Annie's letters: letters

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RE: Globe Editorial: A ceasefire from Hamas?
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2007/12/21/a_ceasefire_from_hamas/

Dear Editor,

Our government should not be funding and underwriting the rise of religious extremism, tyranny, injustice and terrorism anywhere, but lets get to the source of the problem rather than blaming the victim: Hamas would not even be but for the Jewish Jihad called "Israel" aggressively stealing land, rights, freedom and economic opportunities from the people of historic Palestine ( both indigenous Christians and Muslim).

A bigot is "One who regards or treats the members of a group (as a racial or ethnic group) with hatred and intolerance" http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/bigot .... That certainly does sum up modern man made Israel perfectly. The sovereign evidence is everywhere, including the existence of that convoluted Apartheid Wall that is strangling and destroying Bethlehem today.
Israel, racist Israel has systemically and intentionally created and continues to contribute to the largest, longest running refugee crisis in the world today as millions of Palestinian men, women and children have been pushed into forced exile and despair. A rights based solution is the only solution to the conflict between "Israel" and the people of historic Palestine. A just and lasting peace and real progress depend on full and equal rights as well as true return for all the Palestinian refugees.

Sincerely,
Anne Selden Annab

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RE: Israel's Arab Citizens Isolated and Excluded
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/19/AR2007121902681.html

Dear Editor,

Again, for the third time this very busy week, thank you for honestly and earnestly confronting, exploring and highlighting some of the problems and challenges faced by the harshly oppressed, persecuted and impoverished people of historic Palestine as Israel's institutionalized bigotry and injustice (and genocidal policies) makes life miserable in many different ways for many different people.

Isolation and Exclusion for the token Palestinians left in "Israel" - and forced exile for most of the men, women and children who for more than a thousand years have been the living links to the intricate and precious history of the Holy Land.

A rights based solution is the only solution the 'conflict' and apartheid created by Zionism. A rights based solution is the only hope to save true community and build better future with real dignity, justice and hope for all of humanity... for civilization itself.

A rights based solution including true return as well as reparations for all the many Palestinian refugees who have suffered for 60 long difficult years, while Zionist idiots play God with bulldozers, bombs and economic polices all aimed at pulverizing the men, women and children of historic Palestine.

Sincerely,
Anne Selden Annab

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RE: Gaza Missiles and Israeli Operations Continue
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/21/world/middleeast/21mideast.html?ref=middleeast

Dear Editor,

I think Israel likes having Hamas in the picture, distracting us away from fully noticing Israel's own sovereign crimes against ALL the people of historic Palestine. Divide, conquer and destroy- classic warfare. Bethlehem itself, the beloved birthplace of Christ and true home to Palestinian Christians whose ancestry and traditions reach back into forever is being systemically strangled and destroyed by Apartheid Israel's blatantly racist war on ALL of historic Palestine.

Sincerely,
Anne Selden Annab

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RE: Postcard: Bethlehem
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1697404,00.html

Dear Editor,

Relieved to see at least an honest glimpse of Bethlehem, before it totally disappears with the Palestinian Christian presence in what so many call the Holy Land dwindling so fast... It breaks my heart that bigoted religious extremism inspired primarily by Zionism's sovereign disdain for the native non-Jewish families of historic Palestine has been allowed to eradicate such a cultural treasure. "The Israelis lump Christians in with all Palestinians as possible terrorists.": Can you blame any Palestinian for wanting to find a better future for their children than what has been since Jews-preferred Israel came into power 60 years ago?

Sincerely,
Anne Selden Annab

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RE: Bethlehem residents vandalise Banksy graffiti
http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,,2230867,00.html

Dear Sir,

I was repulsed by the headline "Bethlehem residents vandalise Banksy graffiti". Particularly because this is a very difficult issue. "Vandalize" was the wrong word to use, for it castes everyone in the wrong light. It is my understanding that Banksy did not go to Palestine to demean or belittle Palestinians (as your headline does) but to help how he can, by using his fame and his connections to draw the world's attention to that monstrous Israeli made Apartheid wall with his wonderful art.

