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“Citizen Paul’s®” Open Letter To Mr. Netanyahu and the Citizens of Israel
Message to President Obama
The U.S. State Department Allows Israel to Deny Students’ Scholarships!
WHERE THE ECONOMIC CRISIS BEGAN: How the Securities & Exchange Commission Opened the Floodgates For Abuse in 2004
Breaking the silence challenges the Israeli army
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The Iraqi government recently reported that 85,000 civilians were killed between 2004 and 2008 during the worst of the sectarian violence that pushed the country to the brink of full-scale civil war. Thousands more were seriously injured.
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This Publication Reveals the Facts on the Ground. A Complete and Dynamic Account of the Stark Reality and Oppression of Palestinians in their own land.
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ENOUGH IS ENOUGH: It’s Time For The U.S. To Respond To Israeli Insults
WHERE DO THEY GO FROM HERE? The Iraqi Parliamentary Election And The Formation Of A New Government
THE IRAQI ELECTIONS 2010
Human Rights Abuses- “Citizen Paul’s®” Open Letter To Mr. Netanyahu and the Citizens of Israel
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Time for Action
Listen to an Introduction from Citizen Paul
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Let’s not just talk about what needs to be done —
LET’S DO IT!
America must require the so-called government of Israel (with the K.A.S.M. lurking behind and over it) to immediately and completely reform the way it deals with and treats the Palestinians.
There must be Respect and Humanity (there is none now).
There must be Cooperation and Assistance for all those agencies who are presently trying to help while the Israeli Junto constantly and criminally tries to hurt.
Israel must NOW — immediately — Cooperate with the United Nations, the European Union, the United States and all the of the various agencies that work every day in Israel to assuage and counteract the harm and damage that the Israeli Junto (the K.A.S.M.) metes out to the helpless Palestinians under their control.
THIS IS THE FIRST STEP! THERE ARE MANY OTHERS TO FOLLOW.
LET’S MOVE ISRAEL!
Let’s get on the path to Justice, Freedom, and Humanity
Let’s Rid Israel’s Government Control Center (the K.A.S.M.) of the vicious and corrupt element that destroys Israel’s reputation — even as you read this Plea for Action.
The Possible Dream
Freedom, Prosperity, and Security for Israelis and Palestinians
Listen to an Introduction from Citizen Paul
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This report is the culmination of my recent trip and many years of in-depth research on Israel and Palestine. For 60 years, this seemingly insurmountable conflict between two peoples – two countries, both deserving of free and independent homelands – has raged. And for as many years, all attempts to bring a two-state solution have failed.
It’s clear from my experience that the political will among moderates on both sides is there. Even families who have suffered the personal loss of loved ones at the hands of extremists on the other side have stated that they want this violent battle for land to stop. They are ready to engage in serious negotiations – to make personal sacrifices that will lead to equitable boundaries and a peaceful future… but the K.A.S.M. has always prevented it!
The outline for our plan follows.
PILLARS FOR OUR BRIDGE TO PEACE
The Pillars and the Critical Steps of the Plan
The Vital "Highway" Connecting Gaza and the West Bank
- Establish State of Palestine
- East Jerusalem would be the capital of the Palestinian State
- Normal Peaceful Relations
- Comprehensive Arab-Israeli Peace
- An end to “The Wall”
- True and Historic Reconciliation
- U.S. and International Guarantees for Israeli and Palestinian Security
- Regional Security and Prosperity
- Key Roles for U.S. and U.N.
- Israeli Statement: Freeze of Settlements, Comprehensive Peace Treaty, and Establishment of Palestinian State
- Palestinian Statement: Announce Agreement to
Peaceful Coexistence, Ratification of State of Palestine, Agreement to Mutual Boundaries - Fund for Palestine
- Territorial Settlement
- Historic International Peace Treaty
- Critical Role for Security Council
- Formal Israeli and Palestinian Ratification
- Formal Endorsement by the U.N. General Assembly and
the International Community
The United Nations Literally Holds the Gaza Strip & The West Bank Together
“This siege is effectively imprisoning the vast majority of Gaza’s population.”
