Updates-A Story of Realistic Hope

A Jew Asks Questions of Two Palestinians in a Time of War

A Jew Asks Questions of Two Palestinians in a Time of War

In this short clip Mubarak Awad gets to the heart of the issue reminding us of our shared humanity.

Jonathan Kuttab reflects on the importance of hope in hard times.

They've got a great deal more to say.

Please share this clip, watch the entire conversation, and take action to help build true and lasting peace with justice.

Please sign our petition and visit this page for additional suggested Action Steps

Here is the full video conversation with timestamps below.

In conversation with Mubarak Awad and Jonathan Kuttab.
(Photo - Mubarak in Bethlehem, 2005)
We offer this in-depth conversation at this time of crisis. We hope many will be inspired to watch the entire video, but we list timestamps below for those who would like to dive into a particular question.
2:00 - Mubarak intro
9:47 - Jonathan on his new book - Beyond The Two-State Solution
14:52 - Mubarak raises up NVI's impressive partners
19:40 - Jonathan on the power of narrative
22:58 - Mubarak reflects on how trauma impacts children for life
27:55 - Jonathan on the self-serving motivations of politicians
30:43 - Mubarak speaks about dehumanization in the name of religion
34:45 - Jonathan on two major organizations that have declared the occupation to be a form of apartheid
41:10 - Mubarak confronts Christian evangelicals role in the region
45:40 - Jonathan on the new definitions of anti-semitism being used to limit acceptable speech
50:08 - Mubarak speaks on equality, democracy, and hope
57:43 - Jonathan reflects on the ongoing pattern of evictions and what it meant to attack the Dome of the Rock
1:02:28 - Mubarak questions the so-called Abraham accords and the “deal of the century”
1:06:57 - Jonathan speaks to ways this moment is different than any other
1:13:31 - Mubarak questions the role of the United Nations
1:19:35 - Jonathan on the role of the United States

At several points in the video, we raise up the vital work of our partners in the region. They are doing visionary work in difficult circumstances and we hope you will be moved to support them. NVI's Partners

Please sign our petition and visit this page for additional suggested Action Steps

To get a free copy of Jonathan Kuttab’s book Beyond The Two-State Solution, please visit:https://www.nonviolenceinternational.net/beyond2states

To view our webinar where Jonathan is in conversation with Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb and takes questions, please visit:https://www.nonviolenceinternational.net/beyond_2_states_webinar

Here is the video we mention where Mubarak tells his powerful personal story.

We discuss two recent reports from respected human rights organizations. Here are the links: B’Tselem – The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories. Human Rights Watch Report

Our hearts are breaking. And, still we celebrate those who are lighting candles of hope even as we must curse the darkness. At NVI, we know that we are not condemned to live in a state of perpetual violence. Let’s raise up a vision of a better future and a nonviolent path to get there. Below we list a variety of powerful resources shared with us by our partner the Center for Jewish Nonviolence. In these hard times, we hope you will take inspiration from the wonderful ongoing vital work of our partners. They deserve our active support.

We Are Not Numbers

Holy Land Trust

Hebron International Resource Network 

US Boats to Gaza 

Center for Jewish Nonviolence

https://www.nonviolenceinternational.net/our_partners

Collected resources: Support Palestinian Resistance

Online Actions

Protests across the US

Connecting with Palestinian Partners and Hineinu Activists

Social Media - Follow These Accounts

Educational Infographics

Video Explainers

Podcast Recommendations

More Educational Resources

 “To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic.  It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness...What we choose to emphasize in this complex history will determine our lives. If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something.  If we remember those times and places—and there are so many—where people have behaved magnificently, this gives us the energy to act and at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a different direction...And if we do act, in however small a way, we don't have to wait for some grand utopian future.  The future is an infinite succession of presents and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory."  -- Howard Zinn

NVI Videos 

Raising up our Partners in a Time of War

Raising up our Partners in a Time of War

Our hearts are breaking.

And, still we celebrate those who are lighting candles of hope even as we must curse the darkness.

At NVI, we know that we are not condemned to live in a state of perpetual violence.

Let’s raise up a vision of a better future and a nonviolent path to get there. 

