Please circulate article on "Egypt, the US, and Israel"

This article contains context and significant new information important for people to learn regarding the US relationship with Egypt and the powerful part played in this by the Israel lobby. The article with citations is also on The Missing Headlines.

Distribute article "Shot in the Head" - Hurndall, Giffords, Palestinian children

In tandem with remembering Tom Hurndall and passing out cards about him (see post below) people may wish to also distribute the new article by Alison Weir: Gabrielle Giffords, Tom Hurndall and Palestinian Children Shot in the Head.

A print version of this article can easily be created by copying the text and then using "print special" to paste it into a Word document.

Commemorate Tom Hurndall during January - anniversary of his murder

Seven years ago this month, Tom Hurndall, 22, died after an Israeli sniper shot him in the head as he tried to rescue small girls from Israeli gunfire (details below).

Please commemorate Tom and inform your community about his story. We cannnot let his courage and compassion be forgotten – or the facts he was working to expose through his photography.

Order Tom Hurndall cards to distribute (view cards online)

Order Tom Hurndall posters (download poster)
Share this powerful British on-the-scene TV report
(Contact us for a DVD)

Can't distribute these yourself?
  Donate so we can provide Tom Hurndall materials to student groups and others who can't afford them*

Background:

Tom Hurndall, a 21-year-old student and photographer who wished “to make a difference,” went to Gaza in 2003. On April 11th, he watched as children playing nearby suddenly came under Israeli rifle fire. Most of the children fled, but three, aged four to seven, froze with fear. Tom rushed one to safety. When he returned for two little girls, an Israeli sniper shot him in the head. Despite the urgency, Israeli officials delayed his transport to specialized medical care for over two and a half hours. Tom remained in a vegetative state until his death 9 months later.

From the end of 2002 to the spring of 2003, Israeli forces killed four internationals and shot another in the face. Two recent non-Palestinian victims are Tristan Anderson, shot in the head, and Emily Henochowicz, shot in the eye, with high-velocity tear gas canisters. Over 45,000 Palestinian men, women, and children have been killed or injured since Sep. 2000.

* * *

Thank you for helping us inform Americans about this tragic violence.
Best wishes,

The If Americans Knew Team

Order Tom Hurndall cards to distribute (view cards online)
Order Tom Hurndall posters (download poster)

Or email your order to orders@ifamericansknew.org
Tell us your mailing address and how many you want.
You can then mail a check or money order or donate online.

If Americans Knew
3020 El Cerrito Plaza #157
El Cerrito, CA 94530
(202) 631-4060

* A $50 donation gives a campus (or other) group ten powerful full color posters to place around their campus and 500 cards to distribute to fellow students (and covers most of the cost of postage!).

A $100 donation gives a group 20 posters and 1,000 cards – or provides materials to two different universities or groups!

For more information see our Tom Hurndall page

Tom Hurndall Cards

Tom Hurndall Poster

Book by Tom's mother

Distribute Helen Thomas brochures!

Veteran journalist Helen Thomas is consistently under attack by pro-Israel zealots. While she has now returned to journalism and will be writing a weekly column for a Virginia newspaper, the attacks are expected to continue. In fact, they may even escalate.

Awhile ago ADL* Director Abe Foxman called the 90-year old former senior White House correspondent a "vulgar anti-Semite," referred to her comments as "crude," and called on schools and professional organizations that have honored Thomas over the years to rescind those honors.

Shortly afterward Thomas's alma mater, Wayne State University, announced that it will no longer give out the "Helen Thomas Spirit of Diversity in the Media Award." Others are expected to follow suit.

The attacks on Thomas began in June when a rabbi posted a Youtube video of Thomas taken without her knowledge, followed by sensationalized and inaccurate media reports pushed by former Bush White House PR director Ari Fleischer, an Israel partisan unhappy with Thomas's tough questions.

The media assault was eagerly taken up by journalists happy to kick a reporter whose integrity and competence surpassed their own once she was down and easy prey. Many, perhaps most, were Israel partisans.

We think it's important to stand by Helen Thomas. We also think this is an opportunity to reach Americans whose curiosity is now piqued by all the controversy.

Therefore, we have created a hand-out for people to distribute on campuses and in communities around the country. This brochure explains the validity of Thomas's videotaped remarks and gives the powerful context about Palestine omitted by mainstream media accounts – the transformative facts that the ADL does not want Americans to know.

Several years ago If Americans Knew received a death threat. Instead of intimidating us, this caused us to work even harder and become ever more effective.

We can now all do the same with Helen Thomas. We can show the ADL that rather than destroying her and intimidating others, their attacks have provided a platform whereby even more Americans are learning the facts!

Read Helen Thomas Brochure

Because a generous, committed donor is subsidizing this project, we are making these available at a cost anyone can afford – just a nickel apiece! We are providing them in batches of 10, and hope that most people will order 50 or above!

The idea is to give these out as widely as possible – on campuses, at events, in libraries and cafes. Give them to colleagues and neighbors, at book discussion groups and World Affairs Councils.

Together, we can stand by Helen Thomas and give Americans the truth.

Best wishes,

The If Americans Knew Team

Or email your order to orders@ifamericansknew.org
Tell us your mailing address and how many you want.
You can then mail a check, money order or donate online.

