Misplaced Pages

#580419

94-632: More than 1350 people from 42 countries around the world were planning to join Palestinians in the march, among them Medea Benjamin , Alice Walker , Ronnie Kasrils , Alima Boumediene-Thiery , Hedy Epstein , Yusif Barakat, Roger Waters , Starhawk , Louie Vitale , and Ann Wright . However, the Egyptian authorities disallowed the protest, and the march could not take place as planned. The march drew inspiration from various other campaigns such as Free Gaza Movement and Viva Palestina . Endorsers of

188-587: A bishopric under Byzantine rule and later became a Latin Catholic titular see after Islamic conquest around AD 650, when it became known as Ayla ; the name Aqaba is late medieval. The Great Arab Revolt 's Battle of Aqaba resulted in victory for Arab forces over the Ottoman defenders. Aqaba's location next to Wadi Rum and Petra has placed it in Jordan's golden triangle of tourism, which strengthened

282-578: A council attended by bishops of the Late Roman provinces of Palaestina Prima , Palaestina Secunda and Palaestina Tertia , to the last-named of which Aela belonged. A citadel was also built in the area that became the focal point of the Roman southern defense system. In the 6th century, Procopius of Caesarea mentioned a Jewish population in Eilat and its surroundings which enjoyed autonomy until

376-523: A daily protest at the hotel where President-elect Barack Obama was staying, and then visited Gaza to see the immediate effects of the bombing. She brought humanitarian aid and helped put together six other delegations to Gaza. She was one of the lead organizers of the Gaza Freedom March , where 1,350 people from dozens of countries came together in Cairo to try to march to Gaza. Benjamin criticized

470-600: A delegation of prisoners' family members to Guantanamo Naval Base prison camp in Cuba, demanding its closing. In 2007 as well, she continued to protest weekly outside the Justice Department concerning water boarding and indefinite detention, and called for the resignation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. She was arrested many times for protests in Congressional hearings. On October 31, 2009, Benjamin led

564-439: A fortified structure, occupying an area of 35 × 55 meters. 24 towers defended the city. The city had four gates on all four sides, defining two main lines intersecting at the centre. The intersection of these two thoroughfares was indicated by a tetrapylon (a four-way arch), which was later transformed into a luxury residential building decorated with frescoes dated to the tenth century. This type of urban structure, called MSIR,

658-580: A fortress on Pharaoh's Island (called Île de Graye by the Franks), the modern Jazīrat Fir'aun in Egyptian territorial waters about 7 kilometres (4 miles) west of Aqaba. The garrison of Elyn (now serving primarily as a military outpost) was further strengthened in 1142 by Pagan the Butler , Lord of Oultrejourdain , who pursued an ambitious program of castle building throughout his domain. However, there

752-426: A group of Code Pink protestors at a protest aimed at military families queued up for a White House Halloween Party hosted by President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama . The event raised controversy when a Reuters News photo showing the protesters (dressed as wounded soldiers), including one identified as Benjamin, were described as "taunting" the children. In 2009, Benjamin began her efforts to bring attention to

846-631: A member of the International Socialist Organization , responded: Medea Benjamin ... and many other liberal and progressive leaders tell us that a Kerry regime "would be less dangerous" than Bush ... But, even if Kerry is "less dangerous", he will be more capable of wreaking havoc on Iraq, Palestine, Venezuela, abortion, gay rights, civil rights and unions if we sacrifice our political movement to getting behind him ... any movement that ever aims to win, must learn to stand up for itself precisely when it

940-551: A new Arab city was established outside its walls under Uthman ibn Affan , known as Ayla ( Arabic : آيلا ). The Early Muslim city was excavated in 1986 by a team from the University of Chicago . Artefacts are now on exhibit at Aqaba Archaeological Museum and Jordan Archaeological Museum in Amman . The fortified city was inscribed in a rectangle of 170 × 145 meters, with walls 2.6 meters thick and 4.5 meters high, surrounding

1034-611: A public fast in Islamabad in sympathy with alleged drone victims. In 2012, she authored Drone Warfare: Killing by Remote Control , published by OR Books , and toured the country speaking out against drone warfare. As part of Code Pink's mission, Benjamin helped organize many International Women's Day Marches and Mother's Day Calls for Peace, the latter to bring back the original intent of Mother's Day as women mobilizing against war. These included bringing women from war torn countries such as Iraq , Palestine and Afghanistan to

SECTION 10

#1732791244581

1128-547: A quote from Benjamin was published by the New York Times , which implied that she was calling for the arrest of those who destroyed property during the protests. Benjamin later clarified that, while she did not approve of the tactics of destroying property, she did not want the arrest of those responsible. Benjamin has been criticized by some Greens for her support for "Anybody But Bush" in 2004. Explaining why she supported this movement, she said that "maybe it's time for

