Hello ,
Congressman Brian Baird
In our work at the Rachel Corrie Foundation we connect with an expanding network of organizations that share a vision of a just and enduring peace in Palestine/Israel.
We are proud to be a member organization of the U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation. We recently partnered with the U.S. Campaign to respond to news reports regarding a suspension of Caterpillar bulldozer sales to Israel. Israeli press reported that the suspension was in response to the Corrie family's ongoing civil lawsuit against the State of Israel, currently taking place in Haifa. Through the leadership of those at the U.S. Campaign and the participation of member organizations, over 11,000 signatures were gathered for a petition and letter to be delivered to the Obama administration. The letter calls for a continued suspension of Caterpillar D9 bulldozer sales, until the government of Israel accounts for the illegal actions committed with these armored machines.
The U.S. Campaign has also announced an exciting new fundraiser, which will allow supporters the opportunity to help replant olive trees, benefiting farming families throughout Palestine. Your donation will do more than honor Rachel's memory and the principles of human rights, justice and peace, to which she dedicated her life. Your donation will also support the ongoing work of two organizations - the Rachel Corrie Foundation for Peace and Justice and the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation. Please follow this link for more information and to lend your support- and forward widely!
On Thursday, November 18th, the group Ta'anit Tzedek - Jewish Fast for Gaza - hosted a conference call with Washington State Congressman Brian Baird. In this fascinating discussion, the Congressman speaks candidly about his four visits to Gaza since Operation Cast Lead, and about his view of U.S. and Israeli policies - including recent efforts by the Obama administration to temporarily halt Israeli West Bank settlement expansion in return for a package of U.S. funded incentives. The package included continued diplomatic cover at the U.N. as well as provision of F-35 attack jets. The Congressman (whose constituents have included Rachel Corrie and her parents) talks about his experience in Congress, as well as his experience with Israeli officials in the period following Rachel's killing.
Rabbis Brian Walt and Brant Rosen, Project Coordinators of Ta'anit Tzedek, have previously hosted a teleconference with the Corries. In March, Rabbi Walt attended a court session in the Corrie's civil trial, which continues in Haifa, Israel, on December 22nd. Click here to connect with Ta'anit Tzedek, and to listen to this important conversation with retiring Congressman Brian Baird.
