manu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact stopjnf.us@gmail.com  

 {image_1}

A historic confrontation of the JNF by Atlanta Jews seeking the revocation of JNF’s charitable status  

On October 10, 2010, over 30 Atlanta Jews and other people of conscience protested the 2010 Jewish National Fund (JNF) Annual Conferenceheld at the Inter-Continental Hotel in Atlanta, GA over Columbus Day weekend.  At the start of the protest, the group sent a delegation into the conference, peacefully interrupting the main plenary.   Onemember of the delegation, Lisa Adler, shouted from the front of the plenary, "The JNF lied to me. I am a Jew who once gave but never again.  Find out the truth, JNF displaces Palestinians and covers up their villages with trees.  Join us in stopping the JNF and Israeli Apartheid."  Afterpeacefully delivering their message and facing punches and kicks, the delegation proceeded to the front entrance of the hotel and joined with the full group marching with signs and chanting, "JNF, shame on you, displacing people is what you do." 

The Jewish National Fund was founded in 1901 to acquire land for Jewish settlement. Jews around the world are familiar with donating to the JNF through itsblue and white signature collection boxes for campaigns such as "Plant a Tree in Israel".  In this way, the JNF has represented itself and been recognized in over 50 countries as a charitable environmental organization. However, Jews and others have become increasingly aware of its true role in Israel.  The JNF in reality, uses its reforestation projects to literally cover up Palestinian villages that have been destroyed to makeway for the state of Israel and thereby preventing the return of Palestinians to their land.  They are integral to an apartheid system in Israel by requiring that only Jews can lease or buy land that they control.  Currently, the JNF is displacing Bedouin populations in the Negev to make room for more Jewish-only settlements.  As the conscience around the world is raised around Israel’s policies, more and more Jews are speaking out and demanding an end to these discriminatory practices. 

 {image_2}

Photos, video and interviews available, including: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aareJ8-SgAM

Black Agenda Morning Shot for Monday, October 11, 2010: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StgGyj6mPKU

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact stopjnf.us@gmail.com  

A historic confrontation of the JNF by Atlanta Jews seeking the revocation of JNF’s charitable status  

On October 10, 2010, over 30 Atlanta Jews and other people of conscience protestedthe 2010 Jewish National Fund (JNF) Annual Conferenceheld at the Inter-Continental Hotel in Atlanta, GA over Columbus Day weekend.  At the start of the protest, the group sent a delegation into the conference, peacefully interrupting the main plenary.   Onemember of the delegation, Lisa Adler, shouted from the front of the plenary, "The JNF lied to me. I am a Jew who once gave but never again.  Find out the truth, JNF displaces Palestinians and covers up their villages with trees.  Join us in stopping the JNF and Israeli Apartheid."  Afterpeacefully delivering their message and facing punches and kicks, the delegation proceeded to the front entrance of the hotel and joined with the full group marching with signs and chanting, "JNF, shame on you, displacing people is what you do." 

The Jewish National Fund was founded in 1901 to acquire land for Jewish settlement. Jews around the world are familiar with donating to the JNF through itsblue and white signature collection boxes for campaigns such as "Plant aTree in Israel".  In this way, the JNF has represented itself and been recognized in over 50 countries as a charitable environmental organization. However, Jews and others have become increasingly aware of its true role in Israel.  The JNF in reality, uses its reforestation projects to literally cover up Palestinian villages that have been destroyed to makeway for the state of Israel and thereby preventing the return of Palestinians to their land.  They are integral to an apartheid system inIsrael by requiring that only Jews can lease or buy land that they control.  Currently, the JNF is displacing Bedouin populations in the Negev to make room for more Jewish-only settlements.  As the conscience around the world is raised around Israel’s policies, more and more Jews are speaking out and demanding an end to these discriminatory practices. 

{image_2}

Photos, video and interviews available, including: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aareJ8-SgAM

Black Agenda Morning Shot for Monday, October 11, 2010: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StgGyj6mPKU

TheInternational Jewish Anti-Zionist Network (www.ijsn.net)adds its voice to the loud call from people around the world to release AhmadSa’adat, General Secretary of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestineand member of the Palestinian Legislative Council. 

