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Produced April 2002. Click here to download a .pdf version of this flyer

In the late 19th century, Zionist immigration into Palestine was encouraged by the World Zionist Organization. The group's founder, Theodor Herzl said, ÒWe should be there [in Palestine] to form a portion of the rampart of Europe against Asia, an outpost of civilization as opposed to barbarism.Ó

The Ottoman Empire ruled most of the Middle East for hundreds of years. During WWI the British enlists the help of the Arabs to fight against this empire and promises them independence in return. The British break their promise and proceed, with France, to split up the Middle East into colonies. Over time the Arab nations fight for and win their liberation, but Palestine is left behind. While the British make promises to the Palestinians on one hand, they support the Zionist movement in taking land from the natives to create a Zionist state. This is put into writing in 1917 with the Balfour Declaration which states, ÒHis Majesty's government views with favor the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people.Ó

At the end of WWII and the holocaust, the United States and European countries turn their backs on persecuted Jews, not allowing them to immigrate. Instead, they encourages immigration to Palestine. Here's what happens next:

1947: The British turn the decision on Palestinian statehood over to the UN, which draws up an unjust partition plan. Under this plan the Jews (30% of the population) who control 5-6% of the land are given 56% of Palestine for their state. The native Palestinians (70% of the population), on the other hand, are only given 43% of the land. The other 1% is Jerusalem, which is to be an international city. Of course, Palestinians reject this plan, but no negotiation is allowed and clashes ensue. A series of attacks on Palestinian civilians - including the massacre at Deir Yassin - prompt over 700,000 Palestinians to flee from the terror. These refugees are never allowed to return, despite UN resolutions which mandate their return, repatriation, and compensation by the Israeli government.

1948: Israel is declared a state, but Palestinians are once again swept under the rug. The area of Palestinian-controlled land is also decreased to the West Bank and Gaza Strip, because of the British-supported attacks by the Israeli army.

1967: The six day war brings the beginning of the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, Gaza, Golan Heights (Syria), and the Sinai Peninsula (Egypt). 350,000 more Palestinians flee to Jordan and within nine months, twenty illegal Israeli settlements are created in the Occupied Territories. The number of these settlements continues to grow today changing drastically the demographics of this illegally occupied land.

1973: Egypt and Syria attack Israel to reclaim their land. Egypt signs a pact with Israel and the Sinai Peninsula is returned. The Golan Heights are still occupied.

1982: Israel invades South Lebanon. Under Ariel Sharon, the Defense Minister at the time, the massacre at Sabra and Shatila kills at least 1200 Palestinian refugees. He said, ÒEven today I am willing to volunteer to do the dirty work for Israel, to kill as many Arabs as necessary, to deport them, to expel and burn them, to have everyone hate usÉ And I don't mind if after the job is done you put me in front of a Nuremberg Trial and then jail me for life. Hang me if you want, as a war criminal.Ó (Davar, 12/17/82). Israel admits Sharon's murderous role in the massacre, demotes him and bars him from ever holding public office again. Today, Ariel Sharon is the Prime Minister of Israel.

1987: The first Intifada begins after Israel forces the closure of Bier Zeit University. Palestinians within Israel hold Equality Day, which is enacted with large-scale strikes. The Israelis respond with excessive force including firing at stone-throwers and non-violent demonstrators, uprooting 25,000 olive trees, and demolishing 584 homes.

September 2000: Then-candidate for Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon goes to Al-Aqsa Mosque in the protected holy area of Haram Al-Sharif surrounded by 1000 troops. Because of the complete disrespect and assertion of Israeli power over Muslim holy sites, the 2nd (Al-Aqsa) Intifada begins. The 2nd Intifada continues today as does Israeli human rights violations and the valiant Palestinian struggle for liberation.

U.S. Taxes Pay for Israeli Apartheid

Most Americans are not aware how much of their tax revenue our government sends to Israel. For the fiscal year ending in September 30, 1997, the U.S. has given Israel $6.72 billion: $6.194 billion falls under Israel's foreign aid allotment and $526 million comes from agencies such as the Department of Commerce, the U.S. Information Agency and the Pentagon. The $6.72 billion figure does not include loan guarantees and annual compound interest totaling $3.122 billion the U.S. pays on money borrowed to give to Israel. It does not include the cost to U.S. taxpayers of IRS tax exemptions that donors can claim when they donate money to Israeli charities. (Donors claim approximately $1 billion in Federal tax deductions annually. This ultimately costs other U.S. tax payers $280 million to $390 million.)

