February 2007 Newsletter
(Vol. I No. 2)

….Launching new website….

www.ramallahquakers.org

From the Program Coordinator:

“We are living through another 1948” one Palestinian said while speaking at one of the programs organized at FICR.  I have heard this statement more than a few times within the last year.  Never since 1948 has the situation been so critical for Palestinians on so many levels.  The hardships of Israeli military occupation have been experienced since 1967 but never before has there been such poverty among the people, never before have there been so many restrictions on daily life, and never before has there been such despair.  People are leaving Palestine in large numbers due to the economic hardships, the lack of opportunities for youth, and the general situation.  Unlike the Nakba of 1948, today we are witnessing a “silent transfer” or what some call a “voluntary transfer”.      

Living under occupation is not easy for anyone, especially for Palestinians who have lived under Israeli military rule in Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem for almost 40 years.  Internationals living in the OPT (West Bank and Gaza) have privileges that Palestinians do not have.  We can travel to Jerusalem with our three-month tourist visas, we can go through checkpoints in the West Bank, and we can travel through the airport in Tel Aviv, just to name a few.  Perhaps the biggest and most notable privilege is the fact that I can choose to leave the OPT and go back to Canada and enjoy all the rights and privileges my own country offers any time I choose to do so.  Palestinians living under occupation cannot - they are here, they have no where else to go.  

What about the Mecca Agreement?  Much has been written about it and I will provide some links to some articles that have been written about the agreement.  What we can say is that the Mecca Agreement has brought some relief to people here.  It has first and foremost, put a stop to the internal Palestinian strife.  There are varying opinions on where it can lead.  But for now, one significant thing we know is that a major ally of the US, Saudi Arabia, has taken a courageous stand and supported the Palestinians.  How the US, Israel, the EU, and other countries will respond remains to be seen.

(Click here to read more about the Mecca Agreement)
(Click here to read the article What Israel’s Right to Exist Means to Palestinians by John Whitbeck)



From the Friends International Center in Ramallah:

This past month FICR has hosted a number of activities.  I would like to tell you about two of them.  

1.  On February 14 we invited Dr. Adel Yahya, director of PACE (Palestinian Academic and Cultural Exchange) to give a presentation about Palestinian cultural heritage.  As an archeologist, he spoke about the many ways Palestinian historical sites are being looted and plundered and what PACE is doing to restore the sites.  The lack of laws protecting historic sites in Palestine makes them vulnerable to antiquities dealers and the lack of funds does not allow for the care and upkeep of the sites.  PACE also brought a cultural exhibition to the Friends Center for all to view and buy.  

PACE is interested in not only restoring the historic sites, but publishing its findings in books and pamphlets.  They educate Palestinians and internationals about the importance of these historic sites and how to care for them.  If you come to Palestine and would like to know more about the historic sites in Palestine or would like to visit them, please contact PACE and make arrangements with them to visit the sites.  pace@p-ol.com

2.  FICR has been hosting the meetings of the planning committee for an international conference on non-violence that will take place April 18-20 in Bil’in, less than an hour north of Ramallah.  Bil’in has become one of the sites for Palestinian, Israeli, and international resistance to the Wall every Friday after prayers.  The conference will bring together grassroots nonviolent Palestinian, Israeli, and international activists to look at common nonviolent strategies for ending the Israeli military occupation.  This conference follows the Palestinian conference which will take place in Bil’in prior to the international conference.  You can learn more about the conference and register to attend it at the following site: 

http://bilin-village.org/conference2007/

3.  From March 14 until April 10 Kathy Bergen will be traveling to the UK and US.  Please check “Events” (to be posted soon) on the new website for places she will be speaking while abroad.  


From the Ramallah Friends Meeting:

We continue to receive guests and Sojourners in Meeting for Worship on Sunday mornings.  It is always a privilege to have others come and worship with us.  

From March 27 – April 3 Jean Zaru, Presiding Clerk of Ramallah Friends Meeting, will travel to Sweden at the invitation of the Christina Odenburg, the Bishop of Lund, and the first woman Lutheran bishop of Sweden.  After her many speaking engagements in Sweden, Jean will travel to The Netherlands to attend the annual meeting of the Europe and the Middle East Section of Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC) to be held April 5-8.


From the Occupation: Monthly Action Focus:

The last FICR newsletter gave some background information about the visa situation for Palestinians living outside of Palestine, but wishing to travel to Palestine.  These included Palestinians with dual citizenship wishing to live and work in Palestine, spouses separated from their families wanting to live together as a family in Palestine, and Palestinians with dual citizenship wishing to visit Palestine, but had been refused entry to Palestine.  Internationals wishing to live and work in Palestine are also affected.  The MYRTOE (My Right to Enter/re-enter) Campaign is continues to work to change Israeli policy on this issue and has made some gains.  However, there are many unanswered questions and unresolved issues.  Many who previously were not allowed to enter Palestine have been allowed to come in and many who had overstayed their visas (and had not left the OPT to renew their visas for fear of being denied entry when they tried to re-enter) have been given extensions.  However, many are still being refused entry and MYRTOE is continuing to work on the issues that are blocks to entry/re-entry to Palestine.  

Condoleezza Rice, when she spoke to an Arab American Gala Banquet a few months ago, said “I will do everything in my power” to change this policy.  We need to hold her accountable to this statement.  She can do a lot to change this policy and those of you living in the US can help by writing her and asking her to fulfill her promise.  

The points to make in a letter to her are:  
- there are many who have been able to enter the West Bank who had been denied entry prior the release of the Mishlev letter in January, 2007.  
- many are still being refused entry and/or are not able to extend their overstayed visas.  The Mishlev letter states they should be able to enter and/or extend their visas, even if they have received a “No Entry” stamp in their passport.  
- that she can help to change this inhumane practice by pressuring the Israeli authorities to change their policy so that every Palestinian who wants to live with his/her family in the West Bank can do so and so internationals can enter and live in the West Bank.  

You can find more background information about this issue on the MYRTOE website:  

www.righttoenter.ps

Your letter to Condoleezza Rice is important.  A change of Israeli policy on this issue can help many families to live together again.  

Writing a letter is the more effective than sending an e-mail.  Send your letter to:  
Condoleezza Rice
Secretary of State
US Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC  20520

Many of you receiving this newsletter do not live in the US.  You can also make an important contribution by contacting your “Ministry of Foreign Affairs” or whatever this department is called in your country and make sure that Israel is allowing citizens from your country to enter Palestine.  

IMPORTANT:  If you know of someone from your country that has been refused entry or re-entry to Palestine, please contact anita_abdullah@hotmail.com and report this case.  Anita works with MYRTOE and is collecting names of persons who have been refused entry and re-entry.    

Kathy Bergen
Program Coordinator