A group called September 15 has issued a Call to Action for that day, in anticipation of the Palestinian Authority’s demand for statehood at the U.N. General Assembly. We’ll be doing lots more tubthumping for September events in days to come. (When I was a young journalist I was told not to do tubthumping. Oh well) (The group was founded by journalist Mya Guarneri and its personnel are here.)
From its call to action, emphases mine:
Not only are our tax dollars being squandered, the United States is facing isolation on the world stage thanks to its special relationship with Israel. And that isolation will come to a head in mid-September, when the United Nations General Assembly convenes.
A Palestinian state is on the UN’s table. Ignoring the fact that its own state was created by a UN declaration, Israel is fighting the move. Although the Palestinian bid has already gained a tremendous amount of international support, the US has aligned itself with Israel. And the US Senate has taken the highly unusual step of passing a resolution that would essentially punish the Palestinian Authority for turning to the UN.
We are not taking a stand on the UN vote. But, as American citizens who believe in democracy, we strongly object to the United States’ intention to prevent Palestinian self-determination.
Like the US-funded occupation, blocking the UN vote denies Palestinians the right to determine “their own political, economic, social, and cultural systems and their full participation in all aspects of their lives”–the UN’s definition of democracy.
So, on September 15–the International Day of Democracy and two days after the UN General Assembly convenes–we will take to the streets and demand that the United States government support true democracy in all of the Middle East, not just the places that are near and dear to special interest groups.
