Take Action to Protest Israeli Attack on Gaza

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Mid-morning Saturday, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) launched a series of deadly air strikes on the occupied Gaza Strip. As we write this, an estimated 275 people have been killed. Hundreds of innocent people have been wounded. According to news reports today, Israel plans to keep these attacks going and has brought scores of tanks to the border with Gaza.

These Israeli attacks come on top of a brutal siege of the Gaza Strip which has been going on for years and has created a humanitarian catastrophe of dire proportions for Gaza’s 1.5 million Palestinian residents by restricting the provision of food, fuel, medicine, electricity, and other necessities of life. All of this is happening in the most densely populated and one of the poorest areas of the world.

Israel is carrying out these attacks with F-16 fighter jets and missiles provided by U.S. taxpayers. From 2001-2006, the United States transferred to Israel more than $200 million worth of spare parts to fly its fleet of F-16’s. In July 2008, the United States gave Israel 186 million gallons of JP-8 aviation jet fuel. Last year, the United States signed a $1.3 billion contract with Raytheon to transfer to Israel thousands of TOW, Hellfire, and ‘bunker buster’ missiles.

Israel’s lethal attack on the Gaza Strip could not have happened without the active military and political support of the United States. We need to take action now to protest this attack and demand an immediate cease-fire.

Peace Action is a proud member of United for Peace and Justice along with The U.S. Campaign to End the Israel Occupation.  They have issued an action alert with these suggestions — we urge you to take action today!

* Contact the White House to protest the attacks and demand an immediate cease-fire. Call 202-456-1111 or send an email to comments@whitehouse.gov.
* Contact the State Department at 202-647-6575.
* Contact your Representative and Senators in Congress at 202-224-3121.
* Contact your local media by phoning into a talk show or writing a letter to the editor.
* Organize a local protest or vigil and tell us about it by clicking here.

Background Information

Below are three articles you may want to read for background information and reports on the Gaza crisis.

‘If Gaza Falls…
‘, Sara Roy, Professor at Harvard’s Center For Middle Eastern Studies and author of ‘Failing Peace: Gaza and the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict’.

Gaza Massacres Must Spur Us To Action‘, Ali Abunimah, Co-founder of The Electronic Intifada and author of ‘One Country: A Bold Proposal to End the Israeli-Palestinian Impasse’ (Metropolitan Books, 2006).

Report on Gaza‘, Physicians for Human Rights-Israel, Update December 22, 2008.

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Showing 13 comments
  • The Intellectual Redneck
    Reply

    A boat load of lunatics tried to sail a private yacht into Gaza under the pretense of delivering medical supplies. They were turned back by the Israeli Navy. The boats collided during the encounter. However, the damage was light. Unfortunately, head Moonbat, former US Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, did not fall overboard during the encounter.

    Far-Left Hamas Supporters Coming to Gaza by Sea

    by Nissan Ratzlav-Katz

    (IsraelNN.com) Free Gaza, a far-left organization offering support to the jihadist Hamas government in the Palestinian Authority, sent a ship on Monday to defy the Israeli sea blockade on Gaza. Despite the major IDF military operation underway, sixteen Free Gaza activists, including a former member of the US Congress, are on their way to the region.

    The ship, a yacht, left from Cyprus this evening carrying Free Gaza supporters from Britain, Australia, Ireland, Cyprus and Tunisia, as well as former US Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney. Free Gaza spokesmen told the press before they set off that their ship is carrying three and a half tons of medical supplies, including antibiotics. The yacht is the sixth of its kind sent to Gaza by the organization in four months.

    A Cypriot doctor on board the ship said that they are sending a message to PA residents that “they are not alone.” McKinney said that she intends to call on American President-elect Barack Obama to condemn Israel’s Operation “Cast Lead” against the jihadist regime in Gaza. Link here. The Intellectual Redneck

  • Thomas
    Reply

    The Palestinians have been sending rockets into Israel, and now they get their just deserves. The Palestinians can’t even get along with each other, and since they do not constitute a distinct race or faith, should have no homeland.

  • Mary Desio
    Reply

    Although I generally support your efforts, in this case you are wrong. Israel wants Hamas to stop it’s attacks. Hamas wants Israel to be eradicated. There is no way to mediate this.

  • s
    Reply

    Dec 30 2008: noon Rally to end Israeli air attacks against Gaza, and possible invasion in Albany NY
    see http://activistresource.org/calendar/cal_event.php?id=12109

  • Martha Perkins
    Reply

    There is going to be an interfaith prayer vigil for peace by local interfaith activists on Friday, January 2, at 11:00 a.m. in front of the Federal Buiding on Wilshire Blvd. in Westwood.

    A Prayer for Peace ~ Hazrat Inayat Khan ~

    Send Thy peace, O Lord, which is perfect and everlasting, that our souls may radiate peace.

    Send Thy peace, O Lord, that we may think, act, and speak harmoniously.

    Send Thy peace, O Lord, that we may be contented and thankful for Thy bountiful gifts.

    Send Thy peace, O Lord, that amidst our worldly strife we may enjoy thy bliss.

    Send Thy peace, O Lord, that we may endure all, tolerate all in the thought of thy grace and mercy.

    Send Thy peace, O Lord, that our lives may become a divine vision, and in Thy light all darkness may vanish.

    Send Thy peace, O Lord, our Father and Mother, that we Thy children on earth may all unite in one family.

    Amen.

    ~ Thomas Merton ~

    So, instead of loving

    what you think is peace,

    love others

    and love God above all.

    And instead of hating

    the people

    you think are warmongers,

    hate the appetite

    and the disorder

    in your own soul,

    which are the causes of war.

