Apartheid-Free Newsletter: September 2024

Artwork by Naji Al-Ali, 1938 – 1987

Dear Apartheid-Free Communities, 

In the past few weeks, Israel has escalated its deadly military operations in the northern West Bank, further entrenching apartheid of Palestinian communities. As we look ahead to the coming weeks, please participate in upcoming actions listed below so we can help put an end to the atrocities occurring in both Gaza and the West Bank.  

Featured Interview

Apartheid-Free x Rev. Munther Isaac

On August 11, Allison Tanner, the national organizer of the Apartheid-Free Communities, had the opportunity to sit down with Rev. Munther Isaac, a Palestinian Christian pastor, the academic dean of Bethlehem Bible College in Palestine, and director of the Christ at the Checkpoint conference. Allison and Rev. Isaac discussed the Apartheid-Free pledge and the specific responsibilities of churches and other faith groups in addressing Israeli apartheid. This interview was created as an outreach tool for churches considering the pledge. Rev. Isaac was encouraged by the growing number of communities that have taken the pledge and by the hard work many have put into the campaign. Below are the questions Rev. Isaac responds to, and the interview concludes with words of encouragement for all who are engaged in this work!

• Why is naming apartheid so important right now?
• Why is it so important for churches to name apartheid?
• What advice do you have for people who are silenced by accusations of antisemitism or being one-sided?
• How do you recommend congregations go deeper in living out the pledge?
• Any words of encouragement for those who’ve been sharing the pledge and encounter resistance, silencing, or thwarting of their efforts?

Apartheid-Free Actions and Events 

*Recorded events are marked with an asterisk

Building a Just & Lasting Peace: Perspectives & Experiences of Palestinian Quakers*

Thursday, September 5, at 7 pm ET

Friends United Meeting invites us to join Quakers for Peace on Zoom to hear Ramallah Friends School graduate and AFSC General Secretary Joyce Ajlouny speak about her experiences with systemic oppression, paths of nonviolent resistance, and a vision for a just and peaceful future. Learn more and register here.

Apartheid-Free Webinar: Medical Apartheid in Palestine*

Tuesday, September 17, at 1 PM ET 

Join us to hear from Yazid Barhoush, a Palestinian Master of Public Health graduate from Drexel University, former AFSC Emerging Fellow, and co-author of the research article “Medical Apartheid in Palestine” and Dr. Alice Rothchild, a retired obstetrician-gynecologist, feminist, author, filmmaker, and steering committee member of JVP’s Health Advisory Council. Yazid and Alice will discuss how Israel has implemented a policy of medical de-development on Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. Register here.

Voices from the Holy Land Online Film Salon

Sunday, September 15, at 3 pm ET 

Register here to get access to watch the film “Israel, Palestine, BDS, and Boycotting in the US.” Watch the film at your convenience, then join the Q&A with your thoughts and questions for guest speakers Olivia Katbi, Adrienne Pine, and Merrie Najimy on Sunday, September 15.

Stones Cry Out Palestine Solidarity Gathering

September 23 – 25, Washington, DC 

Stones Cry Out is organizing a Washington D.C. delegation September 23 – 25. This last week in September is the final week that Congress will be in session before returning to their districts. Don’t miss the opportunity to join in on meetings, direct actions, listen to great guest speakers, and participate in an interfaith gathering. Learn more here.

Boycott Chevron – Week of Action

September 23 – 27

Coinciding with New York Climate week, #BoycottChevron is organizing a global week of protests and social media pressure against Chevron, and they need us! As part of the #BoycottChevron Week of Action, we’re looking for organizations (or individuals who can round up a group of friends) to coordinate actions. Learn more and get involved here. 

Students: Catch up on the Back to School Divestment Training by AFSC and BDS

Webinar Recording

Over the last few months, students have gained unprecedented achievements in pushing their universities to divest from Israel’s genocidal war machine. Now it’s time to escalate and spread those efforts as far and wide as possible to university campuses all over the world. Watch the recording where AFSC divestment experts Noam Perry and Dov Baum discuss how divestment works, what to consider before launching a campaign, and how to win. This training is useful for students that are already deep in divestment negotiations as well as for those who haven’t yet launched a divestment campaign.

Take Action by Sept. 11: Oppose the Apartheid Road in Wadi Foquin, Palestine

Friends of Wadi Foquin is currently opposing an apartheid road which would destroy 1,000 trees and confiscate land belonging to farmers in the West Bank village of Wadi Foquin. If approved, the road would expand the existing apartheid transportation infrastructure and privilege the residents of illegal settlements. A court hearing was convened by the Israeli Civil Administration on May 20,2024 in Jerusalem to discuss the proposed road. Another hearing was scheduled for June 16, 2024, but has been postponed with the new date of September 11, 2024. We are inviting individuals and organizations to sign on to a letter to the Israeli Civil Administration opposing the road. Please sign on through this link, and circulate to members of your congregations and organizations.

Save the Date  – Apartheid-Free Convening

Apartheid in the News

• Mondoweiss, End Israel’s System of Economic Apartheid in Palestine
• Aljazeera, Apartheid Explained Video
• Concord Monitor, Opinion: Where were you when Gaza was going through a genocide?  
• EFF, Digital Apartheid in Gaza: Big Tech Must Reveal Their Roles in Tech Used in Human Rights Abuses  
• The Link, Divestment then. Divestment now. Why does it seem tougher?  
• Reliefweb, Apartheid Israel is targeting Gaza and the West Bank simultaneously, says expert 
• BDS, Fifa Wants To Keep Its Vote on Banning Israel Quiet. Let’s Make Some Noise.   
• Truthout, Want to Support Palestinian Liberation? Boycott Chevron.   
• African Energy Chamber, Africa’s Energy Sector to Litigate Banks and Financiers for Financial Apartheid in Oil and Gas Sector   
• BDS, BDS condemns US Democratic Party’s shameless complicity in Israel’s apartheid and genocide against Palestinians   
• Mondoweiss, U.S. universities spent the summer strategizing to suppress student activism. Here is their plan.   
• MSN, Israel is enforcing apartheid in the West Bank, says former Mossad spy chief Tamir Pardo   

Upcoming Dates for Organizing

The following holidays and events provide us with opportunities to organize actions. While we have listed many dates, feel free create an event around the holidays that best align with your community. Visit our Take Action page for ideas and inspiration on how you can take action for Palestine and live into the Apartheid-Free Pledge. 

• National Child Protection Week: Thursday, Sept 5
• International Literacy Day: Sunday, Sept. 8  
• World Suicide Prevention Day: Tuesday, Sept 10
• ☪️ Milad un Nabi / The Prophet’s Birthday: Monday, Sept 16
• International Day of Peace: Saturday, Sept 21

Apartheid-Free Continues to Grow

As of the first of August, 387 communities have signed the pledge! Welcome to Apartheid-Free! Shout out to our new members who joined last month: 

• Non-Violent Peacemaking Group, Newman Hall Holy Spirit Parish, CA 
• Amplify Christian Church, GA 
• The Three Compasses, UK 
• Peace and Justice Center Sonoma County, CA 
• Muslim Council of Calgary (MCC), Canada 
• 14 Friends of Palestine, Marin, CA 
• The Way Christian Center, CA 
• Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, CA 
• SBCA Tree Consulting, CA 
• Mark Miller Band, AZ 
• Catalyst Project, CA