Craig and Cindy Corrie, the parents of Rachel Corrie, who was killed by an Israeli bulldozer while defending the home of a Palestinian pharmacist in Gaza, will speak at the 3rd Annual Benefit for Not In My Name (NIMN) this Sunday, October 10.  The Benefit will begin at 6pm and will be held at the Irish American Heritage Center, 4626 N. Knox.  Proceeds will be distributed between NIMN and Rebuilding Alliances, which supports the reconstruction of demolished Palestinian homes in the Occupied Territories.

This event takes place as the Israeli military is destroying much of Gaza and killing scores of people, including many children.  The futility of this renewed violence is understood by peace activists in Israel, including Uri Avnery of Gush Shalom, who writes, "We are faced with a guerilla war.  No government in the world has yet won such a war.  The talk about 'unilateral' disengagement must stop.  We are not living in a vacuum.  No disengagement is possible without negotiations and agreement."  He concludes, "When people don't talk-they kill and are killed."

NIMN spokesperson, Joel Finkel, noted, "We have long suggested that Israel's leaders are choosing to avoid a political settlement that could lead to a just peace.  This was confirmed yesterday when a top Sharon adviser, Dov Weinglass, stated that, 'The meaning of the [Gaza] disengagement plan is freezing the political process.  The plan supplies the amount of formaldehyde necessary so that there will not be a political process with the Palestinians.'"

Indeed, as Weinglass explained, "When you freeze the political process, you prevent the establishment of a Palestine state."  He continued, "Actually, the whole package called the Palestine state has been indefinitely removed from our agenda.  And all this with authority and permission.  All with the presidential blessing and the ratification of both houses of Congress."

The frankness of Weinglass' remarks indicates the level to which Israel's leaders feel secure that the U.S. will support whatever they do.  They have no fear that the U.S. will cut military aid or diplomatically force them to change direction.  "This security emboldens them and allows them to attack Palestinians and destroy all hope for peace," said Finkel.  "We have said all along that Israel's leaders have chosen to wage war, not peace.  The Israelis and Palestinians deserve a chance to live in peace, but Israel's leaders, backed by the U.S., are actively preventing that chance."

NIMN, a predominantly Jewish group that organizes opposition to Israel's Occupation of the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem, joins other Jewish groups around the world, including European Jews for a Just Peace, in categorically condemning the Israeli leaders' strategies to destroy both Gaza and any chance for peace.  This strategy is counter to the demands of justice and the needs of the Palestinian and Israeli people.

NIMN welcomes all people of good will to join our weekly vigils, which take place every Sunday, from noon to 1:00pm at Water Tower Park (830 N Michigan).  We also welcome everyone to our Benefit on Sunday evening.

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