Listen to an Introduction from Citizen Paul
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The United Nations plays a major role in trying to resolve the Israel-Palestinian conflict, and there has been strong support for giving the UN greater authority to step in and effectively make the territories a UN trusteeship. During the period of intense conflict in 2002, a strong majority supported the UN’s effort to conduct a fact-finding mission in Jenin and a plurality approved the UN Security Council calling for Israel to withdraw its forces from Palestinian cities.
The purpose of this fact-finding mission was to establish the facts about what happened in the struggle between the IDF and Palestinian militants in Jenin and to evaluate rumors and reports of war crimes against civilians.
Originally a suggestion of the Israeli Foreign Minister, the UN fact-finding mission was backed by the United States. After a few days, the Israeli government reversed course and refused cooperation with the fact-finding mission.
The “Gaza Strip” is an arid rectangular territory 25 miles long and 6 miles wide that has a population of 1.5 million Palestinians. Through military force Israel fully controls the Gaza Strip from the sea, the air, and on land so that the designation “occupied territory” continues to apply even though 8,000 Israeli settlers were evacuated in 2005.
Today nearly 80% of Gazans live in poverty and about half of these are classified as “extremely impoverished by the United Nations. Unemployment is today near 50% and the average GDP is less than $1,500 making Gaza one of the poorest as well as most densely populated areas of the world.
The former United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights, John Dugard, said in 2006, “Gaza is a prison and Israel seems to have thrown away the keys.”
The plight of Palestinian women
During my 2008 visit, I attended a meeting where recent findings from the Occupied Palestinian Territory Report (pictured above) were discussed and the obvious facts – that political, economic and social conditions have continued to deteriorate and inter-factional violence increased, making it clear that without greater support for UN and other NGOs, like Mercy Corps, initiatives to help the Palestinian people, the efforts to bring about a solution will fail.
Since October 2007, Israel has restricted the amount of fuel it allows to supply Gaza’s only power plant. As a result, the plant can only produce 55 megawatts out of a potential 80 megawatts causing power cuts from four to eight hours per day. And Gaza City’s sewage treatment plant requires 14 days of uninterrupted power supply for the full duration of the treatment cycle.
The bulk of the sewage is being pumped out to the sea in Gaza, and the latest development of sewage being pumped into storm water lagoons in heavily populated areas remains a serious concern. Fishermen at the Gaza harbor claim that the sewage has killed most sea life in the immediate vicinity, and the major health concern is that sewage introduces the ecoli bacteria into bathing water.
All key aspects of humanitarian assistance from the hospitals, food assistance programs, water, sanitation, and transport of goods from the border crossings to storage or the market are impossible without fuel.
Despite these hardships, the UN continues to fight for the rights and well-being of the Palestinian people. We thank them for their tireless work to alleviate the suffering and bring humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people.
Meeting With Israeli Activist Leaders and Palestinian Graduate Students
I was eager to get our Israeli and Palestinian friends together in Jerusalem at the beautiful Abrahams Herberge Hotel/Boys School in Bethlehem. This we did with Omar and three graduate students from Bethlehem University – Shatha Dakkah, Oday Jubran, and Amir Bannoura – together with our Israeli friends Hagit Ofran and Yizhar Be’er.
Listen to an Introduction from Citizen Paul
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We had a great meeting and discussion together. The essence was that these dynamic people would continue to work together in an effort to smooth the way for Palestinians to have greater access to all parts of Jerusalem and Israel. They are also dedicated to enhancing their new friendships that started here. To move ahead with the optimistic anticipation that there will be a cooperative two-state solution — soon — with much coordination between Israelis and Palestinians. All of these dedicated people met and pledged to work together for Palestine and Israel. |
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The U.S. State Department Allows Israel to Deny Students’ Scholarships!
No Religion or Ethic Would Allow This!
Yet, Israel Did It and the U.S. State Department Approved it!
Listen to an Introduction from Citizen Paul
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Among the brightest and the best, Zohair Shaban was one of seven detained Palestinian Fulbright Scholars who were unable to leave Gaza back in May 2008. Upon learning of this injustice, we published an editorial, “Israel, Please Wake Up!” on our website and received the following email from Zohair Shaban.