Below we list a variety of powerful resources shared with us by our partner the Center for Jewish Nonviolence.

In these hard times, we hope you will take inspiration from the wonderful ongoing vital work of our partners. 

They deserve our active support. 

We Are Not Numbers

Holy Land Trust

Hebron International Resource Network 

US Boats to Gaza 

Center for Jewish Nonviolence

https://www.nonviolenceinternational.net/our_partners

(Below the current resources, please see a collection of our relevant videos on this topic featuring these partners.) 

Please take this quick step - sign our petition and then dive into the imporant material below. 

Collected resources: Support Palestinian Resistance

Online Actions

Protests across the US

Connecting with Palestinian Partners and Hineinu Activists

Social Media - Follow These Accounts

Educational Infographics

Video Explainers

Podcast Recommendations

More Educational Resources

 “To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic.  It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness...What we choose to emphasize in this complex history will determine our lives. If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something.  If we remember those times and places—and there are so many—where people have behaved magnificently, this gives us the energy to act and at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a different direction...And if we do act, in however small a way, we don't have to wait for some grand utopian future.  The future is an infinite succession of presents and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory."  -- Howard Zinn

NVI Videos 

NVI Book and Database Launch on Nonviolent Tactics - Webinar

NVI Book and Database Launch on Nonviolent Tactics - Webinar

This webinar was an inspirational discussion between Michael Beer, author of the book Civil Resistance Tactics in the 21st Century and Director of Nonviolence International, and Jamila Raqib of the Albert Einstein Institution. These two, facilitated by Véronique Dudouet of the Berghof Foundation, presented on the relevance of this book and its content, personal experiences with some new tactics, and fielded questions from the audience. The NVI Tactics Database was also highlighted and its use was demonstrated by NVI volunteer Annalisa Bell. 

Time stamps:

Véronique Dudouet - 0:00

Michael Beer - 2:37

Annalisa Bell - 21:50

Jamila Raqib - 30:24

Barbara Wien - 42:07

Discussion - 45:30

 

Our NVI series themes for 2021: The world is facing a series of devastating interrelated crises. Nonviolence is the most effective answer to many of them. We must not become frozen in fear, but instead moved to action. History has proven that powerful people’s movements can make what once seemed impossible become inevitable. Again and again we have seen that when people rise up together and declare they see a path out of the darkness, the world can change in deep and lasting ways. We often seem so small and the problems seem so vast. At Nonviolence International, we proudly declare that the world can be better than it is today and it is up to us to direct that change.

Panelists:

Michael Beer has just published an important new book and wants to be in conversation with you about it and our interactive online database of NV Tactics. Michael has been Director of Nonviolence International since 1998. He is a global activist for human rights, minority rights and argues against war and casino capitalism. He has trained activists in many countries, including Myanmar, Kosovo, Tibet, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, India, Zimbabwe, and the United States. He is a frequent public speaker on nonviolence and has been broadcast on CSPAN, CNN, and other major media outlets. Michael is the co-parent of two children with his life partner, Latanja.

Jamila Raqib serves as the Executive Director of the Albert Einstein Institution. Jamila joined the Albert Einstein Institution in 2002, focusing on the promotion and distribution of writings and translations, on the technique of nonviolent struggle and its potential in acute conflicts worldwide.  In 2009, she collaborated with Dr. Sharp to create a new curriculum titled Self-Liberation: A Guide to Strategic Planning for Action to End a Dictatorship or Other Oppression.  The publication is intended to provide in-depth understanding of nonviolent struggle to individuals in order to enable them to develop effective strategies for their struggles.  Since its publication, it has been translated into Mandarin, Vietnamese, and Italian.

Facilitated by:

Véronique Dudouet, Senior Researcher and Program Director at the Berghof Foundation in Berlin, Germany. Véronique has been coordinating participatory action research, training, and policy advice activities on resistance and liberation movements in transition’ since 2005. Her current research interests include transitions from armed to unarmed insurgencies, the role of external actors in nonviolent resistance, negotiation and third-party intervention in asymmetric conflict, inclusive post-war governance. As a scholar-activist, she has been involved in several anti-war and nonviolent campaigns, including as a volunteer with the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) in the Palestinian territories. She also carries out consultancy projects for various civil society organizations, state and international agencies (EU, OECD, UNDP).