1222-527: A sign that read "Build bridges not walls". She joined other activists on the 2024 Gaza freedom flotilla . During the 1990s, Benjamin focused on countering what she believed was un fair trade as promoted by the World Trade Organization . She participated in an anti-sweatshop movement , initiating campaigns against Nike and clothing companies such as the GAP. In 1999, Benjamin helped expose

1316-570: A speech on United States counterterrorism strategy given by John Brennan at the Woodrow Wilson Center , to ask about civilians casualties of US drone strikes in Pakistan , Somalia , and Yemen . In October 2012, she organized a 34-person delegation to Pakistan to protest U.S. drone warfare. While in Pakistan she allegedly met with drone victims, family members, lawyers, academics, women's groups, and Pakistani leaders, as well as

1410-605: A vacation, but the organizers chose to go against the government's recommendation by holding public gatherings and demonstrations in the city. To stop this, Egyptian police sent police trucks to block organizers in and prevent them from leaving their hotels. The ones that managed to escape were dragged away and beaten by Egyptian police. Finally, only a small group of 100 compared to the over a thousand there were let in, and those left behind looked at those driving away with malice. The final 86 which were let in had to face another obstacle of non-governmental sponsors pulling out. Once inside,

1504-571: A west road leading to the Paralia and Roman Egypt . Around AD 106 Aela was one of the main ports for the Romans. The Aqaba Church was constructed under Roman rule between 293 and 303 and is considered to be the oldest known purpose-built Christian church in the world. By the time of Eusebius , Aela became the garrison of the Legio X Fretensis , which was moved to Aela from Jerusalem. One of

1598-726: Is an American political activist who, along with Jodie Evans and others, co-founded Code Pink . She also co-founded, along with her husband Kevin Danaher , the fair trade advocacy group Global Exchange . Benjamin was the Green Party nominee in the 2000 United States Senate election in California , running under the name Medea Susan Benjamin. Susan Benjamin was born September 10, 1952, daughter of Alvin and Rose Benjamin. She grew up in Freeport, New York , on Long Island , and

1692-660: Is based on the tourism and port industry sectors. The economic growth in Aqaba is higher than the average economic growth in the country. Under the special economic zone status some investments and trades are exempted from taxation, as a result, new resorts, housing developments, and retail outlets are being constructed. New projects such as Tala Bay and Saraya al Aqaba are constructed aiming at providing high-end vacation and residential homes to locals and foreigners alike. Aqaba's location next to Wadi Rum and Petra has placed it in Jordan's golden triangle of tourism, which strengthened

1786-705: Is darkest. Benjamin writes in The Huffington Post that the U.S. needs to end military interventionism and that the "U.S. military should close all foreign military bases and use our soldiers to protect us here at home." Benjamin also writes in The Huffington Post that the United States never had any "justification for invading Iraq", that there is no "justification for continuing the war in Afghanistan", and that in Pakistan,

1880-657: Is of Jewish descent. Her father, Alvin Benjamin (1920-2012), was a wealthy real estate developer, president of The Benjamin Companies. During her first year at Tufts University , she renamed herself after the Greek mythological character Medea . Samuel Moyn wrote that Benjamin "liked how the name sounded, and she had heard a feminist interpretation of the Greek tragedy suggesting that Medea had never killed her children and

1974-682: Is the Turkish Bath (Hamam) built in 306 AD, in which locals and visitors alike come to relax after a hot day. In 2006, the Tourism Division of the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority ( ASEZA ) reported that the number of tourists visiting the Zone in 2006 rose to about 432,000, an increase of 5% over previous year. Approximately 65%, or 293,000 were Jordanians. Of foreign tourists, Europeans visited

SECTION 20

#1732791244581

2068-711: Is the only coastal city in Jordan and the largest and most populous city on the Gulf of Aqaba . Situated in southernmost Jordan, Aqaba is the administrative center of the Aqaba Governorate . The city had a population of 148,398 in 2015 and a land area of 375 square kilometres (144.8 sq mi). Today, Aqaba plays a major role in the development of the Jordanian economy , through the vibrant trade and tourism sectors. The Port of Aqaba also serves other countries in

2162-713: Is typical of early Islamic fortified settlements. The city prospered from 661 to 750 under the Umayyads and beyond under the Abbasids (750–970) and the Fatimids (970–1116). Ayla took advantage of its key position as an important step on the road to India and Arab spices (frankincense, myrrh), between the Mediterranean Sea and the Arabian Peninsula . The city is also mentioned in several stories of

