The Palestinian American Congress

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Israeli settlers evacuation from occupied Gaza and the Media Coverage of the Gaza Disengagement plan.

The Palestinian American Congress is appalled at the media coverage of the Israeli withdrawal from the Palestinian Gaza Strip. The media is projecting the evacuation of Jewish settlers as an Israeli sacrifice filled with emotional scenes of desolation. We urge the media to include a better and wider perspective beyond the hype of removing the Gaza settlers who represent less than 2% of colonial settlers in the West Bank (including East Jerusalem). According to International Law, all 450,000 settlers (half in East Jerusalem) are illegal and have been illegal for the past 38 years. The media fails to mention the plight and the suffering of the Palestinians under Israeli occupation, the expansion of settlements in the occupied West Bank at an alarming rate, the continuous confiscation of Palestinian land in East Jerusalem, and the continued construction of the separation wall on Palestinian land.

“While the evacuation of Israeli presence from any portion of the occupied territories is welcomed, it must be part of a negotiated plan with the Palestinians as dictated by the U.S. envisioned road map to encompass a future contiguous Palestinian state” said Sameer Tuffaha, Chairman of the Board of the Palestinian American Congress.

We call on the US and the International Community to insist that Israel comply with International Law and International Human Rights standards.

PAC has available a list of speakers in all major US cities and in several states who can provide a Palestinian perspective on issues like the disengagement smokescreen, the wall being built on Palestinian land, settlements in the West Bank, Jerusalem, and refugees.

The Palestinian American Congress is a national grass roots organization that defends and represents the interests of Palestinian Americans. Its current member base is distributed over twenty two chapters throughout the United States. [Top]

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The Palestinian American Congress successfully completed it’s sixth Annual Convention in Houston, Texas on April 24, 2005

The convention included a panel discussion about the Palestinian right of return by Dr. Ghassan Shabaneh, workshops, and a presentation describing the detrimental effects the settlements and the Apartheid Wall have on Palestinians by Mr. Mohammed Alatar.

Dr. Mustafa Albargouthi and Father Hanna Atallah addressed the convention via video-satellite from Palestine.

Renowned Palestinian Director Yahia Barakat presented his film about Rachel Corrie.

A board meeting was held on April 24th. Elections for the Executive Committee and Directors of the Board took place with the following results:

Sameer Tuffaha                     Chairman of the board
Faraj Said                             Vice Chairman of the board
Dr. Zafer Miqdadi                  Secretary of the board

National Executive Committee

Maher Abdelqader                   President
Joanne Abuqartoumi               Vice President
Salah Asad                            Secretary
Khaled Aldumee                    Treasurer
Mohammad Abdallah              Member
Mohammad Nawash              Member
Osama Amin                          Member

The convention was concluded with a banquet, featuring our distinguished guest, Dr. Ahmad Tibi, and an evening of traditional Palestinian dance and songs by Ammar Hasan; The Palestinian Superstar.

A fund raiser event raised almost $130,000 between donations and pledges.

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The Palestinian American Congress
www.pac-national.org

For Immediate Release, 2/3/2005
Media Contact: Marwan ElMasri, 617-694-3597

Boston, MA- The Palestinian American Congress cautiously commends President George W. Bush for his State of the Union commitment to help the Palestinian people in achieving a Palestinian State.

“We are encouraged by President Bush’s pledge; it is time for President Bush to work with Palestinians and Israelis without the long standing US bias towards Israel” said Linda Sobeh, president of the Palestinian American Congress, “ Palestinians have shown their commitment to democracy, their rejection to violence, and their commitment to a peaceful solution to the conflict”.

We at PAC agree full heartedly with President Bush that a two State solution, Palestine and Israel, is a goal within reach. As such, PAC affirms it’s believe that the outline of a viable and equitable solution to the conflict must be based on United Nations resolutions 242, 338, and 194, with Jerusalem as a capital of Palestine.

Furthermore, President Bush has an opportunity to rectify his credibility with Palestinian Americans, following a long period of pre-elections, hands-off policy towards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

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The Palestinian American Congress expresses its profound sadness at the passing of President Yasser Arafat, the PLO Chairman and the President of the Palestinian National Authority.

The Palestinian American Congress extends its condolences to his immediate family, to the Palestinian people, and to the Arab and Islamic worlds for the loss of a historic leader, peacemaker, and longtime struggler for the rights of the Palestinian people.

This is a great loss for the Palestinian people around the globe; President Arafat has been the greatest strength of the Palestinian movement. Throughout his leadership, Palestinians and Arabs have considered him the symbol for the Palestinian struggle and the symbol for Palestinian national unity.

