Since the revolution in Tunisia and Egypt early this year, a movement has begun in Jordan which is #ReformJo. The hashtag is used because it began on Twitter. The reform is different than the Arab Spring that is spreading in the Middle East. This movement includes young Jordanians with different ethnicities and backgrounds calling for political, economical and social reform. The movement wants to cut unemployment and corruption that has been a cancer spreading in the society.

Jordan is no Egypt or Syria but has a more complex situation. We are a monarchy and Jordanians love their Royal Family. But we have more than 1 million Palestinian refugees and more than 500,000 Iraqis living in the country putting a heavy load on a country with minimum resources. There are 40 poverty pockets in Jordan and the country is considered the poorest in terms of water resources. 60% of the population is under the age of 30. All this makes Jordan a special place.

But lately, #ReformJo has taken a wrong turn when people opposing the change started accusing the pro #ReformJo as not being loyal to the King and the country. While many Jordanians have had it with the corruption in the government and calling for real change but things are not getting any better and people are getting more frustrated, especially the young. The poor are getting poorer.

Today we see people fighting over silly things and spreading accusations on Facebook and Twitter and literally wasting time that could have been used for a better cause. The country did not advance in terms of reform except for the new changes in the constitution that was approved by the King and the members of the Parlament.

I do not want to be part of this social media conflict so I started avoiding getting into discussions that do not lead anywhere. So, my #ReformJo has taken another direction. I went to the Olive Tree! My Olive Tree!

My 4 years old initiative “Under My Olive Tree” has been concentrating on empowering the local community in Jordan. So, I decided not to wait for the reform to take place by loyalist or the pro reform groups or even by a new government. I decided to take it to my neighborhood.

What we have been doing for the past years is secure less fortunate students with decent education in schools and universities. Support families that need health care and most importantly open sustainable small businesses.

With our very humble resources and donations from the local community and Jordanians living abroad, we secured education for 300 school students and 15 university students. We secured treatment for 2 cancer patients, one was featured in a LiveStrong video. We opened 2 sustainable projects for 2 less fortunate families and the 3rd is on the way. We are encouraging the young to volunteer and realize how they too can make a difference. I believe the best way to put a frustrated young person in the right track, is when they realize they can accomplish something.

I believe in the good will of people to make a difference and we help them realize it by empowering their communities.

The reform might take months or even years, but I’m not going to spend my time on the sofa tweeting.

Being Jordanian is not the passport or national ID we hold, it is what we can do for our country and not what our country can do for us.

For more info visit UnderMyOliveTree.com

The Flotilla massacre and in my opinion has broke the siege on Gaza. This time, Israel is losing the war on Gaza….big time. It successfully showed the world that it is the “Pirates of the Mediterranean” because Pirates attack ships in International waters, threaten the people on board. Israel newest version was really a huge lie machine this time. They used helicopters, advanced communication jammers, elite Israeli commandos and claimed that the people on the ship; who were were actually defending themselves; attacked them with sticks, Irons (you know the machine that you iron the clothes with!) and Knives. They then confiscated wheel chairs, medical supplies, Cement and claimed there were rockets and Al Qaida on board! Though the ships were sent by Turkey and Greece who are NATO members.

Enough with the facts, but thanks to Israel foolish acts and its massacre of non Palestinians this time, Turkey and all those brave Peace activists from more than 35 countries and from all religions risked their lives to bring the Gaza siege back on the map. A Holocaust survivor was on board. Once again Arab regimes proved their weak shaky positions and were satisfied with condemnations. America kept one eye folded on what many countries are calling for putting pressure on Israel to remove the siege on Gaza. Obama’s administration failed to do so and issued a very light toned condemnation, and the winds of change that was promised by Obama was spilled like the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico! The EU and UK suddenly showed compassion and are calling for the end of the siege, don’t know what kept them from pressuring Israel the past 1030 days!

The ships had people who just wanted to help and ease the life in Gaza. They were not governments, because there governments are the reason people are still suffering and dying in Gaza. After the massacre which was live broad casted on UStream and satellite phones, people on Twitter and Facebook started a campaign to fight the Israeli war machines online. #Flotilla and #FreedomFlotilla became trending topics on Twitter. Videos of the attacks are still popular on You Tube. Demonstrations across the world broke up, especially in front of the Israeli embassies.

Israel lost its propaganda this time!

The situation is still not at ease, and Turkey plans to send more ships accompanied with battle ships to break the siege. In two days an Irish ship “Rachel Corrie” (named after an American activist who got killed in Gaza by Israeli soldiers) is scheduled to arrive in Gaza.

All eyes are on lifting the siege on Gaza.

It is time for governments to react, but at the end its the voice of people that is heard and actions prove more than a 1000 condemnation!

Now since Israeli released the activists and Western Media are not showing interests in interviewing them, I will do my best to post their stories here.

FREE GAZA! FREE Palestine and all who are oppressed!

