End the Occupation  of Iraq, the Palestinian Territories, & the White House
ActiveResource.org   here is a poster  Occupations are the problem

1. US CAMPAIGN UPDATE:
* Save The Date! 8th Annual National Organizers' Conference in Chicago, IL, September 12-13, 2009
 
Our 8th Annual National Organizers' Conference will be held during the weekend of September 12th - 13th, 2009. We will be sending out all necessary information for you to plan and book your flights in the upcoming months.  Click here for more information.

* Apply to Host our Fall 2009 Campus Organizing Tour  This tour will stop in five cities and work with campus communities (students, faculty, alumni, and members of the surrounding community) to foster successful Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions campaigns. Click here to find out more about the tour!

* How You Can Sustain the US Campaign

Support our ongoing work by donating online, donating office supplies and services, or joining the Olive Branch Club. Click here for more information.

*  Book Available for Purchase
The book "Occupied Voices: Stories of Everyday Life from the Second Intifada," by Wendy Pearlman, with photos by Laura Junka, is now available from the US Campaign. The stories in this book, ranging from the humorous to the tragic, paint a profile of the Palestinians that is as honest as it is uncommon in the Western media: that of ordinary people who simply want to live ordinary lives.

To view this book and other merchandise available form the US Campaign, click here

* Follow US Campaign on Twitter & Facebook

Follow the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation on Facebook and Twitter by clicking here: 

Main US Campaign Facebook page      Hang Up On Motorola Facebook page      US Campaign's Twitter page

2. GAZA ACTION:   * Is Pasta a Weapon? Ask the State Department for an Answer! 

Lately, the State Department has been…um…fumbling for the right words to describe Israel's illegal blockade of the occupied Gaza Strip.

Click here to find out more about ludicrous restrictions on humanitarian aid into Gaza and to encourage the State Department to do something about it.

* Take Action  For more action ideas on what you can do end the siege on Gaza and hold Israel accountable, visit our web section "Take Action to End Israel's War and Siege on Gaza." 

* CODEPINK Report Back from Gaza Delegation Join CODEPINK's Medea Benjamin, Col. Ann Wright, Gael Murphy, Pam Rasmussen, and Noura Erakat of the National Lawyer's Guild to hear the findings of their recent trip to Gaza.  The report back will be held Monday, March 23, from 6-8 PM, at Busboys and Poets Restaurant, 5th & K-1025 5th Street NW, Washington, DC.

3. CHALLENGING U.S. POLICY:
* Help us Organize to End Military Aid to Israel at Marches Against War and Occupation

Join us for marches on the Pentagon, Saturday, March 21, and Wall Street, Saturday, April 4, to organize to challenge U.S. military aid to Israel.   Click here to find out more.

* Help Influence the Obama Administration: Yes We Can…End Military Aid to Israel!   
Find out how you can take steps to influence the Obama Administration to end weapons transfers to Israel by clicking here.

* B'tselem, International Solidarity Movement Call for Accountability for Victims of IDF Violence

In the wake of the shooting of U.S. activist Tristan Anderson on March 13, 2009, Israeli human rights organization B'tselem has demanded an investigation by the Israeli Judge Advocate General on the use of supposedly 'non-lethal' weapons against demonstrators in the occupied Palestinian territories.

The International Solidarity Movement and the family of Rachel Corrie have both issued statements calling for justice and accountability in the cases of Tristan Anderson and Rachel Corrie, as well as for all Palestinian victims of Israeli military violence including those killed or injured in Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip.

Tristan Anderson is listed in stable condition at Tel Hashomer hospital near Tel Aviv; a statement from his family is available here.

4. STANDING AGAINST APARTHEID UPDATE:

* Israel Review Conference to Focus on Apartheid, Colonialism, and Occupation

The Palestinian Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions National Committee is sponsoring a review conference in Geneva on April 18-19, two days before the UN Durban Review conference. The Israel Review Conference will bring together internationally renowned experts and actors for social and political justice who will examine how the UN anti-racism instruments apply to Israel's policies and practices regarding the Palestinian people and, develop practical recommendations on how to make Israel accountable to international law and protect the rights of the Palestinian people. Click here for more information.    Click here to learn more about the anti-apartheid framework as it applies to Israel and Palestine. 