When grants, loans, interest and tax deductions are added together for the fiscal year ending in September 30, 1997, our special relationship with Israel cost U.S. taxpayers over $10 billion. The numbers have only grown since then.

Since 1949 the U.S. has given Israel a total of $83.205 billion. The interest costs borne by U.S. tax payers on behalf of Israel are $49.937 billion, thus making the total amount of aid given to Israel since 1949 $133.132 billion. This may mean that U.S. government has given more federal aid to the average Israeli citizen in a given year than it has given to the average American citizen.

Update on U.S.-Funded Oppression in Palestine

• Palestinians have lived under apartheid conditions in Israel and the Occupied Territories for decades.
• Between September 29, 2000, and April 16, 2002, an approximate total of 1443 of Palestinians have been killed and 18,991 have been injured. (Reported by the Palestine Red Crescent Society, the numbers are probably understated, because the Red Crescent can't access many areas.)
• In an attempt to crush Palestinian resistance, the Israeli government launched, in March, a massive military campaign against Palestinian people. This includes attacks on civilians as well as attacks on the Palestinian Authority apparatus. The entire 3.2 million Palestinian population is living under siege.
• The Israeli government claims to have arrested over 4,000 Palestinians since the current offensive started. That would be the equivalent of 1/2 million people in the U.S.
• The U.N. Commission on Human Rights, Amnesty International and similar groups report widespread human rights abuses committed by the Israelis.
• The Israeli military has prevented the movement of cars, ambulances, food and medicine to people in need. This destruction and its effects on civilian populations violate numerous international standards and laws, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention.
• Peaceful protests are met with tear gas and gunfire.
• Israel is the largest recipient of U.S. foreign aid, receiving billions in U.S. taxpayer dollars every year. President Bush recently proposed increasing this aid by $60 billion. Using U.S. tax dollars, the Israeli government is setting the stage to expel Palestinian people from the occupied areas.

Divest from Israeli Apartheid!

Here's a short list of companies that are invested in Israel, and profit from the oppression of Palestinians. Don't invest your retirement in these corporations, get your college to divest (drop their investments) in these companies, and wherever alternatives are available, don't buy these companies' products. For more details on the Boycott Israel website - http://www.inminds.com/boycott-us-companies.html.

ADC, AOL Time Warner, AT&T Communications Inc, AT&T Investment Mgt Corp, A&W Root Beer, Ben & Jerry's, Blockbuster Video, Boeing, Burger King, Caltex Petroleum (TX), Cargill (MN), Carnegie International, Chase Manhattan Corp Bank(NY), Cisco Systems Ltd (CA), Citibank (NY), Coca-Cola Company, Coldwell Banker Real Estate, Culligan, Days Inn of America, Disney, Domino's Pizza Intl, Donna Karan Company, Dow Chemicals, EstZe Lauder, Fidelity Medical Inc(NY), GE Capital Services, General Electric, General Electric Medical Systems, General Electric Information Services, General Motors, Haagen Dazs Holding Inc, Hasbro Inc, Heinz, Hertz Corp, Hewlett Packard (CA), Hilton International Co, Holiday Inn Worldwide, Home Depot, Howard Johnson's Hotels, IBM (Lotus), Intel Corp (CA), Johnson & Johnson, Kemp Industries Inc (NJ), Kentucky Fried Chicken Corp, Kimberly Clark Corp, Eli Lilly & Co (Indianapolis), The Limited Inc, L'Oreal, Lucent, Lucent Microelectronics Grp, Lucent Technologies, Manhattan Bagel (NJ), Manpower Inc (WI), Marriott Hotels, McDonalds Corp, MCI, Memorex Telex Corp(TX), Merck, Merrill Lynch, Microsoft Corp (WA), Morgan Stanley, Motorola, Nestle, News Corporation (including Fox TV), Nippon Industries Inc (NY), Nokia, Octel Communications (CA), Pepsico, Pfizer, Pizza Hut Inc, Planet Hollywood, Polaroid, Pratt & Whitney, Prudential Securities, QualComm (San Diego), Raddison Hotels Intl, Royal Crown Cola Co, Sara Lee, Sheraton Management (MA), Soros Group, Sotheby's Holdings Inc (NY), Sportmart Inc, Subway, Sun Microsystems, Taco Bell, Texas Instruments, 3Com Corporation (CA), 3M Corp (MN), Tower Records, Toys R Us, Trinity Venture Fund, Unisys, US BankCorp/Piper Jaffray, US Robotics, United Technologies Inc (CT), UPS, Vanity Fair, Walden VC Fund (CA), Warner Communications, Weyerhauser Co

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