[E-rundbrief] Info 1092 - Global March to Jerusalem a Success?

[Matthias Reichl]

E-Rundbrief - Info 1092 - GMJ-NA Organizing Committee (USA): Was the 
Global March to Jerusalem (GMJ) a Success?

Bad Ischl, 5.4.2012

Begegnungszentrum für aktive Gewaltlosigkeit

www.begegnungszentrum.at

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Was the Global March to Jerusalem a Success?

Some will say that the Global March to Jerusalem (GMJ) on March 30, 
2012 was a great success.  Others will say it was a failure.  Both are 
correct.

To measure by the standard of how many participants marched into 
Jerusalem on that day, no one can argue for success.  Neither can one 
argue that any fewer Palestinians are living in exile, or that the 
Palestinian population of Jerusalem or any other part of Palestine is 
under any less threat of expulsion or abuse of rights as a result of 
the march.  In sum, the situation on the ground has changed hardly at all.

However, even Israel’s main advisor for strategic studies, the Reut 
Institute, contends that the major threat to Israel’s existence is to 
be found in the hearts, minds and will of the world’s peoples, and 
that the struggle will be won or lost there, much as it was with South 
Africa.  When judged by this standard, the GMJ has proven its success, 
by virtue of its creation of an entirely new coalition, with a broad 
range of partnerships that has never existed before, and a major new 
center of nonviolent resistance for Palestine.

This coalition, in partnership with Palestinian Land Day 
commemorations, turned out hundreds of thousands of participants in 
scores of locations across the globe.  The largest were in Jordan and 
Morocco, with a combined total of nearly 100,000 between them.  In 
addition, a dozen nations participated in an inspirational – though 
sometimes grueling – caravan to Jerusalem, beginning in India and 
proceeding through Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Syria and Lebanon.

The key to the breadth and diversity of the coalition has been its 
tolerance of a variety of narratives united by a common mission and 
set of principles.  Groups and individuals that have never before 
worked together agreed to do so despite sometimes wide differences in 
approach and messaging.  The result has been a learning experience for 
all concerned, and an increased appreciation for new points of view, 
as well as for the common concerns that bind the groups together – in 
this case the defense of Jerusalem and Palestine against ethnic 
cleansing, and of Palestinians against human rights abuses.

Admittedly, there is much room for improvement.  Although the movement 
remained true to its requirement that no individual or group should be 
excluded if they accept the mission statement and principles, 
invitations were not always extended equitably, so that some may have 
been unsure whether they were welcome or not.  They are, and it will 
be necessary to do a better job of outreach.  In addition, even though 
the GMJ has sought to remain above party affiliations, in some cases 
grassroots organizing was in the end compromised by party 
organizations that chose to profit from the momentum of the movement 
rather than support it for the sake of the Palestinian people as a whole.

The principle of non-exclusion was also severely tested.  From the 
beginning, many groups and individuals based their decision to 
participate upon review of the other participants and endorsers.  If 
certain ones appeared or failed to appear on the list, they might 
refuse.  This often encouraged a wait-and-see attitude that slowed 
organizing efforts.  It also led to self-fulfilling concerns, such as 
under-representation by groups who were afraid that their interests 
might be under-represented.  Nevertheless the organizers staunchly 
refused to exclude anyone for strategic reasons or to discourage 
participation from or endorsement by anyone.

The result is that hundreds of groups from scores of countries 
endorsed and participated in the organizing and decision-making.  At 
the center of the new alliance is a combination of groups that count 
hundreds of thousands or millions of Palestinian, Arab and Asian 
constituents, using new and innovative nonviolent resistance 
techniques, in addition to the more established network of smaller 
nonviolent resistance groups in Palestine that is better known to 
western solidarity groups.  The combination of these efforts means 
that an unprecedented unification of Palestinian and solidarity groups 
has formed, which can be the basis for new and powerful challenges to 
the genocidal intentions of the Zionist dream, hopefully vindicating 
the concerns of the Reut Institute and its Israeli government client.

The GMJ-NA Organizing Committee

For information about GMJ-North America visit www.gmj-na.org

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Matthias Reichl, Pressesprecher/ press speaker,
Begegnungszentrum fuer aktive Gewaltlosigkeit
Center for Encounter and active Non-Violence
Wolfgangerstr. 26, A-4820 Bad Ischl, Austria,
fon: +43 6132 24590, Informationen/ informations,
Impressum in: http://www.begegnungszentrum.at
Spenden-Konto Nr. 0600-970305 (Blz. 20314) Sparkasse Salzkammergut,
Geschäftsstelle Pfandl
IBAN: AT922031400600970305 BIC: SKBIAT21XXX

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Honoured by the (Austrian) "Journalism-Award from below 2010"