2256-507: Is wrong." Benjamin responded by telling The Daily Beast , "If he had indeed made significant policy changes, I wasn't going to say anything. I would have preferred that option, but given that he didn't make those kind of changes I was looking for, I was glad to be given the opportunity to speak out." On July 21, 2016, Benjamin heckled Donald Trump 's acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention with

2350-536: The 1999 Seattle WTO protests . In 2000, she helped a campaign to pressure Starbucks to carry fair trade coffee in all their cafes. In October 2000, Starbucks introduced whole bean Fair Trade Certified coffee at more than 2,300 stores. For 2001, Benjamin focused on California's energy crisis , assisting low-income ratepayers and small businesses. She headed a coalition of consumer , environmental , union and business leaders working for clean and affordable power under public control. In September 2003, Benjamin

2444-510: The 2004 Democratic National Convention and the 2004 Republican National Convention . On December 4, 2007, she was arrested by plainclothes police in Lahore , Pakistan , detained by the ISI for eight hours, and deported after protesting the house arrest of lawyers (including Aitzaz Ahsan ). In 2009, Benjamin joined the steering committee for the Gaza Freedom March . In February 2012, Benjamin

2538-601: The Arabian Nights . The geographer Shams Eddin Muqaddasi describes Ayla as nearby the ruined ancient city. The city was mentioned in Medieval Arabic sources as having a mixed population of Jews and Christians. It subsequently became an important station for pilgrim caravans on the way to Mecca . Baldwin I of Jerusalem took over the city in 1115 without encountering much resistance. The centre of

2632-465: The Chalcolithic period, with thriving copper production on a large scale. This period is largely unknown due to the absence of written historical sources. University of Jordan archaeologists have discovered the sites, where they found a small building whose walls were inscribed with human and animal drawings, suggesting that the building was used as a religious site. The people who inhabited

2726-850: The Cobb-LaMarche ticket. Benjamin has been married twice. Her second marriage is to activist Kevin Danaher . She has two daughters, Maya Danaher and Arlen Gomez, who respectively serve as treasurer and secretary of the Benjamin Fund, an organization for which she serves as president. Benjamin lives in Washington, D.C. , and in San Francisco. Aqaba Aqaba ( English: / ˈ æ k ə b ə / AK -ə-bə , US also / ˈ ɑː k -/ AHK - ; Arabic : الْعَقَبَة , romanized :  al-ʿAqaba , pronounced [ælˈʕæqɑba, ælˈʕæɡæba] )

2820-469: The Egyptian government announced that it would not allow anyone to cross into Gaza from Egypt, effectively banning the march. The government issued a warning that anyone attempting to cross at Rafah would be, "dealt with by the law." The Egyptian authorities went so far as to revoke permits for public gathering areas and force bus and shuttle companies to cancel previous contracts they had made with march organizers. In fact, 25 Americans were detained outside

2914-552: The U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan . The delegation made international headlines when they joined a caravan to Waziristan organized by prominent political leader and former Pakistani cricket captain Imran Khan , a staunch opponent of American involvement in Pakistan. (See CNN video, The New York Times , The Washington Post , Al Jazeera , the BBC , and over 100 major news outlet, 09/28 – October 14, 2012). She also organized

Gaza Freedom March - Misplaced Pages Continue

3008-866: The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization , the World Health Organization , the Swedish International Development Agency , and the Institute for Food and Development Policy . In 1988, with her husband, Kevin Danaher , and Kirsten Moller, Benjamin co-founded the San Francisco-based Global Exchange , which advocates fair trade alternatives to what she describes as corporate globalization. In 2002, with Jodie Evans and others, she co-founded

3102-1003: The Venezuelan Embassy in Washington . Benjamin said the group had the permission of the Maduro government to stay in the embassy. In 2010, she received the Martin Luther King Jr. Peace Prize from the Fellowship of Reconciliation . In 2012, she won the Marjorie Kellogg National Peacemaker Award and the Thomas Merton Center Peace Award . Also in 2012, she was awarded the US Peace Prize "in recognition of her creative leadership on

3196-545: The War on Terror at the National Defense University on May 23, 2013. After Benjamin was removed for her actions, President Obama then went off script. "The voice of that woman is worth paying attention to," he said. "Obviously I do not agree with much of what she said. And obviously she wasn't listening to me and much of what I said. But these are tough issues. And the suggestion that we can gloss over them

3290-611: The conditions under which enlisted personnel served, and to speak out against the war, in Congress and at the United Nations , in 2003. She is a member of the Board of Directors of Liberty Tree . In 2000, Benjamin ran as a Green Party candidate challenging incumbent US Senator from California , Dianne Feinstein . She advocated a living wage , universal healthcare and delaying genetically engineered foods . During