Those who agreed or disagreed with him politically, held the highest level of respect for him as a national hero. He gave his life to the Palestinian cause, he did not relent, and he did not surrender.

Despite the media’s expectations of a political vacuum as a result of President Arafat’s departure, we believe that the Palestinian people and its Leadership will take the appropriate measures to create a dynamic national unity. In the absence of an element of their strength, Palestinians will stand together as the only way forwards.

Born on August 24^th, 1929, as “Mohammed-Yasser” Abdel-Raouf Arafat al-Qudwa al-Husseini, fifth child of Palestinian merchant. At the age of four, his mother died and he was sent to live in Jerusalem with his uncle. In Jerusalem, he developed his love for Palestine and his attachment to the land, he witnessed the partition of Palestine and his mission in life sprung to life.

In 1956, President Arafat attended the International student congress in Prague, where he secured membership for Palestine. He wore the Kuffiyeh (headdress) for the first time that becomes his trademark.

President Arafat forms the Fateh movement in 1958, the PLO was formed in 1964, and by 1968 thousands join the PLO. Arafat takes over the PLO chairmanship; he transforms the PLO to a force that makes the Palestinian cause known worldwide. The PLO takes its case to the UN; President Arafat addresses the United Nations general assembly in 1974, in his speech he says “I have come bearing an olive branch and a freedom fighter's gun. Do not let the olive branch fall from my hand. After years of struggle for the cause, the PLO was forced to settle in Tunisia in 1982. While in Tunisia, President Arafat narrowly escapes death in an Israeli attack on PLO headquarters.

At a special UN session in Geneva 1988, President Arafat accepts Israel’s right to exist and renounces terrorism.

President Arafat marries Ms. Suha Altawil at a private ceremony in 1991; in 1995 their daughter Zahwa was born.

In 1993, Israel and the PLO sign the Oslo accord; President Arafat and President Yitzhak Rabin shake hands at the White House. He returns to Palestine after 27 years in exile, and receives the Nobel Prize along with President Rabin and Israeli foreign Minister Shimon Peres.

President Arafat was elected President of the Palestinian Authority in the first Palestinian elections in 1996. President Arafat continued leading the Palestinian Authority in peace negotiations with Israel. In 2001, Israel destroys President Arafat’s compound, and forces him into confinement in Ramallah.

On October 21^st 2004, President Arafat is diagnosed with Gallstones, on October 27^th 2004; Palestinian sources say President Arafat’s health is deteriorating.

The Palestinian American Congress is a national grass roots organization that defends and represents the interests of Palestinian Americans. Its current member base is distributed over twelve chapters throughout the United States. [Top]

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The Palestinian American Congress condemns the Israeli incursion into Gaza and denounces the United States veto against a United Nations draft resolution today condemning the Israeli incursion into Gaza.

The Israeli incursion is in its eighth day with no end in sight. Eighty Palestinians have been killed, including 22 children, over 110 homes have been demolished, and commercial structures and civil infrastructure have been destroyed.

By vetoing this draft resolution, the U.S. has directly given Israel approval of its incursion. This was evident by the renewed Israeli rocket attacks hours after the U.S. veto, which resulted in the killing of a child and injuring two children. This collective punishment by the Israeli forces against Palestinian civilians is a flagrant human rights violation, a violation against the Geneva Convention, and a violation against UN resolutions.

The United States Administration is refusing to acknowledge the impact of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land. The reality of this occupation will continue to produce rocket attacks and suicide bombers. The use of this massive attack on the Palestinian population will not change this reality. Moreover, the U.S. support of this Israeli attack will only serve to fuel the anti-American sentiment in the Middle East.

The Palestinian American Congress is a national grass roots organization that defends and represents the interests of Palestinian Americans. Its current member base is distributed over twelve chapters throughout the United States. [Top]

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The Palestinian American Congress

Press Release, 9/28/04, Boston, MA
Media Contact: Marwan ElMasri

The Palestinian American Congress salutes the Palestinian people on the fourth anniversary of the Intifada. This is an uprising against the most brutal form of occupation in modern history. As such, Palestinians are struggling against the continuous attempt by Israel to eradicate the Palestinian identity, the constant confiscation of Palestinian land, the destruction of more than one million olive trees, the destruction of Palestinian homes, the presence of over 300 check points, the illegal detention of 8000 political prisoners, and the list of atrocities goes on.

While the United States administration is lending its full support to the illegal Israeli occupation, the rest of the world recognizes this uprising as the rightful and legitimate form of resisting the Israeli occupation. This uprising has clearly shown that the Palestinian will and determination cannot and will not be broken.

The Palestinian American Congress stands firmly with the Palestinian people in their struggle as they enter into the fifth year of the Intifada.

