May 1990, Page 45

Waging Peace

By Vicki Tamoush

Mural Project Formed

Four North American Jewish women have formed the Break the Silence Mural Project (1442A Walnut Street #252, Berkeley, CA 94709) to protest the occupation of Palestine through their art. The project was greeted with much interest by both Palestinian and Israeli media, and a slide presentation of the work will tour the US. Also, a videotape is in production, and another mural is planned in San Francisco. One of the muralists commented, "...I have never declared myself so openly as a Jew as I did this past summer in Palestine—I have also never felt myself to be in a less anti-Semitic environment."

A recently arrested Jerusalem-based staff member of Middle East Witness (515 Broadway, Santa Cruz, CA 95060; (408) 423-1626) spent only a week in prison, but experienced some enlightening events. Not the least of these was a conversation with one of the soldier guards, who spoke against the Israeli detention of children and expressed sympathy for the position of the Palestinians in the overall political scheme, saying, "The problem here is that neither Shamir nor Peres want you or to have peace with you."

Israeli Incursions Protested by UNRWA

In a recent statement to the press, UNRWA (Liaison Office, DC2-550, United Nations, New York, NY 100 17; (212) 963-2255) protested Israeli incursions into health centers in the Gaza Strip. The repeated violations took place in the Rafah camp clinic, the Bureij health center, and the Nuseirat health center. During these incursions records have been ransacked, medical staff has been searched and interrogated, books and slides have been scattered, and official UN files have been searched. Repeated letters of protest from UNWRA to the Permanent Mission of Israel to the United Nations in Vienna and to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs have not produced results.

Newsletter number 21 from the International Coordinating Committee for NonGovernmental Organizations on the Question of Palestine (P.O. Box 2 100, CH 1211, Geneva 2, Switzerland) addresses the issue of family reunification as a basic right of the Palestinian people. Worldwide organizations that can supply extensive information on reunification are listed, along with some of the statistics compiled thus far. The various international laws and regulations which are violated by current Israeli policy are cited along with case histories. The effect of these violations on children in separated families is also noted.

State Department Cuts FAO Support

According to Margaret Tutwiler, US State Department spokesperson, the US will pay only $18 million of the $61.4 million it owes as its contribution to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization's 1988 budget. The sharp cut in US financial support for the Rome-based agency is in retaliation for FAO support of the Palestine Liberation Organization. Tutwiler said that the revised figure would be "just enough to retain the US vote on the FAO council." The FAO council adopted a resolution last November calling for FAO aid programs in the West Bank and Gaza Strip to be implemented in coordination with the PLO, in accordance with its observer status at the UN. The resolution passed 96 to 2, with 14 abstentions and only Israel and the US in dissent.

The Coalition for Peace in the Middle East (P. 0. Box 27755, Los Angeles, CA 90027; (213) 657-3612) recently met with Congressmember Wayne Owens (D-UT) at Congressman Owen's request. A Coalition member had written a letter to the editor which was published in L.A. Weekly and was seen by Owen's aide. All member organizations of the Coalition were represented, with discussion covering both the views of the Congressmember and Coalition members.

Owens had made a recent trip to the Middle East, and said that during previous visits to the region, he met with both Palestinians and Israelis. He is the only US elected official who has met with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat in recent years.

Vicki Tamoush is an Arab American based in Glendale, CA, where she is active in peace groups.