A few days ago, I signed up as a member of the American Association for Palestinian Equal Rights Foundation (AAPER) and its Five for Palestine campaign. You should too.
AAPER was planned for a long time now, yet is just getting launched. This membership-driven initiative founded by a young lawyer with input from activists all around the country is youthful and energetic, drawing on the basic networking dynamics that make sites like Facebook and Myspace so popular. It also taps into the fact that the recent Gaza offensive revealed: there are many in this country who want to do something to change the American imbalance, but do not know where to start or plug in.
AAPER is focused, designed solely to muster grassroots efforts to infuse Congress with sanity in its foreign policy towards the Palestinians. It will spread into local organizing efforts perhaps in the future. Its organizational structure allows different levels of participation — meaning many people can and should get involved at whatever level of activity they can muster.
Most importantly, it is filling a gap in the Arab-American community, as well as the Palestine solidarity movement. While some groups partake in important, yet nascent lobbying efforts, AAPER is solely dedicated to it, and will do so on a larger, internet-driven scale. Ideally, all the groups will find ways to collaborate and combine strengths, to take collective ownership over the emerging Palestine lobby.
The heart of AAPER’s genius lies in the Five for Palestine campaign. Those who sign on join a coordinated movement that only asks you to do 5 things: Learn about it, sign up, contribute $5 per month to AAPER, recruit 5 others to join, and contact Congress five times per year. It is very simple, yet is the bedrock of an effective campaign.
AAPER’s work is much more than that — and will entail training, district and state-level organizing, and events — but at the base level, anyone who ever put a Gaza icon on their Facebook status should sign up for this campaign. The more people we get actively engaged, the more effective it will be. And this kind of campaign requires sustained involvement.
The significance of this new effort is that it circumvents the traditional forces of Washington, DC, which focus on old school networking, suit-wearing, and palm-greasing. While AAPER will eventually have to play those games to be effective, at least it will be rooted in a popular foundation from the start. This is a stark contrast with a group like the American Task Force on Palestine, that thinks merely rubbing elbows with power is the same as influence.
Also, its rhetorical point of attack — the need for Palestinian equality is so much more subversive than it sounds. While AAPER does not take a position on the sometimes paralyzing one-state vs. two-state solution debate it offers a framework that bridges both — since both have forms that could deny Palestinian equality. I see it as requiring either collective equality (meaning an independent, viable Palestinian state with the right of return to Israel) or individual equality (one democratic state).
While it is likely that others involved will see it differently, AAPER is powerful because it makes room for both of us — a tenet of political organizing that has long been absent in Arab-American and Palestine solidarity activism. I know this won’t win everyone over, but it will sway the less ideologically committed. And there are many more of them out there.
AAPER’s efforts will be our generation’s answer to the pro-Israel lobby, as it brings together people of all ethnic and religious communities tired of Palestinian suffering. It won’t be perfect, but it will be dynamic, and it is badly needed.
Related posts:
- My Thoughts on Palestinian Infighting
- Arab/Muslim American Lobby?
- The Lobby From Carter’s View
- Palestinian Solidarity Versus Big Ten Rivalry
- Annapolis: The Road to Palestinian Fascism?
Good luck. Hope to see actual boycotts against Israel, being campaigned for. And, of course, cut-offs of aid to Israel.
Thanks for the article!
Posted by Boycott Israel | February 26, 2009, 8:49 amBest news ever, finally our dreams have come true. I’m signing up definitely, and $5 is nothing. I hope it can go far given the Israel lobbies ridiculous extent that reaches far up every senators asswhole.
Posted by Sam De Had | February 26, 2009, 8:53 amAAPERIs a complete and total scam. They have been running around for more than five years raising money from all kinds of sources, but has never done anything whatsoever. It is a figment of someone’s imagination, and somebody, it would appear, is either hoarding or stealing considerable donations from well-meaning but ignorant Palestinians in the Middle East. Every six months for the past five years someone has been saying AAPER is about to do this and that, and it has never done a single thing. I can’t believe people are still stupid enough to take this seriously. But then again this is Kabobfest, home of the Arab Americans with the IQ of a squashed apricot. I don’t know if this operation is actually a criminal one or simply an endless and dead end. Either way, enthusiasm for this could not be more pointless. I hereby and formally puke on this posting, as it is at the least the 30th time over the past five years that the great and revolutionary efforts of this nonexistent fabrication of an organization has been announced to me. Everyone involved directly has a lot to answer for in terms of misleading people and taking them money and either pocketing it or letting it rot in some bank account somewhere. How ridiculous you idiots are.