Kings Bay Plowshares Win Berrigan-McAlister Award

Kings Bay Plowshares Win Berrigan-McAlister Award

NVI is proud to be the fiscal sponsor for this important project. Please see the time sensitive updates below.

Learn more about the Isaiah Project Here

Watch NVI’s webinar featuring the Isaiah Project Here

Get sentencing updates Here

Celebrating the Kings Bay Plowshares 7!

The Berrigan-McAlister Award is given by DePaul University to a person or organization that exemplifies the practice of active Christian nonviolence like that practiced by Fr. Daniel Berrigan, SJ, Phillip Berrigan, and Elizabeth McAlister. This year’s inaugural recipients are the Kings Bay Plowshares 7, a group of Christian activists who were arrested for entering the Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base in Georgia in 2018 to protest nuclear weapons of mass destruction.

Film Screening and Discussion: Tuesday, May 4th at 6:30 pm Central. Screening The Berrigans: Devout and Dangerous
Award Presentation and Discussion: Wednesday, May 5th at 6:30 pm Central.

Zoom links will be sent out a few days before the events.

Hosted by College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences | Center for World Catholicism & Intercultural Theology (CWCIT) | Department of Catholic Studies | Peace, Justice, and Conflict Studies | Division of Mission & Ministry | Center for Religion, Culture, and Community

Register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/inaugural-berrigan-mcalister-award-tickets-147618327391

April 5 Festival of Hope for Third Anniversary of KBP7 Action and Mark's Sentencing

The third anniversary of the Kings Bay Plowshares 7 action is approaching on April 4 which is Easter this year. Mark Colville has also decided to go forward with virtual sentencing on April 9 after numerous delays because of virus concerns. Join us for the Festival of Hope for Monday, April 5 at 7 PM EDT https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86326440605

There will be reflections on what gives hope from several members of the the support community including Kathy Kelly, Beth Brockman, Jessica Stewart, Robert Randall, Luz Catarineau Colville and Matt Daloisio.

Reports will be included from groups who have been inspired by the plowshares action including Beyond Trident in Georgia, Reject Raytheon in North Carolina and No New Tridents in Connecticut.

Music will be presented by the Filthy Rotten System and Bobcat Caruthers.

Mark will speak for a few minutes and then receive a blessing from Liz McAlister before his sentencing.

April 9 Sentencing

We expect that there will be a call-in number to listen to Mark's sentencing on April 9 as was done in the past but don't have the number yet. Check the website for details.

Prison News

We have just received word that Fr. Steve Kelly has finally been brought to the prison in Seattle-Tacoma (SEA-Tac) by the federal marshals after a three and a half month journey from Georgia. An initial hearing on a probation violation charge for and old trespass conviction was
held March 31, and there will be a follow up hearing on April 13. Now you can write to him at:

Stephen Kelly #00816-111
FDC SeaTac
Federal Detention Center
P.O. Box 13900
Seattle, WA 98198

Please use plain white paper and write with black or blue pen only. Also write your full name and return address on a plain white envelope along with his address as it appears below. Do not affix any stickers, glue, glitter, etc. to the letter or envelope (don’t use a return address sticker).

Addresses for the others are on the website:https://kingsbayplowshares7.org/jail-addresses/

There are many reports from the other four imprisoned activists on the website at the Letters from Prison tab. They are all doing reasonably well.

