Apartheid-Free Newsletter: August 2024

“Eyes of George Floyd” mural by I Witness Silwan. Photo by Jenan Maswadeh. 

Dear Apartheid-Free Communities,

Last month on July 18, the world observed Nelson Mandela International Day. When many people think of apartheid, they think of South Africa, where Nelson Mandela shepherded the nation into an era of freedom. We must now do the same for Palestine, and consequently be ready to help rebuild all that has been destroyed in the Holy Land over the past century. In honor of the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa, which is still alive to this very day, we are profoundly honored to have received an official endorsement from Chief Mandela, the esteemed grandson of Nelson Mandela, in support of the vision for Apartheid-Free Communities.

“The struggle for a free Palestine is an intrinsic expression of our humanity today. How can it not be when it plays out on social media platforms in front of our very eyes? We witness the barbarity of occupation, the inhumanity of war crimes, the criminality of ethnic cleansing that neither spares critical infrastructure nor cares about the lives of those who depend upon it, the heartlessness of those who have the heart to callously murder innocent children even those confined to hospital beds, the audacity to villainise freedom fighters defending the receding boundaries of their existence, and most of all to be so insolent and insular not to realise that an entire world has woken up to zionist myths and lies perpetrated in mainstream media.

We have reached a groundswell of support for the struggle for Palestine amidst a resistance that makes the classics of old recede into insignificance. Despite our best efforts, the support that has been mustered pales into insignificance in comparison to the billions in arms and aid to Apartheid Israel. All we ask of each person whom this message reaches is to make a difference, like the difference my grandfather, President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, made in the world for all of humanity.

Do it for Palestine and, moreover, do it as the biggest act of our humanity in these troubled times. I support the Apartheid Free Communities Pledge, and so should you!”

– Nkosi Zwelivelile, Royal House of Mandela

For Palestine, the first step has been taken by the International Court of Justice, who ruled last month that Israel is responsible for apartheid, and that Israel’s 57-year occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip is in breach of international law. Now, we must continue the work to grow the number and strength of the Apartheid-Free Communities and divest from Israel’s apartheid regime. Please save the date so you can join us from December 6-8 for our first Apartheid-Free Communities in-person gathering in Philadelphia! More information on this soon.

Featured Article

Medical Apartheid in Palestine; Interview with Dr. Alice Rothchild

“In the occupied territories in the West Bank, there are settlers living in these well-funded, well-supported, heavily militarized settlements who have access to first world healthcare through the Israeli medical system. But if you live in the West Bank and you’re Palestinian, your healthcare is under the control of the Palestinian Authority, which was set up by the Ministry of Health, as well as UNRWA for the refugees, and a huge number of NGOs and private providers. But overlying this whole system is an Israeli policy of de-development. This was particularly clear in Gaza, but it also goes on in the West Bank, where because of Israeli policies about what can get in and what goes out, the Israeli government has a policy of not letting medical institutions develop, not letting medical staff get training, and not allowing people to go to [medical] conferences” 
– Dr. Alice Rothchild

Save the Date: On September 17 at 1 pm ET we are planning an Apartheid-Free Communities webinar on medical apartheid in Palestine with Dr. Alice Rothchild and Yazid Barhoush.

Apartheid-Free Actions and Events

NorCal Sabeel, Silence is Complicity: A Palestinian Call to Action 

Saturday, Aug. 10 at 7 p.m. PT 

Join virtually or in person at Lakeshore Ave. Baptist Church in Oakland, CA to hear from Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac: “At this moment, we must heed Rev. Isaac’s voice and witness to raise our voices, engage in direct action and advocacy, and help us build global bonds of solidarity together with our Palestinian siblings” Register here to join.

Stones Cry Out Virtual Delegation: Webinar with Huwaida Arraf

Wednesday, Aug. 14 at 1 p.m. ET

Throughout the summer, Stones Cry Out is offering a series of webinars as part of a Virtual Delegation, focused on equipping, mobilizing, and empowering a broad spectrum of faith leaders for advocacy. Join on August 14 to hear from Huwaida Arraf, a Palestinian Christian human rights defender, civil rights lawyer and co-founder of the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), a Palestinian-led organization focused on assisting the Palestinian side of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict using non-violent protests. Register here. Learn more about the Stones Cry Out Virtual Delegation here.

Apartheid-Free Communities Webinar: Divest from Apartheid 

Wednesday, Aug. 28, 1 p.m. ET 

Register for our upcoming Apartheid-Free Communities webinar on divestment, featuring amazing guest speakers who have steered communities in divesting from Israeli Apartheid! Hear how they did it and leave inspired to make change in your own community.  

Oppose the Apartheid Road in Wadi Foquin

Take Action

Friends of Wadi Foquin is currently opposing an apartheid road which would destroy 1000 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 in Jerusalem to discuss the proposed road.  Another hearing was scheduled for June 16, but has been postponed with the new date to be determined. 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.

Red Letter Christians – Apartheid-Free Communities Interview  

Red Letter Christians is living out their pledge through spreading the word of the Apartheid-Free Communities! Listen to their latest episode, featuring Allison Tanner, the national organizer for Apartheid-Free Communities.   

Israeli Apartheid In the News

• Aljazeera, Apartheid Explained Video
• Human Rights Watch, World Court Finds Israel Responsible for Apartheid
• Amnesty International, “ICJ opinion declaring Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories unlawful is historic vindication of Palestinians’ rights”  
• Washington Post, “Israel should evacuate settlements, pay reparations, ICJ says”  
• Defending Rights and Dissent, “Apartheid South Africa to Israel: Protests for divestment then and now” 
• Matter News, “Artists Against Apartheid launches exhibition to highlight Palestinian resilience” 
• Prism Reports, “Elbit Systems, key to Israel’s apartheid regime, is helping to expand Biden’s virtual border wall“

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.

• Hiroshima Day: August 6
• Nagasaki Day: August 9
• International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples: August 9
• International Youth Day: August 12
• World Humanitarian Day: August 19
• International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition: August 23
• Women’s Equality Day: August 26  

Apartheid-Free Continues to Grow

As of the first of August, 374 communities have signed the pledge! Welcome to Apartheid-Free! Shout out to our new members who joined last month: 

• Mindfulosophy, MD 
• San Pedro United Methodist Church, CA 
• Crescent Masonry Chimney, NH 
• Blossom Jam, TX 
• CAIR San Francisco Bay Area 
• Israelis Against Apartheid 
• MAS Houston – Muslim merican Society, TX 
• Democracy Out Loud, NC 
• Writing For All, NY 
• Drifting Cloud Productions, NY 
• Statice Health Liberators 
• Downers Grove Friends Meeting, IL 
• NAIDIP – Narok Disabled Intergrated Programme, Kenya 
• Gila Friends Meeting, NM