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