What is the Israel/Palestine conflict? ...Imagine a SEGREGATED road system where the color of your license plate dictates which roads you can drive on.

[AS ALWAYS PLEASE GO TO THE LINK TO READ GOOD ARTICLES IN FULL: HELP SHAPE ALGORITHMS (and conversations) THAT EMPOWER DECENCY, DIGNITY, JUSTICE & PEACE... and hopefully Palestine (& America ...etc...)]

http://thrivalroom.com/understand-israeli-palestinian-apartheid-11-graphics/

Understand the Israeli – Palestinian Apartheid In 11 Images

US State Department: "And as you know, we do not consider settlements to be part of Israel. We do not view labeling the origin of products as being from the settlements as a boycott of Israel."

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration said Thursday it doesn't consider a new European Union rule outlawing "Made in Israel" tags on goods from the West Bank as a boycott of the Jewish state, only a technical guideline for consumers.

The long-awaited EU rule has triggered a fierce backlash from the Israeli government.

The U.S. clarified its position a day after the decision by the EU, which applies to goods produced in Israeli settlements on the West Bank. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blasted the 28-nation bloc as "hypocritical" and accused the EU of double standards. One of his Cabinet members called the rule "disguised anti-Semitism." Even Israeli opposition figures chimed in with criticism.

"We do not believe that labeling the origin of products is equivalent to a boycott," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said. "And as you know, we do not consider settlements to be part of Israel. We do not view labeling the origin of products as being from the settlements as a boycott of Israel."

http://www.statesman.com/ap/ap/political/us-ok-with-new-eu-labeling-rule-for-west-bank-expo/npL2L/ 

[AS ALWAYS PLEASE GO TO THE LINK TO READ GOOD ARTICLES IN FULL: HELP SHAPE ALGORITHMS (and conversations) THAT EMPOWER DECENCY, DIGNITY, JUSTICE & PEACE... and hopefully Palestine (& America ...etc...)]

My letter to the NYTimes RE "Europe Mislabels Israel"

RE Europe Mislabels Israel
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/13/opinion/europe-mislabels-israel.html?ref=international

Dear Editor,

Claiming that Europe has mislabeled Israel by creating guidelines that conscientiously refuse to empower Israel's settlement projects in the illegally occupied territories, Kontorovich reaches for every excuse he can find to bully his audience into totally ignoring Israel's ongoing long term and flagrant violations of international law and the Palestinians' basic human rights. 

The very real plight and suffering of the Palestinians, the native non-Jewish men, women and children of the Holy Land, is dire... "Pro-Israel" experts playing shell games with various cherry picked laws in order to further oppress, persecute, impoverish, and displace Palestinians are good at their game, but not so good at Golden Rule thinking, and not so good at shaping a just and lasting peace to once and for all end the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Sincerely,
Anne Selden Annab

NOTES
#JeSuisBDS... "Anti-Israel" Activism Criminalized in the Land of Charlie Hebdo and “Free Speech”

The Palestinian People Ask: Where Is Israel’s F.W. de Klerk?

Strangling Jerusalem: "In reality, the roots of the violence in Jerusalem are deeper and far more complex. For decades now, Israel has been strangling East Jerusalem denying its Palestinian inhabitants freedom, opportunity, dignity, and hope, with devastating impact. Before Israel closed Jerusalem off from the rest of the West Bank in 1994, the city had served as the hub of Palestinian life. Not only was the city important for its religious role, all of the major Palestinian economic, social, cultural, educational, medical, and service institutions were located in the city. " James Zogby, President of the Arab American Institute & author of 'Arab Voices'

"Israel's unmistakable message is: "You are defeated and subjugated, now accept your lot." Palestinian political leaders are all seen as essentially saying: "We are your champions, but we have absolutely no idea about how to advance your interests, promote your cause or gain your independence." The West, and the international community generally, seems to be saying: "We'll get back to you as soon as Israel seems to be interested in peace again, now in the meanwhile here are some kind words and limited aid." " IBISH: The Tragedy of the Palestinians 

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"What is so special about the Journal of Palestine Studies is our commitment to academically rigorous content that is also accessible to non-academics, to anyone interested in Palestine. I want to make sure Palestinian non-academics who crave this information and history can enjoy the Journal as much as a scholar in Middle East studies." Nehad Khader, managing editor of The Journal of Palestine Studies

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A Curious Land: Stories from Home..."A superb collection and a perfect selection for public libraries"

STAY CONNECTED... Given the U.S. commitment to religious freedom, and to the international covenants that guarantee it as the inalienable right of every human being, the United States seeks to: Promote freedom of religion and conscience throughout the world as a fundamental human right and as a source of stability for all countries

Unclench your fist... Live by the Golden Rule...

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

Words to Honor: The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Article 1.

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Three radiant girls with infectious smiles, carrying earthenware jars of water on their heads, Mount of Olives, Jerusalem, 1938

Three radiant girls with infectious smiles, carrying earthenware jars of water on their heads, Mount of Olives, Jerusalem, 1938. Notice the girls' dresses and wooden clogs, and the Augusta Victoria in the background.

British Mandate Jerusalemites Photo Library