Save the Dates - Berrigan McAlister Award - May 4 & 5

DePaul University in Chicago is presenting the inaugural Berrigan McAlister award to recognize Gospel nonviolence to the Kings Bay Plowshares 7. The first night will feature a new documentary on the Berrigans and the second will have an award ceremony and discussion. It will also commemorate Dan Berrigan's hundreth birthday on May 9. More details will be forthcoming or you can register and get further information at:Berrigan McAlister event

Online Course by Kathy Kelly

Beginning April 3 and for the following eight weeks, an online course called "Lay Down My Sword and Shield," will focus on abolishing wars and weapons. Kathy Kelly will facilitate as participants learn about Plowshares actions, the KBP7, and the consequences of wars in Yemen, Afghanistan and Iraq. Four young Afghans will help Kathy present material. To join this or other courses offered by the School for Social and Cultural Change visit SSCC.teachable.com

NVI is proud to be the fiscal sponsor for the this important project. Please consider donating at: https://www.nonviolenceinternational.net/donate_isaiah

Contributions can also be mailed to: Kings Bay Plowshares PO Box 3087 Washington DC 20010

EMAIL: [email protected]

WEBSITE: www.kingsbayplowshares7.org

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Kingsbayplowshares

TWITTER: https://www.twitter.com/kingsbayplow7

"If you think one person can't be effective, you've never been in bed with a mosquito" -War Resister's League "


"Protest beyond the law is not a departure from democracy; it is absolutely essential to it"   Howard Zinn (1922-2010)

 “To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic.  It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness...What we choose to emphasize in this complex history will determine our lives. If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something.  If we remember those times and places—and there are so many—where people have behaved magnificently, this gives us the energy to act and at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a different direction...And if we do act, in however small a way, we don't have to wait for some grand utopian future.  The future is an infinite succession of presents and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory."  -- Howard Zinn

 

Spotlight on Nonviolence - Khadija Khokhar

Spotlight on Nonviolence - Khadija Khokhar

In this Spotlight on Nonviolence, Katherine Whiteside chats with Khadija Khokar, a fellow student at GW who is involved in climate activism and the organization Zero Hour. She discusses how all of the oppressive systems that hold up this world are ultimately contributing to the climate crisis and how the conversation surrounding this issue needs to recognize this and not focus so much on the individual. She combats these problems through organizing climate strikes, working on community building, and pushing for divestment in her area. We can all learn from her experiences taking initiative to fight for a better future.

If you would like to find out more about Zero Hour or get involved in the organization you can check it out here:

http://thisiszerohour.org/ 

If you would like to learn more about the green new deal and what it could mean for the future of this country you can find more information here: 

https://www.npr.org/2019/02/07/691997301/rep-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-releases-green-new-deal-outline 

A few years ago we were told that computer algorithms would serve us. Now we have learned that we serve them. So, we are compelled to ask you to “please like and subscribe” to our new YouTube channel so that others will be introduced to the work you already support. 

 

Spotlight on Nonviolence - Azmera Hammouri-Davis

Spotlight on Nonviolence - Azmera Hammouri-Davis

In this Spotlight on Nonviolence, Katherine Whiteside chats with Azmera Hammouri- Davis, a poet, scholar and activist. She is known for her curriculum Capoetics and her spoken word series Break the Boxes. In this episode, Azmera discusses how she was introduced to Capoetics and the impact it has had on her, the power of using art in all its forms for activism, and she shares a beautiful poem.

If you would like to find out more about Azmera’s work with Capoetics, see her videos on Break the Boxes, or check out Find the Keepers you can visit her website here. https://www.azmerarhymes.com/ You can also check out Freedom and other videos of her poetry on her YouTube channel 

A few years ago we were told that computer algorithms would serve us. Now we have learned that we serve them. So, we are compelled to ask you to “please like and subscribe” to our new YouTube channel so that others will be introduced to the work you already support. 

 

Celebrating NVI Intern’s Big Win!

Celebrating NVI Intern’s Big Win!

By David Hart

NVI Intern Jules Slater Wins Prestigious Oration Competition

NVI is blessed with the volunteer leadership of three amazing interns. Those who follow our social media are starting to get to know Katherine Whiteside who is hosting our Spotlight on Nonviolence series on our new YouTube channel. Sam Lynch has been taking substantial leadership on a range of essential nonprofit management tasks. Working with each of them is a joy. Today, I'm thrilled to introduce you to Jules Slater who just won a 111 year old competition at their college.

Jules won with a powerful speech on what I consider the single most important topic of our time. What do we do with our anger about the state of the world? Can we find ways to allow ourselves to feel whatever we are feeling - pain, despair, hope, anger - and channel those emotions into effective action? Check out Jules' insightful and beautifully presented remarks starting 27 minutes in to the video below. And, for those interested see below the video for some of my thoughts on this topic. 

