Palestine Office-Michigan

On March 13, 2009, Tristan Anderson, a U.S. citizen from Oakland, CA, was critically injured when he was shot in the head by a high-velocity tear gas canister fired by the Israeli army. Tristan was shot while photographing a weekly demonstration against the building of the Apartheid Wall in the West Bank village of Ni’lin. The Wall, which was declared to be illegal by the International Court of Justice in 2004, cuts off Ni’lin from much of its agricultural lands. Since 2008, Israel has killed four unarmed Palestinians during these weekly protests: Yousef Amira (17), Ahmed Mousa (10), Arafat Rateb Khawaje (22), and Mohammed Khawaje (20).

For more information about Tristan’s shooting and updates on his condition, including links to news articles, see the website of the International Solidarity Movement. Please note that the video on this website is graphic and disturbing. http://www.endtheoccupation.org/article.php?id=1907

We condemn the US-supported Israeli siege and war on Gaza. We demand an immediate halt to ALL United States military and other aid to the outlaw state of Israel. The Zionist state is the largest recipient of U.S. aid in the world and is Washington’s outpost in the Middle East. Every single one of the bombs rained down on the people of Gaza, every single fighter jet and helicopter, every piece of artillery and ammunition, is bought and paid for by the United States – excised from working peoples’ tax dollars.

We demand that President-elect Barack Obama end his silence on the terror attacks and condemn Israel’s actions immediately. The millions of people who elected Obama did so in large part because they want peace and an end to endless war and militarism. The murderous onslaught against the people of Gaza requires the voicing of yea or nay – to remain silent is to condone Israel’s barbaric genocide against the Palestinian people.

We demand an immediate end to the 18-month genocidal siege of Gaza by the Israeli military and its U.S. suppliers. The people of Gaza have been struggling to survive with insufficient food, power and a damaged and depleted healthcare system. The world has condemned this siege as an Israeli crime against humanity.

The siege and the bombings are U.S.-Israeli war crimes. Without billions in yearly U.S. aid Israel could not bomb the 1.5 million Palestinians in Gaza, cut off their electricity and kick them out of their homes. Here in Detroit and throughout the U.S., the same U.S. government lets banks foreclose on workers’ homes while bosses lay off thousands of workers and millions live in fear of imminent destitution. We demand the immediate cessation of the genocidal war by Israel against the people of Gaza. We demand that the billions of dollars in U.S. aid to Israel be used instead for homes, jobs, health care and education for working people in the U.S.

Endorsed by: Palestine Office – Michigan ; American Muslims for Palestine ; Congress of Arab American Organizations of Michigan ;
ADC Michigan; Detroit MLK Committee; Michigan Emergency Committee Against War and Injustice (MECAWI) and other peace and justice organizations of Metro Detroit

Community Meeting -Tonight, Monday, December 29, 2008 at 6:00 PM at the Lebanese American Heritage Club, 4337 Maple Road in Dearborn (just south of Michigan Ave.)

Tuesday 4;00 PM – human chain in solidarity with the people of Gaza at the corner of Warren and Chase in Dearborn

Expected weather: windy and 39 degrees. Dress warmly, bring your kufiya, Palestinian flag, and protest sign of your choice.

Following the protest a memorial service will be held at Byblos Banquet Hall, 7258 Chase Road in Dearborn at 5:15 PM. Program will end at 6:30 PM.

Hasan Newash

Director, Palestine Office Michigan

(313) 945-9660