* Blog Against Apartheid   www.ItIsApartheid.org  has declared March "Blog Against Apartheid" Month. Join US Campaign supporters and www.ItIsApartheid.org in educating about apartheid in the blogosphere. Click here for instructions and talking points to use while blogging. 

* Criticism of Israel dropped from Durban draft documents    March 17--UN officials claim that references to Israel and the Middle East have been removed from the draft documents of the Durban Review conference to be held in Geneva April 20-25. Earlier drafts included criticism of Israel's racist and apartheid policies against Palestinians. Click here   to read more.

* Grassroots Advocacy is Working!: Israeli Apartheid Week Featured in New York Times  
The growing success of grassroots advocacy work against the Israeli occupation was evident in a March 18 article in the New York Times. The article, focusing on Israel's increasing isolation in the international community after attacks on Gaza, highlighted the 54 cities across the country that hosted the Fifth Annual Israeli Apartheid Week from March 1-8, 2009 as as evidence of international condemnation of Israel's violations of human rights and international law. Many US Campaign member groups sponsored and organzied events during Israeli Apartheid Week. Click here to read the article; click here to read more about Israeli Apartheid Week.

5. BOYCOTT & DIVESTMENT UPDATE:    * March is Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Month

Learn about opportunities for action on boycott, divestment, and sanctions this month, including supporting Hampshire College divestment and the Global BDS Day of Action, by clicking here.  

* Hang Up On Motorola Resources    Sign up to be a local organizer for our Motorola boycott . Get organizing tools such as postcards for the Hang Up On Motorola pledge, fact sheets about Motorola's support for Israeli apartheid policies, and tips on how to involve retailers in the campaign by clicking here.   Or click here to donate to support the ongoing Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions work of the US Campaign.

* Get Involved in Caterpillar and Motorola Shareholder Meetings    Motorola's shareholder meeting is in May and Caterpillar's is in June. The US Campaign and our member groups will be working to organize presences inside the meetings and out in the streets of Chicago, where both meetings are held. Click here to email the US Campaign's national organizer about getting involved in activities around one or both of the shareholder meetings. 

* Support the Academic Boycott of Israel   The international academic boycott of institutions and individuals supporting Israel's occupation has spread from Europe to Canada and now to the United States. Click here to get involved in the U.S. academic boycott movement.  

* Great BDS website   

The Israeli Coalition of Women for Peace exposes corporations profiting from the occupation of Palestinian territory and people.    Click here to check out WhoProfits.org.

* Morally Responsible Investment Resources for Churches

Friends of Sabeel North America now has a website devoted to resources on morally responsible investment activism. View their resources by clicking here. Also click here to view resources on divestment in the context of faith communities, labor groups, and student groups. 

* Great Video of BDS Direct Action in France   March 11, 2009--French activists with the Campagne Boycott Israel participated in a remarkable BDS direct action. The group walked to a Carrefour grocery store in France wearing green shirts with "Live Palestine" on the front and "Boycott Israel on the back." They then removed all "made in Israel" products from the stands. The Campagne Boycott Israel has demanded that Carrefour end its supply of Israeli products.   Video of the action is available here.

6. EXPRESSIONS OF NAKBA UPDATE:    * See Expressions of Nakba in Your City this Spring:


March 26-April 5, 2009: New Orleans International Human Rights Film Festival (New Orleans, LA),
April 8-15, 2009: William & Mary Students for Justice in Palestine (Williamsburg, VA),
May 1-15, 2009: United States Palestine Community Network-Chicago (Chicago, IL).  
You can also follow Expressions of Nakba on Facebook

7. MEMBERSHIP UPDATE:   In an effort to better help our coalition members network and for us to better gauge the coalition's regional diversity, we have put together a map with all 270 coalition members represented by state:  
 
 
If you don't see your state represented within the US Campaign: Join us!

