CODEPINK SAYS IN PINK:
Yesterday, the Senate passed a secretly drafted and fast-tracked resolution co-sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Republican Senator Mitch McConnell by unanimous voice vote (meaning there will be no written record of who voted yes or who abstained) “recognizing the right of Israel to defend itself against attacks from Gaza and reaffirming the United States’ strong support for Israel in its battle with Hamas, and supporting the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.” (You can read the full text of the bill here)
There was nothing in this one-sided legislation, which was familiarly referred to by Senate staffers we spoke to as “The AIPAC bill,” that will help the 1.5 million Gazans who are currently under siege. And there is nothing in this bill that will do anything to support “the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.”
Congress is expected to vote on similar legislation within the next few days. Please call your Representative TODAY to ask him or her to vote no on any legislation that fails to call for an for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire — as well as for unimpeded access for humanitarian aid into Gaza and a lifting of Israel’s blockade.
Tell them: Congress should be calling for an immediate, unconditional, comprehensive ceasefire. The assault on Gaza must stop and Hamas’s firing of rockets into Israel must stop. The blockade of Gaza must be lifted so that medicine, food, fuel and other necessities can flow freely into the territory. With close to 800 killed and over 3,000 wounded, the carnage must end before any diplomatic settlement can be achieved.
It is vitally important that Congress hears from us! A Representative’s voting choice can be swayed by as few as 20 phone calls. Your call WILL make a difference — call 202.224.3121 NOW.
A RETIRED CAPTAIN IN THE ISRAELI AIR FORCE SAYS THIS CONFLICT RISKS ESCALATION TO THE LEVEL OF WORLD WAR. HE SAYS THAT IF WE ARE TO HELP HIM AS AN ISRAELI AND AS A JEW WE WILL URGE CONGRESS TO STOP THE BOMBING. WATCH FOR YOURSELF:
Axé.
coldhearted scientist وداد 
And look at the cartoon at the end of this post:
http://israels60thbirthday.com/2009/01/02/edward-said-on-gaza-2002/
6 million Jews turning over in their graves about the massacre in Gaza. DO NOT think you are “making it up to them” by letting Israel the U.S. and Israel kill Palestinians.
Also – I don’t think we are “supporting” Israel, I think we are using them in the most cynical way possible.
Watch this website in general:
http://israels60thbirthday.com/
Also – funny – I looked up the website of the Islamic Center to find its address so I can go help out with today’s march, and discovered you can download free software so that your computer will call you to Islamic prayer, with the hours attuned to the place of the sun in the city you are located in, and the style of the muzzein as close as possible to that of the muzzeins in your home area.
http://www.islamicfinder.org/athanDownload.php
I heard an Israeli official speak on the radio about this as I drove toward the march venue (march was well populated, congratulations Maringouin!). The official said Hamas has to be assigned responsibility for everything Israel has done to Gaza before Israel will listen to the UN. Absolutely insane. And: do you recognize the rhetoric of the ABUSE PARADIGM? I do.
Oh, absolutely. I’m happy that the demo was well attended. And thanks for the links. I feel very helpless, situated as I am in the middle of the Pacific.