July 15, 2008
Dear Mr. Paul,
Thanks to Google Engine that guided us to your article titled “Israel Please Wake Up!” During the past period we used to regularly check what is written on our story in the media and the web. We read your article and are very impressed with it since it described an aspects of the hard life in Gaza particularly, education.
We would like to take the opportunity and express our appreciation to you for your thoughts, support and sympathy. We definitely believe the media is a very crucial tool affecting decision making and public opinion formation.
We share you the opinion that this matter shouldn’t have taken a lot from US to accomplish and this is what was written in the letter addressed to Secretary Rice when she recently visited Jerusalem. (Have a look on it here: deprived-gaza-students.blogspot.com.)
We read many article written in this story and most of them failed to mention that the banning policy is not merely for Fulbrighters but for all students here in Gaza, but your article mentioned this and this is a plus. Luckily, Gazans Fulbright story struck in the media and had widely spread, so our scholarships were reinstated and the US consulate (in behalf of State Department) said it’s committed to us to travel and join our programs at US. But what about the non-Fulbright student? Who will be committed to them and who will work to facilitate their exit? We hope your professionally-written article will have the desired impact on the decision makers in USA to press Israel to facilitate the travel of not only Fulbright Grantees but all students planning to pursue degrees abroad or in Westbank.
Back to our case, the most shocking thing was that we were banned for having “family ties” with Hamas and we think this is ridiculous!! We believe this is a justification that Israel had to mention instead of “No reasons, we want to ban them because we don’t like dictations.” No recent news regarding our travel and we still stranded in Gaza, but despite all what happened, we still have a high soul and we believe we will be able to join our respective programs.
Finally, thank you again for your kind efforts to clarify the truth and rectify the US policy in the Middle East. Please keep us posted if any reactions took place and we welcome any discussion in our issue.
Best regards,
On behalf of the three trapped Fulbright students,
Zohair M. Abu-Shaban
Latest from Zohair
We are determined not to be rendered a dependent people lacking advanced education.
And yet the silence of the world suggests that Israel will succeed in keeping us within the limiting confines of Gaza. Perhaps American students will think of me and my fellow Palestinian students as the academic year begins. We long for a similar opportunity.
HOW DISGRACEFUL! THIS DESTROYS ISRAEL’S AND AMERICA’S REPUTATIONS!
Our Purpose Now is to Establish an Independent Palestinian State
Tzipi Livni
From Deception To Hope!
Listen to an Introduction from Citizen Paul
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Tzipi Livni, even though a past agent in the Mossad Spy Network, too, needs to have an honest non-threatening AIPAC and JINSA.
She is the “Great Hope” for an honest, respected, and admired Israel in spite of the obstacles in her way.
Tzipi Livni has the experience, character, and historic background to finally achieve a lasting Peace and a viable Two-State Solution with the Palestinians.
We commend Tzipi Livni, but ask her to call for an immediate cease-fire from Israel and Hamas – and to announce to the world that Israel is ready, willing, and able to cooperate fully with the UN, USA, EU, and Russia. She must also state clearly that Israel will accept and promote a viable Two-State Solution with Palestine — giving full rights and independence in the West Bank and Gaza!
Here, with the help of these activists, is how she can do it:
Overview – the only way that Israel can survive as a Jewish nation is to finally agree with the Palestinians to a separate viable country for them within the approximate borders that existed after the 1967 War.
Jerusalem must be shared as the capital of Palestine and Israel.
Stop all building of settlements in the West Bank and encroachments into cities like Hebron, Nablus, Jerusalem, etc. In short, stop all building on Palestinian land – and removal of settlers from most of the West Bank. Israel would reimburse those ”Settlers” for their investment.
Israel must agree to adjust the security barrier (the WALL) so it runs as close as possible to the 1967 line – and to completely revamp it where Israel has “stolen” land around unapproved “settlements” that restrict Palestinians from their own farmland.
