Panels Re: [statecom] HELP/Convention planning

Sun Aug 20 13:48:09 EDT 2006

On Panel on Palestine:

  We need to be careful about panels that Include "Israeli" "peace" movements activists - a large number of these folks support the the Jewish-priviledge (legalized racism, i.e. apartheid ) aspect of life in what is today called "Israel".  This would be like asking for a representative from the white Afrikaner anti-apartheid movement to talk on an anti-aparthied panel - not that we shouldn't do it - but lets' be careful.

  There are people, from all backgrounds, that hold an anti-racist position on Palestine but they are still probably in the minority in all ethnic cross-sections of US society except for Arab Americans and Native Americans.  (although this is slowly changing...)

  They are a minority inside of the Jewish so-called "peace" movement.  Rabbi Lerner for example (the most prominent member of the Jewish "peace" movement) supports a Jewish State with equal rights for all people - an oxymoron.   Jews for Justice in Palestine reject the Right of Return for Palestinians and support the "two-state" (racist) solution to the conflict.  I could continue to list "peace" activists that are hold racist views - these folks refuse to give up on the apartheid nature of "israel" and dsicriminate against Palestinians regarding application of basic human rights law.

  Let's invite people, of any background, who support our ten key values and our anti-racist position on the conflict.  We don't invite pro-life people to our conventions, or homophobes.  Let's be sure not to invite people who are racist.  

  The middle east conflict is between those who support human rights and international law and those who do not.  The ethnic background of the people on the pro-human rights side or the anti-human rights side is secondary.  Nevertheless, if we want a Jewish perspective on the Middle East, let's be sure to invite people who are not racist. 

  I think another topic of discussion, and maybe even more useful than a Palestine discussion (which we had already at last year's convention, by the way, given by a Palestinian and a non-racist Jewish person), would be about the role that the US, and US corparations plays in the other countries in the region such as Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt,... in order that people begin to get a better and more comprehensive understanding of US interests in the region....with the hope that eventually we can articulate a more comprehensive analysis of our relationship to the Arab and Muslim world - an analysis which is sorely needed and arguably the most important US foreign policy question to consider.  

  The reality is that most folks in the US have no idea what our interests are in the region and why it is that the US decision-makers have made certain decisions.

  Most folks have no idea what our relationship to Saudi Arabia or to Iran is all about, who are the people in these countries who the US supports and why, not to mention the lack of democratic and civil rights in these countries.  Most folks don't know the economic and political relationships that the US has with elites in these countries.

  I would invite Naseer Aruri of UMASS to speak on this topic - "US interests in the Middle East region and how it affects US policy toward each country in the region".  This is a tall order but I beleive that Naseer Aruri could do it.  I will make a short list of others who I think can take on this topic.

  And while we are on the topic of panel disucssions, is there going to be one on the plusses and minues of different local organizing strategies - the heart and soul of what our party needs to be about ?   If it's not too late, I would be willing to co-organize such a workshop looking at the different methods of building local Green bases or just local social justice organizations period, successful and not successful, that have been used in MA and elsewhere.  Anyone interested ?

  ron

Merelice <merelice at gmail.com> wrote:
  Hi,
I think a panel about building/strengthening a non-violent resistance
movement would be in keeping with the Party's Key Values and would be
an important component to lift up in our various statements and
activities in support of Palestine. I also believe it's time to
include members of the Jewish and Israeli Peace movements. Gordon
Davis in Worcester has organized several Mideast panels and included
Jews as well as Arabs. He should probably be consulted for
suggestions.

Alisa also suggested Hannah Mermelstein as a possibility. I have met
Hannah on one of her trips back to the U.S. She spends much (maybe
most) of her time in Palestine. I'm on her email list and have
resisted deluging Party lists with her reports though I recently might
have sent one of them. She did a Powerpoint presentation at one of Mel
King's Sunday brunches, and the photos were powerful. Mel, himself,
has been part of a couple of fact-finding trips to Palestine and met
with Yasser Arafat.

It would make sense to have some of our communications-oriented
members like Jim Henderson and Colby Peterson have input into this
workshop and/or panel.
Merelice

On 8/19/06, David Rolde wrote:
> I am concerned about inviting someone who is an Israeli citizen and
> former IOF soldier who may be a left-zionist (I'm not saying that
> Alisa definitely is a left-zionist. I just have not seen any evidence
> of her positions on several key issues in the material Owen sent
> about her). I know Palestinians who I could ask to do a workshop.
> I'll call Owen and we will figure this out.
>
> - David
>
> On Aug 19, 2006, at 2:40 PM, Owen Broadhurst wrote:
>
> > I noted Convention Committee minutes indicating that I was arranging a
> > workshop (presumably with Alisa Klein). This is the first I've
> > heard of this
> > news, but I'm quite willing to do this.
> >
> > Does the Convention Committee wish for me to contact and invite Alisa?
> >
> > OB
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