Chicago Hearing: Does U.S. policy on Israel and Palestine uphold our values?

Source: Chicago Hearing WebSite (make sure you visit the site and explore their resources.)
"The Chicago Hearing is modeled after a Congressional hearing and will be webcast live from a link on the home page.The Chicago Hearing will bring together witnesses to tell seldom-heard stories from Israel-Palestine that raise critical questions about the effects of U.S. policies in the region. Does Israel's explanation of security legitimize its violations of international law? Does the U.S. government condone Israeli policies and practices that would not be tolerated if replicated in America by the U.S. government?

The Hearing highlights voices of those on the other end of the pipeline of U.S. aid to Israel. Israeli, Palestinian and American witnesses will testify to lives lost, freedoms denied and property destroyed by Israeli policies buttressed by U.S. aid and support. The witnesses will testify to the collateral effects of U.S. policies toward Israel: military and financial aid that totaled over $3 billion in 2009 as well as unconditional diplomatic support for Israel in the United Nations.

A Listener Panel of public officials, academics and religious leaders will ask questions and make comments following the testimony. The Hearing, modeled after a Congressional fact-finding hearing, will center on three topics: Property Rights; Freedom of Movement, Association and Speech; and Military Aid and Armaments. A speaker will provide the context for each topic and will introduce one or more witnesses.

Moderator
Helena Cobban, Just World News

Witnesses:
Jeff Halper - Coordinator Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD)
Jad Isaac - Director General Applied Research Institute-Jerusalem,
Cindy Corrie - Rachel Corrie Foundation for Peace and Justice
Amer Shurrab - a Palestinian peace activist from Khan Younis in Gaza

Listener Panel
* Yali Amit, Arab-Jewish Partnership for Peace and Justice in the Midde East
* Cantor Michael Davis, Ta'anit Tzedek (Jewish Fast for Gaza)
* Father R. Cotton Fite, Associate Priest at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Evanston
* John J. Mearsheimer, University of Chicago
* Barbara Ransby, University of Illinois at Chicago
* Dr. Zaher Sahloul, Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago
* Ghada Talhami, D.K. Pearsons, Professor of Politics, emerita

Chicago Hearing Part 1

AFSCVideos — April 20, 2010 — Does U.S. policy on Israel and Palestine uphold our values? The Chicago Hearing, an initiative of the American Friends Service Committee, Chicago, addresses this question. The Hearing is modeled after a Congressional fact-finding meeting. Witnesses and a listener panel have a moderated discussion on the topics of property rights, freedom of movement, speech and association and military aid. This webcast took place Sunday, April 18 from 1:30 PM to 5:30 PM CDT. Details at www.chicagohearing.org.


Part 1
Welcome and Introductions [Jennifer Bing-Canar and Helena Cobban]



Part 2
Property Rights: [Mezna Qato Introduction and Jeff Halper Testimony]



Part 3
Property Rights Moderated Discussion with the Listener Panel



Part 4
Freedom of Movement [Lisa Kosowski Introduction and Jad Isaac Testimony]
Jad Isaac - Director General Applied Research Institute-Jerusalem



Part 5
Jad Isaac - Director General Applied Research Institute-Jerusalem
Moderated Discussion with the Listener Panel



Part 6
Military Aid [Josh Ruebner Introduction and Amer Shurrab Testimony]



Part 7
Military Aid [Cindy Corrie Testimony] (19:10)



Part 8
Moderated Discussion with the Listener Panel



Part 9
Closing by Moderator Helena Cobban


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