“We will march the Long Mile across Erez checkpoint alongside the people of Gaza in a nonviolent demonstration that breaches the illegal blockade,” adding that “We conceive this march as the first step in a protracted nonviolent campaign … If we bring thousands to Gaza and millions more around the world watch the march on the internet, we can end the siege without a drop of blood being shed.”

It is disappointing that he doesn’t get any attention from Arab media or officials. I would love to see him touring our Universities and addressing our youth but I won’t be surprised if he was harassed by Arab governments as well. Let’s wait for January 1st and see what Mubarak will do?

I haven’t read any of his books but I sure will check the following titles:

THE RISE AND FALL OF PALESTINE: A PERSONAL ACCOUNT OF THE INTIFADA YEARS

IMAGE AND REALITY OF THE ISRAEL-PALESTINE CONFLICT

BEYOND CHUTZPAH : ON THE MISUSE OF ANTI-SEMITISM AND THE ABUSE OF HISTORY

You can check his website by clicking here

Last week, Palestinians have missed a great opportunity to have the upbeat support of Obama who is pushing both sides to start negotiating Peace. We lost this opportunity because we sent the most corrupted person in the Palestinian Authority “Mahmoud Abbas”. To begin with, he does not represent the Palestinian people. He recently appointed a new non elected Government. He has ties to companies that are helping Israel in building the Apartheid wall. And most importantly, he and his members of government have the reputation of stealing Public money and foreign Aid and using their authority for personal benefits.

Meanwhile, Israel’s newly elected government is defying Obama’s call and refusing to dismantle the illegal settlements. These settlements are making a two state solution a difficult reality as its planting Jews on stolen Palestinian land which is mostly supported by the Israeli Government. An official in Benjamin Netanyahu government said yesterday that removing these settlements is simply impossible. And to show sympathy to the World on how Israel has always been in threat and on alert, on Sunday it staged its biggest ever emergency drill, a typical Israeli propaganda. Israel is facing pressure from the US administration, the International War Crime Committee is expected to reach Gaza today to investigate Israel’s use of non conventional weapons and also investigate Hamas use of human shields. The question of Israel’s Jewish identity and the Arab Israelis who are refusing allegiance to Israel’s laws are all factors situate Israel in a corner.

Israeli’s and Palestinians are in need for major changes. They need to change their leadership, change the way they perceive Peace and change the way to coexist.

No one can deny how influential the Israeli Lobby in the US is. AIPAC that started in the 1950’s have evolved and shaped US politics in the Middle East for the past 50 years. The lobby is very influential in Washington DC in particular and has further influence on American media and the movie industry. To name a few, FOX News and News Corp that owns more than 50% of Radio stations in North America which successfully sends negative messages and miss conceptions about Arabs and Muslims to the American people.

AIPAC and the war Lobbies united in push for $200 MILLION campaign for a war against Iran. And just before the last election a notorious ad in the Boston Globe, cheering on the Israeli bombing of Lebanon, was engineered by the Jewish Community Relations Council, an arm of AIPAC. Every major political figure in the state of Massachusetts signed the ad, including “liberal” governor, Deval Patrick.

AIPAC also promoted the U.S. support for Israel’s War against Lebanon and Gaza, and pushed for the “Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006″ in the congress which restricted humanitarian aid to Gaza.

And recently, the UK’s Guradian published this article about AIPAC attempts to stop shift in White House Middle East policy Article Here A clear sign that President Obama and his new administration play a major threat for AIPAC. But Obama, and before him Bill Clinton and GW Bush and many more endorsed AIPAC as a strategic partner.

AIPAC is not just an issue for Jewish Americans or the Jewish wing of the peace movement like Jewish Voice for Peace; it is a major force, although not the only one, driving the U.S. to wars in the Middle East. AIPAC is no less a force for war than is the Republican National Committee. In fact it is worse, because it sinks its teeth into the foreign policy establishment of both parties, perhaps the Democrats more so than the Republicans. If the peace movement is to be worth its salt, then it must take action against AIPAC.

But why does it matter for Jewish and non Jewish Americans to support the little state of Israel that is as small as Long Island. The US provides annual financial Aid to Israel on an average of 5 Billion dollars of US tax payer’s money, while the US Economy, Education system, Health care and more than 50 million uninsured Americans are suffering the most. Today a study has found that 17% of US children under the age of 5 may face hunger.

At a glance, it may seems that Israel is protecting US interests in the region, but I find it more compelling that the power of AIPAC lays on making sure Israel survives as a country. And since Israel was formed on Zionism methodologies that were considered a few years ago by the UN as a terrorist movement, Israel was created on the ruins of a whole nation and its people who lived in Peace on their own land. AIPAC methodology is that Israel must survive.

Some see AIPAC as a powerful rich force in US politics but I see it differently. I see AIPAC as a movement that is unease with the continuation existence of an odd state in the Middle East. I see AIPAC as a threat to the Peace process, the Palestinians, the Jews and most importantly a threat to US interests.

