Fourth annual #ICareAboutPeace
Congressional briefing - Feb. 2019

In February 2019, Rebuilding Alliance will again be bringing Palestinian children and their parents from villages in the West Bank at risk of demolition by the Israeli army to speak to Congress in honor of International Peace Day. Not much moves members of Congress... but children do. This is one of the most effective methods of advocacy we've seen. Please support us in our bold goal of reminding Congress that every Palestinian child deserves safety and peace, and the opportunity to envision their future.

On September 19th, 2017, we held our third annual #ICareAboutPeace Congressional briefing at the capitol building. 

For the past two years, Rebuilding Alliance has brought Palestinian children and their parents to Congress on International Peace Day to share their vision of peace. For some reason, it is children whose stories are the most compelling - when children speak about how they envision a better tomorrow, Congress listens... and acts!

In 2017, Rebuilding Alliance again brought a Palestinian child
to address Congress at a Senate briefing. 

Aysar, from Susiya, spoke about his dreams for the future, and asked for US support to keep his village standing. Susiya village is facing the very real risk of demolition and forced relocation as the Israeli Army denied approval of their master plan. Al Aqaba is the first Palestinian village to issue its own building permits and no demolition orders have been issued so far, but this may change. Gaza is experiencing 22 hours of blackouts daily. All Palestinians experience hardships that originate from the Occupation – raising awareness and getting Congress to act can help. 

The rest of the delegation spoke about the right of Palestinians to plan and build their communities, and live safely and without fear on the land they own, and for Congressional engagement to mitigate the ongoing electricity crisis and lift the blockade. Congressional intervention is very effective in keeping Palestinian villages standing - Senator Feinstein even quoted the children in the letters (now published on her website) she traded with PM Netanyahu, urging that Susiya not be demolished.