Community Leaders Condemn AIPAC Policies of Occupation and Sanctions

Contact: Medea Benjamin, CODEPINK (415) 235-6517
Rae Abileah, CODEPINK (415) 994-1723

March 22nd, 2010

Dump Israeli products in a call for boycott of Israeli goods

WHAT: Press conference and creative demonstration
WHEN: 5:30 pm, Monday, March 22
WHERE: Outside the Washington Convention Center (801 Mount Vernon Place NW)

WHO:
Josh Ruebner, US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation
Philip Farah, Washington Interfaith Alliance for the Middle East
Ret. Col. Ann Wright, former US diplomat and Army Colonel
Shelley Fudge, Jewish Voice for Peace
Medea Benjamin, cofounder of Global Exchange and CODEPINK

VISUALS: Theatric “checkpoint” wall, IDF soldiers, large banners, collection of products made in illegal Israeli settlements and sold in DC stores

ADDITIONAL ACTIONS:
  • Protest of former British PM Tony Blair at the AIPAC conference, 8-9 am, Tuesday, March 23, outside the Washington Convention Center
  • Staging of a Settlement inside a Senator's office, 10:30 am, Tuesday, March 23, Hart Senate Building
  • Delivery of Thank You letters to all Representatives who voted no on the Goldstone Condemnation, HR 867, 1 pm, Tuesday, March 23, Longworth Office Building

Washington D.C.: Community leaders will hold a press conference outside the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) Annual Conference to refute AIPAC's policies of occupation and illegally funding violence. They will condemn AIPAC's call for continued military aid to Israel, which last year was used in the attack on Gaza, breaking international law.

With the new tensions between the Obama administration and the Israeli government over settlements, activists believe that now is the time to stop AIPAC from dictating US foreign policy in the Middle East.  “The timing is right to the break the detrimental influence of AIPAC, which demands unquestioning public and financial support for Israeli despite its illegal actions,” said diplomat Ann Wright.

American Jewish peace activists are outraged at the influence that AIPAC has on U.S. policy. “AIPAC supports policies of aggression that damage Israel's reputation, harm innocent Palestinians, and contribute to making America less safe in the world,” said Jewish-American activist Medea Benjamin of CODEPINK. ”

CODEPINK is a women-initiated grassroots peace and social justice movement working to end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, stop new wars, and redirect our resources into healthcare, education, green jobs and other life-affirming activities.

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