Peoples Geography — Reclaiming space

Creating people's geographies

Visit the OPT, Oprah

pal_holocaust_c_derkaoui.jpg

The Los Angeles branch of Women in Black are mounting a campaign for Oprah Winfrey to visit the West Bank and/ or Gaza (the Occupied Palestinian Territories) as she has accepted an invitation to visit Israel.

Y-Net reports that Elie Wiesel called on Winfrey to visit Israel, where he claims “the major war against terror is currently taking place.” No, Mr. Wiesel, its where a war of terror is taking place.

Greta Berlin of WIB has issued a campaign suggestion to write to the following address and urge Oprah to visit the OPT — http://www2.oprah.com/email/reach/email_reach_fromu.jhtml:

“Oprah Winfrey is an international figure, and it’s important that her producer is flooded with invitations.

She is going to Israel, invited by Elie Wiesel. She says she’s going in solidarity with the terrorized Israelis.

At first, many of us thought we’d write to her and tell her how appalled we are that she’s going. We’ve now decided that she should, in fact, go. Many of us have already written to her producer encouraging Oprah to go…visit the occupied West Bank … talk to the Palestinians … see the wall for herself. If you’re living in Israel, invite her. Ask her to please come and visit, and that you’ll be happy to take her to the weekly nonviolent demonstrations in Bil’in, for example.

We need as many emails from around the world as possible, inviting her to come see the occupied territories for herself. Please send her a short note and encourage her to go to the West Bank.

Then, post to your lists and ask them to do the same thing.

Greta Berlin
Women in Black Los Angeles

For what its worth, I for one will be taking up the suggestion. Please consider also taking a few minutes to lodge a short note or letter, so that Oprah Winfrey sees the Palestinian perspective, and so that she may see that this is far from being a story with one narrative as trumpeted in the mainstream US. It will be interesting to see what type of coverage, if any, this receives on her day time show.

5 comments on “Visit the OPT, Oprah

  1. Servant
    25 May, 2007

    Who’s Oprah, again? :o

    Done!

  2. peoplesgeography
    27 May, 2007

    Great, same here. I was reminded that Archbishop Desmond Tutu is a friend of Oprah’s. We-ellll, he can tell her a thing or two. He has spoken out about Israel’s atrocities, to his credit, and was recently denied entry by Israel to Gaza around the time of the Beit Hanoun massacre.

    As he wrote in 2002, “If apartheid ended, so can the occupation, but the moral force and international pressure will have to be just as determined.”

  3. Breland Nelson
    30 May, 2007

    Oprah,

    There are always two sides to any argument. Please don’t show just one.

    You have opened peoples eyes on so many issues don’t let this be the one you fail to take a stand on.

    Breland Nelson

  4. Mira
    30 May, 2007

    I just want to tell Oprah that i am only 18 but i know that it takes listening to both sides to make our judjes.
    May be this is not her decision but only an approval to an invitation but i hope she accepts our invitation too to visit the palestinian teeritories.

  5. kelly golding
    31 May, 2007

    Oprah,
    The conflict over land for Israel and the Palestinian territories is complex and and can be terrifying for all involved. I urge you to explore the issue thoroughly and bring your findings to the world. This could truly make a difference in the quest for peace in the region.

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This entry was posted on 25 May, 2007 by in Activism, Cartoonists, Iraq, Israel, Palestine, Palestine Peace, Peace and Justice, People, Race, US Foreign Policy, USA.

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