israeli blockade of 1.4 million Gaza Palestinians. For freedom to begin, the blockade must end.
Will you stand up for the Jewish boat’s safe passage to Gaza?
Click here to take action.
The Israeli government has already used force against a prior Gaza flotilla. Israeli leaders have also used “grey tactics” — sabotage — to keep such ships from setting sail.
But back in the U.S., not every elected official is supporting Israeli actions. U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein has already called for an “impartial inquiry” and spoken critically of “Israel’s forced isolation of Gaza.”
Please ask Senator Feinstein to take the next step.
Urge her to call on the Israeli government to ensure the safe passage of the Jewish ship to Gaza.
True reconciliation cannot occur until both Israelis and Palestinians live in peace and prosperity. That’s why U.S. elected officials must stand up for the Jewish activists who are challenging Israel’s blockade on Palestinians in Gaza.
Please take a moment to email U.S. Senator Feinstein. Urge her to tell the Israeli government that they must guarantee the safe passage of Jewish activists bringing humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Click here to take action.
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Posted by sanjeevbery
Gaza Palestinian Fatma Sharif wants to get a Masters degree in Human Rights. Unfortunately, the Israeli government won’t let her.