Some references:
The Israel Lobby? by Noam Chomsky
The Israel Lobby by Stephen Walt
Who’s the dog? Who’s the tail? by Uri Avnery

wrmea.com
globalexchange.org
alawda.rso.wisc.edu
wikipedia.org

The money paid is 25 JDs or $35 monthly, which is less than what I spend on my morning coffee at Starbucks or Costa. The money is deposited in the Housing Bank and then transferred to the account of the Bank in the West Bank or Gaza where it is delivered to another committee responsible for giving the money to the family. You can support any kid under the age of 18 in the West Bank and Gaza. After you chose the child, you are given his/her file with the picture, birth certificate, death certificate of the parents, full name, address, school, and even his/her hobbies. Many of these kids lost both their parents and live in foster homes.

I personally chose this child who lost his dad in the War, so I will never forget what Israel did to 3,000 innocent children in Palestine. You can sponsor as many children as you want, and you can pay monthly, quarterly or yearly installments. You can also give money to children in Palestine without the need of adopting any child.

When I was there, a middle age Iraqi man came and paid 300JDs (1 year support) after adopting a child. Another young man came and paid anonymously to the children’s fund.

I urge anyone who can spare 25JDs a month to check the committee and help as much as possible.

The address is:
Jabal Al Hussien

Go straight after the Ministry of Industry and Trade traffic light, pass the Chinese Restaurant, first building on your right hand side. 1st Floor.

Tel: 962-6-5697461
Email: monasara@go.com.jo
Payment method: Cash or Cheque

The issue that I took home with me was about the journey of 28 Journalists from Egypt, Israel, Yemen, Denmark, Palestine and Jordan who met for the first time in Denmark to encounter dialogue and understanding across different cultures. The workshop was for 12 days, the Journalists were asked to share their experiences upon their return, and I wanted to share some of these stories with you that I found conflicting. The group will meet again in Aqaba in Jordan.

Marianne from Egypt, was worried what her family and friends will tell her when they know she was in Denmark the country of the cartoons. She was also worried if she will get harassed and interrogated by the immigration officer in Cairo International Airport. Her worries failed her and she received warm welcome backs from everyone.

Nivine from Palestine, was planning to go to the beach with her in laws on the second day of Feter Feast and the first day of the Jewish New Year. On the way, her first slam in the face was the Separation Wall in the West Bank… “Preventing Palestinian families from visiting each other and celebrating feasts with their loved ones, wither Christian or Muslim”. The second slam was the settlements that prevent people from free access to services and to their olive groves. Then approached by a checkpoint, there was a soldier who wasn’t celebrating the New Year with his family. She waved goodbye to the soldier and said “Shana Tova” in perfect Hebrew so he didn’t check their ID cards. She said “I wondered if he knew we were Palestinians, would he let us go smoothly? Would he great us back a ‘Happy Eid’? What would be like if there was no occupation?”

Dana from Israel, started to understand what was going around her, she felt she was an object of hatred. One Egyptian told her: “We learn at school about your evil ways and we treat you and relate to you as the enemy”. Dana adds: “We never referred to the Egyptian people as our enemy, especially after the peace agreement in 1979 and particularly not in school.” “I was the Israeli, the occupier, the murdered, the soldier, the aggressor. My identity vanished.” “I would say” don’t hate, try to know your enemy. Try to rely on facts, not on stereotypes, and maybe you will see things differently”.

Hakim from Palestine, was in Germany after the workshop. He met a nice women in a Pub whose name was Samira. She asked him, “Are you Italian”, he said “No”. “Cuban”, he said “No”. “Spanish?”, “No”, “Greek?”, “No. Come on, stop it. Are you ready for the answer? I’m Palestinian. How’s that?” She said “Oooooh. And I’m Jewish. So we’re supposed to kill each other now!” Instead of pulling a gun against her, he pulled a chair to the table. “So, meeting a Jewish girl who carries an Arab Name in Germany was one of the first experiences after Denmark. It stirred up again all the thoughts of how illusive the perception of the ‘other’ can be, and how fluid the forms of identity are.”

Miki from Israel, is finally on Facebook. He is devastated that he can’t talk to his new friends from the West Bank in person. So many blocks, physical and perceptual, are standing in the way of meeting them again. So he decided to join Facebook though he refused to do so many times before the workshop. He says: “It may be the most notable one – communicating despite the boundaries. Hopefully, sometime soon, I will despite Facebook again, and we can all meet freely in person.

Mark from Israel, came back to Israel with his new Palestinian friends. In Israel Airport, the Palestinians were taken to a faraway check room where their luggage was searched. He decided to stick to his new friends and take part in this event. He added” I have told people who are interested in my experience that the Arab people are just people like us. They have ears, eyes, two arms and two legs. They have thoughts, humor and feelings.”

You can check CB website by clicking here.