1st Place: Jules Slater ’21 - Advocacy Communication

The Bailey Oratorical stands as the oldest ongoing tradition of academic excellence at Juniata.

First Place: $1,000 and the name of the winner is inscribed on an antique Loving Cup.

Regular readers of this website may know of my love and respect for the great nonviolent activist and thinker Barbara Deming. Before coming across her writings, I had read and learned a great deal from Henry David Thoreau, Mohandas Gandhi, and Martin Luther King, but reading Deming as a kid spoke to me in a way beyond even those esteemed visionaries. 

Our successful webinar series is named We Are All Part of One Another after a line from Barbara Deming. See much more about her including fun links here. 

I was deeply moved watching Jules' speech. I have had the pleasure of working closely with them and learning together as we dive into many pressing NVI tasks. Jules created and has been updating our new webpage on Burma. So I knew Jules to be smart and could tell from their approach to their work that a deep love of people and planet guided their daily efforts. I didn't know that Jules was pondering some of the same issues I was as a young activist and still am today. Because I've grown to love and respect Jules, it was clear to me watching the competition that they should win, but I also knew I was deeply and understandably biased. I celebrated when the impartial judges agreed and Jules won first prize!

In a world as beautiful and broken as ours how can we not feel despair and anger? I remember that old bumpersticker that seems even more true now... If you are not outraged, you are not paying attention. For those who are brave enough to pay attention today, the painful reality is hard to grapple with. So we understand why so many close themselves off from the suffering - largely unnecessary suffering - all around us. Looking directly at the depth of the intersecting crises facing us is hard, but it is also essential to finding creative, constructive ways to address them and doing so with the fierce urgency they demand. Barbara Deming's essay On Anger spoke to me in deep and transformational ways and helped guide me forward to a lifetime of sustained activism. I hope Jules' remarks and Barbara's essay will be helpful to you as well. As she does with so many of her essays, Barbara says a great deal in a short piece. 

After watching Jules impressive speech above, please read Barbara's essay at: http://www.satyagrahafoundation.org/on-anger/

A few years later when I was in college I learned about the work of Joanna Macy. Her book Despair and Personal Power in the Nuclear Age inspired me to teach a course for credit for three semesters. Decades before I arrived at Oberlin college students had pushed through the Experimental College where - if you jump through the right faculty hoops - you can teach other students and they will earn college credit. Doing this three times with a different co-instructor each semester was a deeply meaningful experience for me and came directly out of Barbara and Joanna's work that is now being carried forward by Jules and many other brave young leaders ready to claim their future by facing the reality of the world today and finding ways to act together. 

I urge people interested in this kind of work to check out: joannamacy.net.  She suggests ways to face our fears and be moved to sustained loving activism. This approach has helped keep me going in this challenging and wonderful work for decades. 

Those of us not immersed in the Juniata community may miss a few references in Jules' speech, but the core messages are universal and are being felt by an ever increasing percentage of young people today. Jules asks if 2020 will be remembered as the angriest year ever. They express frustration at being told "this will not be tolerated here... when clearly it is." And, notes a core lesson we all benefit from meditating on regularly..."we are not alone."

We face serious challenges that we have foolishly allowed to go unaddressed for far too long. The intersecting crises are now forcing a great global awakening. The transition to a new and better world will not be easy and vast suffering that we could have avoided is already underway, but our capacity to claim our personal and collective power is directly impacted by our ability to face the reality of our situation. Jules and the other exceptional young leaders I get to work with through NVI give me hope that we may yet create the living loving revolution that has been needed for so long. Thank you Jules for your award winning speech, for all you do, and for giving me hope in hard times.

We are very curious what you think of all this. Jules and I have started talking about co-hosting a team meeting on this topic. Might not be a public webinar, but an internal gathering for those working closely with NVI and new friends interested in this part of our work. Please let us know if you might want to join us. 

