FMC Blog: Free Speech Zone

Free Muslims' Partner Facilitated Prisoner Exchange Between Hamas and Israel

The Free Muslims Coalition is organizing a unique peace conference in Jerusalem with Gershon Baskin who will co-host the event with Kamal Nawash.

While most people in the United States have never heard of Gershon Basking, he is now a household name in Israel/Palestine.

Dr. Baskin played an important role in facilitating contacts between Hamas and Israel. Baskin was able to use his contacts with Hamas to bring together people who were unable to connect via official channels of government and diplomacy.

The question is who is Gershon Basking and why did Hamas trust him? "Gershon," as he is admirably known by Palestinians, is an orthodox Jew who is a passionate supporter and protector of Israel. However, unlike many supporters of Israel, he is also a passionate supporter of the Palestinians. Gershon has been fighting for the rights of Palestinians for 20 years. Gershon is usually the first to speak out when Israel takes punitive measures against Palestinians. For example, when Israel demolishes the homes of Palestinians or restricts their movement and their ability to earn a living, he is the first to protest.

Gershon is an example that when Palestinians and Israelis show compassion for each other that solutions can be found and disputes resolved. Here is an interview with Gershon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ui8WZWsDhCw&feature=player_embedded.

When Gershon learned that the Free Muslims Coalition wanted to organize a unique peace conference to allow various proposals for peace to be produced and to compete in the market place of ideas, Gershon offered to help. He and his partner, a Palestinian named Hanna Siniora of the - Israel/Palestine Center for Research and Information offered to co-sponsor the event. For them we are grateful.

Like Gershon and Hanna, who support our efforts, we ask that you support our efforts by making a contribution to the peace conference. We need translators and audio equipment. We need your financial support for this project. Please contribute by mail or online.

To contribute electronically do it here: http://www.freemuslims.org/support/donate.php.

To contribute by mail, please send a check to:

Free Muslims Coalition
1050 17^th St., NW
Washington, DC 20036

Conference in Jerusalem

Date: November 14^th, 2011, 2:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Place: The Ambassador Hotel

Contact:

• Kamal Nawash, 202-776-7190, president@freemuslims.org, www.freemuslims.org; USA
• Doron Tzor +972 544 287 322; doron@ideonea.com; http://www.ideonea.com; Israel