Tag: Global Actions

THE SIEGE HAS BEEN BROKEN: MEPs IN GAZA STRIP IN SOLIDARITY WITH CIVIL POPULATION

For Immediate Release

Jerusalem, 7th February 2008

A delegation composed of 10 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) from different political groups (see the list of participants below) and led by Luisa Morgantini, Vice-President of the European Parliament, broke the Israeli siege and travelled to the Gaza Strip on 5th February 2008.

During a press conference, MEPs reaffirmed the need and the urgency to lift the blockade that represents “an illegal collective punishment on the civil population”.

Visiting the Al-Shifa Hospital, the delegation expressed its deep concern and worry about the extreme difficulties under which the main hospital in the Gaza Strip is obliged to operate, where patients with cancer, but not only with cancer, do not avail of the necessary medical drugs or treatments and at least 30 premature babies, still alive thanks to incubators, risk dying if generators stop because of the lack of fuel due to cuts in refuelling supplies and to the closure decided by the Israeli Government.

In its mission to Gaza, the delegation also met many Palestinian businessmen who reaffirmed the impossibility for them to carry out their commercial activities because of the Israeli blockade, with disastrous consequences for the economy and the daily life of civilians: 80% of workers are currently unemployed without any compensation.

Refusing the idea of resorting to smuggling, currently the only channel open to access and trade goods in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian businessmen have on the contrary reiterated to MEPs their will and their right to free and honest trade. Palestinian businessmen also repeated that the siege does not affect Hamas’ political and religious movement but that, on the contrary, the heaviest price is being paid by the civil population, as many Palestinian intellectuals and activists have been claiming for a long time and as they also claimed in a meeting with the MEPs in the offices of the “End the Siege” campaign (www.end-gaza-siege.ps; end.gaza.siege@gmail.com), with the participation, among others, of the doctor and human rights activist, Eyad Sarraj, one of the promoters of the demonstration for the International Day for the End of Gaza siege, on 26th January, held simultaneously in the Gaza Strip, at the Eretz Crossing, by Israeli peace activists, and all around the world.

The different organizations supporting the Campaign, but also many women from Gaza, meeting the delegation, reaffirmed the need for independence, freedom and peace for Palestinians, appealed for the lifting of the blockade and also for the right to security for all civilians, both Israelis and Palestinians. They restated at the same time that “Qassam rockets are fired not by the people of Gaza, but only by some groups of extremist Palestinians, and this must be condemned as well as all the bloodshed of civilians due to Israeli raids perpetuated by the army of occupation”.

In the press conference, broadcast by major Arab television channels, the MEPs, expressing their solidarity, declared they were “deeply impressed by the dignity and the resistance of the Palestinian people and wished that Palestinian political parties could find unity so that the Gaza Strip and the West Bank would not be separated.”

MEPs also urged an intervention to put a stop to the ecological disaster in Beitlaya area; that the Rafah border and all Gaza crossings be opened thereby allowing free movement of people and goods; that the violent spiral of action-reaction be immediately stopped. They also called for concrete deeds for the resumption of peace negotiations based on the freezing of all illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank and in East Jerusalem, the end to the military occupation and for the establishment of a free and sovereign Palestinian State based on the ‘67 borders in coexistence with the Israeli State.

The delegation also urged effective action by the International Community to secure the freedom of all political prisoners and Palestinian Parliamentarians who have been arrested, to improve living conditions in all the Occupied Palestinian Territory and, in particular, in the Gaza Strip, to encourage Israel to show a concrete will for peace, that has not existed up until now and that is denied every day through the raids, check points, roadblocks, the wall and closures not only in Gaza but in the entire West Bank, such as in Hebron – which the MEPs visited on 4th February – a ghost town, occupied by hundreds of Israeli soldiers defending 400 fanatic settlers.

During the fact-finding mission, from 2nd – 7th February, the Members of the European Parliament with 8 officials, assistants and some journalists also visited the town of Sderot, in Israel, under daily attack by Qassam rockets, as a sign of solidarity with the civil population, where they met, among others, Zvi Shuldiner, director of a Department of Safir College and peace activist.

The delegation also met the Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, the Minister in charge of Prisoners’ Affairs, Ashraf al- Ajami, Members of the Palestinian Legislative Council of different political parties – Fatah, Al Mubadarah, Third Way, Peoples’ Party, Popular Front, Independents and Change and Reform List (Hamas), some Members of the Knesset- Kadima Party and Labour Party, General Pietro Pistoiese, Head of the EUBAM mission in Rafah, EU and UNRWA Representatives, but also peace and human rights organizations from Israeli and Palestinian civil societies.