 

 

 

 

Update on Jonathan Kuttab's Book

Update on Jonathan Kuttab's Book

We are excited by the response to NVI's co-founder Jonathan Kuttab’s timely and important short book, Beyond The Two-State Solution.

We will be using this page to provide quick updates with all of you who share our deeply held values and want to put those values into effective action by helping to spread the word.

The latest wonderful review was published by Bruce Fisk. He uses both humor and scripture to make the case for why this book matters especially at this critical time. 

Please check it out and help spread the word. 

NVI had an internal meeting that gave our core team hope that we can achieve our stretch goal of changing the conversation around Israel / Palestine and by so doing having real-world impacts on policy and thus on people’s lives.

35 wonderful leaders each with networks of their own joined us to strategize about how we can leverage the power of Jonathan’s inspirational book. Those of us who have been watching this issue for years or decades are well aware that the conversation has been stuck for far too long. This has led to unnecessary and totally avoidable human suffering. We are committed to breaking out of this old tired pattern and are thrilled that our own co-founder has offered such a well thought out powerful booklet. 

Those who gathered on the call came up with a range of good ideas and even more importantly some key leaders made specific comments to carry this vital work forward. With the deep inspiration coming out of that meeting, we ask for your help with this effort. Please contact us to let us know how you’d like to be involved.

We are fully committed to your success and are creating a Toolkit to make this easy for you. 

We have:

1) A short promotional video already up on our YouTube channel.

2) A shareable social media graphic

3) Sample text for your promotional emails

Dear <First Name>,

Personalized introduction.

When it fits your busy schedule, I’d love to partner with you on getting our co-founder, Jonathan Kuttab, on a networking webinar. As you know, we are just getting started with the promotional effort for his timely and important new book.  

Learn more and get your free advance copy at https://www.nonviolenceinternational.net/beyond2states

Here is a bit about the book from the author: 

After decades of work promoting creative nonviolence, I am about to publish a book which I hope, with your help can address the current impasse, and perhaps change the conversation around Israel / Palestine. Many activists are frustrated, despondent, and floundering with no clear vision or direction. We need some fresh out-of-the-box thinking. This is true for Palestinians, Israelis, and our friends in the international community. I’ve asked Nonviolence International, a group I co-founded and value deeply, to lead the effort to get this book into the hands of people across the political spectrum and across the world. Even with everything else already in their established plans, the team is going above and beyond to ensure this book gets the attention we believe it deserves. 

Beyond The Two-State Solution is a short introduction to the current crisis in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Zionism and Palestinian Nationalism have been at loggerheads for over a century. Many thought the two-state solution would resolve the conflict between them. In this book, I explain why the two-state solution (that I supported) is no longer viable. I suggest that any solution must be predicated on the basic existential needs of the two parties. I formulate a way forward for a 1-state solution that challenges both Zionism and Palestinian Nationalism. This book invites readers to begin a new conversation based on reality: two peoples will need to live together in some sort of unified state. I have tried hard to make it balanced and accessible to neophytes and to experts alike.

Thanks again for your impressive leadership in building the network. Really inspirational to see this growing into a powerful global much-needed force. 

Be Well, 

4) Sample Twitter and Facebook posts

Twitter Posts

  1. Beyond The Two-State Solution, by Jonathan Kuttab, is a short introduction to the current crisis in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. This book invites readers to begin a new conversation based on reality: two peoples will need to live together in some sort of unified state. 
  2. In this book, Jonathan Kattab formulates a way forward for a 1-state solution that challenges both Zionism and Palestinian Nationalism. Download full PDF book: https://www.nonviolenceinternational.net/beyond2states

Facebook Posts

Beyond The Two-State Solution, by Jonathan Kuttab, is a short introduction to the current crisis in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. This book invites readers to begin a new conversation based on reality: two peoples will need to live together in some sort of unified state. Some thought the two-state solution would resolve the conflict between Zionism and Palestinian Nationalism. In Beyond The Two-State Solution, Jonathan explains that the two-state solution is no longer viable. Jonathan Kattab formulates a way forward for a 1-state solution that challenges both Zionism and Palestinian Nationalism.

Download the full PDF of the book now: https://www.nonviolenceinternational.net/beyond2states

Please let us know what else you need to be successful in joining our growing team promoting this important text. 