If Americans Knew
3020 El Cerrito Plaza #157
El Cerrito, CA 94530
(202) 631-4060

* While The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) claims that its purpose is to defend Jewish Americans from bigotry, in reality its activities frequently consist of attacking those who provide facts it dislikes, particularly information about Israel. We oppose bigotry of all sorts and support the ADL's alleged goal. We sincerely wish that it would be true to this worthy mission.

Disseminate Bethlehem Cards

During a season that celebrates Peace on Earth and Good Will toward Men and people sing the beautiful carol, "O Little Town of Bethlehem, it is appropriate and relevant to give people the facts on Bethlehem Today. One way to do this is to distribute "Bethlehem Cards."

Distribute Article about Israel's alleged flotilla investigation and its record of failing to investigate Israeli human rights abuses

Contact embassies about Adeeb Abu Rahma: Peaceful protest is not a crime

PalSolidarity - The conflict between the Israeli military and security and the popular non-violent Palestinian resistance is reaching a crisis ...

Today in Palestine, such resistance is breaking out in larger towns, small villages, Bedouin encampments, in both Christian and Muslim areas. People are marching, chanting and singing, carrying signs, and often using very funny or touching street theatre. Palestinians are calling for their rights, joined and assisted by international and Israeli volunteers in a new model of friendship and brotherhood that offers hope for the future.

This movement has terrified the Israeli establishment, especially as the usual techniques have failed to stop its momentum. Arrests, serious and crippling injuries, deaths, and destruction of property (the ability to earn a living), have all made huge and painful inroads into people’s lives and hopes. Despite this, resistance continues.

.....A perfect symbol of this conflict is Adeeb Abu Rahma from Bil’in: one of the most charismatic, courageous, creative and at times hilariously funny activists.

Adeeb has been convicted for crimes of “incitement” – that is, urging the villagers to come out on Fridays to join the weekly protest – and for belonging to the Bil’in Popular Committee. These manufactured “crimes” apply to all the leaders and most of the participants of all the nonviolent movements in all the towns and villages of Palestine. If they are determined by the Israeli military to be illegal in Palestine, and a heavy sentence applied, then the entire resistance movement is threatened. Which is, of course, the point. 

Adeeb is due to be sentenced in a few days. International law specifically recognizes the right of occupied people to resist occupation – that these people have chosen to do this in a nonviolent way shows great wisdom and restraint. This choice should be welcomed rather than criminalized by Israel if they have any intention of living here in peace with their neighbors.

ACTIONS REQUESTED BY PALSOLIDARITY:

(1) Please contact your Embassies and Consulates in Jerusalem  and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to ask for help in preventing an act that will hurt both sides as they search for a way to live together in peace.   Sample Letter

(2) We also ask your support for Adeeb’s daughter, Raja. Though from a simple family, Raja has won extremely high marks in the nationwide high-school exam scores, and she is now studying medicine at Bir Zeit University. Adeeb drives a taxi, and fees and other expenses would never have been easy for him, but his beloved daughter’s education has always been his priority. Since his imprisonment, friends of Adeeb have donated to allow Raja to continue her studies. She now needs $1500 for next semester’s fees, and we hope that supporters of Bil’in and of Adeeb can help her to realize her dreams and those of her father. To donate money to Raja

Distribute Article about Helen Thomas

Please inform the public on the facts regarding Helen Thomas and sign and distribute the petition supporting Thomas.

Senior White House correspondent Helen Thomas has retired after a long and distinguished career following attacks on her partially orchestrated by Ari Fleischer over a statement that has been largely misreported.

CounterPunch has just published an article setting the record straight. We encourage you to distribute this widely.

A version of the article with citations, photos and videos can be viewed on the If Americans Knew news site. Below is the article:

 As Israel kills and maims, Outrage is directed at Helen Thomas

Whenever Israel commits yet another atrocity, its defenders are quick to redirect public attention away from the grisly crime scene...

Inform your community about the Israeli attack on the USS Liberty

On June 8, 1967 Israeli forces attacked a US Navy ship sailing in international waters, killing 34 Americans and injuring at least 174. President Lyndon Johnson recalled rescue aircraft because he did not want to "embarrass an ally."

In 2003 a blue-ribbon independent commission chaired by four-star Admiral Thomas Moorer, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, concluded that Israel had committed an act of war against the United States and had murdered Americans. Crew members are still waiting for justice and a full investigation.

For more information see our section on the USS Liberty.

Please distribute materials about this attack. Many people feel that if more people had spoken out about it at the time and since, the most recent assaults would not have occurred. In fact, many analysts feel it is likely that the enabling American aid for Israeli crimes will end when more people learn about the USS Liberty.

Tell Congress to end all aid to Israel now

Israeli forces have just killed at least 9 people, including a 19-year-old American citizen, and injured dozens - some critically.

It is time to end our over $7 million per day to Israel. Contact your Congressional representatives and the White House (202-456-1414).

Your Congressional representative are probably back in the district right now. You can call their office or go on their websites to learn where they are speaking. Go to these events and ask them their plans for speaking out against Israeli aggression and misuse of our tax money. Hand out information to other attendees.

For more information on Israel's military assault on volunteers trying to take humanitarian aid to Gaza see our news section.

Also, please join rallies protesting Israel's action and our own government's inaction against Israel's crimes.

Most important, give people the facts. Hold events in your community, distribute our materials, write letters to the editor, tell your friends and neighbors. It's up to all of us.