InArgentina, IJAN presented with the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement atthe Universidad Popular Madres Plaza de Mayo. The university wasfounded by those involved in the movement of mothers to identify andhold the government accountable for the "disappearance" of theirloved ones during the military dictatorship of the late 70s and early80s. In spite of a subway strike and the plumbing in the building notworking, we had an audience of 50 who listened with rapt attention.We presented with and were hosted by the Departmentof Genocide and Social Forces.

InVenezuela IJAN and MXGM had the opportunity to learn from and shareinformation with grassroots activists that are part of therevolution. Participants witnessed the opening day of apartments foralmost a thousand people, spoke at a university in the heart of the Afro-Venezuelan communities, were interviewed on national and local radio, and spoke with social movement activists from a number of different organizations. 

Last year we sent a delegation to Palestineto document evidence and learn about the role of the Jewish National Fund inthe on-going theft of Palestinian land and property land and cover-up of thedisplacement of the Palestinian people. 

Per the request of the Palestinian FarmersUnion, Stop the Wall Anti-Apartheid Committee, the Palestinian BDS NationalCommittee and the villages who have lost trees, agricultural plots, farms andhomes to the Israeli military, this year we are sending another delegation toplant trees in villages that are welcoming the effort to replant a fraction ofwhat they have lost. 

We are writing to ask you for your supportfor the January 5-14, 2013 Plant-a-Tree in Palestine delegation to buildsupport for the Campaign to stop the Jewish National Fund (JNF). Weare sending two delegates from the United States who will be planting trees anddocumenting the trip - taking photos and capturing video footage to createmedia and political education materials which we will use to grow thecampaign.

The delegation will be planting 112 trees in3 villages, one tree for each year the JNF has been colonizingPalestine. Many Palestinians have lost fruit bearing trees to JNFbulldozers- olive trees that had been tended for up to 1,000years and citrus trees tended for generations. Members of the PalestinianFarmers Union and other local farmers will choose which kinds of trees theywant to plant. Delegation participants will be activelyparticipating alongside Palestinian farmers in resisting the goals ofthe JNF.

Please considermaking a contribution to the delegation and/or planting a tree in Palestine. Each tree planted will godirectly to one of the three villages and will contribute toward thedelegation's expenses.

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PROTESTS IN cities across the U.S. continued against Israel's devastating assault on Gaza.

-- In San Francisco, 400 people gathered in front ofthe Israeli consulate on November 19 to support the people of Gaza. This was San Francisco's third protest in five days in response to Israel's attack on Gaza and its more than million and a half residents.

Organizations represented were Palestinian Youth Network, Al-Awda, the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network, the International Socialist Organization (ISO) and ANSWER. Protesters carried signs which read: "Zionism = Crime" and "End U.S. aid to Israel."

After a few speeches in front of the consulate, the crowd marched down Market to Union Square. With Saks Fifth Avenue as a backdrop, the assembled crowd chanted, "Stop your shopping. Bombs are dropping."

Israel has targeted media, apartment buildings, banks and infrastructure, giving the impression that there is nowhere to hide. Protesters chanted their indictment of both the Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and U.S. President Obama, charging them with genocide. Nimit, an educator in the Bay Area, who recently traveled to Gaza and the West Bank, said, "It's time Palestinians stand up."

"Every U.S. and Israeli administration says Israel has the right to defend itself," said Palestinian Youth Network's Loubna Qutami. "We say it has nothing to do with national defense. We say it's genocide." Invoking the spirit of the Arab Spring, she said, "Arab people are readyto live with dignity in their homelands." Qutami called the current assault "a flashback to 2009," adding, "we don't want to do this anotherthree years from now."

"After the election, Obama wasted no time showing his true colors when it comes to peace in the Middle East," said the ISO's Jeff Boyette."Obama doesn't see Palestinians as people. He doesn't see Palestine as astate that has the right to defend itself."