3384-657: The feminist anti-war group Code Pink: Women for Peace , which advocated for an end to the Iraq War , the prevention of future wars, and social justice . Benjamin has been involved with the anti-war organization United for Peace and Justice . She later created the Occupation Watch Center in Baghdad (IOWC) to monitor the United States military, and the war's effect on civilian populations. Through this center, she brought U.S. military family members to see

3478-549: The 8th and 4th centuries BCE. Around 735 BC, the city was conquered by the Assyrian empire . Because of the wars the Assyrians were fighting in the east, their trading routes were diverted to the city and the port witnessed relative prosperity. The Babylonians conquered it in 600 BC. During this time, Elath witnessed great economic growth, which is attributed to the business background of its rulers who realized how important

3572-536: The ASEZ had attracted $ 18bn in committed investments, beating its $ 6bn target by 2020 by a third and more in less than a decade. The goal was adjusted to bring in another $ 12bn by 2020, but in 2009 alone, deals worth $ 14bn were inked. Some projects currently under construction are: Aqaba has a number of luxury hotels, including in the Tala Bay resort 20 km further to the south, which service those who come for fun on

3666-493: The Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority ( ASEZA ) was established which acted as the statutory institution empowered with administrative, fiscal, regulatory and economic responsibilities. Jordan is divided into 12 administrative divisions, each called a Governorate . Aqaba Governorate divides into 3 Districts , some of which are divided into Subdistricts and further divided into villages. Benefiting from its location and status as Jordan's special economic zone, Aqaba's economy

3760-1021: The British to supply the Arab forces. In 1918, the regions of Aqaba and Ma'an were officially incorporated into the Kingdom of the Hejaz . In 1925, Ibn Saud the ruler of Nejd with the help of his Wahhabi Ikhwan troops successfully annexed the Hejaz, but gave up the Ma'an and Aqaba to the British protectorate of Transjordan . The Jordanian census of 1961 found 8,908 inhabitants in 'Aqaba. In 1965, King Hussein , through an exchange deal with Saudi Arabia , gave 6,000 square kilometres (2,317 square miles) of desert land in Jordanian territories in exchange for other territories, including 12 kilometres (7 miles) of an extension of prime coastline south of Aqaba, which included

3854-636: The Progressive Democrats of America. In 2015, the Green Party created a shadow cabinet , naming Benjamin as the shadow Secretary of State. From 2002 to 2009, Benjamin engaged in numerous protests involving members of the Bush administration (Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld ; President George W. Bush ; Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice ); Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki , and others. Benjamin engaged in protest actions at

Gaza Freedom March - Misplaced Pages Continue

3948-407: The U.S. to speak about their experiences. Between 2003 and 2010, Benjamin helped organized anti-war mass mobilizations in Washington, D.C., New York City and San Francisco. Benjamin organized the campaign Bring Our War Dollars Home, which fought to divert money from the Pentagon into social programs at home. During the 1999 anti-globalization movement protests against the WTO in Seattle ,

4042-461: The United States invaded Iraq in 2003 , she created the Occupation Watch Center in Baghdad to monitor the United States military and the war's effect on civilian populations. Through this center she brought Iraqi women to the United States to speak about the occupation, organized delegations of U.S. military family members to see the conditions of their children serving in Iraq, and documented United States abuses, including at Abu Ghraib prison before

4136-462: The United States "drone attacks are only fueling the violence and creating more Osama bin Ladens ". Regarding the killing of bin Laden , she says "Let us not sink into a false sense of triumphalism in the wake of Bin Laden's passing." On March 3, 2014, Benjamin was arrested in Egypt . She had flown there en route to participating in a women's conference in the Palestinian territory of Gaza . Upon her arrival at Cairo International Airport , Benjamin

4230-403: The United States Embassy in Cairo, Egypt as well as seven or eight inside the embassy. The reason for Americans participating in the march approaching the Embassy was to implore the United States to ensure that Egypt allowed Americans to enter Gaza with humanitarian aid in order to offer help to Gazans. The Americans seeking refuge at the U.S Embassy were met with riot police and K-9 units. Prior to

4324-463: The United States government for passing legislation to send Israel $ 3 billion in aid, lobbied Congress and sailed on the U.S. Flotilla to Gaza in November 2011. Days after Israel launched its Pillar of Defense operation targeting sites in Gaza during November 2012, Benjamin led a delegation to deliver medical supplies to the Shifa hospital and the Palestinian Red Crescent in Gaza. She also helped to organize an annual gathering in Washington, D.C., with

