Global Intifada Weekly Report

The global campaign is gaining speed and you should find and join events in your city.

The Revolution is on

(BETHLEHEM) - 6 reporters and 36 Palestinians were injured in the demonstration in Jerusalem Friday.

In Bil'in and Wad Rahhal and other localities, Palestinian demonstrators and international supporters voiced strong support for the people's revolution in Egypt.

They and vowed to attend planned demonstrations Saturday which are happening in hundreds of cities around the world, including Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Ramallah.

The first video included with this report is a short (3 minute) video of what happened to us in Wad Rahhal today.

The demonstration in Wad Rahhal was to call attention to land that has been taken for an illegal Jewish-only colonial settlement

The next video is certainly in the disturbing category and people should be very upset.

Thugs in Egypt, AKA security services, run over peaceful demonstrators with equipment paid for by US taxpayers. This clip was recorded 2 February 2011.

Few expected revolts in Tunisia and Egypt and in Eastern Europe, just as previous generations that lived under communism never expected to shed their chains. Unrest Rises in Jordan, but Few Expect Revolt - NY Times

The same was true in South Africa under apartheid rule, but the people were able to wrestle control away from that racist government, which had been a strong ally of the US and Great Britain.

The man associated with that freedom; Nelson Mandela, was labeled a terrorist by both Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan. Today he is one of the world's most respected peace leaders.

By the way, for those who heard he had been hospitalized, South Africa's government reports that former president Nelson Mandela is doing well in his recovery from a respiratory infection.

"The group's views differ markedly from statements about the Egyptian protests coming from the Israeli government and many other Jewish-American organizations, which caution that the demonstrations in Cairo could ultimately threaten Israel." The NY Times reports that hundreds of people, mostly Arab-Americans, will gather Saturday in downtown San Francisco in support of anti-government protests in Egypt. A large contingent of Jews representing a Bay Area peace-advocacy group will join them, one of its leaders says. (Jewish Group Makes Waves, Locally and Abroad - NY Times)

As usual, politicians and mainstream media are behind the wave. Now even CNN is upset over the methodical attack on journalists by the Mubarak thugs (paid for by the US administration) (Why are reporters being attacked? - CNN)

The Palestinian Popular Committees Against the Israeli Occupation stand with the Egyptian people in their revolt has issued a news release. (Popular Committees Against the Israeli Occupation - www.bilin-ffj.org)

Meanwhile Palestinian authority figures violated Palestinian law by disrupting a demonstration in Ramallah (and in turn organized paid people to show support for Mubarak) but more demonstrations in support of the Egyptian people are planned Saturday (5 February) at 2:00 p.m. in Ramallah (Al-Manara area), Bethlehem (Nativity Square), Jerusalem (Damascus Gate) and other locations. Facebook event page:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=143731855688303

Website, Arabic: http://www.anothervoice-palestine.org
English: http://www.anothervoice-palestine.org/index-en.php?lang=en

These are part of a global campaign and you should find and join events in your city.

Reminder of other events

Thursday 10 February 2011 at 6:00 p.m. at the Bethlehem Peace Center. Book Launch "Popular Resistance in Palestine: A History of Hope and Empowerment" with author Professor Mazin Qumsiyeh (I will also be traveling in March and Early April to France, England, and the US for a book tour).

July 8-18, 2011: Book your tickets NOW to get good deals. Palestinian civil society organizations and peace and human rights defenders and activists on the ground call on civil society organizations and people of conscience around the world to come to Palestine for a week of fellowship and peace-building. You will be accommodated locally and enjoy Palestinian hospitality and a program of networking, fellowship, and peace work in Palestinian towns and villages including land reclamation. More details at http://www.palestinejn.org (or email me).

Mazin Qumsiyeh, PhD - Popular Committee to Defend Ush Ghrab (PCDUG) "A Bedouin in Cyberspace, a villager at home. Mazin has been an Associate Professor of Genetics; Director, Cytogenetics Laboratory at Yale University School of Medicine since 1999. He previously held a similar position at Duke University. Professor Qumsiyeh has authored over 110 scientific papers in areas of mammalogy, biology, and medicine including mammalian biology and evolution, clinical genetics, and cancer research. He has published over 100 letters to the editor and 30 op-ed pieces in International, national, regional and local papers on issues ranging from politics to environmental issues. His appearances in national media included the Washington Post, New York Times, Boston Globe, CNBC, C-Span, and ABC, among others. He is the founder and president of the Holy Land Conservation Foundation and ex-President of the Middle East Genetics Association, and Prof. Qumsiyeh won the Jallow activism award from the Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee in 1998. Those are just a small list, visit Mazin Qumsiyeh's amazing and informative Website to learn more: qumsiyeh.org.