Chicago turns out to demand Justice for Shireen Abu Akleh, End to Palestinian dispossession
On May 11, Palestinian-American Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was killed during an Israeli army raid on Jenin in the northern West Bank. Outrage over her killing, and for the subsequent Israeli police attacking her funeral in Jerusalem, prompted calls to demand justice and accountability. For more background, read the Jewish Currents interview with Professor Rashid Khalidi and reporting from the Electronic Intifada. U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib held a moment of silence to honor Shireen Abu Akleh in Congress and has led calls to end U.S. military support for Israel.
"These acts [killing of Shireen Abu Akleh and attacking her funeral] are indicative of a culture of impunity has become normalized with regard to Israel’s conduct in the Occupied Territories, whether in relation to these incidents or in regard to the ongoing demolition of Palestinian homes, as is currently underway at Masafer Yatta and elsewhere. The culture of impunity is also evident in settler attacks on Palestinians while Israeli forces do little or nothing to prevent or stop them. Acts of violence involving individuals, groups, and states must end and those responsible must be held accountable.”
Faith Forum Alert, May 2022
Commemorating the Nakba
On May 15, Palestinians commemorated the Nakba, ("Catastrophe"), the dispossession in 1948. Members of Congress introduced H.R. 1123, recognizing the Nakba and Palestinian refugee rights. To learn more about the Nakba, you can find resources here, including this powerful video by a survivor of the Dawayima massacre produced by IMEU and Project 48.
Take Action for Masafer Yatta
“I decided to become an activist after witnessing the increasing violence of settlers in my village. I remember, for example, returning from school one day when I was in the third grade to find that a settler had chased after my uncle and his herd of goats, stabbing one of the goats 14 times.”
Ali Awad, Palestinian journalist from the village of Tuba in the south Hebron hills, writing in 972 Magazine
Take Action:
Tell Congress to End Support for Israeli demolition of homes and schools!
Learn more about the campaign to save Masafer Yatta here.
No Way to Treat a Child Campaign
Supporters of the No Way to Treat a Child Campaign attended the Chicago Palestinian Film Festival showing of the film "Caging Childhood" to a sold out audience. Buttons and literature were distributed! Click here to view the 20 minute film online.
Did you miss our May Online Programs on Gaza?
Recordings of two recent webinars on Gaza are online! "Climate Change and Food Sovereignty in Gaza" co-hosted by AFSC and the Adalah Justice Project is summarized in this article. A conversation with Defense for Children International-Palestine's Gaza field worker Mohammed Abu Rukbeh can be viewed here. A short video about Mohammed's work in Gaza is also available here.
AFSC continues to collection donations for school supplies for Palestinian children in Gaza, while urging all to contact your member of Congress to call for an end to the blockade of Gaza.