4418-413: The Zone in the largest numbers, with about 98,000 visiting during the year. The division has financed tourism advertising and media campaigns with the assistance of the European Union. Aqaba has been chosen for the site of a new waterfront building project that would rebuild Aqaba with new man-made water structures, new high-rise residential and office buildings, and more tourist services to place Aqaba on

4512-471: The beaches as well as Scuba diving . Aqaba offers more than thirty primary diving locations, with the majority of them accommodating divers of all skill levels. These diving sites comprise fringing reefs that extend for over 25 kilometers, reaching all the way to the border with Saudi Arabia. It also offers activities which take advantage of its desert location. Its many coffee shops offer mansaf and knafeh , and baqlawa desserts. Another very popular venue

4606-441: The campaign, Benjamin and her Republican rival Tom Campbell participated in joint events, including a joint press conference, touting their opposition to Feinstein (but also disagreeing with each other on many issues). Benjamin garnered 99,716 votes, 74%, in the Green Party primary, and 326,828 votes, 3.08% of the general election total ballots. Since then she has remained active in the Green Party and has also supported efforts by

4700-419: The city then moved to 500 meters along the coast to the south, and the crusader fortress of Elyn was built, which allowed the Kingdom of Jerusalem to dominate all roads between Damascus , Egypt , and Arabia , protecting the Crusader states from the east and allowing for profitable raids on trade caravans passing through the area. In order to secure this strategic position, Baldwin also built and garrisoned

4794-418: The city was anciently Elath , Ailath . The name is presumably derived from the Semitic name of a tree in the genus Pistacia . Modern Eilat (established 1947), situated about 5 km north-west of Aqaba, also takes its name from the ancient settlement. In the Hellenistic period , it was renamed Berenice (in Greek Βερενίκη), but the original name survived, and under Roman rule was re-introduced in

SECTION 50

#1732791244581

4888-407: The city's location on the world map and made it one of the major tourist attractions in Jordan. The city is administered by the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority , which has turned Aqaba into a low-tax, duty-free city, attracting several mega projects like Ayla Oasis , Saraya Aqaba , Marsa Zayed and expansion of the Port of Aqaba. They are expected to turn the city into a major tourism hub in

4982-407: The city's location on the world map and made it one of the major tourist attractions in Jordan. The city is administered by the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority , which has turned Aqaba into a low-tax, duty-free city, attracting several mega projects like Ayla Oasis , Saraya Aqaba , Marsa Zayed and expansion of the Port of Aqaba. They are expected to turn the city into a major tourism hub in

5076-446: The city's location was. The Persian Achaemenid Empire took the city in 539 BC. The city continued to grow and prosper which made it a major trading hub by the time of the Greek rule by 300 BC, after the Wars of Alexander the Great , it was described by a Greek historian to be "one of the most important trading cities in the Arab World". The Ptolemaic Greeks called it Berenice . The Nabatean kingdom had its capital north of

5170-402: The city's status as a transport and logistics hub. There are numerous hotels that reside in Aqaba but new hotels are also under construction. Aqaba is the only seaport of Jordan so virtually all of Jordan's exports depart from here. Heavy machinery industry is also flourishing in the city with regional assembly plants being located in Aqaba such as the Land Rover Aqaba Assembly Plant . By 2008

5264-434: The city, at Petra . In 64 BC, following the Roman conquest, they annexed the city and called it Aela (also Haila , Aelana , in Greek rendered Αἴλα Aila ). Both Petra and Aela were under strong Nabatean influence despite the Roman rule. Aela reached its peak during Roman times, the great long-distance road the Via Traiana Nova led south from Bostra through Amman , terminating in Aela, where it connected with

5358-411: The city. According to Fulbright scholar Kimberly Cavanagh development projects will help exhibit the ways global- local partnerships and the resultant cultural exchanges,  can result in mutually beneficial outcomes. The city of Aqaba has one of the highest population growth rates in Jordan in 2011, and only 44% of the buildings in the city had been built before 1990. A special census for Aqaba city

5452-417: The conference. Benjamin responded saying she was "uncomfortable" with many of the attendees but learned a lot and had nothing to apologize for. Peter Camejo claims that, at the 2004 Green Party of the United States national convention, a supermajority of members had voted for endorsing the Nader -Camejo ticket, but a conspiracy involving Benjamin caused a slight majority of delegates to instead endorse

5546-406: The crossroads of the continents of Asia and Africa, while bordering Israel, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Aqaba has a hot desert climate ( Köppen climate classification BWh ) with mild, sometimes warm winters and very hot dry summers. Subzero temperatures can be observed every few years. The record low temperature of −3.9 °C (25.0 °F) was on January 16, 2008, as in Eilat . In August 2000,

