7 may 2015
The Palestinian national stadium in Gaza, which was destroyed during Israel’s 2012 attack
More than 30 Brazilian social movements and progressive organisations had called on the Brazilian government to exclude International Security and Defence Systems from Olympics contracts after the Israeli company announced in October 2014 that it had been awarded a $2.2bn deal to coordinate security at the games.
On April 8, the Ministry of Justice’s Special Secretariat for Mega-events (Sesge/MJ) replied to their letter by explaining that ISDS has not been awarded any contracts.
The reply from Sesge/MJ also stated that “any contract made by Rio 2016 won’t result in compromises by the Brazilian government”, a phrase campaigners are interpreting as a clear sign that government officials were sympathetic to their demands.
ISDS had originally announced it had been awarded a contract by the Organising Committee for the 2016 Games. When overall responsibility for security at the games shifted to the Brazilian government, Brazilian social movements began calling on the Brazilian government to ensure that the apparent deal would not remain in place.
The letter to key Sesge/MJ official Andrei Rodrigues signed by Brazilian social movements, political parties, workers unions, and different associations set out how ISDS is accused of having ties to coups, death squares and dictatorships in Central America, as well as close links with the Israeli military.
Campaigners are now preparing to pressure the Olympics Committee to cancel a separate “official supplier” deal with ISDS.
Jaman Juma, coordinador of the Stop the Wall movement, said:
“For us, boycotting this company is paradigmatic: Israel develops its methodologies and technologies through the killing and repression of the Palestinian people, and then it sells them worldwide. The end of military and security relations with Israel is an act of defense. Not only for the Palestinian people, it is an act of defense for humanity.”
Julio Turra, executive director of the biggest Brazilian workers’ union, CUT, one of the signatories of the letter to Coesrio2016, said:
“We are glad with the information the government distances itself from ISDS. It would be illegal and shameful to hire a company that develops its technologies in complicity with Israeli crimes and that accumulates complaints about its participation in Central American dictatorships.”
Mahmoud Nawajaa, General Coordinador of the BDS Palestinian National Committee (BNC), said:
“We welcome the fact that the Brazilian government categorically states it has no commercial relation with ISDS. We expect that no similar company will be hired. It is important that Brazil walks towards a fully military embargo against Israel”.
“Brazilians can be sure they will have the support from the Palestinian and international civil society on this campaign against ISDS in the Olympic Games”.
As for future actions, Soraya Misleh, from the Front in Defense of the Palestinian People explained:
“There will be a wide campaign against the contract celebrated with the 2016 Organizing Committee which makes ISDS an ‘official supplier’ for the Games. We won’t allowed the Olympic Games in our country to have such company’s logo in its publicity. It is an insult against all those who believe in human rights and justice”.
Maristela Pinheiro, from the Rio de Janeiro Committee in Solidarity with the Palestinian People added:
“There will be for sure a strong campaign against the supplier deal between ISDS and the 2016 Organizing Committee and we’ll keep monitoring Coesrio. The Olympics can’t beneficiate companies that profit through human rights violations. The Games can’t be intensifying repressive practices in our country, or endorse illegal and immoral actions”.
Felipe Butelli, from the Christian Group Kairos Brazil added:
“The call for military embargo has the support of important international names, the Nobel Peace Prize winners Desmond Tutu and Perez Esquivel among them. Brazil can’t follow on the opposite direction”
More than 30 Brazilian social movements and progressive organisations had called on the Brazilian government to exclude International Security and Defence Systems from Olympics contracts after the Israeli company announced in October 2014 that it had been awarded a $2.2bn deal to coordinate security at the games.
On April 8, the Ministry of Justice’s Special Secretariat for Mega-events (Sesge/MJ) replied to their letter by explaining that ISDS has not been awarded any contracts.
The reply from Sesge/MJ also stated that “any contract made by Rio 2016 won’t result in compromises by the Brazilian government”, a phrase campaigners are interpreting as a clear sign that government officials were sympathetic to their demands.
ISDS had originally announced it had been awarded a contract by the Organising Committee for the 2016 Games. When overall responsibility for security at the games shifted to the Brazilian government, Brazilian social movements began calling on the Brazilian government to ensure that the apparent deal would not remain in place.
The letter to key Sesge/MJ official Andrei Rodrigues signed by Brazilian social movements, political parties, workers unions, and different associations set out how ISDS is accused of having ties to coups, death squares and dictatorships in Central America, as well as close links with the Israeli military.
Campaigners are now preparing to pressure the Olympics Committee to cancel a separate “official supplier” deal with ISDS.
Jaman Juma, coordinador of the Stop the Wall movement, said:
“For us, boycotting this company is paradigmatic: Israel develops its methodologies and technologies through the killing and repression of the Palestinian people, and then it sells them worldwide. The end of military and security relations with Israel is an act of defense. Not only for the Palestinian people, it is an act of defense for humanity.”