Posted by Anonymous | February 26, 2009, 9:14 amIf you go to this website and try to donate anything, it refers you to another site that has been closed down, apparently years ago. This whole thing is a complete scan, a complete fiction, a total fraud. For God’s sake, stop trying to push invented, fake nonexistent organizations, get off your asses and do something for real for a change. You idiots! You absolute complete total fucking MORONS! what will it take to make you see that something is a fake, fraud and fabrication? Are you able to tie your own shoes? I rather doubt it.
Posted by Anonymous | February 26, 2009, 9:37 amTo the anonymous moron vomiting, how is this U.S. registered non-profit a scam? If you call their number, they will pick up.
It takes a long time for an organization to gain momentum especially when you have blind Arab Americans sheepishly bowing down to the Task Force’s complete and total nonsense. This organization will take off in time and if anything, the Palestinians need a REAL voice on capital hill.
The thing is that most other lobbies have astronomical fees, this one is asking for $5 and simple emails to your congressmen. The only FRAUD is the Task Force which hopefully will disappear.
Anyways, you must be anonymous because you are talking trash out of your giant gaping asshole. your words are like uncontrollable bowel movements that spew out on the floor in huge chunks. Go fart somewhere else.
Posted by Wilma of Arabia | February 26, 2009, 9:56 amGo for it, Wilma.
I think a few thousand people in the streets, marching to cut all ties with Israel, are a great way to support whatever lobby you might have going.
It’s even better than money.
And that’s one heck of a jazzy Blog that Wilma has going.
Posted by Boycott Israel | February 26, 2009, 10:08 amMaybe this organization should start by calling for civil rights in Gaza first.
Posted by Anonymous | February 26, 2009, 12:46 pmSo, If you call their number, they will pick up and talk to me, yes? Ok, then, what is their number? It is nowhere to be found on their website. Neither is there any office address. Or any staff. Or any list of a Board of Directors. Or anything that might indicate that this is anything other than a fabrication, a fiction and FRAUD.
Please, by all measn, give us their number and their address. I would love to give them a call.
Come on, I dare you: give us a number. Give us that number, now!
and an office address might be nice too. But give us that number, if there is one. And, by the way, why is the phone number of an “organization” a secret anyway?
Who are these people? Who are their staff? Who is on their Board of Directors? Does it even have a Board of Directors? What the hell kind of “organization” has no office with no address, no phone number, no staff, no board and no way to get in touch with them other than a web form that goes to who knows who?
Anyone who does not see how deeply this whole thing reeks of a scam is dumb as a stump. This is a website, but nothing more. This really could not be more shady and possibly even criminal. At best it is a really piss-poor website run by certified cretins. At worst, someone is taking money from well-intentioned but gullible people and doing god knows what with it – but certainly not anything that resembles an organization.
For all we can tell, donations are going on hookers and crack. Nothing else seems to be going on with this, and that’s after no less than 5 fucking years of BSing the community to death about this transparent fraud.
Posted by Anonymous | February 26, 2009, 8:55 pmThere are some details about this foundation here.
Posted by Gene | February 26, 2009, 11:59 pmi was enthusiastic about the website too, but Marcy Newman drew my intention about something that was missing and flawed about this website.
First, in their “beliefs”, they said that they “support those Palestinians who seek freedom and equality through nonviolent actions against Israel’s occupation and discriminatory laws.” meaning that they do not support people’s right to choose the form of resisting the occupation, they support those who fit their own definition of resistance. It’s very important to understand that activists’ job is to support people’s right to self-determination WHATEVER it might be, not to choose for them how they should resist occupation THEY’re living.
Second, they dont have a stand on the one/two-state solutions controversy. I fail to understand how someone is supportive of Palestinian rights and don’t support the ONLY solution that would guarantee equal rights.