5640-430: The delegation intending to go to Gaza had asked that Egypt reconsider its ban, which included disallowing the Gaza Freedom March from delivering hundreds of tonnes of aid. The aid, which included specialised medical equipment and powdered milk for babies, sat in Aqaba , a Jordanian port town, awaiting Egyptian permission to enter Egypt. The Egyptian Government recommended that the organizers should use their time in Cairo as

5734-452: The effects of drone warfare , participating in demonstrations at United States bases where drones are piloted and at headquarters of drone manufacturers. On April 28, 2012, in Washington, D.C., she was responsible for organizing the first International Drone Summit with lawyers, scientists, academics, and activists to kick off an international campaign to rein in the use of drones in the U.S. and abroad. On April 30, 2012, Benjamin interrupted

SECTION 60

#1732791244581

5828-596: The embassy did not help Benjamin. In January 2019, in a Democracy Now! interview, Benjamin said she was against "US intervention in Venezuela" which had the potential to "create a civil war leading to tremendous violence". In April and May 2019 Benjamin was part of an "Embassy Protection Collective" formed by groups that include CodePink, Answer Coalition (led by Brian Becker), Poor Peoples Army (led by Cheri Honkala), People's Power Assembly (led by Sharon Black), Revolutionary Alliance (led by Al R Suarez) and Popular Resistance (led by Kevin Zeese/Dr. Flowers) which occupied

5922-429: The forms Aila , Aela or Haila , adopted in Byzantine Greek as Άιλα Aila and in Arabic as Ayla (آيلا). The crusaders called the city Elyn . The present name al-ʿAqaba ( العقبة ) is a shortened from ʿaqabat Aylah ( عقبة آيلة ) "the mountain-pass of Ayla", first mentioned in the 12th century by Idrisi , at a time when the settlement had been mostly reduced to a military stronghold , properly referring to

6016-518: The front lines of the antiwar movement." In 2014, she received the Gandhi Peace Award from Promoting Enduring Peace "to honor her for her unyielding advocacy for social justice of more than 30 years". In 2003, the Los Angeles Times described her as "one of the high profile leaders" of the peace movement. In 2014, Benjamin attended the second annual New Horizon conference in Tehran , which hosted several fascists and Holocaust deniers. The Anti-Defamation League criticized Benjamin for attending

6110-435: The group was able to hold the nonviolent protest, which included a conference, chanting freedom songs, and all of the posters littered with “Free Gaza." The 100 internationals that were let in were joined by several hundred Palestinians as they marched toward the border. Around 300 were also protesting on the Israeli side of the border. Medea Benjamin Medea Benjamin (born Susan Benjamin on September 10, 1952)

6204-618: The investment map and challenge other centers of waterfront development throughout the region. Aqaba was chosen as the Arab Tourism City of 2011. During the 5-day holiday at both the end of Ramadan and Eid Al-Adha , Jordanian and western expats flock into the city with numbers reaching up to 50,000 visitors. During this time the occupancy rate of most hotels there reaches as high as 90%, and are often fully booked. The several development projects (i.e. Ayla, Saraya etc.) now taking place in Aqaba provide "opportunities of empowerment" for local populations that want to expand their agency within

6298-446: The labor and environmental practices of United States multinationals in China. The ensuring Human Rights Principles for US Businesses in China have been endorsed by major companies such as Cisco , Intel , Reebok , Levi Strauss and Mattel . In 2006, Benjamin organized humanitarian aid for war refugees in Lebanon and spoke out against Israeli bombing. In 2008 during the Operation Cast Lead Israeli invasion of Gaza , she organized

6392-555: The latter one leaving the site completely destroyed. The Edomites , who ruled over Edom just south of the Dead Sea , are believed to have built the first port in Aqaba called Elath around 1500 BC, turning it into a major hub for the trade of copper as the Phoenicians helped them develop their maritime economy. They profited from its strategic location at the junction of trading routes between Asia and Africa. Archaeologists have investigated an Iron Age settlement at Tell el-Kheleifeh , immediately west of Aqaba, inhabited between

6486-412: The magnificent Yamanieh coral reef . Aqaba was a major site for imports of Iraqi goods in the 1980s until the Persian Gulf War . In 1997, the Aqaba Marine Reserve was established within the southern boundaries of the Gulf of Aqaba . The city lies at Jordan's southernmost point, on the Gulf of Aqaba lying at the tip of the Red Sea. Its strategic location is shown in the fact that it is located at