For all information, a statement or report please contact:

Luisa Morgantini: +972 547271742 (Palestinian mobile)
or 0039 348 39 21 465 (Italian mobile)
or 0039 06 69 95 02 17 (Rome Office)

luisa.morgantini@europarl.europa.eu; www.luisamorgantini.net

List of MEPs participants:

EVANS Jill, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance, UK

FALBR Richard, Socialist Group in the European Parliament, Czech Republic

HEGYI Gyula, Socialist Group in the European Parliament, Hungary

HOWITT Richard, Socialist Group in the European Parliament, UK

KOTEREC Miloš, Socialist Group in the European Parliament, Slovakia

LAMBERT Jean, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance, UK

MADEIRA E MADEIRA Jamila Barbara, Socialist Group in the European Parliament, Portugal

MALDEIKIS Eugenijus, Union for Europe of the Nations Group, Lithuania

MORGANTINI Luisa, Group of the European United Left – Nordic Green Left, Italy

MORILLON Philippe, Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, France

NOGUEIRA ROMÁN Camilo, Former MEP GREENS, Spain

ZELEZNY Vladimir, Independence/Democracy Group, Czech Republic

PYN, Paz Ahora, and ISM attempt to break the blockade by sending a 50,000 Euro medical convoy into Gaza.

February 6, 2008

For Immediate Release

[RAMALLAH] The Palestinian Youth Network (PYN), together with the Spanish Paz Ahora Association, and the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) in Spain will deliver 50,000 euros worth of medicine to United Nations-operated clinics in Gaza’s eight refugee camps.

A delegation in which participates Julio Rodriguez, President of Paz Ahora Association, and Saif Abukeshek, General Coordinator of the Palestinian Youth Network will head to Cairo on Thursday, February 7, where they will meet with United Nations Relief Works Agency (UNRWA) representatives and purchase the medicines identified as most needed by the UNRWA clinics in Gaza. They will try to cross to Gaza, through the Rafah border with Egypt on Saturday, February 9.

“Civil societies around the world must not tolerate the injustice in Palestine, what is happening in Gaza are war crimes and collective punishment. We will continue to support the Palestinian people.” said Julio Rodriguez, President of Paz Ahora Association.

Israel’s hermetic closure on the Gaza Strip is denying 1.5 million Palestinians food, medical supplies and other necessities such as fuel and electricity, slowly killing the people of Gaza. According to the Palestinian International Campaign to End the Siege on Gaza, 90 patients have died since June 2007 as a direct result of Israel’s siege, which denied them access to medical treatment. 107 classes of basic medicines are depleted from Gaza Strip and 97 sorts of medicines are on the verge of depletion. According to the Commissioner-General of UNRWA, “Gaza is on the threshold of becoming the first territory to be intentionally reduced to a state of abject destitution, with the knowledge, acquiescence and–some would say–encouragement of the international community,”

“What is happening in Gaza is the new Nakba (Catastrophe). The silence from the international community is outrageous, but Palestinian youth around the world refuse to be part of this silence. We are organizing to support the survival of our brothers and sisters in Gaza, as we continue our effort to end Israel’s oppression and systematic denial of the basic rights of our people,” said Saif AbuKeshek, General Coordinator of the PYN.

Contact:

For Arabic and English: Saif Abukeshek (Mobile: +34.678.129.102)

For Spanish: Julio Rodriguez (Mobile: +34.629.053.731)

Email: media@pal-youth.org

URGENT ACTION: ATTENTION US CITIZENS WHO HAVE BEEN DENIED ENTRY

The US State Department in Washington DC and the US Consulate in East Jerusalem have been following up on the current situation of US citizens denied entry in recent years. This is an excellent opportunity for us to alert US government representatives of the ongoing harm caused by Israel’s continued practice of entry denial on an arbitrary and unlawful basis.

While some individuals denied entry have, with great persistence and often at significant cost, managed to re-enter, we know that the majority of those denied entry have not been able to re-enter the oPt. Moreover, those who have been able to re-enter have often been issued visas of a short duration and, when these all too quickly expire, they have faced the difficult choice of exiting and again facing denial of entry or remaining in the oPt without a valid visa.

