Saturday started out by some work at the university with students (research in biology) then taking a group of visitors on a tour of the area of Bethlehem that shows the impact of the wall and settlements. We also went to one of the weekly demonstrations and on this third Friday of Ramadan both
here and Bilin and other places showed several injuries and use of excessive power by the Israeli occupation/apartheid army. The demonstrations commemorated the assassination of famous Palestinian Cartoonist Naji Al Ali and of the leade of the PFLP Abu Ali Mustafa. It also came in solidarity with the "conviction" by Israel's apartheid courts of Abdullah AbuRahma on charges of organizing nonviolent demonstrations in Bilin. I posted 5 minute of the video I took of the event here (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkToniKnWEs ). Please watch this especially the unprovoked abduction of Kobi, an Israeli peace activist and the unprovoked attack with gas canisters that injured people.

They also detained Matan (not shown on video) who was released a short while later. Kobi was released also but will have to face trial. After the demonstration I returned to finish the work at the university and then at 4:15 PM we (George Rishmawi and I) took over 100 Palestinian women from Nazereth and other places inside the Green Line (1948 Palestine) on a tour of the walls around Bethlehem including Al-Walaja and Beit Sahour.

It was an uplifting trip as we talked about resistance and I note how, despite Israel's attempts at fragmenting us, we connect and those ladies were an inspiration to have organized this trip (with help of Sabeel and the Palestinian Center for Rapprochement). After the iftar (breaking the fast), we visited with two needy families (one in Beit Sahour and one in Dheisheh Refugee Camp). I will tell you in future emails some of the stories of these families. For now there are other news and actions to take.

Israel refuses to lift ban on family unification --Report, The Electronic Intifada, 20 August 2010
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article11477.shtml

Amira Hass / What West Bank road renovations say about the occupation

Why driving uphill in West Bank cities brings to mind Fatah's next general conference. http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/features/ amira-hass-what-west-bank-road -renovations- say-about-the-occupation-1.309641

Attack by Palestinian Security forces on a meeting of democratic forces as popular resistance grows against the capitulation to Israeli and US demands and engaging in fruitless "negotiations" http://www.alhaq.org/etemplate.php?id=540 http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article11489.shtml
ACTION: There will be a demonstration in Al-Manara square in Ramallah Wednesday at 11 AM Palestinian Time to protest against this unprovoked attack on democratic values and to reject the decision by Mr. Abbas to go to Negotiations based on US-Israeli conditions.

Vancouver stoppage of unloading apartheid shipping containers http://vancouver.mediacoop.ca/video /israeli-ships-not-welcome-vancouver/4507

ACTION: US Palestinian Community Network asks for donations to Pakistan relief Web: http://www.palestineconference.org + Email: uspcn@palestineconference.org + Twitter: http://twitter.com/uspcn

As our people suffer in Gaza, and languish in the camps, let us also remember those hurt by natural disasters, from Katrina, to Haiti, and once again, Pakistan. We urge you to donate to support the people of Pakistan as they cope with this horrific flood.

TO DONATE (note: all donations are tax-deductible 501-c):

USA: TEXT SWAT to 50555 to donate $10 to the UN High Commissioner for
Refugees

USA/Canada/UK/International: LIST OF ORGANIZATIONS for Donations (NGO's):
http://pakistanfloods.blogspot.com/2010/08/usa.html

USA/International: Islamic Relief USA http://www.islamicreliefusa.org/home

Mercy Corps (grass-roots organization supported by Pakistani Peace Builders

+ ML Social Vision): http://www.relief4pakistan.com/

The Nation Magazine's List of Organizations :

http://www.thenation.com/blog/154063/how-help-pakistan

Register today for the 2nd Palestinian Popular Conference, October 29-31,
2010

Chicago, IL http://www.palestineconference.org/

And as always, come visit us in occupied Palestine.

Mazin Qumsiyeh, PhD A Bedouin in Cyberspace, a villager at home http://www.qumsiyeh.org
Professor, Bethlehem and Birzeit Universities Chairman of the Board, Palestinian Center for Rapprochement Between People, http://www.pcr.ps

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