6580-447: The march included Howard Zinn , Gore Vidal , Arun Gandhi , Naomi Klein and Noam Chomsky . Norman Finkelstein , who is a controversial figure among many as he opposed BDS but is an avid supporter of Palestinians, was an initial supporter, but later withdrew his endorsement saying that the new statement of context for the march brought in too many contentious issues. Berkeley student organizer Ali Glenesk coordinated student outreach for

6674-546: The march, and over 100 students planned to participate. Luisa Morgantini , Alima Boumediene-Thiery , Duraid Lahham and Walden Bello also planned to participate in the Gaza Freedom March. Hedy Epstein, a Holocaust survivor, remarked on the planned day of the march that “there comes a time in one’s life when maybe one needs to do more than just talk (in order to) to change the opinion of the Egyptian government so that they will let [us] go to Gaza.” There were to be an estimated 50,000 Palestinians that were going to participate in

6768-522: The march, organizers were stationed in Cairo, waiting to travel into Gaza when the time came. They were supposed to meet with organizers in Gaza to help start the march, but the Egyptian government refused to let the organizers in. It was at this moment that the organizers began to be worried about whether or not the march would happen. Prior to this, most organizers believed that they were going to be let in with no problems. The more than 1,300 internationals in

6862-474: The march. BDS, the pro-Palestinian organization, made an official call for the march in late October 2009 and called the blockade of Gaza “a flagrant violation of international law” and also stated that the march’s purpose was to push Egypt to lift the siege on Gaza and for Israel to end its decades-long blockage on the region. Contrary to coverage of the Gaza Freedom March in the Arab world, coverage

6956-545: The objective of exposing the "negative influence" of the United States lobby group American-Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). In January 2018, it was announced that activists from 20 American groups, including Code Pink, were banned from entering Israel because of their support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. The Algemeiner reported in April 2014 that Benjamin's charitable foundation, which

7050-711: The oldest known texts written in the Arabic alphabet is a late 4th-century inscription found in Jabal Ram 50 kilometres (31 miles) east of Aqaba. The city became a Christian bishopric at an early stage. Its bishop Peter was present at the First Council of Nicaea , the first ecumenical council , in 325. Beryllus was at the Council of Chalcedon in 451, and Paul at the synod called by Patriarch Peter of Jerusalem in 536 against Patriarch Anthimus I of Alexandria ,

7144-507: The other side.” The march's goal was to bring attention to the horrific attacks on Palestinians in Gaza. Other endorsing groups included American Friends Service Committee, Meta Peace Team, and Palestinian unions who all planned on meeting together in Cairo. Approximately 1400 people planned to protest until Egypt denied entry to Gaza following pressure from the United States and Israel. This blockade continues to this day. However, Egypt did allow 100 protesters to enter Gaza. On December 20, 2009,

7238-403: The pass just to the north-east of the settlement ( 29°33′32″N 35°05′42″E  /  29.559°N 35.095°E  / 29.559; 35.095 , now traversed by Aqaba Highway ). Excavations at two tells (archaeological mounds) Tall Hujayrat Al-Ghuzlan and Tall Al-Magass , both a few kilometres north of modern-day Aqaba city, revealed inhabited settlements from c. 4000 BC during

7332-401: The people who voted for Bush in 2000, the people who didn't vote at all in 2000, and yes, people like myself who voted for Ralph Nader in 2000, to admit our mistakes. I'll say mine — I had no idea that George Bush would be such a disastrous president. Had I known then what I know now, and had I lived in a swing state, I would have voted for Gore instead of Ralph Nader. Todd Chretien,

7426-689: The problem of indentured servitude among garment workers in the United States territory of Saipan (the Marianas Islands), which led to a billion-dollar lawsuit against 17 United States retailers. In 1999, she produced the documentary Sweating for a T-Shirt about the sweatshop industry. During the World Trade Organization meeting in Seattle in December 1999, Benjamin's organization, Global Exchange , helped organize

7520-585: The region. Aqaba's strategic location at the northeastern tip of the Red Sea between the continents of Asia and Africa has made its port important throughout thousands of years. The ancient city was called Elath , adopted in Latin as Aela and in Arabic as Ayla . Its strategic location and proximity to copper mines made it a regional hub for copper production and trade in the Chalcolithic period. Aela became

7614-485: The region. However, industrial and commercial activities remain important, due to the strategic location of the city as the country's only seaport . Over US$ 20 billion have been invested in Aqaba since 2001 when the Special Economic Zone was established. Along with tourism projects, Aqaba has also attracted global logistic companies such as APM Terminals and Agility to invest in logistics, which boosted

