Friends,
This week, a former 21-year CIA official named Robert Baer alleged that Israel is planning to attack Iran this coming fall, prior to a planned United Nations vote on Palestinian statehood. The allegations have captured media headlines in the Middle East, with several stories in Israel's major dailies like Ha'aretz and the Jerusalem Post debating this possibility.
In response, the Fellowship of Reconciliation's Task Force on the Middle East continues to use educational resources, advocacy campaigns, and solidarity initiatives to support conflict resolution and oppose militarization of the region. This November, FOR will sponsor its 14th civilian diplomacy delegation to Iran, seeking to build people-to-people relationships between Iran and the United States.
 FOR's peace delegation to Iran will depart New York on November 4, 2011. The delegation will visit Tehran, the nation's political capital; Qom, the global capital of Shi'a Islam; Isfahan, the cultural capital; Shiraz, the historical capital of ancient Persia; and Yazd, a center of Zoroastrian culture. Participants will return to the United States on November 18. The application deadline is August 1st.
FOR's previous Iran peace delegation shared numerous reports during the course of its May 2011 travels. Earlier this month, delegation co-leader Judy Bello published a lengthy reflection on the trip.
If you are interested in being a part of FOR's November 2011 delegation, please contact Leila Zand at 518-831-9005 or lzand@forusa.org.
We also invite you to support FOR's Task Force on the Middle East by making a contribution to support its work and to provide scholarship assistance for those who can't afford the delegation fee, and spreading information about these events to your networks. Thank you!
Leila Zand
Director of Civilian Diplomacy and the Middle East
Fellowship of Reconciliation |