Please welcome the following organizations to our coalition:    Artists to End the Occupation - Washington State

Sooners for Peace in Palestine - Oklahoma  

* PATOIS: The 6th Annual New Orleans International Human Rights Festival  

March 26th - April 5th, 2009  
This April, US Campaign member organization New Orleans Palestine Solidarity will present the fifth annual New Orleans International Human Rights Film Festival. This festival, started and guided by their group, has been an incredible project for bridging Palestine solidarity and other movements.  The US Campaign is a proud sponsor of this film festival and we encourage all our supporters to attend.  Click here for information.

* Program on U.S. Policy in Israel/Palestine in Northern Virginia  March 28, 2009
Northern Virginians for Peace and Justice and the VA Chapter of the Progressive Democrats of America present "Israel/Palestine: How can the US Promote Peace?" Katherine Fuchs and David Hosey from the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation will discuss the current situation in Israel/Palestine and present their perspective on how the Obama Administration can help bring peace to the region. Question and answer to follow. The event will take place Saturday, March 28, from  3:00 - 5:30 at the Clarendon Presbyterian Church, 1305 N. Jackson Street, Arlington, VA (intersection of N. Irving St and N. Jackson St, north of 13th St N). Four blocks from the Clarendon metro. For more information see www.PDAVirginia.org or contact Sarah Eggleston at sarahegg123@msn.com  

* Combatants for Peace Speaking Tour Coming to East Coast   March 2009

Israeli Yaniv Rashef and Palestinian Bassam Aramin are members of Combatants for Peace, a group of over 600 former Israel soldiers and former Palestinian fighters now working together without revenge to build justice, peace-and playgrounds.   Click here for more information on their East Coast speaking tour, which is sponsored in part by US Campaign member organization the Rebuilding Alliance.  

* Film Screening: Life in Occupied Palestine  March 29, 2009  
Howard County Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation    is sponsoring a showing of the film Life in Occupied Palestine by Anna Baltzer. Anna Baltzer is a Jewish American peace worker who spent eight months in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories documenting human rights abuses and supporting nonviolent direct action in the West Bank with the International Women's Peace Service. The film screening will take place on Sunday, March 29, at 1:00 PM at the Howard County Central Library, Little Patuxent Parkway and South Entrance Road, Columbia, MD 21044.  For more information, email HCCEIO@yahoo.com

* Celebration of Rachel Corrie's Life sponsored by 14 Friends of Palestine   March 29, 2009
14 Friends of Palestine of Marin County, California are sponsoring a celebration of Rachel Corrie's life with music, dance, and readings of her letters. The event will take place on Sunday, March 29, 2009, from 4 PM to 6:30 PM, at World Dance Fitness, 40 Green Field, San Anselmo, CA. For more information click here or email 14friendsofpalestine@gmail.com.

* In Memory of Rachel Corrie  March 31, 2009   North Florida Palestine Solidarity Network will host poetery, videos, and readings of Rachel Corrie's work at Kulture Hookah Lounge (223 West King Street) in Saint Augustine, FL. The event will being at 8 PM. For more information see their Facebook group.

* Save the Date: ADC National Convention June 12-14, 2009   June 12-14, 2009

"ADC: From the Grassroots to Our Nation's Capital: Change for Our Future" is the theme of the 2009 ADC National Convention, to take place in Washington DC from June 12-14. More information is available here.
 

* Partners for Peace Announces New Executive Director and Program Administrator

Partners for Peace is pleased to announce that it has named Rev. Melinda Thompson as Executive Director and Deena Kanafani as Program Administrator.  Partners for Peace is non-profit organization based in Washington, DC that seeks to educate the American public about the Palestinian-Israeli situation by bringing women from that area here to speak about their lives and visions for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict. Click here for more.

* Israeli Apartheid Week a Success at Emory University Emory Advocates for Justice in Palestine are pleased to report a successful series of events held on campus during Israeli Apartheid Week. Click here for more information. 

* Write or Call In for Freedom for Mordechai Vanunu  Since his release from jail April 21, 2004, Israeli nuclear weapons whistle-blower Mordecahi Vanunu has been denied the right to leave Israel or to speak to non-Israelis. Emails and phone calls calling for Vanunu's full release are being made to President Obama citing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. For more information click here. 