If you have been denied entry and have not yet been able to return or have faced harassment or discriminatory treatment at Israeli borders, please join us in challenging false claims by Israeli authorities that this issue has been resolved. We know that the issue continues to cause suffering and undue harm to numerous individuals and families. We need to hold the US Government and other third states responsible for putting an end to entry denials; this requires our documentation.

US government representatives are asking for evidence. Let’s give it to them. Let’s flood them with our stories!

We would like to compile as many stories as possible in the next 2 weeks so that we can send them to relevant US government officials en masse.

Please remember, that even if you prefer to remain unidentified, your unanimous story can make a valuable contribution to overall statistics from which we can establish trends and report impact. We are committed to respecting all requests for confidentiality.

What to do:

1. If you have not already done so, file a report with the Campaign regarding your denial(s) of entry. Click here for the form: http://www.righttoenter.ps/ReportYourCase.php?mid=16&sid=18

If you have trouble downloading the form, let us know and we will forward it to you as an attachment.

2. If you have not already filed a report on all your entry denials, please consider doing so. You can send the US Consulate your denial of entry report using this form: http://jerusalem.usconsulate.gov/uploads/images/1EEiY6hT_ExE9IqokfOl9g/AllenbyDenialForm.pdf

If you have trouble downloading the form, let us know and we will forward it to you as an attachment.

Or, if you prefer, we would be happy to forward your report, if you send it to us. (For reasons of confidentiality, we will only do this if you specifically request us to do so.)

3. Update the Campaign and relevant US government representatives on whether you have managed to re-enter or not.

–If you’ve attempted to return, let us know if you’ve been successful or not.

–Provide a full description of the impact entry denial has had and/or continues to have on your life, that of your family and the ability you have to contribute to the social and economic development of the oPt.

–If you haven’t tried, let us know why and under what conditions you might try to return

If you prefer, we can forward your story to the US Consulate in East Jerusalem and other relevant government officials. (Again, for reasons of confidentiality, we will only do this at your specific request.)

4. Assist us in compiling stories and encourage/help friends and family members who have been denied entry to take the above steps.

The successful return of individuals previously denied entry and the unhindered entry of others is made possible by organized civic action involving a broad alliance of concerned individuals and organizations within the Palestinian, Israeli and international communities. We need to double our efforts to put an end to Israel’s denial of entry policy. Random and piecemeal “alleviation” of the unlawful practice of entry denial is no substitute for its abolition.

If you wish to contact US representatives directly, please consider sending your story to:

1) Mr Jake Walles, US Consul General, US Consulate, East Jerusalem
jerusalemacs@state.gov

2) Ms Angie C Smith, Assistant to the Consul General, US Consulate East Jerusalem
SmithAC2@state.gov

3) JerusalemACS@state.gov

4) Your relevant congressional representatives.

5) To help the Campaign’s advocacy efforts on this issue, please also cc or forward your correspondence to info@righttoenter.ps

As another year gets under way and Israel persists in arbitrarily deny entry and in discriminatory treatment against those attempting to enter or stay in the oPt, we need to call on our government representatives to demand an end to Israel’s persistent violations of international law.

Together we can defeat this policy. Act now! Send your stories by 12 February.

IMC-Chicago: Hundreds Gather to Stand with Gaza and Protest Israeli War Machine

For the original article with many pictures, click here:
http://chicago.indymedia.org/newswire/display/81163/index.php
http://chicago.indymedia.org/newswire/display/81168/index.php

Hundreds of protesters rallied tonight in front of the Lakeshore Theatre on north Broadway to picket a benefit for the Friends of the Israeli Defense Force.

The Chicago protest was initiated by ISM-Chicago and endorsed by the Palestine Solidarity Group, the West Suburban Faith-based Peace Coalition, Chicagoans Against Apartheid in Palestine, the Chicago Coalition Against War and Racism, the Siraj Center for Holy Land Studies, the Gay Liberation Network, the International Socialist Organization, Students for Justice in Palestine-UIC, Students for a Democratic Society-UIC, and ANSWER Chicago.

Chicago’s Palestinian and Arab American communities showed up in force, despite the threatening weather, to demand an end to the latest criminal Israeli siege of the Gaza Strip and the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.

Roughly half a dozen counter-protesters gathered in front of the theater entrance holding Israeli and U.S. flags. Their chants of ‘dirty Arabs’ and similar epithets were routinely shouted down with chants condemning Israeli state terror and occupation.

