On November 30, our family’s attorney Hussein abu Hussein submitted his written summation of our civil lawsuit against the Israeli military for Rachel’s killing. The first testimony of the suit (originally filed March 15, 2005) was heard in Haifa District Court on March 10, 2010, and the last on July 10, 2011. State attorneys will now have three months to file their summation, followed by two weeks for a reply from our side. We expect a verdict in the spring of 2012.

It has, at times, been hard to listen to testimony from the Israeli military. While soldiers on the scene have testified that they recognized Rachel and her ISM friends as non-violent demonstrators, their superior officers stated under oath that there are no civilians in war and that the military is at war with everyone in Gaza. After Rachel was killed, the Deputy Battalion Commander reflected in the day’s operations log that orders were to “shoot to kill” anyone in the border area between Gaza and Egypt. His Brigade Commander later confirmed that order. The DBC testified further that this area was ever-expanding – up to the next row of Palestinian houses in Rafah.

Cindy Corrie speaks at protest outside the National Building Museum in Washington DC. Photo courtesy of Jewish Voice for Peace

The Rachel Corrie Foundation proudly supports the growing Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. BDS seeks to hold Israeli companies, institutions, and their international collaborators accountable for human rights abuses committed against Palestinians under illegal Israeli occupation.
We celebrate several successes within the last year, including the National Building Museum’s cancellation of an award ceremony honoring Caterpillar Inc. Caterpillar supplies heavy equipment used to demolish Palestinian homes and infrastructure and is the focus of a long term education and boycott-divestment campaign by RCF, Evergreen State College students seeking to make their campus “Caterpillar free,” and other organizations nationwide. In September, the Corries delivered a petition to the museum – with thousands of signatures and 150 organizational sponsors – to rescind Caterpillar’s award.

As Middle East peoples engage in revolution, Israel’s stranglehold on Gaza continues. In a comprehensive November 2011 report, the Israeli human rights organization Gisha – Legal Center for Freedom of Movement concluded that Israel operates in breach of its obligations to Palestinians – especially Gazans – with inappropriate restrictions that control airspace, territorial waters, farmland, fishing areas, the population registry impacting where Palestinians can travel and live, the electric supply, the communications infrastructure, distribution of tax revenue, and movement of goods and people.

Projects

Alternative Radio’s David Barsamian inspires audience at Nov. 10 discussion, Uprisings: From Kashmir to Egypt to Wall Street. Photo courtesy of John Harvey.

• Presented Peace Works 2011: Solidarity in Action featuring Alice Walker, Sharif Abdel-Kouddous, Dr. Dalit Baum, Noura Erakat, and over 400 participants
• Participated in Move Over AIPAC conference & Washington DC actions
• Contributed to U.S. Campaign annual meeting in Washington DC
• Funded a water purification unit for Rafah, Gaza, kindergarten
• Supported 2011 Rachel Corrie Ramadan Soccer Tournament in Rafah
• Provided olive trees to Palestine farmers Engaged three RCF interns, two work study students, and countless volunteers.
• Educated the public and media about the Corrie family trial in Israel
• Led campaign to convince National Building Museum to cancel public ceremony for Caterpillar Inc.
• Supported local BDS efforts: TESC Divest and the Olympia Food Co-op
• Awarded the Rachel Corrie Memorial Scholarship at The Evergreen State College
• Managed Iraqi Student Solidarity Committee scholarship
• Educated U.S. members of Congress in district meetings with Corries, flotilla participants, Israeli Dorothy Naor, and local constituents
• Launched Gaza Pen Pal Project with UNWRA school
• Corresponded with key Iranian officials to support release of U.S. hikers held in Iranian prison.
• Supported Washington State participants on the U.S. Boat to Gaza
• Co-sponsored Maia Mural Brigade Delegation to Gaza
• Provided numerous Corrie family speaking events and interviews from at home in Olympia, Washington, to Istanbul, the West Bank, Jerusalem, Washington DC, Des Moines, Iowa, and McMinnville, Oregon – to name a few!

Dear Friends,

Cindy Corrie participating in Washington DC vigil for Troy Davis. Photo courtesy of Edie Garwood.

It’s become part of our annual ritual at the Rachel Corrie Foundation to write this end-of-year newsletter and use it as an opportunity to reflect on all that has been and all that can be. We dedicate this issue to Scott Kennedy – co- founder of the Resource Center for Nonviolence in Santa Cruz, former city council member and mayor, a giant contributor to efforts for justice and peace in Israel/Palestine, and our friend. Scott died unexpectedly November 19th – one week after leading his final tour to the Middle East with Interfaith Peace-Builders. In 2004, as mayor, he declared March 16th Rachel Corrie Day in Santa Cruz and said, “It is a very sad commentary on the state of political affairs in the United States that our national government has done virtually nothing to find out what happened…” In 2005, he hosted Craig and me and members of the family whose home Rachel stood to protect, in a memorable Santa Cruz visit. He was a brave, passionate man who helped us find our voices.