8. RESOURCES AND EVENTS:     * Gaza Relief Concert  March 27, 2009
The Association of Human Rights Students at the Korbel School of International Studies is excited to announce that on March 27, 2009 we will be hosting the "Gaza Relief Concert" at the Driscoll Ballroom on the University of Denver campus. All proceeds go to the Middle East Children's Alliance (MECA). The event will include Middle-Eastern food and a cash bar, an informative speaker series, a modest art exhibit, and performances by popular Denver bands Hello Kavita, Ian Cooke and Joshua Novak. For more information click here 

* 2nd Annual Houston Palestine Film Festival   April 16th-25th , 2009

The second annual Houston Palestine Film Festival brings an honest and independent view of Palestine and its Diasporas, society, culture, and political travails through the art of film. This group of groundbreaking cinematic texts rises above the degrading stereotypes or reductively politicized depictions that are so familiar to Houstonians. A major goal of the Festival is to directly expose our local community to the perspective of artists as a first step toward circumventing the many government and media filters that pollute our understanding of Palestine and the wider region.   More information can be found by clicking here 

* Concert for Gaza   April 16, 2009   The First Congregational Church of Old Lyme, CT will host a benefit concert for Gaza, with David Rovics and Shawnee Kilgore. All ticket proceeds will benefit the Middle East Children's Alliance and Islamic Relief. The concert will take place on Thursday, April 16, 2009 at 7 PM, at the First Congregation Church of Old Lyme, 2 Ferry Rd, Old Lyme, CT 06371. Tickets are $15 at the door. For more information, email concertforgaza@gmail.com or call 860-303-3013.

* World Council of Churches Announces World Week for Peace in Palestine Israel   The World Council of Churches is inviting member churches and related organizations to join a week of advocacy and action for a just peace in Palestine and Israel from June 4-10, 2009. Click here   to learn more about the World Week for Peace and how you can get involved through prayer, education, and advocacy.

*Job Vacancy - Legal Researcher for Al-Haq   Al-Haq, the West Bank affiliate of the International Commission of Jurists, Geneva, is currently seeking to fill a one-year fixed-term contract position for a Legal Researcher. The position is full-time (40 hours/week) and is based in Ramallah. For more information, click here. 

* Order Palestinian Loss of Land Map Cards  Educate in your community using these postcard-sized maps, which show Palestinian loss of land from 1946 through the current day. Click here to order from Friends of Sabeel North America and here for Quakers with a Concern for Palestine Israel. 

9. DELEGATIONS TO ISRAEL/PALESTINE:  * Global Exchange's Delegations to Palestine & Israel
 
July 25th-August 4th, 2009   November 5th-16th, 2009    December 5th-15th, 2009

Click here to learn about Global Exchange's customized Reality Tours.  

* Middle East Children's Alliance Upcoming Delegations to Palestine/Israel in 2009

*  Interfaith Peace-Builders Delegations to Israel/Palestine
 
May 23rd-June 5th, 2009   July 25th-August 7th, 2009 (cosponsored by the U.S. Campaign)
October 24th - November 6th, 2009  

* Sabeel/Friends of Sabeel North America Delegations to Israel/Palestine

Friends of Sabeel North America maintains a list of alternative travel opportunities to Israel/Palestine. To view the list, click here   Friends of Sabeel Colorado is sponsoring a two-week fact finding trip to Israel/Palestine, from May 16-30, 2009. Confirmation of participation is needed immediately. For more information, please contact Joy Lapp at 303-494-2338 or lappj@earthlink.net  

Occupation End Notes is the US Campaign bi-monthly newsletter, designed as a tool for activists. For this newsletter to be successful, we need your participation. Use us to promote events, give feedback on recent actions, recommend resources, or just learn from other activists in the movement. If you or your organization are planning an event aimed at ending the occupation, or you have information for the Newsletter, please contact the US Campaign at intern@endtheoccupation.org.  The US Campaign aims to change U.S. policies that sustain Israel's 41-year occupation of the Palestinian West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem, and that deny equal rights for all.