Demolitions

It has been hard to keep up with the current pace of demolitions in the West Bank and Negev, and to sort through the stories. Working in the office here, my thoughts go to the families who lost their homes, sometimes for the second time in Al Farisiya (Jordan River Valley), and the third [...]

FINGERS CROSSED – AMERICAN CARGO HEADED FOR GAZA AT LAST!

Rebuilding Alliance, Free Gaza Movement Urge Open Trade and Aid

July 23, 2010, San Mateo CA – Nearly a month and a half after the Irish ship, the MV Rachel Corrie, was forceably rerouted and impounded by the Israeli Navy, the office of the United Nations Special Co-ordinator for the Middle East (UNSCO) has promised to deliver the full humanitarian aid cargo to U.N. agencies in Gaza. The Rebuilding Alliance, one of the only U.S. organizations to place humanitarian relief cargo on the “Freedom Flotilla” to Gaza, is hopeful that the backpacks, sports equipment, and building materials donated by hundreds of Americans will soon reach the Gaza non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) for which they were intended.

Visiting Al Basma Club for the Disabled in Gaza City

–An article by Rebuilding Alliance volunteer Kate Gould

Street in front of Al Basma Club in downtown Gaza City

“You know, all Palestinians are disabled,” Eid Shaqura told me as soon as I arrived at the Al Basma Club for the Disabled.  All the
board members in the room laughed and I sat down to join them. [...]

You Are a Beacon to Us All: Messages from Gaza and Israel

Dear Friends,

“You are a beacon to us all” – that is what Roger Waters of Pink Floyd said in his message of solidarity with the Gaza Freedom March. He made me think about the many colleagues in Gaza and in Israel who are my beacons — so I picked-up the phone to ask their thoughts about the march, the New Year, and how they hold on to hope.

The candlelight vigil for Gaza in San Francisco’s Union Sqare on Sunday, Dec. 28th, 2009Here are comments from just a few of my “beacons”: Dr. Eyad El Sarraj in Gaza City, Eric Yellin in S’derot, Dr. Samir Nasrallah in Rafah, Shmuel Groag in Jerusalem, Adnan in Rafah, Khaled Nasrallah in Rafah, and Roni Segoly in hmm, West Jerusalem and Bassam Aramin in East Jerusalem. I enclose the English translation of a speech given by Israeli human rights attorney Michael Sfard to Combatants for Peace last week, entitled, Truth Cast in Lead, and close the newsletter with Bassam Aramin’s short holiday message.

As thousands take to the streets in solidarity marches around the world today, may their words warm your heart, provide insight, and give you encouragement.

In rebuilding peace,
Donna Baranski-Walker
Executive Director of the Rebuilding Alliance

Strategy- Soccer. Goal- Open Blockade of Gaza

The Rachel Corrie Ramadan Soccer Tournament is now underway in Rafah, Gaza, on a field cleared from the rubble of demolished homes –and I need your help to pay freight for a shipment of 16 big boxes of gently worn sports shoes.

Overall, I am proud to tell you that your past contributions arrived in time and we [...]

Gaza Soccer – Start Here! orphan

“Strategy- Soccer. Goal- Open Blockade of Gaza”

Dear
Friends,

The Rachel Corrie Ramadan Soccer Tournament is now underway in Rafah, Gaza, on a field cleared from the rubble of demolished homes –and I need your help to pay freight for a shipment of 16 big boxes of gently worn sports shoes.

Overall, I [...]