The blockade of Gaza has been very much in the news after the flotilla with humanitarian supplies was attacked by Israel on May 31. The PPF National Committee has been working on an appropriate response; last week we decided that we would make a significant donation to a project that is being organized by German and other European Jews, the "Jewish Ship to Gaza."
Their press release states:
"Our purpose is to call an end to the siege of Gaza, to this illegal collective punishment of the whole civilian population. Our boat is small, so our donations can only be symbolic: We are taking school bags filled with donations from German school children, musical instruments and art materials. We are taking essential medicines and small items of medical equipment, and for the fishermen we are taking nets and tackle. We are liaising with the medical, educational and mental health services in Gaza."
They are also "sending a call to the leaders of the world to help Israel find its way back to reason, a sense of humanity and a life without fear."
They plan to embark in the next 4 to 6 weeks on this nonviolent humanitarian effort.
For further information about this, you may go to their website for the English version: http://jewish-ship-to-gaza.jimdo.com/home/home/
In keeping with PPF's emphasis both to act and to speak, we support this action, and we hope to have a representative on the boat if possible. We also have written a statement about the boat and the whole issue of the blockade and the urgent call for a solution to both Palestinian and Israeli needs.
Our goal is to raise $10,000 as a significant participation in this action. We now have pledges totalling $5,710 from 22 PPFers. If you would like to take part in this, with a gift above and beyond your regular support for PPF, please send your contribution to
Presbyterian Peace Fellowship
17 Cricketown Rd
Stony Point NY 10980
On the memo line please write "Jewish ship to Gaza."
We wish to have the full amount in hand or pledged before the General Assembly begins on July 3, and to have a press conference announcing this action, and presenting a press statement. We'll also emphasize our very important "Principles to Guide our Work: The Conflict between Israel and Palestine," which is on our website
There are quite a few other aspects of this whole situation; if you have questions, you may direct them to Len Bjorkman LenandJudy@stny.rr.com.
Finally, because we wish to have the major announcement at the press conference, we'd appreciate it if you would be very careful about sharing this with others. Obviously, you may know someone who would really like to take part. But please do not share this on any general list.
By the way, if it turns out that they are not able to sail, we will work out with them if they are able to return any amount. They have gone into personal debt to fund this. In a real sense, we're all in this together.
The Presbyterian Peace Fellowship
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