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For Immediate Release, 7/20/2004
Media Contact: Sameer Tuffaha, 1-888-PAC-USA1

Campaign to send 100,000 postcards to the Whitehouse.

As part of its mission in responding to the needs of the Palestinian American Community in defending the Palestinian rights and to activate participation in the American political system, the Palestinian American Congress (PAC) has initiated a massive campaign to send 100,000 postcards to President Bush to urge the American Administration to support the ICJ ruling against the apartheid wall being constructed on the Palestinian land by the occupying forces of Israel.

The post card contains the following message:

Dear President Bush,

“The construction of the wall being built by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem, and its associated régime, are contrary to international law”
(International Court of Justice ruling July 2004) As the leader of the free world, the most outspoken advocate for democracy, liberty and freedom, and for your vision of two states to be realized, we implore you Mr. President, to demand that Israel abide by the will of the international community, or risk losing America’s economic,
military and political aid.

The Palestinian American Congress/USA

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For Immediate Release, 5/18/ 2004 Media Contact: Marwan ElMasri, 1-888-PAC-USA1 The Palestinian American Congress strongly condemns the demolition of Palestinian homes and the senseless killing of Palestinians by the Israeli military in the Rafah refugee camp in occupied Gaza. During the past week, at least sixty Palestinians were killed, hundreds injured, and over one hundred homes demolished by the Israeli military in a campaign of sustained attacks on the Rafah refugee camp, Gaza City, and all of southern Gaza. By demolishing Palestinian homes and property, and consequently leaving thousands of Palestinians homeless, Israel is breaking international law and is utterly disregarding the Geneva Convention. Amnesty International has described Israel's destruction of Palestinian homes in the Rafah refugee camp as "war crimes." In the current political climate in the Middle East, the United States government has the moral obligation to exert its influence in upholding the Geneva Convention. The Bush administration's silence on Israel's policy of the continued ethnic cleansing in Gaza only reinforces the negative image the United States has earned in the Middle East. We call upon the Bush administration to lay aside its blind loyalty to Israel, and instead, use its influence on Israel to avert the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. We urge our government to support a United Nations draft resolution to force Israel to end its operation in Gaza. "History will be the witness of Palestinian refugees fleeing their refugee camp, their belongings strapped to their donkeys, escaping the barbarism of the Israeli military" said Linda Sobeh, President of the Palestinian American Congress. End

The Palestinian American Congress is a national grass roots organization that defends and represents the interests of Palestinian Americans.[Top]

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For Immediate Release, 4/17/ 2004
Media Contact: Hesham Tillaw, 1-888-PACUSA1

The Palestinian American Congress condemns with strongest possible words the assassination of Dr. AbdulAziz Al-Rantisi along with his son and two of his aids. Dr. Rantisi was the democratically elected leader of the Islamic Resistance Movement in Gaza city.

The barbaric and shocking way of assassinating a Palestinian political leader is the direct result of our government's green light to Sharon and his murderer’s policies against the Palestinian people.

We call on our government to immediately reverse its current policy of openly supporting Sharon and his murderous government and must go back to the stated position of a peace mediator. Condemnation by the US government of this ugly crime would not be enough, if it happens, but a clearly stated position by our government to oppose all political assassinations. This assassination only serves as an invitation to escalating the cycle of violence in the region. History will hold Sharon and his terrorist government, and Bush and his policies responsible for any bloodshed that will follow. State sponsored terrorism is most dangerous to world peace. We call on President Bush not to exchange the future of the Palestinian People and the future of peace in the World for his political future.

We call on all Arab governments to clearly state its position regarding Israel and its policies. Words of condemnation don't work any more. It is clear that the strategic position of peace with Israel is not working. We also call on all Arab governments to immediately execute resolutions taken by previous Arab Summits in Amman and Beirut.

We call on all governments in the World, and the United Nations to immediately take steps to provide protection to the Palestinian People from the Butcher of Sabra and Shatila, Ariel Sharon.

The Palestinian American Congress National President, Linda Sobeh said: " we are very outraged at this latest murder by a setting Prime Minister of Israel, a United Nation's member state. We are very disappointed with our Administration's policy of aiding Ariel Sharon with his cold blooded murders against the unarmed Palestinian people who are fighting the Israeli Occupation."

The Palestinian American Congress urges the United States government to take immediate and concrete steps towards the protection of the Palestinian people against this Israeli state-sponsored terrorism. The United States cannot claim to fight terrorism around the world and at the same time encourage State sponsored terrorism by the Israeli Government. The World is at cross roads now. We urge our government to take the road to peace and freedom for the Palestinian people.