Ms. Livni should stop Israel’s Knesset, Army, Shin Bet, and Mossad (the K.A.S.M.)* from promoting divisions among the Palestinians. It is counterproductive to encourage Fatah to fight Hamas. She should, if she can, promote peace by freeing large numbers of prisoners who have been languishing in Israeli jails, especially Marwan Barghouti – a strong and effective Palestinian leader – to bolster the ranks of Mahmoud Abbas, to help him muster the support to get the Two-State Solution done – with a Unified Palestine (including both Hamas and Fatah).
We commend Ms. Livni in every way and urge our new President Barack Obama and his team to move ahead and get this done.
AND – Ms. Tzipi Livni can restore the historic glory of the Jewish people (as personified by Rabbi Michael Lerner) – by altering the dangerous and bitterly divisive present course of Israel – and its “hidden control mechanism” – the terrible Junto, the “K.A.S.M.”
Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian National Authority
Mahmoud Abbas has been so cooperative, so understanding, and so wonderful in all of the negotiations with Israel (Olmert), the United States (Bush), the U.K. (Blair), and everyone — that if Israel does not agree NOW to a equitable Two-State Solution — it proves (once and for all) that Israel is not, and never has been, interested in achieving real Peace — and that it will never be satisfied unless they
“Have It All!”
Marwan Barghouti, Fatah Palestinian Leader in Israeli Jail
Israel Must Free Marwan Barghouti
Listen to an Introduction from Citizen Paul
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Marwan Barghouti, Palestinian Leader for Fatah
September 5, 2002, began the trial of elected member of the Palestinian parliament Marwan Barghouti by an Israeli civilian court in Tel Aviv. The event followed the abduction of the Palestinian leader by Israeli occupation forces on April 15, 2002, in the al-Bireh district of Ramallah. As a political leader and Secretary-General for Fatah in the West Bank, the Israeli administration wished to hold Marwan Barghouti responsible for terrorist attacks carried out inside Israel by the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, in spite of his repeated calls in the past for an end to such attacks.
Deeming the court to have no legal legitimacy (Barghouti’s abduction and subsequent transfer to occupier territory were in contravention of the Oslo Accords and 4th Geneva Convention), Barghouti refused to provide a defense to the charges brought against him. On May 20, 2004, Marwan Barghouti was convicted of five counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.
On June 6, 2004, he was sentenced to five life sentences and an additional 40 years in prison.
ABDUCTION
Barghouti was apprehended in Ramallah, which falls under Palestinian legal jurisdiction. Legal experts view Israel’s apprehension of Barghouti as an act of hostage-taking, or abduction, both illegal under international law. Furthermore, Barghouti is an elected member of the Palestinian Legislative Council (parliament), and is therefore entitled to parliamentary immunity, which Israel
infringed upon.
TRANSFER TO TERRITORY OF THE OCCUPYING STATE
On May 26, 2002, the Israeli authorities transferred Barghouti to the Petah Tikva Detention Center in Israel proper. This is in contravention of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which proscribes the transfer of people under occupation to the territory of the occupier.
TORTURE
Barghouti was moved to the Israeli detention center, where he was subjected (from the Israeli General Security service – GSS) to physical and psychological abuse.
WHEN FREED, THIS NATURAL LEADER CAN BRING FATAH & HAMAS TOGETHER!
We Must Stop All Funding & Enabling of Israel!
No more $3 Billion per year or unlimited access to our military, scientific, and industrial complex - and no more gross attempts to influence our political system (Congress, White House, State Department, Pentagon, etc.). And, of course, no more spying.
No more “bowing down” to AIPAC, JINSA, and other Jewish Lobbies or their ”Neocon Manipulators” – effectively cutting off their current control [...]
THIS “HIDDEN FORCE” IS ALSO “KILLING” AMERICA’S RELATIONSHIP WITH ISRAEL!
WHERE IT CAME FROM
“Why should the Arabs make peace? If I was an Arab leader I would never make terms with Israel. That is natural: we have taken their country. Sure God promised it to us, but what does that matter to them? Our God is not theirs. We come from Israel, but two thousand years ago, and what [...]
