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Land Day 2005 |
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tell us if you made the call and how it went. |
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Background Information The confiscation of land led Palestinians within the 1948 borders to hold a general strike of repudiation, protesting the expropriation and colonization of their land. Israeli army and police responded to the demonstrations with violence, killing 6 Palestinians, in addition to injuring 96 others and arresting over 300. Arab villages and towns were declared as closed military zones by the Israeli authorities and a curfew imposed on a number of them. It has since become a painful reminder of Israeli injustice and oppression against the Palestinian people, and a day for demonstration linking all Palestinians in their struggle against occupation, and for self-determination and national liberation. This year's commemoration will take place in the shadow of the ever-expanding Apartheid Wall. The separation wall will annex 45% of the West Bank territory, leaving all Palestinians to live in 12% of historical Palestine. In the wall’s first phase alone some 2850 acres of agricultural land were damaged. Because the purpose of Land Day is to protest Israel's ongoing seizure of Palestinian land, Palestinians decided to focus this year's protests on the Wall. When we met with Representative McCollum's office, aides expressed concern, but were hopeful that things would improve on their own. They mentioned aid sent from the U.S. to the Palestinian Authority, and the recent "disengagement plan." A few pennies for Palestinians won't solve the problems created by billions of dollars in the hands of the Israeli government, and the disengagement plan does nothing to address problems created by the Apartheid Wall. Senator Dayton's aides were more direct. We were told that the senator will vote for anything under the auspices of Israeli security. He has cast votes in direct support of the wall. |
On July 9, 2004, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that the Apartheid
Wall, Israeli settlement policies and the occupation are all in violation international
law and must be ended, and reminded the international community of its obligation
to enforce international law. Despite this, USAID granted funding for zones
in Tulkarem, which involves confiscation of land behind the wall. In January
2005, the US announced it would provide over $100 million for the hi-tech gates
and checkpoints necessary to maintain full regulation of the West Bank by the
Occupation Forces.
We are asking that today, and for the rest of this week, Anti-War Committee
supporters stand in solidarity with Palestinian Land Day protesters by making
at least two phone calls – to Senator Mark Dayton and to Representative
Betty McCollum. In the past two weeks, we have met with aides in both offices,
and it is clear to us that they need to hear from more of their constituents.
You can help us show both these politicians the writing on the wall.
Talking Points
When you call, ask to speak to an aide who deals with international relations
or foreign aid – they may or may not connect you to someone. When you
have them on the line, keep the message simple. Hear are three simple points
to include in your message.
With all this information, please make the calls. You can call their local or their DC offices. If you won't make the call, but you will e-mail, please do that. But really, we're calling this a Call-In for a reason, so please try. Next week, we'll have the postcards up on our website, and you can join the write-in campaign, if you haven't already.
Senator Mark Dayton
202-224-3244 | 888.224.9043 | email from his website
Representative Betty McCullom
202.225.6631 | 651.224.9191 | email from her website
NOTE: Feel free to call other politicians with this same message. They all need to hear it. The AWC campaign is currently focusing on Dayton and McCullom, which is why we'd like your help in persuading them.
Anti-War
Committee |
