LETTER OF CONDOLENCES & APPRECIATION

FROM THE PALESTINIAN COMMUNITY IN HOUSTON

TO OUR TURKISH SISTERS AND BROTHERS

Houston - June 3rd, 2010

On behalf of the Palestinian community in Houston, Palestinians for Peace and Democracy (P4PD) would like to express our condolences for the tragic deaths of the innocent civilians on the Freedom Flotilla mission to Gaza this last weekend. Our hearts are with the families of those brave souls who were murdered during this humanitarian effort.

We are grateful for the generous and heroic support by the Turkish people and government in solidarity with our besieged sisters and brothers in Gaza who will remain resilient in the face of a brutal and genocidal siege. Many governments are silent in the face of Israel’s crimes against our people; we applaud and appreciate Turkey's courage in standing up and taking a leading role in ending this brutal siege.

The brave and heroic stand taken by the Turkish people, standing up against such oppression, will always be remembered across the world.

In solidarity,

The Palestinian community in Houston
Via Palestinians for Peace and Democracy
www.p4pd.org

==============================================
P4PD Condemn Israeli Piracy against Fleet of Freedom
www.freegaza.org

The Palestinians For Palestinians And Democracy ( P4PD) today called on all members and the general public to take action and condemn the planned Israeli assault on the International Flotilla of Ships on their way to the Gaza Strip to supply much needed humanitarian aid to Palestinians living under a 3-year blockade of the territory.

P4PD calling all supports should contact their Senators and Congressman and ask them to intervene on this matter, especially since the USA is major contributor to financial and military aid to Israel.

Khalil Rayyan

Absorbed in the search for beauty… driven by emotions and impressions… revealing optimism and hope… this is Khalil Rayyan, a veteran artist who has been spared pretentious grandeur and narcissism. His work is always a reflection on simple themes, content, and lineament, and he shows passionate sensitivity and awareness of the reality faced by Palestinian artists living inside Israel. Read More

Mazin Qumsiyeh

[HumanRights] Notes from Turkey

    Quote of the day

“[The US gave] $392 million in rehabilitating and training PA [Palestinian
Authority] security forces since 2007 - more than $160 million to fund
certain units of the security forces, $89 million for vehicles and nonlethal
equipment, $99 million for the renovation or construction of PA security
forces' installations and $22 million in programs to increase the forces'
capacity. The State Department has requested an additional $150 million for
2011.” Haaretz



I am in Istanbul, Turkey where we (3 Palestinians plus 17 others from many
countries) attended a workshop exploring development of curricula on
nonviolent or popular resistance. The examples used include Eastern Europe,
South Africa, Latin America, Palestine and elsewhere. It was a very useful
opportunity to network and reflect on our common human struggles and
strategize as to how to advance the causes of justice around the globe. The
country is very beautiful, grand mosques and grand parks, good food, and
friendly down to earth people. Many Arabs are here on vacations. Mosques
are busy. The city is bustling. Everyone who finds out we are Palestinian is
happy to see us. I can see why Turkish people mobilized the humanitarian
aid ships to break the illegal siege on Gaza. Today, we crossed from the
European part of Istanbul to the Asian side of the same city. This is truly
at the crossroad of Europe and Asia. I believe letting Turkey join the
European Union and insisting on respect for human rights in all the
countries bordering the Mediterranean (starting with Israel), would be in
the best interest of Europe and Asia. ...

Read more...