Third, there is no mention of the plight of refugees or prisoners at all on their website. I am sorry, but this project fails to read colonization of Palestine and thus fails to offer ways to guarantee Palestinians justice.
Posted by razanghazzawi.com | February 27, 2009, 7:17 amA quick rebuttal to your comment, razanghazzawi.com.
1) Resistance: As Cobban argues, armed resistance in Palestine (in this instance, by Hamas) is currently problematic because, for reasons that she provides, civilians are maimed or killed. According to international law, that is illegal. Any organization that supports resistance such as it is currently in the OPT would be committing political suicide.
2) One-two state solutions. No matter how one feels about this, ultimately it is a choice to be made by the peoples from that region themselves, Israelis and Palestinians. I think it is right that this foundation does not pronounce itself on this issue.
3) Refugees: Here again, this is a decision to be made by the peoples of the region themselves. Individuals or particular groups may pronounce themselves on this issue but, again, ultimately this issue will resolve itself through negotiations between the parties involved.
Bottom line, I think this foundation is playing it safe by remaining strictly within the limits of the rule of law, which in the circumstances is very prudent of it if it wants to attract the largest possible number of adherents.
Posted by Gene | February 27, 2009, 7:32 amThere’s been a wave of campuses demanding boycott of Israel.
That is something a couple million students can easily do. I’m sure AAPER would have no problem with that. Who possibly could (except for Zionists)?
That’s a better use of energy than trying to endlessly debate how resisters might resist occupation 10,000 miles away from here.
To the occupier, any form of resistance (even whispering the word “boycott”) is “shady”, and a “crime”.
Posted by Boycott Israel | February 27, 2009, 8:31 amIt is quite easy to find information on whether an organization is legit or a scam. GuideStar.org collects information on all 501c3 registered organizations – their information comes from the IRS, who is directly responsible for granting and maintaining a non-profit legal status. If you’ve ever worked for a non-profit, you understand the amount of work that goes into maintaining that legal status and the proof that must be provided in order to show that the organization is working towards the realization of its mission statement. Go to GuideStar. Sign up for a free account, and you can access information on any non-profit in the United States. You will find evidence of AAPER’s legitimacy.
Posted by Anonymous | February 27, 2009, 9:25 amNo matter how legitimate it is, or how many years old, the Zionists will always claim that any Palestinian group is a crime scene.
Don’t waste too much energy proving your innocence to the occupiers. Just get in front of the “Washington Post”, and make yourself heard!
Cutting off all aid to Israel is a nice demand to start with. Israel has already gotten $300 billion from Congress, according to Congressman Dingell himself.
Posted by Boycott Israel | February 27, 2009, 10:06 amGene, since you’re so much about supporting people’s choices, well they’ve elected Hamas and support them, Hamas “is” people at the end, so maybe you might want to support their choice of resistance, and this organization should do the same.
Posted by razanghazzawi.com | February 28, 2009, 5:41 amSO – no number has been provided, only a DC government website that shows that this group SPENT $100,000 in 2008 on… NOTHING! I mean, where did that money go????? Doesn’t anyone care about that? No office. No staff. No writings on the site that are not either very brief or very old. No materials for download or even for sale. NOTHING!!!!!! NO-THING! Except someone spent 100k on… something.
Let me say this very slowly again for those who are trying to follow:
1) this group has never done anything
2) they have no staff
3) they have no office
4) they have produced no output worthy of the name, nothing that one person could not throw together on his/her own over a couple of weekends
5) Yet, somehow, they spent $100,000 in 2008!!!!!!!!!!!!
Come on, come on, come on! I know you are not that bright. I know you want to believe in this. I know, I know… but please: OPEN YOUR EYES!
Posted by Anonymous | February 28, 2009, 8:46 am202-863-8438 call and someone will pick up. a STAFF member. the address is on R St NW in DC, in Dupont Circle.
There IS a staff, there ARE campaigns, there ARE speakers, materials, etc…btw that number and the address have been on the promo materials for some time.
Check the website or the Facebook site, always a call for interns for AAPER.
This is a LOBBYIST organization, NOT a protest group…there is MUCH that this group is doing…open YOUR EYES.
Posted by anon | June 16, 2009, 2:30 am