NAKBA The Catastrophe
Listen to an Introduction from Citizen Paul
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Now – Turn the clock back to 1948 when the U.N. voted to partition Palestine into two states –– PALESTINE AND ISRAEL
NAKBA
“The Catastrophe”
Members of Haganah expel Palestinians from Haifa in 1948
Violence escalated immediately between Arabs and Jews. Menachem Begin and his Irgun, the Stern Gang, and the Haganah (Zionist terror gangs) began to slaughter Palestinians and to destroy Palestinian towns. Zionists “depopulated” over 200 Palestinian towns and villages (out of 475) before May 1948.
The Palestinians were easily outmatched by the well-armed Zionist terror gangs who ruthlessly took on the Palestinian
villages one by one. On April 9, 1948, the Irgun and the Stern Gang massacred 245 people in the village of Deir Yassin. Attacks such as the one on Deir Yassin terrified the Palestinians who began to flee for their lives.
Commander Menachem Begin addresses his Irgun troops
Israelis refer to the war in 1948 as the War of Independence or Liberation. Palestinians call it al Nakba – the Catastrophe. Al Nakba produced 700,000 Palestinian refugees. Those that did not flee were forcefully evacuated by the Zionist forces.
The Irgun and the Stern Gang were banned by the Israeli government in September 1948 after Count Folke Bernadotte, the UN mediator for the Israeli-Arab war, was assassinated by the Stern Gang. His murder was directed by Yitzhak Shamir – head of the militant LEHI faction. The Haganah later became the core of the Israel Defense Force.
Deir Yassin
Deir Yassin was a small Palestinian village close to Jerusalem. Early in the morning of April 9, 1948, commandos of the Irgun (headed by Menachem Begin) and the Stern Gang attacked the village with about 750 Palestinian residents.
Soldiers walk by 13-year-old Palestinian boy killed in Haifa
The village lay outside of the area to be assigned by the United Nations to the Jewish State; it had a peaceful reputation. But it was located on high ground in the corridor between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Deir Yassin was slated for occupation under Plan Dalet and the mainstream Jewish defense force, the Haganah, authorized the irregular terrorist forces of the Irgun and the Stern Gang to perform the takeover. (Led by Menachem Begin!)
These are the stories of some of the survivors:
Mr. Abu Mahmud, 70: “The Jews closed on the village amid exchanges of fire with us. Once they entered the village, fighting became very heavy in the eastern side and later it spread to other parts, to the quarry, to the village center until it reached the western edge. The battle was on three fronts, east, south, and north. The Jews used all sorts of automatic weapons, tanks, missiles, cannons. They used to enter houses and kill women and children indiscriminately. The youths in the village fought bravely against them and the fighting continued until it was around 15:30 in the afternoon. We had no aid or support from any party.”
Mr. Fahimi Zeidan, 12: “The Jews ordered all our family to line up against the wall and they started shooting us. I was hit in the side, but most of us children were saved because we hid behind our parents. The bullets hit my sister Kadri [four] in the head, my sister Sameh [eight] in the cheek, my brother Mohammed [seven] in the chest. But all the others with us against the wall were killed: my father, my mother, my grandfather and grandmother, my uncles and aunts and some of their children.”
Israeli nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu (3rd L) joins Palestinians in memorial march in 2005 at the original site of Deir Yassin
Ms. Haleem Eid, 30: “A man [shot] a bullet into the neck of my sister Salhiyeh who was nine months pregnant. Then he cut her stomach open with a butcher’s knife.”
Ms. Naaneh Khalil, 16, saw a man: “take a kind of sword and slash my neighbor Jamil Hish from head to toe then do the same thing on the steps to my house to my cousin Fathi.”
Ms. Safiyeh Attiyah, 41: “I screamed but around me other women were being raped too. Some of the men were so anxious to get our earrings they ripped our ears to pull them off faster.”
Mr. Mohamed Jaber, student: “The Jews [broke] in, [drove] everybody outside, put them against the wall and shot them. One of the women was carrying a three-month-old baby.”