END

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For Immediate Release, 4/15/2004
Media Contacts: Marwan ElMasri, 1-888-PAC-USA1

The Palestinian American Congress strongly condemns the declaration of support and endorsement granted by President George Bush to the Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon for his plan of unilateral disengagement.

In endorsing such a plan, the U.S. administration has blatantly broken international laws by directly endorsing the annexation of occupied land. In addition to disregarding all UN resolutions regarding Palestine, President Bush has shown utter disregard to the fait of millions of Palestinian refugees by stating that they need to be absorbed by a Palestinian state.

By accepting the Israeli plan, President Bush has destroyed the foundation of any acceptable peaceful solution and has shattered Palestinian hopes for a free Palestine.

“We are an organization that speaks on behalf of thousands of Palestinian Americans,” said Linda Sobeh, president of the Palestinian American Congress, “and we reject Sharon’s plan of withdrawing from occupied Gaza as a reward for legitimizing illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank and denying the right of return of Palestinian refugees. President Bush must adhere to the Road Map, which includes negotiations over issues such as borders. A unilateral solution only serves to inflame the frustration of the Palestinian people”.

The U.S. endorsement of the Israeli unilateral disengagement plan shows that the U.S. administration has no interest in treating the Palestinians as essential partners in any negotiations toward a peaceful solution to the conflict. History will hold President Bush responsible as he has failed to understand that finding a just and equitable solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is an essential element in the fight against terrorism.

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For Immediate Release, 3/22/2004
Media Contact: Sameer Tuffaha, 1-888-PACUSA1

On the 28th anniversary of Palestinian Land Day, a painful reminder of Israeli injustice and oppression against the Palestinian people resonates throughout the world. On March 30th, 1976, Israeli forces confiscated a total of 5,500 acres of land from Palestinian villages in the Galilee, in northern Palestine. These areas had been classified by Israeli authorities as "closed military zones" and later fell subject to heavy illegal settlement expansion. The confiscation of land provoked heavy confrontations between Palestinian-Israeli citizens and Israeli military forces, and resulted in the killing of 6 Palestinians, the injury of 96, and the arrest of 300.

As we commemorate the events that took place on that day, Israel's brutal occupation rages on. Israeli forces have turned Palestinian cities into large-scale prisons, worst of which are the maximum-security facility known as the Gaza Strip and the apartheid wall in West Bank.

The Palestinian American Congress encourages local committees to join in the worldwide commemoration of Land Day on March 30th.

The Palestinian American Congress urges the United States government to take immediate and concrete steps towards the protection of the Palestinian people and their land.

The Palestinian American Congress is a national grass roots organization that defends and represents the interests of Palestinian Americans. [Top]

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For Immediate Release, 3/22/2004
Media Contact: Marwan ElMasrim 1-888-PACUSA1

The Palestinian American Congress strongly condemns the assassination of Sheikh Ahmad Yaseen, the founder and spiritual leader of Hamas and his aides by the Israeli air force.

The air strikes that resulted in the killing of Sheikh Ahmed Yaseen as he was being pushed in his wheelchair and ten Palestinians can only be described as ugly and cowardly.

The United States must take a firm position in condemning this crime which not only resulted in the murder of a senior Palestinian leader, but also in the assassination of any remaining hope for peace in the Middle East.

This assassination is yet another proof that the United States should no longer support Sharon’s barbaric policy. Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon has shown through his tactics that he does not qualify to be a partner in peace. This assassination only serves as an invitation to escalating the cycle of violence in the region. History will hold Sharon and his supporters responsible for any blood shed that will follow.

The Palestinian American Congress urges the United States government to take immediate and concrete steps towards the protection of the Palestinian people against this Israeli state-sponsored terrorism. The United States can not continue with this hands-off policy towards the Palestinian –Israeli conflict.

The Palestinian American Congress is a national grass roots organization that defends and represents the interests of Palestinian Americans. [Top]

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The Palestinian American Congress
www.pac-national.org

For Immediate Release, 02/1/2004
Media Contacts: Marwan ElMasri, 1-888-PAC-USA1

In light of the recent events in Gaza, Ramallah, Jericho, Jerusalem, and Raffah , which resulted in the killing of 21 Palestinians and 10 Israelis, the Palestinian American Congress would like to reiterate its opposition to all actions resulting in the killing of innocent people.

The Palestinian American Congress urges the Bush administration to acknowledge that Israel can not expect its security to be provided by the very people it occupies, and that this policy is the cause of this cycle of violence. After all, it was Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon who described the Israeli presence on Palestinian land as an occupation.