It would be nice if a local Palestinian artist could grab the world's attention but obviously that is not happening despite the fact that Palestine has many talented artists, including all those in forced exile, unable to return to their true home and heritage.

Your headline really should have been more on the lines of 'Bansky vandalizes Israeli wall strangling Bethlehem" or "Bansky Art Erased" .. and in the text of the article mention that some local Palestinians who have to live with that damned wall erase some, but certainly not all of Banksy's art. Don't use Banksy's rising fame to make his graffiti sacred. Think of it like a sandcastle or a snow sculpture. Some art is made to be here briefly. The medium chosen is part of the statement itself. We live in the electronic age and the images have been captured to keep and share for those that want to see Bansky's entire fascinating Palestine portfolio.

Sincerely,
Anne Selden Annab

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RE: The Christians in Bethlehem
http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkzOTcmZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTcyMzUzMjgmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkxNA==

Dear Editor,

Of course an Israeli soldier is going to claim that Israel is not responsible for the Christian presence dwindling fast in Bethlehem and all through out historic Palestine. However ask a Palestinian and they will tell you the truth... for generations Christians, Muslims and Jews lived together in relative harmony- until the advent of Zionism creating Israel's racist stranglehold on both land and life all through out the Holy Land.

Millions of Palestinians have been pushed into poverty, forced exile and despair. The situation is utterly insane...and it really is all racist Israel's fault. Americans should not trust Israelis to tell the truth, for Israel has been intentionally harassing and oppressing the Palestinians because Israel wants the land- but not the people of that land. There are many reliable reports that we seriously need to listen to. Considering the circumstances an Israeli solider really is not a reliable source:

"Only recently, a delegation of eminent Australian Church leaders returned from visiting the Holy Land and reported their distress at "the suffering and fear experienced daily by large numbers of people." [1] The report criticizes Israel's military occupation for the "systematic harassment, physical and psychological oppression, widespread unemployment, poverty, and economic deprivation" [2] of both Palestinian Christians and Muslims. No doubt these church leaders will encourage their ministries to spread the word before the momentum is lost, but there are many forces working against justice for the Palestinians"
http://www.counterpunch.org/karkar12192007.html Christians and Muslims Weep Together A Christmas Reflection on Palestine By SONJA KARKAR

Sincerely,
Anne Selden Annab

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NOTES 12-21-7

FREEDOM & RETURN: A Rights Based Solution to building a just and lasting peace in the Middle East

... Not just the return (al-awda) of the refugees, but also a return to the rule of law and respect for human rights: For more than five decades Palestinian refugees and internally displaced have struggled for a solution to their plight based on UN resolutions and international law, including the right to voluntarily return to their homes and lands of origin from which they were displaced/expelled during wars in 1948 and 1967 and due to other Israeli policies of forced eviction, deportation, etc....

Recent News & Opinions:

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Kelsey Brookes "Hope"
http://www.santasghetto.com/art_room3.asp

se
Palestinian Refugees Right of Return

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2008 Calender: 60 Years of Nakba, The ongoing ethnic cleansing of Palestine

The Right of Return is Legal
&
The Logistics of Return

Palestine Map

Palestine's Districts Before Nakba-1948 (for the satellite version or the Google Earth version)

PALESTINE REMEMBERED
http://www.palestineremembered.com/index.html

Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide http://www.hrweb.org/legal/genocide.html
Universal Declaration of Human Rights http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html

"The humanitarian aid and assistance that UNRWA provides to the Palestine refugees can never be enough. But it will be required as long as the issues of statelessness, prolonged military occupation, economic marginalization and vulnerability characteristic of the Palestinian refugee crisis are not addressed." http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/publ/opendoc.htm?tbl=PUBL&id=4444d3c92f