Dear Friend,
What an intense time this has been! Our big news is that both a Senator and a Representative are agreeing to sponsor our third annual #ICareAboutPeace briefings, bringing Palestinian children to speak to Congress and share their vision of peace! This year, if all goes well, we’ll bring a child from Gaza to join the young man returning to Congress from Susiya, as well as a child from Al Aqaba, both villages in the West Bank’s Area C.
Additionally, two distinguished human rights defenders will join the delegation: Rabbi Arik Ascherman, a key advocate who has worked with Susiya for many years as part of their negotiation team, and the Mayor of Al Aqaba, Haj Sami Sadeq, under whose leadership the village has flourished to become a model of peace.
Bringing the children to speak to Congress is one of the most impactful forms of advocacy that Rebuilding Alliance has ever done. Congressional intervention is very effective in keeping Palestinian villages standing - Senator Feinstein even quoted the children in her letters (published on her website — see the link below) with PM Netanyahu, urging that Susiya not be demolished. The delegation will emphasize the right of Palestinians to plan and build their communities, and live safely and without fear on the land they own. Our special guests from Gaza will ask for Congressional engagement to mitigate the ongoing electricity crisis and lift the blockade.
Aysar, age 15, from Susiya, says, “This will be my third visit to Congress, coming at a critical time for my village of Susiya. On October 1st, Israel’s Minister of Defense is scheduled to issue the State’s decision to the High Court regarding the fate of our village. I hope many members of Congress will join Senator Feinstein to press to keep our village safe and standing.”
Rebuilding Alliance’s Peacemaker Awards:
Last April, it was an honor to hold our Annual Peacemakers Dinner, recognizing five people and organizations that have been instrumental in the advocacy that resulted in Google adding 236 Palestinian villages (previously omitted) to their maps of the West Bank. Here are the awardees:
Receiving their awards in abstentia:
Thank you for your support! We will update you very soon as plans come together for our I Care About Peace Briefing in Washington during the week of International Peace Day.
Sincerely,
Tamsin Avra
Advocacy Program Manager
Links:
Project Reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you will get an e-mail when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports via e-mail without donating.
We'll only email you new reports and updates about this project.
Support this important cause by creating a personalized fundraising page.
Start a Fundraiser