“The situation in Gaza and the West Bank is catastrophic,” said Linda Sobeh, president of the Palestinian American Congress. “The continuous loss of innocent lives must be stopped on all sides. This situation will not change without the influence of the United States. The Bush administration must take concrete steps now towards implementing confidence measures to stop this blood bath. The President cannot wait until the election year has passed to begin to pave the way to a peaceful solution to the conflict”

We as an American organization demand that the Bush administration take an active role in reviving a peaceful solution to this conflict. This current hands-off policy towards the Palestinian Israeli conflict is not acceptable. We urge our administration to take immediate steps to avert a humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the West Bank as a result of Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon’s policy of collective punishment.

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The Palestinian American Congress Y
www.pac-national.org

The Palestinian American Congress is a national grass roots organization that defends and represents the interests of Palestinian Americans.

[Top]

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For Immediate release, 1/22/2004
Media contact:Marwan ElMasri, 1-888-PACUSA1

The Palestinian American Congress successfully completed its Fifth Annual Convention in Chicago Illinois on January 18, 2004.

The convention included a series of educational and political panel discussions, workshops, and a presentation describing the detrimental effects the apartheid wall has on Palestinians.

A board meeting was held on January 18th. Elections for the Executive Committee and Directors of the Board took place with the following results:

Dr. Qaseem Blan,     Chairman of the board
Nidal Alzuraqi           Vice Chairman of the board
Rana Yaghnam         Secretary of the board

National Executive Committee

Linda Sobeh                          President
Hesham Tillawi                      Vice President
Joanne AbuQartoumy            Secretary
Faraj Said                             Treasurer
Dr. Zafer Miqdadi                  Member
Samir SebaÂ’a                        Member
Abdallah Jaber                       Member

The convention was concluded with a banquet, featuring our distinguished guest, Mr. Khalil Jahshan, and an evening of traditional Palestinian dance and songs. A fund raiser event raised almost $90,000 between donations and pledges.

End

Today January 16^th, the Israeli government prevented our Key-note speaker Mr. Shareef Mishaâ€™al (Abbas Zaki) from crossing over the Allenby Bridge on his way to Jordan.

Mr. Mishaâ€™al, a member of the legislative council in the Palestinian Authority, was invited to address the Palestinian American Congress at our fifth annual convention as the key-note speaker from Palestine. Mr. Mishaâ€™al has the clearance from the American State department to enter the United States by invitation from the Palestinian American Congress.

As an American organization we are outraged at the blatant disregard of the Israeli government to the request of our government to grant Mr. Mishaâ€™al entry into the United States.

We operate under the democratic principles here in the United States; such actions are incomprehensible to us.

CALL NOW TO EXPRESS YOUR OUTRAGE
CALL THE WHITE HOUSE 202-456-1414, FAX 202-456-2461

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For Immediate release, 12/01/2003
Media Contact: Marwan ElMasri, 1-888-PACUSA1

The Geneva Accord was launched today in Switzerland at a ceremony in the presence of former American President Jimmy Carter. While it is an unofficial document, it proved to be of considerable controversy.

In response to the launching if this document, the Palestinian American Congress categorally rejects this document. The Geneva Accord contradicts with our principle of adhering to the right of return of Palestinian refugees to their land as emphasized by international law, in particular UN resolution #194.

According to the Geneva accord, Palestinians would give up the right of return for the millions of refugees who were forced to leave their lands. It is worth noting that a few might be allowed back, that number will be determined by Israel, while the rest would be allowed to live in a Palestinian State and host countries mainly Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. Also, a few will be entitled to some form of compensation.

We at the Palestinian American Congress, feel that the right of return of Palestinian refugees is a natural individual right, and that this right can not be part of any concessions by any party.

We urge the US administration to pursue a peaceful solution to the Middle East based on UN resolutions, particularly #242, and #194.

For the full text of the Geneva Accord, please visit our web site www.pac-national.org

The Palestinian American Congress is a national grass roots organization that defends and represents the interests of Palestinian Americans. [Top]

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The Palestinian American Congress proudly announces the launching of its new web site

www.pac-national.org

We would like to express our appreciation and gratitude to ChromoVision for all their technical help and creative design, especially Mr. Issa Eways (ieways@chromovision.com) and Mr. Fadi Amro.

Note: This web site is under partial construction.

