(from my e-mail)
The urgency of Saturday night’s demonstration was reinforced last night when right-wing demonstrators threw burning tires onto rush-hour traffic on Tel Aviv’s Ayalon highway. This is the latest in a series of acts of hooliganism that are filling the Israeli street with tension. On Saturday night, with your help, Peace Now will respond with our message of hope. Thank you to everyone who has responded to this campaign so far. Since we sent out the first email six days ago, more than 200 of you have donated close to $15,000.
The settlers thought they beat the rap last May when they defeated the proposal to remove settlements from Gaza and parts of the West Bank in a Likud Party referendum. Peace Now- with your help and coordinating with several other organizations- organized a massive demonstration in response. More than 150,000 Israelis filled Rabin Square demanding the dismantling of settlements.
Following this demonstration of popular will, Sharon barreled ahead with the disengagement plan, setting aside the Likud referendum and ignoring the escalating threats from the right. As the year unfolded we had more good news: a new Palestinian leadership was elected and started working to stop acts of terrorism.
As this drama continues, Peace Now needs your help again:
Midnight on March 31st is the settlers’ last chance to stop the settlement evacuations. If the government cannot pass a budget by then, Israeli law calls for new elections in 90 days. Even with the Labor party supporting him, Sharon may not have the votes. The settlers’ strategy is simple: torpedo the budget, force new elections, and prove to the next prime minister that all settlements are here to stay.
If they win, it will be harder for future Israeli governments to take down settlements.
If they win, it will hold the peace process hostage for 3-6 months until the next government is sworn in, possibly killing the settlement evacuation plan in the process.
We cannot let them win; that’s where Peace Now comes in.
We cannot let them win; that’s where you come in.
Peace Now has our own strategy: support the dismantling of settlements and the renewal of a peace process with the new Palestinian leadership.
Our tactics: to send a message that most Israelis want to take advantage of this moment of hope; they want an end to settlements; they want a peace process; they want a future.
Getting Israelis to speak out for peace, that’s also where Peace Now comes in; and that’s also where you come in.
Peace Now – working with a coalition of other groups – has announced a massive demonstration with the simple slogan, “Israel Leaves Gaza.” With your support, on March 19th- less than two weeks before the deadline for passing the budget – Rabin Square in Tel Aviv will be filled with peace activists once again.
Peace Now’s last massive demonstration in May made a difference. We’re going to make a difference again; 4 days from now.
Massive demonstrations take massive amounts of work, organization and planning. The March 19th demonstration will cost about $400,000 to pay for advertising, banners, transportation, legal permits, and a sound system.
To meet this need APN launched a special 10 day campaign to raise funds for street campaigns in Israel. Every dollar raised online between March 9th and March 19th will be used to support pro-peace street activity in Israel.
Don’t wait. Please Contribute Now.
The settlers have an extravagantly well-funded campaign to fight settlement expansion. But Americans for Peace Now is the U.S. address that provides the financial support for the Israeli peace camp to be heard, to demonstrate, to make a difference.
If not now, when?
Click here to contribute to this special campaign.