Julio Turra, executive director of the biggest Brazilian workers’ union, CUT, one of the signatories of the letter to Coesrio2016, said:
“We are glad with the information the government distances itself from ISDS. It would be illegal and shameful to hire a company that develops its technologies in complicity with Israeli crimes and that accumulates complaints about its participation in Central American dictatorships.”
Mahmoud Nawajaa, General Coordinador of the BDS Palestinian National Committee (BNC), said:
“We welcome the fact that the Brazilian government categorically states it has no commercial relation with ISDS. We expect that no similar company will be hired. It is important that Brazil walks towards a fully military embargo against Israel”.
“Brazilians can be sure they will have the support from the Palestinian and international civil society on this campaign against ISDS in the Olympic Games”.
As for future actions, Soraya Misleh, from the Front in Defense of the Palestinian People explained:
“There will be a wide campaign against the contract celebrated with the 2016 Organizing Committee which makes ISDS an ‘official supplier’ for the Games. We won’t allowed the Olympic Games in our country to have such company’s logo in its publicity. It is an insult against all those who believe in human rights and justice”.
Maristela Pinheiro, from the Rio de Janeiro Committee in Solidarity with the Palestinian People added:
“There will be for sure a strong campaign against the supplier deal between ISDS and the 2016 Organizing Committee and we’ll keep monitoring Coesrio. The Olympics can’t beneficiate companies that profit through human rights violations. The Games can’t be intensifying repressive practices in our country, or endorse illegal and immoral actions”.
Felipe Butelli, from the Christian Group Kairos Brazil added:
“The call for military embargo has the support of important international names, the Nobel Peace Prize winners Desmond Tutu and Perez Esquivel among them. Brazil can’t follow on the opposite direction”
The heads of Israeli and Palestinian football will meet in Zurich in a bid to head off a Palestinian bid to expel Israel from the sport's governing body, FIFA said Wednesday.
The announcement of the meeting came after FIFA president Sepp Blatter held talks with Israeli Football Association chief Ofer Eini to discuss the dispute.
The Palestinian Football Association (PFA) has called for a vote at the FIFA annual congress on May 29 calling for Israel's expulsion for blocking Palestinian football through its sanctions on the Palestinian territories.
Blatter, a vociferous advocate of keeping politics out of sport, has made it clear he opposes any suspension of Israel. "FIFA president Blatter reiterated his position that any member association that is fulfilling its statutory duties should not be suspended. This would also apply to the IFA as long as they fulfill such duties," said a statement released after Wednesday's talks."
A meeting between the presidents of the IFA and PFA is scheduled to take place in Zurich in the next few days," it added.Blatter and FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke met with Eini and Israel federation secretary general Rotem Kamer."
The main point on the agenda was the proposal by the PFA to suspend the IFA at the upcoming FIFA Congress."FIFA had earlier held talks with Palestinian association leaders. In its draft resolution for the FIFA congress, the Palestinian protests over Israel's treatment of Arabs and acts such as setting up clubs in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Israeli forces raided the PFA headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah in November.Palestinian football chiefs have also condemned Israeli travel restrictions on Palestinian players and on importing equipment into the occupied territories. To be passed the Palestinian resolution needs the support of three quarters of the 209 federations at the FIFA congress.
A FIFA delegation visited the Gaza Strip in January and pledged $1 million to help rebuild stadiums damaged in the conflict.
The announcement of the meeting came after FIFA president Sepp Blatter held talks with Israeli Football Association chief Ofer Eini to discuss the dispute.
The Palestinian Football Association (PFA) has called for a vote at the FIFA annual congress on May 29 calling for Israel's expulsion for blocking Palestinian football through its sanctions on the Palestinian territories.
Blatter, a vociferous advocate of keeping politics out of sport, has made it clear he opposes any suspension of Israel. "FIFA president Blatter reiterated his position that any member association that is fulfilling its statutory duties should not be suspended. This would also apply to the IFA as long as they fulfill such duties," said a statement released after Wednesday's talks."
A meeting between the presidents of the IFA and PFA is scheduled to take place in Zurich in the next few days," it added.Blatter and FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke met with Eini and Israel federation secretary general Rotem Kamer."
The main point on the agenda was the proposal by the PFA to suspend the IFA at the upcoming FIFA Congress."FIFA had earlier held talks with Palestinian association leaders. In its draft resolution for the FIFA congress, the Palestinian protests over Israel's treatment of Arabs and acts such as setting up clubs in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Israeli forces raided the PFA headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah in November.Palestinian football chiefs have also condemned Israeli travel restrictions on Palestinian players and on importing equipment into the occupied territories. To be passed the Palestinian resolution needs the support of three quarters of the 209 federations at the FIFA congress.
A FIFA delegation visited the Gaza Strip in January and pledged $1 million to help rebuild stadiums damaged in the conflict.
Tomorrow morning, Thursday 7th May 2015, Irish multinational CRH will hold their Annual General Meeting in the Royal Marine Hotel, Marine Road, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin. The Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign plan a protest outside the venue. CRH have thus far refused to ditch their toxic Israeli assets which are involved in building the illegal apartheid wall and settlements in Israeli-occupied Palestine.