Sa’adat is one of 10,000 Palestinian political prisoners – women, men,children, organizers, activists and leaders – abducted and currently jailed byIsraeli forces. He is serving time for his legitimate and courageous commitmentto freedom and justice for his people and land.    

Sa’adat was jailed in 2002 by the Palestinian Authority under pressure from theUS, for his leadership rolein the Palestinian movement to end the occupation, and held in jail in Jericho. In 2006, Israeliforces abducted him and moved him to an Israeli prison. An Israeli apartheidtribunal subsequently sentenced him to 30 years in prison. Sa’adat is organizingin jail and has been put repeatedly in solitary confinement.

" title="" class="" />

"Education: A violated right in Palestine" was a conferene held by the Comisión Catalana Universitaria por Palestina (CUNCAP) / Catalonian University Comission for Palestine (http://cuncap.wordpress.com). An IJAN activist gave a presentation in the roundtable "Campaña Boicot, Desinversiones y Sanciones (BDS): argumentos para un compromiso activo desde la Universidad" / BDS campaign: Arguments for an active commitment from the university.

Dear FellowInternational Solidarity Activist,

We are calling onour international allies to take action in support of long-time peace and humanrights activists who have come under attack for their work against U.S.occupation and military intervention abroad.

On September 24^th,2010, the FBI subjected about a dozen anti-war activists and activists workingin solidarity with struggles in Palestine and Colombia to searches and raids oftheir homes in Illinois, Minnesota and Michigan.  Activists in California, Wisconsin and NorthCarolina were also harassed.

The activists inIllinois, Minnesota and Michigan were served with Grand Jury subpoenas.  They are refusing to testify, a brave choicewhich could land them in jail. The illegitimateGrand Jury process, which began on October 5, must be stopped. The raids andGrand Jury process constitute an FBI abuse of power clearly designed to createa climate of fear among those who dare to fight for peace and justice.  We must bevigilant in our defense of these activists and their right to continue theirimportant international solidarity work without harassment.

 {image_1}

This April 4th, 2009, IJAN was honored to be a presenter in the first annualWhite Privilege and U.S. Imperialism track of the White Privilege Conference.The 10th Annual Conference on White Privilege(WPC) was held this past April 1-4 in Memphis,Tennessee. The White PrivilegeConference is a national, annual, multi-racial conference.

The IJAN workshop, "Confronting Zionism as a Form of Racism," was a 3-hourlong, half-day institute. Its primary purpose was to historicize andcontextualize Zionism in the context of Racism and Imperialism. The workshopwas very well attended with over 30 actively engaged participants in livelydiscussion. (Read More to see the fullworkshop description.)

The Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid held a presentation and talk with Sergio Yahni from the Alternative Information Center on the history of the Zionist occupation and the building of Israel society. An IJAN member introduced Yahni and joined him for the debate with the students after the presentation.  

An IJAN activist presented a workshop on the history of the Zionistoccupation of Palestine, the building of Israel society, the movement againstthe occupation, and the role of women’s movement in that struggle. The workshop was in preparation fo r

Anti-Semitism,has recently become one of the most used (and misused) words in currentpolitical terminology. It falls into a category with other terms such as"Human Rights", and "terrorism" – terms often used but with"flexible," nebulous definitions.

Whereas renowned Jews have often denounced the misuse and thereforetrivialization of the term, few non-Jews have dared come forward to do thesame. This problem is often treated as if it were an inter-Jewish problem andnot one that concerns the whole of humanity.

The term anti-Semitism is often deliberately misused to silencecriticism, particularly to intimidate non-Jewish critics of Zionism, both inthe form of Israeli state policy and as policies of the Israel lobby abroad.

I believe that this intimidation of many non-Jews – especially in Germany- is so effective, because many are so insecure about what anti-Semitismactually is, where its limits lie, and how far one can criticize the actions ofthe Israeli government before committing anti-Semitism.