One protester from Not in My Name/Jewish Voices for Peace took the opportunity to point out to the badly outnumbered Zionist counter-protesters that far more progressive Jewish activists were present in solidarity with besieged Gaza and the local Palestinian community.

The Arab American News: New York activists take on Israeli settlement builder

New York activists take on Israeli settlement builder

By Will Youmans
The Arab American News
Saturday, 01.19.2008, 02:49am

http://www.arabamericannews.com/news/index.php?mod=article&cat=USA&article=538

A network of pro-Palestinian organizations in New York is working hard to expose Israeli businessman Lev Leviev’s sponsorship of Israeli settlement construction. The groups have engaged in creative protests and organized boycotts and pressured those linked with Leviev. Their boycott campaign is gaining strong momentum.

Leviev is a real estate magnate and diamond dealer. He is building strategic settlements in the occupied West Bank. These settlements violate international law, including U.N. resolutions and the Geneva Conventions.

Many are joining the movement against Leviev because his real estate projects in New York expel local, low-income residents from their communities, violate laws, and exploit underpaid laborers.

Leviev, who is one of Israel’s wealthiest businessmen, is building the Mattityahu East settlement on the lands of the village of Bil’in, and the Zufim settlement on the lands of the village of Jayyous. He is also involved in construction on the West Bank settlements of Har Homa and Maale Adumim around Jerusalem. The settlements are designed to divide the northern West Bank from the southern West Bank, and encircle and disconnect Jerusalem.

Notably, the people of Bil’in, Jayyous and the surrounding areas are mounting intense nonviolent protest campaigns against the settlement construction. Last Friday, villagers of Bil’in were joined by around 70 Israeli, international, and other Palestinian human rights activists in a protest against the Apartheid Wall.

The demonstration began as a march towards the gate in the Wall, where soldiers were standing with guns drawn. At the front of the march was the banner, “Leviev turns these rocks of apartheid into diamonds.” The soldiers opened fire with rubber-coated bullets and shot tear gas at the unarmed protestors, injuring several of the protestors badly.

These encroachments come at a time when Palestinian statehood is being held out as a possibility. Leviev’s activities undermine these prospects.

Leviev’s diamond trade topped Israel’s 30 Leading Exporters list in 2007, with net exports of $522 million. He deals in diamonds mined in Africa, has them polished in Israel, and uses the profits to help finance the illegal settlement construction.

Leviev’s diamonds are cleared through the Kimberley process, in which NGOs and the United Nations certify diamonds as “conflict-free.” However, New York activists allege his company benefits the repressive Angolan government and has been tied with the military junta in Burma. Funding clear violations of international law in Israel and Palestine is enough for them to protest.

When Leviev opened a jewelry store on Madison Avenue in New York, activists mobilized. They protested during a cocktail party in November, chanting “you’re glitz, you’re glam, you’re building on Palestinian land,” and, “occupation is a drag, just say no to your gift bag.” They wrote and performed political Christmas carols, and have held five protests in front of the store.

The Jewish Voice for Peace group called out movie star Susan Sarandon after she crossed its picket line to attend the cocktail party. The group asked her to “publicly sever ties” with the jeweler. Sarandon, a vocal supporter of Palestinian rights, denies being connected with Leviev.

Recently, media reports surfaced claiming that Leviev was a financial supporter of Oxfam, a major “group of non-governmental organizations from three continents working worldwide to fight poverty and injustice.” It was claimed on the website of a Jewish community group group Leviev heads.

The coalition group Adalah-NY heard from Oxfam that “Leviev has not been a donor to Oxfam.” Oxfam explained that it does not “knowingly accept funds from any business involved in any illegal activity, or operating in any illegally occupied territory, including settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.”

Adalah-NY spokesperson Ethan Heitner commented, “We are unable to explain why articles praising Leviev and touting his charitable contributions, including an article on the news site of an organization he heads, claimed a link with Oxfam which Oxfam has now verified doesn’t exist. We are gratified that Oxfam has reiterated its longstanding opposition to Israeli settlement construction and refusal to accept donations from businesses like Leviev’s that are involved in violations of international law.”

Adalah-NY is a leading force behind the boycott campaign. Adalah-NY is joined by the U.S. organization Jewish Voice for Peace, Israel’s Coalition of Women for Peace, and leading Palestinian civil society organizations.

The group formed as a response to the escalation of Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip at the end of June, 2006.

For more information on Adalah-NY visit www.mideastjustice.org.