Flyer Available for Gilad Atzmon Concert/Discussion

A wonderful flyer has been created by an associate of Vigiler L for Gilad’s concert and discussion Friday, May 24th. Readers interested in attending may contact this writer for the undisclosed location, and flyers can be downloaded for reproduction here.

There are plans for a short road trip to Toledo on Thursday evening to hear Gilad perform there. Vigiler A – JWPF’s rep in Ohio – has eagerly offered valuable assistance in generating a venue in the Glass City. Stay tuned for further developments.

And we repeat that all are invited to stand vigil with Gilad on Saturday, May 25 from 9:30 – 10:45AM at Beth Israel Congregation. Grapevine reports have it that a dedicated activist from upstate New York will join as well. Please circle this date on your calendars.

JWPF Co-Sponsors Cindy Sheehan’s Tour de Peace

Internationally acclaimed peace activist Cindy Sheehan will be bicycling from California to Washington, DC to protest the US war machine, and Jewish Witnesses for Peace and Friends have joined thirteen other groups as co-sponsors of this event June 5 at the University of Michigan’s central campus diag. This writer has accepted an invitation to speak prior to Cindy from event organizer Diane Gee and await her response. We are excited to have this activist in our midst and to work with other local peace groups, such as the Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice, Meta Peace Team and Veterans For Peace.

Cindy has been critical of the influence of the Israel Lobby in dominating US foreign policy as it relates to the Middle East, and we read with interest her critical comments on Israel in her blog. We hope to share these common interests with her and underscore the pernicious effects on US interests held by this powerful lobby. From her blog:

JWPF at City Council

This writer spoke on the topic “Israel attacks Christians on Easter” and questioned why our news media – from international to local – suppresses vital information necessary to Americans to help them make informed choices. See text below signature.

Comments?

Nine vigilers
On what right does Israel base its claim to a Jewish state?
Henry Herskovitz
Jewish Witnesses for Peace and Friends
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Text of Commentary to AA City Council May 6, 2013

May 6, 2013 [390 words]

Good Evening,

I received an email from a Palestinian named Mazin Qumsiyeh this morning and want to share part of it with you. From his Curriculum Vitae, Mazin served as the Director of Cytogenetic Services at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. As an intellectual, this man is no lightweight. He now lives in Palestine and writes:

“It has been a very busy time here and so we did not have a chance to send the weekly update last week. Israeli forces attacked Syria and the US administration said they support this violation of International law.

“Israeli forces violently attacked Palestinian Christians near the Church
of the Holy Sepulcher on Easter (Eastern Christian Calendar) and prevented most of us from entering Jerusalem and the US administration stayed silent.

“Villagers are still prevented from accessing their water spring. All these attacks remind us that Zionism as a colonial settler movement is incompatible with peace and must always create conflict to keep its population together.”

Did any of us know this? That Israelis attacked Christians on Easter? Did we know that United Nations human rights investigator Carla del Ponte has claimed it was Syrian militants – and not the Assad regime – who have made use of the deadly nerve agent sarin? She says:

“We still have to deepen our investigation, verify and confirm (the findings) through new witness testimony, but according to what we have established so far, it is at the moment opponents of the regime who are using sarin gas.”

And does anyone here – with the exception of Mr. Kunselman* – know that 23 people staged an anti-Israel protest in front of the Michigan Theater on April 17th? The Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor brought in an Israeli singer in violation of the Palestinian Call for Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel until it complies with International Law. And we attempted to educate local residents that the atrocities committed by the Jewish state cannot be concealed by the beauty of a talented performer.

What is going on when the news is so biased in Israel’s favor that Americans are denied even local events like our protests?

A large majority of the world understands the machinations behind the scenes and stands with us. And the unlucky, intelligent Americans who are denied access to vital information are forced to wear the veil of ignorance.

Thank you

* Council Member Kunselman was seen entering the Michigan Theater to attend the Celebrate “Israel” performances on April 17