[WCUSP] Fw: Israel threatens to cut electricity, etc to Gaza

[C.J. Minster]

Thanks for sharing your letter, Libby!

I believe whether or not to use WILPF's name in a letter to the editor
is different than whether to use it in a letter to a Congressperson.
When you know multiple WILPFers will be sending letter to the same
newspaper, it's good to have everyone using different strategies - if
we all said we were members of WILPF, they'd think we were sending
them a form letter rather than individually writing letters.

I believe we should always mention our WILPF affiliation when writing
to our Congresspeople - this reminds them that we exist and that we're
a force in the democratic process. The only thing to be careful about
is that we should remember to consult the national office before
writing about a situation in a country where we have a sister section.
This is so we can coordinate our message with the desires of women in
the country.

Of course, the Palestinian, Lebanese, and Israelis sections have asked
our section to be vigilant with our government, since US policy
towards the region has an extremely serious impact. Therefore, we
should particularly be urging the US administration and US Congress to
take a more balanced approach to Palestine and Israel and we should be
working with like-minded groups to work against the impact of
organizations (like the military industrial complex, the Christian
right, and AIPAC) that are pushing a dreadful policy that makes all
people in the region, Israelis and Palestinians alike, less secure and
less free.

WILPF's position on this area is well documented, both internationally
and nationally. Two resolutions are in their final proof-reading stage
on the international level, which will reiterate WILPF's call for
reparations for Israel's war on Lebanon last year and an end to the
separation wall, freedom of movement, and other specifics that will
allow the Palestinians the creation of a real, independent state.

in sisterhood,
C.J.

On 9/28/07, Libby or Mort Frank <lmfrank1 at verizon.net> wrote:
>
>
> I sent this to our local Philly paper, so far, I haven't seen it in print.
> But thought I'd add it to Joan Drake's contribution.
>
> I add WILPF's name sometimes and sometimes not.  It doesn't seem to matter
> -- they are rarely published.
> Our branch has a low-key campaign to get a letter written once a week by one
> of us.  Some have been published.  We keep at it.
>
> Libby
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Libby or Mort Frank
> To: inquirer.letters at phillynews.com
> Sent: Saturday, September 22, 2007 9:52 AM
> Subject: Israel threatens to cut electricity, etc to Gaza
>
>
> To the Editor:
>
> Israel's threats to cut off electricity, water and goods to Gaza is the most
> cruel and unusual punishment. Gaza already suffers extreme poverty.  Cutting
> off vital services violates international law and causes even more hardship
> to people living in what is called the largest open-air prison in the world.
>
> Perhaps such actions will expose the myth that Israel has "withdrawn" from
> Gaza.  It still controls all entry points as well as water, fuel and
> electricity.  The U.S. should strongly object to these anti-human acts by
> Israel.   But Condoleeza Rice has refused to condemn the Israeli threats.
>
> Can we be surprised at resistance to such actions?  And we wonder, "Why do
> 'they' hate us?"
>
> Libby Frank
> 201 W. Evergreen Ave. #810
> Philadelphia, PA  19118-3831
>
> 215/242-4103
>
>
>
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-- 
------------
C.J. Minster
Program Chair, US Section
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
railing against the military industrial complex since WWI
http://www.wilpf.org

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