The Palestinian American Congress is a national grass roots organization that defends and represents the interests of Palestinian Americans. [Top]

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The Palestinian American Congress, PAC, 10/16/2003 Dallas, Texas Media Contact: Linda Sobeh, 1-888-PACUSA1 For Immediate Release The Palestinian American congress strongly condemns the attack on American civilians in the Gaza strip where three Americans died and a fourth was injured. The attack occurred hours after the United States vetoed a United Nations resolution to condemn the construction of the separation wall in the occupied territories. We call on the Palestinian Authority to find the perpetrators and bring them to justice. Palestinian president, Yassir Arafat condemned the attack and called it:" An awful crime" and immediately ordered a full investigation to the incident. Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia denounced the attack. He said: ''We strongly condemn this incident and we will conduct an investigation and we will follow it to find the source of this attack." Islamic Jihad, Hamas and al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade have denied they were responsible. A statement by Islamic Jihad said the organization: ''has no intention to extend a cycle of confrontation with any nation ... except the occupation. Our battle is with the occupiers only.'' Linda Sobeh, President of the Palestinian American Congress said: " We are shocked and outraged at the senseless killing of innocent Americans in Gaza, and we send our sincere condolences to the victims families." The Palestinian American Congress urges the American Administration to work with the Palestinian Authority to find the perpetrators, and not to allow this incident to deter them from pursuing a peaceful solution.

The Palestinian American Congress is a national grass roots organization that defends and represents the interests of Palestinian Americans.[Top]

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The Palestinian American Congress, PAC, 09/25/2003
Press Release

"I urge everyone to join in and not leave the field of values, definitions, and cultures uncontested" - From the final work of Edward Said.

The Palestinian American Congress today expresses its profound sadness at the passing of Professor Edward Said. Professor Said was one of the best known and most respected Palestinian Americans and a champion of the Palestinian cause. Palestine has lost an icon today.

"Professor Said has left a great legacy. His frankness, boldness, and sincerity will continue to guide us in our struggle to liberate our people and our land," said Linda Sobeh, PAC national president.

Professor Said spent his life writing, lecturing, and speaking about Palestine and the Palestinian cause. Born in Jerusalem and raised in Palestine and Egypt, Professor Said eventually immigrated to the United States where he became a well-known and respected professor of English and comparative literature at Columbia University in New York City. His seminal work, Orientalism, is widely credited with inaugurating the postcolonial studies movement in the humanities. Other works, including The Question of Palestine, After the Last Sky, The Politics of Dispossession, Peace and its Discontents, and his extraordinary memoir, Out of Place, constitute one of the most sustained and effective efforts to represent the Palestinian experience to the American public.

The Palestinian American Congress extends its deepest condolences to Professor Said's family and to Palestinians world wide, and reiterates its deep sadness at having lost one of Palestine’s most valued and beloved sons. We vow to continue on the path that Professor Said lit for us.

The Palestinian American Congress is a national grass roots organization that defends and represents the interests of Palestinian Americans. [Top]

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The Palestinian American Congress, PAC, 09/17/2003
For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Linda Sobeh, 1-888-PACUSA-1

The Palestinian American Congress condemns the United State’s decision to veto a United Nations draft resolution denouncing Israel's policy of removing Mr. Arafat.

The U.S. was the only one of fifteen countries on the Security Council to oppose the resolution, with Britain, Germany and Bulgaria abstaining.

While the U.S. secretary of state Colin Powell said, "Washington did not support either the elimination or the exile of Mr. Arafat," this veto sends a contradictory message to the Israeli government that the U.S. does not oppose the Israeli threats of removing or killing Mr. Arafat.

If Israel is allowed to "remove" Mr. Arafat, the resulting unrest and chaos will cost many Palestinian lives, it will also eliminate the possibility of any peace in the region for many years to come; the U.S. will be held responsible.

We urge the United States administration to take a concrete position in opposing Israel's decision to "remove" Mr. Arafat.

We also, urge the Palestinian authority to form a robust and powerful national unity with all Palestinian groups to face this barbaric attack on the Palestinian leadership.

The Palestinian American Congress stands firmly with Mr. Yasser Arafat the elected president of the Palestinian people.

The Palestinian American Congress is a national grass roots organization that defends and represents the interests of Palestinian Americans. [Top]

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The Palestinian American Congress
Press Release
Media contact: Hisham Tillawi, 337-849-7111

We, in the Palestinian American Congress as we commemorate the tragic day of September 11 where 3000 innocent lives were perished, we also commemorate another September tragic day where 3500 innocents Palestinians were butchered at the Palestinian refugee camps of Sabra and Shatila, at the orders of Ariel Sharon, the Israeli Defense Minister at the time and the Prime Minister of Israel today, as they slept "peacefully" in their homes in September 1982

The commemoration will certainly be a far cry from the ceremonies in New York and Washington, where American leaders told the world that its pre-eminent military power was going to ensure that justice for the victims would triumph over evil whatever the cost. The Palestinian survivors of the 1982 massacres will probably gather for speeches at the place where their loved-ones were buried en masse - a dirt vacant lot marked by a pathetic temporary monument of masonry blocks. But there will be no internationally observed minute's silence for the innocent victims of Sabra and Shatila, or global news coverage about the survivors and their miserable existence at the scene of this evil crime. There will be no interviews with those who were made orphans and widows. There will only be the forgotten Palestinian refugees of Sabra and Shatila. By mid-day on 15 September 1982, the refugee camps were entirely surrounded by Israeli tanks and soldiers, who installed checkpoints at strategic locations and crossroads around the camps in order to stop anyone from leaving or going into the camps. During the late afternoon and evening of that day, the camps were shelled.

