December 20, 2006 Letters and Announcements to Al-Jazeerah Editor

Hitting Bush

Just click on the fist fast or slow.

http://www.toddalbert.com/files/images/bushsmack.swf

Only a free Iraq can be reconciled

Another “reconciliation conference” has been held in Iraq. “Prime Minister” Nouri Al-Maliki urged officers in the army of independent Iraq to join the new “Iraqi” army.

Of course, this is completely unrealistic because the Iraqi patriotic army with President Saddam Hussein as Commander in Chief was not dissolved as the US trumpeted in order to brand the resistance as “foreign” and legitimize its own army of collaborators. Instead, it constitutes the military backbone of the resistance that has forced the US superpower to take the count and caused a “new strategy”, that is, a smoke screen over the military defeat.

When Al-Maliki, taking US orders, still urges that “Saddam’s people” join his puppet army, this expresses the military strength of the Resistance, the desperation of the occupying power and the de facto collapse of the occupation.

Reconciliation in occupied Iraq is impossible. It can only happen after liberation, when the Resistance has re-established security, and when a legal showdown with the occupation period and its crimes can lay down the foundations for a new future.

Carsten Kofoed,

Frit Irak Blog, Free Iraq Blog of Denmark Hjemmeside/Website: http://fritirak.blogspot.com/ E-mail: fritirakblog@yahoo.dk

MUSLIMS SHOULD VOTE AGAINST BRAHMIN-LED POLITICAL COALITIONS

If Indian Government's reservations policy in the past had been manifestly subjected to discrimination against Muslims and Christians, on the basis of their religion, that disastrous discrimination should have been contested as being against the letter and spirit of the secular ethos of the Constitution of India.

For over decades, this discrimination on the basis of religion has been allowed and enforced as legal and perfectly in order.

Now Sachar Commission report has amply proved that this unconstitutional religious discrimination was the main reason for the backwardness of a sizeable percentage of Muslim community, the restitution or compensatory affirmative action should be regarded as countering the religious discrimination, rather than a new law to give special reservation to Muslims on the basis of religion. BJP cannot have it both ways.

And it is Congress with its own closet Brahmins who remain diabolically against Muslims, that should be regarded as the main culprit of this sordid state of affair, and it is the Congress that should be made fully responsible for the restitution, before Muslim voters should even think of any moves to support Congress again. Muslims may adopt simple formula: vote for any political formation, other than those lead by Brahmins - and that would mean voting against Congress, BJP and Communists. Muslims should only vote with their backward compatriots in all their coalitions.

Ghulam Muhammed, Mumbai <ghulam_muhammed2@yahoo.co.in>

Support the Council for the National Interest advertisement in the New York Times

Help CNI Tell the Bethlehem Story in a Christmas Eve New York Times Ad
We have reached 15% of our goal. Donate now!

Over the weekend we received nearly one hundred generous donations and much excellent feedback on our Christmas Eve New York Times advertisement titled "Is Bethlehem Dying?" After just three days, we are more than 15% of the way to our goal of raising $30,000 for this advertisement. Thank you so much for your continued support!

We know this is a time of year when many of you are thinking about gifts for family and loved ones, so if you haven't already done so, please consider making a special end-of-the-year donation to support the Council for the National Interest Foundation advertising campaign. Any donations made to the CNI Foundation before Dec. 31st will be tax-deductible, to the full extent of the law, on your 2006 tax returns.

You can make a credit card donation online or by calling us at 202-863-2951. You can also send a check or money order made out to the "CNI Foundation" to the following address:

CNI Foundation
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Suite WG-1
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Thank you for your continued support, and look for our ad in the Sunday, December 24th, "Week in Review" section of the New York Times.

Sincerely,

Gene Bird
President

PS: Mea culpa. Some of you may have noticed that in the first draft of the ad we mistakenly wrote, "Over 2,000 years ago, Mary and Jesus traveled..." We meant to say "Mary and Joseph traveled...," since obviously Jesus had yet to be born when Mary traveled to Bethlehem. We have corrected the ad

Sabeel conference in February 2007 in Cleveland, Ohio

Jeff Abood

Sabeel Regional Coordinator- Ohio

330-612-7968

2007 Middle East Peace Conference

hosted by Sabeel, the Interfaith Council for Peace in the Middle East and 22 other cosponsoring organizations

Making a Difference in Palestine, Israel

and the Middle East

An unparalleled opportunity to learn first-hand from International experts

and activists “on the ground” about the situation, how it affects us and how we can help bring peace to the Middle East.