    If you love peace

    then hate injustice,

    hate tyranny,

    hate greed,

    but hate these things

    in yourself,

    not in another.

  • Maria
    Reply

    a prayer for people to live in israel the way people live in brooklyn: everybody is equal does not matter race or religion

  • "R" Addison
    Reply

    tO peace-People,
    As a 42-years engaged as a pro-Reduction nuclear-Weapons that now includes no: NSDU-238 usages, non-Violent, peace-Activist my compatriots everywhere in the western states have found there is a way thru “direct-Action” against the tyranny-Gate: autocrats-of-Hegemony.Do not only vigil against civilian-Killings and wars-Illegal, but bring-the-Bases-Home (all 737 military bases), get nuclear missile-Silos off 24/7 alert status, halt sales of fighter jets parts to Israels, and give-Peace a chance for the 25-Years following today’s 25 years of undeclared-Wars by following thru utilizing phone calls to the corrupt u-S Congress who is swayed by the Lobby of Israels, by continuing support against Hamas, and support for a continuation of food-Distribution against those tactics of indignant anti-Human Rights” of Israels accosting(s). Maintain a positive identity, not a negating endemnic…

    San Francisco will demonstrate @ 456 Montgomery St,. in front of Sen. Feinstein’s office, local-Plaza in Sonoma–presented by Sonoma-Valley peace & Justice 501c, today 12-30-08/Sonoma County Peace & Justice in Santa Rosa and Marin County Peace ‘n Justice in San Rafael, to name a few others–many more will stand in solidarity…

    from the peace-Warrior, “R” Addison

  • Margaret Nielsen
    Reply

    Press Release – Lansing, Michigan

    At a Vigil, Lansing Area Peace Activists Call for a Cease Fire in Gaza and an Immediate End to the Gaza Blockade

    Lansing, MI: At a peace vigil outside the Michigan Capitol at noon, Friday, January 2, the Greater Lansing Network Against War & Injustice (GLNAWI) (www.GLNAWI.org) and the Peace Education Center (www.PeaceEdCenter.org) join the United Nations and millions around the world, including the 1,000 Israelis who protested in the streets of Tel Aviv this weekend, in condemning the Israeli embargo and military violence in Gaza.

    At Friday’s peace vigil, local people call on the U.S. government for leadership toward an immediate end to all violence and attacks on civilians, whether Palestinian or Israeli. We call for an immediate end of the Israeli blockade and embargo, which is depriving the people of Gaza basic needs of food, medicine, fuel, electricity, clean water and medical equipment. This Israeli blockade of Gaza is illegal and is causing a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. For months, 1.5 million Palestinians in Gaza have been systematically denied basic supplies under the Israeli blockade. The blockade must end.

    The Israeli bombardment of civilian locations is illegal and a disproportionate response in the ongoing conflict. The Israeli government says its bombs are in response to rocket attacks by militants in Gaza, which have killed five Israelis. But according to the United Nations, the bombardment had killed over 300 Palestinians and wounded at least 1400 as of December 29th. All rockets and bombing must end.

    GLNAWI and the Peace Education Center condemn all violence – the blockade, the rockets being fired into Israel, and Israeli military action in Gaza. We believe that for there to be peace in the region, negotiation is required, not military action.

    “Regardless of who is at fault today, the situation in Israel and Palestine is not sustainable. We must find another way. The first step is a cease-fire in Gaza. Peace negotiations lead by the United Nations should commence immediately,” said Tom Rico, co-chair of the Peace Education Center.

    Who: The Lansing Peace Vigil Community, Greater Lansing Network Against War & Injustice (www.glnawi.org), & Peace Education Center (www.peaceedcenter.org)
    What: Vigil for peace, cease fire in Gaza and Israel, and ending blockade of Gaza
    When: Noon – 1:00 pm on Friday, January 2, 2009
    Where: In front of the Michigan Capitol Building at Michigan & Capitol Avenues in Lansing, Michigan

  • Rev. Gretchen Winkler
    Reply

    Does anyone know of any protests in the Chicago area?I have no idea how to organize one, but can certainly marshall peace loving Christians, myself included, to attend. Israel has an embassy in Chicago, and there are also federal and state buildings in the city. Someone, please help.

  • Deidre Consolati
    Reply

    A New Year’s Day peace vigil focused on Israel’s latest attacks on Gaza will be held in Pittsfield MA at Park Square from 5 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, January 1, 2009.

  • Ellis
    Reply

    I can’t send Email to comments@whitehouse.gov and MSN address book won’t accept it as a valid address.

  • yiddi inuface
    Reply

    israel’s lack of proportionality is an outrage. when will they begin referring to palestinians as sons of pigs and monkeys? when will israel vow to eradicate palestinians? when will they get rid of more than a million arab citizens of israel and refuse to have even one palestinian live in their midst? when will israel exercise proportionality and refuse to allow arabs to enlist in schools and colleges, serve in parliament, receive medical treatment in hospitals and clinics? those israelis were up to their tricks when they totally got out of gaza years ago and allowed palestinians to rule their own lives. the israelis knew hamas would brook no opposition, and start throwing dissenting palestinians off rooftops. those nasty israelis knew that would happen but left gaza anyway. why didn’t they respond with proportionality and lob 8000 missiles randomly into gaza? why? why? why?

  • Judi
    Reply

    Everyone has the right to protect themselves. But no one has the right to vengeance.
    The killing of so many innocent people to prove a point.
    “Vengeance Is Mine” saith the Lord. Jewish people still haven’t figured that out yet.
    After the Hell they went through with Hitler you would think they couldn’t treat others that way.
    Stop the Killing of the Innocent.

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