Around mid-day on Thursday 16 September 1982, a unit of approximately 150 Israeli-allied Phalangists entered the Palestinian refugee camps of Sabra and Shatila (near Beirut). During the following 36 hours, they murdered 3500 (according to the investigations of the Israeli journalist Kapeliouk) people, including women and children. The victims and survivors of the massacres have never been deemed entitled to a formal investigation of the tragedy, since Israel's Kahan Commission did not have a judicial mandate and was not backed up by legal force. The Commission has found that Ariel Sharon was " personally responsible". He was forced to resign from his post in 1983 although he remained in the cabinet.

One of the survivors describes what she went through during the ordeal On Thursday, there was shelling when the Israelis came, then it got worse so we went down into the shelter. (...) We learned on Friday that there had been a massacre. I went to my neighbors’ house. I saw our neighbor Mustapha Al Habarat; he was injured and lying in a bath of his own blood. His wife and children were dead. We took him to the Gaza hospital and then we fled. When things had calmed down, I came back and searched for my daughter and my husband for four days. I spent four days looking for them through all the dead bodies. I found Zeinab dead, her face burnt. Her husband had been cut in two and had no head. I took them and buried them.

The Palestinian American Congress calls on all peace loving people around the world to remember those innocent lives that were perished during the dreaded three days in September in 1982. We call on president Bush to stop the butcher Sharon from committing another massacre in Palestine.

The Palestinian American Congress is a national grass roots organization that defends and represents the interests of Palestinian Americans. [Top]

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The Palestinian American Congress, PAC, 08/07/2003
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release

The Palestinian American Congress condemns the failed Israeli assassination attempt on Sheikh Ahmad Yaseen, the leader and founder of Hamas.

As a result of this attack, Sheikh Yaseen was injured and at least 14 other people, including several women and children, were also injured.

The Palestinian American Congress believes that the Israeli policy of targeted assassinations is a form of state-sponsored terrorism, serving only to provoke and fuel the cycle of violence.

"Sharon’s policy of targeted assassinations has destroyed the Hudna or cease fire, which has resulted in derailing the Road Map. Clearly this strategy of Sharon’s government proves it has no intentions of pursuing a peaceful solution to the conflict," said Linda Sobeh, national president of PAC.

The Palestinian American Congress is a national grass roots organization that defends and represents the interests of Palestinian Americans. [Top]

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The Palestine Monitor
A PNGO Information Clearinghouse

Make the wall fall : Let's make the 9th of November the International Day of Solidarity with Palestinians against the Separation Wall

The wall must fall!

Once, November 9, 1989 the Berlin Wall - which has become the symbol of shame of the politics of division of the 20th century - was torn down.

Let's make the coming 9th of November a worldwide Protest Day against the Wall currently being erected by Israel across the West Bank. Such construction, now commonly known as Separation Wall or Apartheid Wall has become Israel's new stranglehold of Palestine and the latest assault by the Occupation: land confiscation , water confiscation, destruction of lives and livelihoods of Palestinians, all in a new drive to expand truly colonialist measures under the usual pretenses in order to achieve long-standing goals in a frightening similar fashion of 1948's events.

The Palestine Monitor and the PNGO Network urges you to participate in this effort by organizing pickets, demonstrations, lectures, and related activities to raise awareness in your community about the impact and meaning of this new wall

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“It would be better to drown these prisoners in the Dead Sea if possible, since that’s the lowest point in the world.” – Avigdor Lieberman, Israeli Transport Minister[1][1]

1. How many Palestinian prisoners are there?

As of July 8, 2003, there are 5,892 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons or detention camps.[2][2] Of these prisoners, 351 are children under the age of 18,[3][3] 75 are women and 42 are over the age of 50. Of the total number of prisoners, 433 Palestinians, who were imprisoned prior to the signing of the Oslo Accords, remain in prison despite the Accords’ call for their release.[4][4] Of these 5,892 prisoners, only 1,461 have actually been put on trial. The prisoners include members of the elected Palestinian Legislative Council as well as individuals who helped reach the recent agreement with Palestinian factions to halt all violence against all Israelis.