February 16-17, 2007

St. Joseph Center, 3430 Rocky River Drive, Cleveland, Ohio 44111

Purpose - A two-day educational and advocacy conference on the conflict in Palestine-Israel and how we as American citizens can make a positive impact. This conference will provide workshops for those who want basic history and information, as well as, for long term advocates to learn ways to work towards a just peace. The conference will include: Major presentations from invited speakers; workshop sessions on history, theology, politics and advocacy; food and more!

Introductory remarks (via Sabeel video) by Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Presenters:

Rev. Naim Ateek - Director of Sabeel International - Jerusalem

Brother David Carroll –Under-Secretary General of the Pope’s Relief Agency in the Holy Land (CNEWA)

Dr. Jeff Halper - 2006 Nobel Peace Prize nominee. Director of Israeli Committee against House Demolitions

Congressman Dennis and Mrs. Elizabeth Kucinich - the first Public Official to visit Southern Lebanon after the War.

H.E. Afif Safieh - Palestinian Ambassador to the U.S. Former Ambassador to the Vatican and the U.K.

Dr. A. Rashied Omar - Scholar of Islamic Studies, Kroc Institute, University of Notre Dame

Dave Robinson - Executive Director, Pax Christi USA

Professor Mazin Qumsiyeh - Author of numerous books and publications on the Middle East.

Mitchell Plitnick - Director, Jewish Voice for Peace

Corinne Whitlatch - Executive Director, Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP)

Huwaida Arraf - Co-Founder, International Solidarity Movement

Mahaba Alwazir - Executive Director - Imagine Life

Don Wagner - Director, Center for Middle Eastern Studies - North Park University, Chicago

Isam Zaiem - Council on American Islamic Relations

Sabeel (the Voice of Palestinian Christians )- Sabeel is an ecumenical liberation theology movement among Palestinian Christians. Sabeel strives to develop a spirituality based on love, justice, peace, nonviolence, liberation and reconciliation for the different national and faith communities. The word "Sabeel" is Arabic for ‘the way‘ or a ‘channel‘ of life-giving water.

To register or join our list of cosponsors, visit www.middleeastinterfaith.org

Times - Friday 12:30-5:45 (Dinner at 6:00 followed by the Keynote Address)

Saturday 8:30-5:15 (continental breakfast / lunch provided)

Friday

Muslim, Jewish and Christian Perspectives on the Conflic.t

Christian-Muslim Relations in the Middle East.

Challenging Myths: Understanding the Conflict in Human Rights Terms.

Direct Actions Necessary to Bring Peace.

Media Trips and Evaluations.

Exploring the Jewish Peace Movement.

The Theology of Justice (Liberation Theology.)

The Role of Evangelical Influence in Palestine/Israel.

Friday Keynote Address - Congressman Dennis and Mrs. Elizabeth Kucinich with Rev.Naim Ateek

Saturday

Current Situation in Palestine, Israel and Lebanon.

Christian Mission and Peace in the Middle East.

Being Effective (Lobbying, Advocacy and Media relations for Israeli-Palestinian Peace.)

Non-Violence Movements: Challenges and Achievements in a Palestinian/Israeli Context.

The Role of Political Prisoners in the Conflic.

Challenging Christian Zionism.

Global Perspectives - Similarities in Palestine, Ireland and South Africa.

US War on Terror and its Effect on the Prospects for Peace in Palestine.

Utilizing Media Alternatives.

Any speaker or workshop may change due to changes in the political situation. Final scheduling of workshops and panels available to registrants before conference

Conference Fees

Option A $ 75 Full Conference Program (includes Fri. dinner & Sat. lunch)

Option B $ 45 Friday only (all Friday presentations, workshops, & dinner)

Option C $ 45 Saturday only (all Saturday presentations, workshops, & lunch)

Option D $ 40 Student/Seminarian (full conference program, dinner & Sat. lunch)

Option E $ Scholarships possible for clergy, religious, students and others by prior arrangement.

Email Jeff at ifc@neo.rr.com

Late Fee $ 5 after January 16^th; $10 at the door.

To register (or to become a cosponsor) go to www.middleeastinterfaith.org or mail checks with registration form.

-Seating is Limited- please register early to insure attendance

Registration Form

Name - _________________________________________

Address- __________________________________________________________________________________

Phone - _________________________________________

Email - ___________________________________________________

Please mail to: Brian Fry, St. Joseph Center 3430 Rocky River Drive, Cleveland, Ohio 44111

Please make checks payable to:

Hotel Information

Holiday Inn 216-252-7700

Group rates for Sabeel: $69 per room per night.

(available until Feb. 1^st)

Free transportation to and from the airport and the conference site for hotel guests.