I ask for your urgent attention. On Tuesday, just after I sent my email to ask your help to win the GlobalGiving Challenge, we received word that the Israeli Army entered Al Aqaba village to issue very serious orders that may quickly lead to the demolition of the homes of seven families and the demolition of Al Aqaba’s new Peace road. The families are required to evacuate their homes by Dec 17th.
Al Aqaba is scrambling to file petitions in time. We need your help, in parallel to the village’s efforts to save homes and roadside. During this Thanksgiving break, please plan to send an email both your Senators and Representative requesting they call the Israeli Embassy and the State Department on your behalf. Our State Department takes this very seriously and visits Al Aqaba often. Because of your calls to Congress through the years, many Senators and Congressmen care too. Just think about it for now — I’ll post a model letter soon for you to use.
We take this very seriously. In the past 2 months there has been a significant escalation in the number of demolition orders. According to Al Aqaba’s attorney Abduallah Hamad of the Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Center (JLAC). Overloaded JLAC is filing petitions to save some 50 Palestinian neighborhoods of 7-50 homes each , in response to this huge number of demolition orders in Area C!
Please show you still believe in this peaceful village’s future by making a gift in the GG Challenge for Al Aqaba’s Birthing Center. Even a $10 contribution makes a big difference: http://www.globalgiving.com/projects/birthingcenter/
Every individual donation will help keep this village standing, so please share this message with your friends!
In Rebuilding Peace,
Donna Baranski-Walker
Executive Director of the Rebuilding Alliance
P.S. Haj Sami Sadeq signed his urgent action letter yesterday as follows, “However, Al Aqaba Village still believes in peace and love for all peoples in the world. And invite them to stand beside them to protect their village from threat of demolition. In peace we believe, Haj Sami Sadeq”. Please take heart, give now for Thanksgiving and for the children’s Eid al-Adha holiday, and then watch Al Aqaba’s “Peace Camp” video from this, their 3rd year participating in Pinwheels for Peace, spinning 1000 pinwheels on International Peace Day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pv4z99OEzX8
