Internationals for Justice in Palestine
Delegation Report BacksMission Statement
The Palestine Solidarity Group (PSG) in Chicago is organizing two international solidarity delegations to Palestine for this coming summer. One of the delegations will consist of medical students and professionals who will be volunteering in whichever hospitals, clinics and community health centers need their services the most at the time of the delegation. The duration of the delegation is expected to last somewhere between one and three months and this may vary from one individual to the next depending upon her/his availability and resources. The second delegation is open to anyone and differs somewhat from the first in that the delegation will spend time with various Palestinian organizations working to build an infrastructure of resistance by providing daily necessities to the people, visiting different regions of Palestine, and meeting with a diverse cross-section of Palestinian society so that delegation participants may gain a fuller understanding of life under Israeli occupation. We want to make it clear that we will not be engaged in any form of direct action in Palestine, but rather we seek to build an organizing strategy for work in the United States based on the firsthand experience gained by participating in the delegation.
We encourage all people who are serious about learning more about the conditions of the Palestinian people and who will be committed to being part of the Palestine solidarity movement upon their return to the U.S. to join us. We expect the delegates to give report backs in their communities, write stories for their local papers, organize local solidarity committees and any other form of activism that builds from their experiences in Palestine. We also intend on maintaining connections with delegates and forming a large network of activists devoted to justice in Palestine. We understand that people's time and resources are limited, but we are convinced that anyone spending time in Palestine will feel a strong connection to the people and their struggle and return to the U.S. with renewed dedication to do whatever they can to bring about justice for the Palestinian people.
Potential delegation members must fill out an application and undergo an interview/screening process. We see fundraising as a collective responsibility of both the PSG and of the individuals choosing to go on the delegation and so everyone is expected to participate in fundraising efforts. The PSG will also work to provide returning delegates with opportunities to share their experiences with others.
The Palestine Solidarity Group is committed to five basic principles: the right of return for all Palestinian refugees and their descendants, the end of the illegal occupation of Palestinian lands, the right of Palestinians to defend themselves against Israeli aggression, the right of Palestinians to self-determination and national liberation, and the release of all Palestinian political prisoners. The PSG promotes progressive activism on many fronts and helps to organize demonstrations, direct action campaigns, media advocacy and educational programs, and we also publish a monthly journal. Please log onto www.psgchicago.org for additional information about the group, our campaigns, the journal or the Internationals for Justice in Palestine project.
Delegation Report Backs
The following are letters from members of recent Internationals for Justice in Palestine Delegations written while in Palestine or soon after their return.
Emily:
Greetings from Ramallah >>>
Greetings from Ramallah(II) >>>
Greetings from Ramallah(III) >>>
Gihad:
Salamaat min Ramallah! >>>
West Bank Update Part II >>>
The Latest- from Hebron >>>
Back in Chicago >>>
Tracy:
PALESTINE IS AMAZING! >>>
After 6 days in the North >>>
Bethlehem to Hebron >>>