Israel currently has 786 Palestinians detained in prison camps who have not been charged with any crime under what is called “administrative detention.” Administrative detention is illegal under international law.[5][5] Administrative detention orders may last for up to six months, with Palestinians held without charge or trial during this period.[6][6] Israel routinely renews the detention orders and may renew the orders without limitation, thereby holding Palestinians without charge or trial indefinitely.[7][7] During this period, detainees may be denied legal counsel. While detainees may appeal against the detention, neither they nor their attorneys are allowed access to the State’s evidence, or know the purpose of the detention – thereby rendering the appeals procedure useless.

2. Don’t most Palestinian prisoners have “blood on their hands”?

No. The vast majority of Palestinian prisoners are political prisoners who have been arbitrarily imprisoned or detained for no legitimate security reason, but for political expression or simply because they are Palestinian. According to B’Tselem:

“Security is interpreted in an extremely broad manner such that non-violent speech and political activity are considered dangerous…. [This] is a blatant contradiction of the right to freedom of speech and freedom of opinion guaranteed under international law. If these same standards were applied inside Israel, half of the Likud party would be in administrative detention.” [8][8]

Furthermore, of those Palestinians currently being held, the overwhelming majority have been put on trial.

Many Palestinians are arrested arbitrarily. For example, from February to March 2002, approximately 8,500 Palestinians were arrested arbitrarily. In many cities, all Palestinian males from the ages of 15 to 45 were rounded up and detained or imprisoned. Palestinians were blindfolded, handcuffed tightly with plastic handcuffs and forced to squat, sit or kneel for prolonged periods of time. This type of mass arrest and detention has been condemned by Amnesty International as a breach of human rights.

The issue of child detainees and prisoners is the most stark example of Israel’s policy of blanket imprisonment: approximately 2,000 Palestinian children have been arrested and detained from September 2000 to the end of June 2003.[9][9] Children as young as 13 are held in Israeli prisons with children aged 13 and 14 constituting approximately ten percent of all child detainees.[10][10] Almost all child detainees have reported some form of torture or mistreatment, whether physical (beatings or placed in painful positions) or psychological (abuse, threats or intimidation).[11][11] Children are routinely held in detention centers under appalling conditions: in some centers up to eleven children have been packed into cells as small as five square meters.[12][12]

3. But didn’t Israel make “concessions” by releasing long-time Palestinian prisoners when the Road Map was announced and by announcing the release of additional prisoners?

Releasing political prisoners who never should have been arrested is not a “concession” – it is a legal obligation. Respect for human rights should never be considered a “concession” and should never be used as a tool to extract political gains.

Nevertheless, of the approximately 121 prisoners released by Israel on 3 June 2003, 100 of them were administrative detainees, most of whom had detention orders that expired that same day or had less than 19 days remaining on their detention orders. Twenty of the released Palestinians were held in custody with no detention orders or charges against them. Israel only released one political prisoner who had been tried.

Israel’s announcement that it will release 350 Palestinian political prisoners (approximately six percent of all Palestinian prisoners) also rings hollow: 215 of the prisoners are administrative detainees illegally held without charge or trial.[13][13] Israel has not indicated that it is willing to release the remaining political prisoners and continues to arbitrarily arrest Palestinians.

No issue highlights Israel’s 36-year denial of freedom to the Palestinians better than that of political prisoners. The Palestinians have been subjected to the highest rate of incarceration in the world - approximately 20 percent of the Palestinian population in the Occupied Palestinian Territories has, at one point, been arbitrarily detained or imprisoned by Israel.[14][14]

Israel’s imprisonment and detention of Palestinians is a manifestation of its failure to abide by international law and the Fourth Geneva Convention: administrative detentions and imprisonment inside Israel are both illegal under the Fourth Geneva Convention.[15][15] Furthermore Palestinian prisoners are routinely tortured by Israel[16][16] and held in detention centers and prisons that do not meet the minimum international standards[17][17] and are routinely denied visitation rights.[18][18] The vast majority of Palestinian prisoners are held without trial and, according to Amnesty International, trials often fall short of international fair trial standards.[19][19] Israel’s failure to release Palestinian political prisoners and its continued arbitrary arrest of Palestinian civilians only serves to highlight that Israel continues to view itself above the law and the Palestinians beneath it.

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[20][1] Avigdor Lieberman as Israel’s Transport Minister offered to bus Palestinian political prisoners to the Dead Sea to be drowned. Israel Radio, July 7, 2003.
[21][2] Source: PA Ministry of Prisoner Affairs, 8 June 2003.
[22][3] The most famous of these child prisoners is Suad Ghazal, who at the age of 15 was sentenced to 6½ years’ imprisonment. When she was first a