An Open Letter to Paul Larudee from the Welcome to Palestine CampaignFrom Paul Larudee's Free Palestine Movement site:
From: lubnna (at) gmail.com
To: larudee (at) pacbell.net
Paul,
I regretfully send you this second letter and will publish it publicly as you have left us no choice.
You have appeared in the media over the last week, often stating that you organized the Welcome to Palestine campaign. All statements you have made in regards to this campaign were false.
As organizers, we were surprised by your statements as you were never part of this campaign. Sadly, your declarations about our campaign being about the right of return have confused the media and brought on damage to our basic plan.
We appreciate your will to work for Palestine but trying to take over any activity has profoundly affected the trust we have in you and we would be very surprised if any respectful organization in Palestine will be willing to work with you.
We urge you to stop giving statements to the media in the name of the Welcome to Palestine campaign.
Lubna Masarwa
On behalf the "Welcome to Palestine" campaign
Accusations have been circulating about FPM's Paul Larudee representing himself and FPM as part of the Welcome to Palestine project. Here are the facts:First Ken O'Keefe, and now Paul Larudee? My, my. Solidarity doesn't mean what it used to!
1. FPM has had a project called the Return from Exile Project for more than a year. Larudee has given multiple presentations on this project at Al-Awda, the PRC and other conferences. In addition, he has described the project in numerous interviews on television, radio, the written press and other places. A description of the project appears at www.freepalestinemovement.org/ffe.html.
2. The Return from Exile Project has some similarities with the Welcome to Palestine project in that it includes a fly-in to Lid ("Ben-Gurion") airport. However, that is where the similarity ends. It uses different procedures, occurs on a different date, yet to be determined, and it has different objectives.
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4. The accusations by some Palestinian and Palestine solidarity sources, accusing Larudee of false representation and undermining the Welcome to Palestine project could have been avoided by confronting him with the "evidence", discussing the matter, and seeking explanation. A small amount of research, such as going to the FPM website would reveal the truth immediately. It is totally irresponsible to make such accusations without first going through the due process of justice which we all advocate but that some of us are reluctant to practice before pronouncing judgment.
We hope that those responsible for issuing these accusations will take the trouble to discuss them with the accused, discover the truth, issue an apology and then all trust each other again.
The funny thing is, even with all the infighting, you still won't hear any of these "non-violent" activists or their apologists at 972mag or Mondoweiss say a word against the IHH's actions on the Mavi Marmara. Criticizing fellow Westerners is fine, but don't dare criticize the Muslims! Muslims and Arabs can do no wrong!
(h/t fafa)