The book is available now on our website as a PDF, EPUB, Mobi, or Print

We are proud to report that booklet is rolling out to many major online retailers in Kindle and ePub formats as well.

We expect a print version will be available no later than the first quarter of 2021. 

If you are inspired to support this work, consider making a donation or becoming one of our sustaining monthly donors.

Resisting Occupation: Connecting Palestine and Western Sahara - Webinar

Resisting Occupation: Connecting Palestine and Western Sahara - Webinar

Nonviolence International is proud to make connections across boundaries that for far too long we have allowed to divide us. We believe in the power of active nonviolence and offer this conversation as a way to celebrate the brave nonviolent leaders and our shared use of creative tactics and training to make us even more impactful. 

(Video above shows Sultana Khaya - while under heavy surveillance - joining our webinar through Salka Barca.)

This webinar was historic. This was one of the first times that we could hear Palestinian and Sahrawi voices share their experience of nonviolent resistance to occupation in Palestine and Western Sahara on the same panel. Israel and Morocco are in contravention of the UN charter through their military occupation and annexation of neighboring territories. Our Palestinian speakers, Mubarak Awad and Jonathan Kuttab have travelled to the Western Sahara and spoke about/on the parallels between the two occupations. Kuttab, a renowned international lawyer also discussed about the illegality of occupations and annexations and how these are a threat to world peace. Salka Marco talked about Sahrawi resistance to Moroccan occupation and human rights abuses. Kamal spoke to the need for solidarity with Palestinians and Sahrawis and how support for occupations and violation of human rights is damaging to the people of Morocco. Stephen Zunes provided an academic perspective outlining the similarities and connections between these two conflicts including the US government’s recognition of the Moroccan annexation in return for Morocco recognizing Israel.

Please Note: Mubarak would like to make a correction regarding the evacuation of a city by the Sahrawi people. During this discussion he said Moroccans left while it was the Sahwari people who held this amazing act of nonviolent resistance and would like to make this distinction to anyone watching to not cause confusion.

Time Stamps:

Rafif Jouejati - 0:00

Mubarak Awad - 5:40

Jonathan Kuttab - 14:30

Salka Barca - 20:00

Sultana Khaya - 22:40

Kamal Lfahsi - 32:30

Stephen Zunes - 42:10

Discussion - 52:00

Speakers:

Rafif Jouejati is a board member of Nonviolence International. She is the co-founder and director of the Foundation to Restore Equality and Education in Syria (FREE Syria), and the principal architect of the Syrian Freedom Charter project, which surveyed more than 50,000 Syrians on democratic aspirations and political transition. She is also a founding member of the Syrian Women’s Political Network, a member of the Board of Directors of The Day After, and President of the Board of Directors of Baytna. Rafif is the CEO of a company that helps client organizations evolve to higher levels of capacity and maturity through business development, targeted training, and strategic communication.

Mubarak Awad is a co-founder of Nonviolence International, an organization which promotes nonviolence worldwide. He was a leader in the 1st intifada in Palestine before he was deported by Israel to the United States. He visited Western Sahara in 2015 where he provided training in nonviolent struggle. He has a PhD in psychology, and also is the founder of a number of organizations that have focused on advocating and providing support for troubled and orphaned youth.

Jonathan Kuttab is a co-founder of Nonviolence International. Kuttab is a well-known international human rights attorney who is a member of the bar in Israel, Palestine, and the United States. He is the author of Beyond the Two-State Solution and many other publications. He is also a co-founder of the Palestinian human rights group Al-Haq and is President of the Board of Bethlehem Bible College. He has travelled to the occupied Western Sahara twice to provide training in human rights law and in nonviolent action.

