Yesterday’s speech by Netanyahu was nothing more than a dictation of peace than a so called “vision for peace”. It was the same rhetoric that has been spewed by Israeli heads of state for decades, with no hint of possible change. While the U.S. media is claiming that Netanyahu succumbed to U.S. pressure by finally endorsing the idea of a Palestinian state, it is a farce. A Palestinian state was technically mentioned only one time during his speech and beyond that the number of concessions that the Palestinians would have to make to see their state to fruition is outlandish. Not that any of this is surprising, but it is a reminder of the importance of the work of Grassroots Jerusalem. The views and opinions of Netanyahu and the Likud government do not reflect those of the majority of the population in Israel, including the West Bank. Jerusalem in particular is poised and ready for change. There is an overwhelming sense in the city that the standard practices of the past and present can be no more. A real “vision for peace” needs to be equally articulated by the Israeli and Palestinian people. The only way this can happen…that is the only way PEACE can truly happen is through grassroots efforts. Change, REAL change can only happen from the bottom up and not the top down. It is amazing just how many organizations are working in Jerusalem towards their vision of peace. What many of them do not realize is that their vision of peace is very similar to that of neighboring organizations.

Today we sat in on a demonstration against house demolitions in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan. The event was organized by Save the Children UK, the Palestinian Counseling Center and the Palestinian Welfare Association. The event was highlighting the impact of house demolitions on Palestinian children and families as well as the plight of the Silwan community where 70 homes recently received eviction and demolition notices from the Jerusalem Municipality. The city wants to expand their City of David archaeological park in the Silwan neighborhood and these homes, as well as many others, are in their way. Thus, the easiest thing to do is claim the homes illegal, demolish them, and then make the Palestinian families who were evicted pay for all of the incurred costs of the demolition. While this event was disheartening for many reasons, it was also an inspiration to see so many different organizations working together toward a common cause. Among those additional organizations in attendance was the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Save the Children Norway, the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions, Madaa, the Alternative Information Center, and a few others. There was even talk at the event of a possible collaboration between Save the Children UK and ICAHD in this effort. While this advocacy push is only in its initial phases, it is a step in the right direction.

Grassroots Jerusalem hopes to facilitate more collaborative efforts among NGO’s in the Jerusalem area. We hope to push the heads of these organizations to look past their present project needs towards the future and a vision of what the future in Jerusalem will look like. A collective vision of the future if needed to guide the projects of the present. Hopefully Grassroots Jerusalem can be a sounding board and facilitator for this endeavor.
Posted by grassrootsjru at 06:23 0 comments
Thursday, 11 June 2009
Grassroots Jerusalem Network Mission “Connecting the Dots”
The mission of the Grassroots Jerusalem Network is to promote peace in the Middle East through the development of good will and mutual understanding amongst the various populations and groups of Jerusalem. The Network seeks to realize this mission through the accomplishment of following two goals:

1. To develop a network of connections among the grassroots NGO’s in the greater Jerusalem area that are working toward a society of social justice, ecological sustainability, and to open communication among different ethnic and cultural groups.

2. To build support for these local initiatives by facilitating contact between groups in the Jerusalem area and supporting communities and organizations around the world.

Dear friends and family,

I’m writing to invite you to an open a panel and discussion on Thursday, the 28th which is the Grassroots Jerusalem Day of the Taos World Peace Week. The panel will take place at the Rio Grande Hall room #1 at the Taos Convention Center at 10am.

The panel will be geared toward open discussion.  We will not shy away from discussing challenging issues and preconceived notions.  I would like to welcome members of Another Jewish Voice, New Mexico and the Taos Jewish Center, as well as everyone who has strong opinions and passionately cares about resolving this ever escalating conflict.  I hope that together we can come up with workable strategies.  This discussion provides an opportunity to learn how we can be involved and influence the outcome of today’s hardships. 

We are honored to host these participants who have traveled far to be with us:

Ilan Fathi is the director of educational programs for Breaking the Silence, a group that organizes tours to Hebron and surrounding area.  They have developed various programs to educate people about the high price of the ongoing conflict– physically, morally and environmentally. Ilan also works with Ta’ayush, an Arab-Israeli humanitarian organization.  Meeting with Arab families who knew him as an Israeli soldier, he enjoys meeting them without wearing a uniform or carrying weapons, just human to human.

Fareed Bitar is a poet and a social worker. He was born in Jerusalem in ‘61. For the past fifteen years, he has worked for the AIDS department in New York City. Fareed writes from the heart – about how he feels about his homeland, the pain and suffering of his people and proposes real solutions between the Palestinians and the Israeli’s.  In 1996, he edited a book of poetry about love and beauty, Treasury of Arabic Love: From the time of Jahiliah to the present. He also produced FATOOSH, a CD that narrates personal and collective experiences dealing with the ongoing bloodshed and war in the West Bank and Gaza for the past 60 years. He is currently working on a book that is a collection of his poems that deal with nature, love, war and peace. Fareed hopes to reach out and touch American audiences, by offering them eyewitness accounts of three wars.

Hilia Tsedaka is the founder of the Jerusalem Communities Network (Mosaic).  By working with education, culture and tourism, the group hopes to ease tensions between Jews and Arabs, between religious & secular Jews, and between new immigrants– Ethiopian, Russian, as well as older ones. Mosaic wants to create an economically thriving Jerusalem that is safe for everyone.  Hillia received an honorary mention from MIT for her work.

Miriam Stanley is an American Jew with a Yeshiva background, who has family living in Israel. She is part of Farid Bitar’s Fatoosh Ensemble.  She has performed in NYC, Tel Aviv,and Metula (a town in northern Israel). She has read at several colleges in the United States. Her love of Eretz Yisrael (the land of Israel) is strong, but she opposes the policies of the current Israeli government.  “I believe this as much as I believe in the book of Exodus”.  She understands that compassion and justice are intrinsic to Israel’s survival.  She believes that Jews and Arabs are relatives and that this “family fight” is ancient, tragic, and solvable.  For this reason, she is empathic to both sides of the conflict.

I will be facilitating the panel.  I am a former Israeli soldier, co-founder of Breaking the Silence and the director of Grassroots Jerusalem, a group that is creating a “map” of the many grassroots organizations already working on the ground. Grassroots Jerusalem hopes to coordinate efforts towards justice, human rights, social and environmental sustainability because a realistic peace must address these issues. 

I currently live in El Rito, New Mexico. I believe that there is a strong connection between the communities in northern New Mexico and Jerusalem politically, historically and spiritually.  Hoping to see you at the Taos World Peace Week. 

Many blessings,

Micha Kurz,

Director

Active local grassroots groups in Jerusalem are Part of a growing global grassroots network.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1fiubmOqH4

Jerusalem is a city in disaster with the potential of being a Beautiful city of Balanced Justice for all who live in it, Eastern, Western, Muslim, Russian, Gypsy, Christian, Israeli, German, Ethiopian, Palestinian, Jewish, Armenian, Religious, Secular, new Immigrant,  old Native…Women and Men!  It is our business to help make it work!!!  Whether you realize it yet or not yet, you are a part of the Grassroots Network.  What role do you play?

A SHIFT: FROM PUTTING OUT FIRES…

TO REALIZING OUR TRUE ROLE

GRASSROOTS
LEADERSHIP FOR TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE

See: Lama collaboration workshop

For immediate support:

Physicians for Human Rights-Israel: Gaza Emergency Appeal