Video: Al-Rowwad theatre group visits Louisville, KY
The Electronic Intifada
11 August 2005
Al-Rowwad Center is an Independent Center for artistic, cultural, and theatre training for children in Aida Camp trying to provide a “safe” and healthy environment to help children creativity and discharge of stress in the war conditions they are forced to live in. In July 2005, Al-Rowwad’s theatre group performed in Louisville, Kentucky. Multimedia producers Patrick Yen and Andrew Sturgill produced the profile on Al-Rowwad for EI.
WATCH THE BROADBAND VIDEO PRESENTATION (Cable & DSL)
VISIT AL-ROWWAD’S WEBSITE – BLOG
TELL DEMOCRATIC DELEGATION TO VISIT WALL AND MEET ABU MAZEN
CNI Action Alert
Date: August 11, 2005
A delegation of 14 Democratic representatives is now in Israel as guests of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s “educational arm,” the American Israel Education Foundation, and plans to meet with Israeli leaders and review the situation in advance of Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza. Being funded by AIEF, a separate tax exempt branch of AIPAC, congressional reps can pretend that they are not being paid to travel to Israel by Israel’s lobby in the United States.
In a press release sent out by the office of Congressman Steny Hoyer, who once again leads such an AIPAC-funded delegation to Israel, the object of the trip is explained. “The timing of this trip will enable Members to learn more not only generally about U.S.-Israel relations, Israel’s security situation, and the Palestinian people and government, but specifically how the disengagement process is progressing and what role is appropriate and helpful for the U.S. to play.”
According to the group’s published agenda, the representatives will be calling on Ariel Sharon, Simon Peres, “and other top government officials,” visit the Golan Heights, Israel’s border with Lebanon, “strategic overlooks in the West Bank,” Massada National Park, the Dead Sea, Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial, and Mevasseret Immigrant Absorption Center, “among other security and cultural sites.”
On the Palestinian side, only an appointment with Palestinian Authority Salam Fayad has been announced.
(Alert continued in extended entry.)
Of the delegation, Hoyer (Appropriations), Berman (IR), and Israel (Armed Services) are among the tireless backers of AIPAC’s multiple congressional initiatives, a free trip must be seen as a reward. According to the recent Washington Report article on pro-Israel PAC contributions to 2004 congressional candidates, Shelley Berkley received $40,000; Steny Hoyers, $37,500; Robert Menendez, $24,875; Allyson Schwartz, $21,500; Steve Israel, $14,000; Jim Costa, $11,000; John Salazar, $8,000; John Barrow $8,500; and Russ Carnahan, $5,500. Others among the delegation received $3,000 or less.
Barrow, Carnahan, Costa, Salazar and Schwartz are first timers in Congress. Lynn Woolsey received no contribution, but she is said to be facing a stiff fight for re-election to Congress in 2006 and therefore needs a trip to Israel to win the support of Jewish voters. Langevin states that as a member of the Homeland Security Committee, “we can learn from Israel’s experience and expertise in dealing with terrorists. I am looking for opportunities that would be of value to our local law enforcement agencies and bringing back the best lessons to make America safer.”
At the end of the month, a Republican delegation is due to leave. It may include Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, whose office put out a press release stating that he was going in order to eplore “business ties” between Israel and his state. Others are suggesting he has wider political aspirations, but needs to show greater foreign travel.
If one of the delegation members is your congress representative, we urge you to contact them NOW to tell them to visit the Apartheid Wall to see the injustice that the path of the wall has caused Palestinians, visit President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah, and ask them to drive to the site of Deir Yassin just outside Jerusalem, where 254 Palestinians lost their lives to Jewish commandos from the Irgun on April 9, 1948. Adding these sites to a trip to Israel will ensure a much more even-handed view of U.S.-Israel-and-Palestine relations, and would help Congress better understand the role it should be playing in the conflict.
Democratic Representatives included in this tour:
Steny Hoyer (D-MD) (Democratic Whip) 202-225-4131
John Barrow ((D-GA) 202-225-2823
Shelley Berkley (D-NV) 202-225-5965
Russ Carnahan (D-MO) 202-225-2671
Jim Costa (D-CA) 202-225-3341
Steve Israel (D-NY) 202-225-3335
James Langevin (D-RI) 202-225-2735
Robert Menendez (D-NJ) Democratic Caucus Chairman 202-225-7919
Michael Michaud (D-ME) 202-225-6306
Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) 202-225-3061
John Salazar (D-CO) 202-225-4761
Allyson Schwartz (D-PA) 202-225-6111
Henry Waxman (D-CA) 202-225-3976
Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) 202-225-5161