7708-496: The region. However, industrial and commercial activities remain important, due to the strategic location of the city as the country's only seaport . The city sits right across the border from Eilat , likewise Israel's only port on the Red Sea. After the 1994 Israel–Jordan peace treaty , there were plans and hopes of establishing a trans-border tourism and economic area, but few of those plans have come to fruition. The name of

7802-553: The scandal involving it broke in the United States media. She also organized medical aid delegations to Iraq to civilians harmed by the United States military. She testified in Congress and the United Nations against the Iraq War . In 2005, she was involved in the Hammering Halliburton campaign which was concerned with the abuses of United States military contractors such as Halliburton , the goal of which

7896-399: The site had developed an extensive water system in irrigating their crops which were mostly made up of grapes, olives and wheat. Several different-sized clay pots were also found suggesting that copper production was a major industry in the region, the pots being used in melting the copper and reshaping it. Scientific studies performed on-site revealed that it had undergone two earthquakes, with

7990-592: The time of Justinian I ( r.  527–565 ). According to Ibn Ishaq , Muhammad himself reached Aila during the expedition of Tabuk of 630, and extracted tribute from the city. During the Late Byzantine or even Early Muslim period, Aila was the origin of what came to be known as the Ayla-Axum amphoras . Aila fell to the Islamic armies by 629, and the ancient settlement was left to decay, while

8084-423: Was arrested and deported for illegal entry to Bahrain and her participation in an illegal protest. During 2005–2010, she worked to oppose United States threats of a possible impending war with Iran, including lobbying Congress, taking peace delegations to Iran, and bringing Iranian youth to Congress. Benjamin repeatedly interrupted a major speech by President Barack Obama regarding United States policy in

8178-502: Was detained by airport police and held overnight, during which time she said she was assaulted by police officers, resulting in a broken arm and a dislocated shoulder. She was later deported to Turkey. Questions arose regarding the role of the United States Embassy in her detention, as embassy spokesman Mofid Deak said that Benjamin left the country following assistance from the embassy, while Code Pink's Alli McCracken said

8272-706: Was in Cancún , Mexico challenging the policies of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and in November, she was in Miami protesting the proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) while trying to bring attention to global peace and economic justice movements. After several fact-finding visits to China, Benjamin co-sponsored with the International Labor Rights Fund an initiative to improve

8366-540: Was minimal in the United States and other western countries. The march had many obstacles from the beginning, but the ideas that were planned were substantial. According to the Gaza Freedom March website, the march was supposed to, “…feature hip hop music (including a song written especially for the march) and commentary on the impact of the siege by farmers, fishermen, merchants and others. Upon reaching Erez crossing, balloons, kites and/or flags will be flown to express solidarity with Palestinians and Israeli peace activists on

8460-638: Was never retaken by the Crusaders. The old fort was rebuilt, as Aqaba Fortress , by Mamluk sultan Al-Ashraf Qansuh Al-Ghuri in the early 16th century. For the next four centuries, the site was a simple fishing village of little importance. During World War I, the Ottoman forces were forced to withdraw from Aqaba in 1917 after the Battle of Aqaba , led by T. E. Lawrence and the Arab forces of Auda Abu Tayi and Sherif Nasir . The capture of Aqaba allowed

8554-540: Was no large-scale settlement of Europeans in the area, and the region between the Dead Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba remained mainly inhabited by Bedouins, who were obliged to pay tribute to the Lordship of Oultrejourdain. Despite all efforts to fortify the region, the city was captured in 1170 by a squadron sent by Saladin as he was besieging Gaza ; while it was successfully raided by Raynald of Châtillon in 1182, it

8648-603: Was only blamed for it by patriarchal traditions ". She also joined the Students for a Democratic Society . Later she dropped out of school and hitchhiked through Europe and Africa, teaching English classes to earn money. She later returned to the United States and received master's degrees in public health from Columbia University and in economics from The New School . Benjamin worked for ten years as an economist and nutritionist in Latin America and Africa for

8742-570: Was to expose the awarding of corrupt no-bid contracts to corporations with close ties to the Bush administration . Along with this, Benjamin also exposed Blackwater Worldwide 's illegal activities, including protests at the headquarters of the International Association of War Contractors. She was arrested outside the home of Blackwater's CEO. In opposition to indefinite detention in Guantanamo , in 2007, Benjamin organized

8836-586: Was worth $ 12 million, had shareholdings in Caterpillar , a company targeted by the BDS movement, as well as the oil company Chevron and the tobacco conglomerate Phillip Morris . In November 2023, Benjamin conducted an ambush interview with US Senator Marco Rubio , and asked him if he would "call for a ceasefire in Gaza." Rubio responded "No I will not. On the contrary, … I want Israel to destroy every element of Hamas they can get their hands on." After

#580419