Neve Gordon, Ben Gurion University, Politics: http://w3.bgu.ac.il/Politics/admin/edit/temp/WebCV.pdf
Dalit Baum, University of Haifa, Gender Studies: http://multiba.haifa.ac.il/women_study/index.htm

http://alternativenews.org/images/stories/other/United_in_Struggle_Seminar_Invitation_October3-1.pdf

Occupied Palestine and Golan Heights Advocacy Initiative (OPGAI)

Alternative Information Center (AIC)

United in Struggle against Israeli Colonialism, Occupation, and Racism:

Economic Perspectives and Advocacy Strategies Seminar

The seminar is taking place on 24-25 October 2009 in Bethlehem,

Palestine, and gathers Palestinian, international and anti-colonial Israeli

activists, researchers, and others interested in advocacy issues toward ending

the Israeli occupation and achieving a just peace. The seminar will place a

special emphasis on the economic interests behind the occupation and the

potential impact that the international campaigns of Boycott, Divestment and

Sanctions (BDS) can make in promoting justice for the Palestinian people.

The seminar aims to review, develop, and document the Palestinian advocacy

mechanisms locally and internationally, to determine the impact of such

efforts so far, in addition to raising the level of cooperation and coordination

amongst the various related actions and activities.

On Monday 26 October, the Alternative Information Center, together with

OPGAI partners, will be holding a Jerusalem Action Day in solidarity with

Palestinian residents of Jerusalem, who are resisting worsening Israeli

policies of colonisation and dispossession in the city.

Dates: 24th – 25th October 2009

Location: Bethlehem – Palestine (Paradise Hotel)

Day One, Saturday 24 October 2009:

9:00 – 10:00 Registration

10:00 - 10:30 Welcoming session

10:30 - 12:00 Session I: Palestinian Civil Society Advocacy

Strategies. Facilitator: Mohammad Zeidan, Director

of the Arab Association for Human Rights, Nazareth

1. Analysis of the Current Political Situation

Palestinian Non-Governmental Organisations’

Network

2. The Legal and Humanitarian Dimensions of the

Palestinian Issue

Shawan Jabarin, Al Haq

3. Experience of the Palestinian Grassroots

Campaign and Public Resistance

Jamal Juma’, Stop the Wall: The Grassroots

Palestinian Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign

4. Building Coalitions

Ameer Makhoul, Ittijah: Union of Arab

Community-Based Associations

12:00-12:15 Coffee Break

12:15-13:45 Session II: The Economy of the Israeli Occupation in

a Global Context.

1. Global Neoliberalism and the Occupation of Palestine:

A Theoretical Overview

Speaker to be announced

From Individual Prosperity to Communal Stagnation:

The Economy as a Form of Social Control

Dr. Neve Gordon, Ben Gurion University of the

Negev

2. Economy, Development and Occupation

Martha Myers, Chair of the AIDA Executive

Committee, Country director of CARE West Bank and

Gaza

13.45-14.45 Lunch

14:45-16:15 Session III: A Closer Look at the Economy of the

Israeli Occupation.

1. Who is Building these Settlements? Working

Conditions of Palestinians in Settlements and Other

Dilemmas

Salwa Alinat, Kav Laoved: Workers’ Hotline

2. Economic Structure of the Occupation Following the

Second Intifada

Hassan Ladadwa, Birzeit University

16:15-16:30 Coffee Break

16:30-18:00 Session IV: Profits and Losses from the Israeli

Occupation. Moderator: Dr. Majed Nassar, Defence of

Children International, Palestine Section

1. Corporate Accountability and the Israeli Occupation:

Dr. Dalit Baum, Coordinator, "Who Profits from the

Occupation" Project, The Coalition of Women for

Peace

2. The Cost of the Occupation to Israeli Society Shir

Hever , Alternative Information Center (AIC)

18:00-18:15 Coffee Break

18:15-19:45 Session V: Holding Israel Accountable: The

Movement for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions

(BDS)

The Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions

Campaign National Committee

20:30 Dinner and cultural event at Oush Grab, Beit Sahour

Day Two, Sunday 25 October 2009

9:30-11:30 Session I: International Advocacy Experiences and

Challenges, Moderator: Dr. Mazin Qumsiyeh, Bir Zeit and

Bethlehem Universities

1. International Solidarity Movement and Solidarity with

Gaza: Successes, Failures and Challenges

Huwaida Arraf, Free Gaza Movement

2. Spaces for Advocacy within the Experience of the

YMCA

Clarisa Balan, YMCA

3. International Networks as Spaces for Advocacy: The

Experiences in Latin America

Lilia Solano, Social movements in Latin America

4. Asia Advocacy with the Experience of Peace for Life

Carmencita Karagdag, PLF

11:30-12:00 Coffee Break

12:00-13:30 Session II: International Advocacy Experiences,Part I,

Moderator: Rifat Kassis, Defence of Children International

– Palestine

1. Experiences in South Africa in Advocacy Work

Solomuzi Mabuza, Ujamaa Center for Community

Development

2. World Council of Churches, the United Nations and the

Palestinian Issue

Christopher Fergusson, World Council of Churches

3. International Development Agencies and Advocacy

Spaces: The Experience of ICCO

Mieke Zagt, ICCO

4. The Role of the Anti-Colonial Jewish Movements

Michael Warschawski, Alternative Information Center

(AIC)

13:30 Lunch

15:00-17:00 Session IIB: Where Do We Go From Here? Facilitator:

Taiseer Meree

Group Discussions

• Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS)

• Coalition Building

• Popular Resistance

• Legal Work

• Occupied Syrian Golan Heights

Group Report-back

17:00 Closing Remarks

Monday 26 October

Solidarity Action Day in Jerusalem The Alternative Information

Center, together with OPGAI partners, will be conducting a Jerusalem

Solidarity Action day in solidarity with Palestinian residents of

Jerusalem. The day will include meetings with Palestinian popular

committees resisting Israeli colonialism in the city, alternative tours and

meetings with Palestinian social and political leaders. Registration will

be 23-24 October 2009 at the seminar.