Seeing for Myself: Gaza

Dear Friends:

Over the past few years the Middle East Peace Education Project has presented several public forums about the conflict in Israel and Palestine. However we’ve not had an opportunity to present clearly on the impact of the Israeli war on Gaza (Dec. ’08 – Jan. ’09) because of the very limited access allowed by Israel into Gaza.

Susan Johnson, a Quaker from Philadelphia traveled to Gaza in May ’09 as part of a UN Reliefs and Works Agency (UNRWA) delegation.        

 I am delighted now to have Susan share her experience with the Des Moines community:

Seeing for Myself: Gaza, May 2009  

by: Susan Johnson

                                                Presentation: Thursday, May 6: 7:00 pm

                                    Des Moines Valley Friends Meeting, 4211 Grand Ave.

In May 2009 I traveled to Gaza with a small delegation from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. The delegation traveled with letter of invitation from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency. At UNRWA’s request they focused their attention on the children of Gaza; impacts the children experienced as result of the Dec. 27, 2008 – Jan. 17, 2009 bombardment and invasion and the blockade against Gaza.

Seeing for Myself: Gaza, May 2009 is my story: the things I experienced, saw and heard in Gaza; my insights, thoughts and concerns. The presentation shares a view of Gaza most people have never seen. Moving photographs of Gaza capture its engaging children and beauty as well as the destruction inflicted during “Operation Cast Lead”. My presentation is very personal and powerful. I took from Gaza a commitment to the people I met and to myself to share the Gaza I found and the stories of people I met.

Please join us.

Thank you,

Kathleen McQuillen

515-274-4851, ext: 22

Location