Salka Barca is a nonviolence struggle advocate Born in Laayoune, the capital city of Western Sahara. She lived the first years of her childhood in the refugee camps, southwest Algeria. Obtained education in Tripoli, Libya and then Algeria. Barca was a literacy teacher in refugee camps. Furthermore, she was a member of the Saharawi women union.
Ms. Barca was the first Woman to advocate for Western Sahara nationally on immigration status in the United States. Worked with several organizations as an outreach for the Saharawi Cause, such as American Friends Service Committee and Sahara Fund; Ms. Barca is a linguist and a legal and medical interpreter/translator; an advocate for domestic-violence prevention. translated (50 crucial points for nonviolence struggle). Visited the occupied territories after 43 years in exile but was under surveillance of the
Moroccan police. co-founder of Karama Sahara, the first Non-governmental organization to include Moroccan human rights activists as honorary members.

Sultana Khaya is a Sahrawi woman human rights defender whose work focuses on promoting the right of self-determination for the Sahrawi people.. She is president of the organisation League for the Defense of Human Rights and against Plunder of Natural Resources in Boujdour. In the occupied territories, Sultana Khaya is a prominent figure on the frontline of the Moroccan occupation, participating in demonstrations and advocating for the end of the occupation and denouncing violence against Saharawi women. The woman human rights defender has travelled internationally to participate in conferences and other events relating to the human rights situation in Western Sahara and she has participated in the UN Human Rights Council twice.

Kamal Lfahsi is from Morocco and was born in 1971 in Morocco. He graduated from college in 1993 with a bachelor's degree in biology. At the same time, he became a leader among the National Union of the Students of Morocco. After graduating, Mr Lfahsi joined human rights activities and became the president of a local organization, the National Association of the Unemployed University Graduate in Morocco; later was arrested in 1999 for his role as a president and sentenced to 6 months in prison. 2000 Mr Lfahsi left Morocco to the United States and continued his education later and graduated from the Grove School of Engineering in New York City as environmental engineering. Currently, He is a Field utility Engineer and safety specialist of natural gas pipeline for a government agency in New York. Mr., Lfahsi is among many Moroccans who stands with the Saharawis in their plight of self-determination and a supporter of promoting human rights issues in Western Sahara and Morocco.

Stephen Zunes is a Professor of Politics and International Studies at the University of San Francisco, where he served as founding director of the program in Middle Eastern Studies. Zunes serves as a senior policy analyst for Foreign Policy in Focus project of the Institute for Policy Studies, an associate editor of Peace Review, and a contributing editor of Tikkun.
He is the author of hundreds of articles for scholarly and general readership on Middle Eastern politics, U.S. foreign policy, nonviolent action, and human rights. He is the principal editor of Nonviolent Social Movements (Blackwell Publishers, 1999), the author of the Tinderbox: U.S. Middle East Policy and the Roots of Terrorism (Common Courage Press, 2003) and co-author (with Jacob Mundy) of Western Sahara: War, Nationalism and Conflict Irresolution (Syracuse University Press, 2010).

Spotlight on Nonviolence - Huwaida Arraf

Spotlight on Nonviolence - Huwaida Arraf

In this Spotlight on Nonviolence, Katherine Whiteside converses with Huwaida Arraf a Palestinian activist and lawyer who is the cofounder of the International Solidarity Movement and the Free Gaza Movement. Huwaida discusses how she became involved in activism, what caused her to develop the International Solidarity Movement and how others can get involved in this powerful and important movement.

Huwaida has done amazing work in globalizing Palestinian resistance by bringing citizens from around the world to Palestine and increasing global consciousness of the human rights violations that are being kept quiet. Through these movements she has creatively used nonviolent resistance to protest against the Israeli government. If you would like to find out more about the International Solidarity Movement or how to get involved you can find it here. https://palsolidarity.org/. Additionally, Huwaida as a founder of the Free Gaza Movement was aboard boats to Gaza that protested the inhumane Israeli blockade. To find out more about US boats to Gaza, an NVI partner, check out their page under the Our Partners tab on our website. 

A few years ago we were told that computer algorithms would serve us. Now we have learned that we serve them. So, we are compelled to ask you to “please like and subscribe” to our new YouTube channel so that others will be introduced to the work you already support. 

 

Take action

Join Our Growing Global Movement!
Get in Touch
Donate to NVI or our partners

Sign up for updates

Connect with us

Make a donation

Email:
Phone:
+1-202-244-0951
Address:
PO Box 39127, Friendship Station NW
Washington, DC 20016