The IPSC is organising this protest because CRH owns 25% of the Israeli company Mashav Initiative and Development Ltd which, in turn, owns Israel's sole cement producer Nesher Cement Enterprises Ltd. Nesher provide up to 90% of all cement sold in Israel, including cement used in the construction of Israel's illegal separation wall in Palestine and illegal settlements and checkpoints. We are calling on CRH to end its shameful investment in Israel and to stop profiting from the occupation of Palestine by divesting from its Israeli interests.
Over the past six years the issue of CRH's investment in Israel has been raised in the AGM proceedings by IPSC members who are also shareholders in the company. In 2012 year the IPSC presented a 10,000-signature strong petition to the CRH Board calling for divestment from Israel, and filed a complaint with the OECD. CRH has yet to take action, despite press reports suggesting that they were contemplating ditching their toxic Israeli assets. Come along let them know that you think that would be a good idea, and that CRH must stop profiting from the destruction of Palestine!
For more about the IPSC's CRH Divestment Campaign here.
The IPSC is organising this protest because CRH owns 25% of the Israeli company Mashav Initiative and Development Ltd which, in turn, owns Israel's sole cement producer Nesher Cement Enterprises Ltd. Nesher provide up to 90% of all cement sold in Israel, including cement used in the construction of Israel's illegal separation wall in Palestine and illegal settlements and checkpoints. We are calling on CRH to end its shameful investment in Israel and to stop profiting from the occupation of Palestine by divesting from its Israeli interests.
Over the past six years the issue of CRH's investment in Israel has been raised in the AGM proceedings by IPSC members who are also shareholders in the company. In 2012 year the IPSC presented a 10,000-signature strong petition to the CRH Board calling for divestment from Israel, and filed a complaint with the OECD. CRH has yet to take action, despite press reports suggesting that they were contemplating ditching their toxic Israeli assets. Come along let them know that you think that would be a good idea, and that CRH must stop profiting from the destruction of Palestine!
For more about the IPSC's CRH Divestment Campaign here.
5 may 2015
R&B star Lauryn Hill on Monday canceled a concert in Israel just a few days away, saying she had tried unsuccessfully to perform in the occupied Palestinian territories as well.
The former Fugees singer had been scheduled to perform Thursday near Tel Aviv but faced a social media campaign by activists who urged her to boycott Israel over its ongoing military occupation of Palestinian land.
Hill said that she had wanted to schedule a second show in Ramallah in the West Bank but that the logistics "proved to be a challenge."
"I've wanted very much to bring our live performance to this part of the world, but also to be a presence supporting justice and peace," she wrote on her website. "It is very important to me that my presence or message not be misconstrued, or a source of alienation to either my Israeli or my Palestinian fans," she said.
Hill said she would "seek a different strategy to bring my music to ALL of my fans in the region. "Activists had pressured Hill to cancel, with a campaign that quoted "Killing Me Softly" -- a cover song she is famous for -- to describe Israeli policies.
Israel has faced boycott calls by artists, academics and musicians including Roger Waters and Brian Eno, who hope that such cultural ostracization can change Israeli policies. However, Israel's defenders have fought against the campaign and plenty of musicians have defied boycott calls to play in Israel in recent years including Paul McCartney and Elton John.
Hill came to prominence in the mid-1990s with the Fugees, who also featured Haitian American Wyclef Jean and incorporated elements of hip-hop and Caribbean music into R&B.
The Library of Congress recently inducted "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" -- her introspective 1998 solo album, written while pregnant -- into the National Recording Registry of important works.
After the album, Hill decided to drop out of the public eye. She later re-emerged with a variety of side projects and served a brief prison term over tax evasion. The Palestinian civil society campaign for BDS calls for applying broad boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) initiatives against Israel, similar to those applied to South Africa during the apartheid era, until Israel meets its obligations under international law by respecting the basic right of the Palestinian people to self determination.
The former Fugees singer had been scheduled to perform Thursday near Tel Aviv but faced a social media campaign by activists who urged her to boycott Israel over its ongoing military occupation of Palestinian land.
Hill said that she had wanted to schedule a second show in Ramallah in the West Bank but that the logistics "proved to be a challenge."
"I've wanted very much to bring our live performance to this part of the world, but also to be a presence supporting justice and peace," she wrote on her website. "It is very important to me that my presence or message not be misconstrued, or a source of alienation to either my Israeli or my Palestinian fans," she said.
Hill said she would "seek a different strategy to bring my music to ALL of my fans in the region. "Activists had pressured Hill to cancel, with a campaign that quoted "Killing Me Softly" -- a cover song she is famous for -- to describe Israeli policies.
Israel has faced boycott calls by artists, academics and musicians including Roger Waters and Brian Eno, who hope that such cultural ostracization can change Israeli policies. However, Israel's defenders have fought against the campaign and plenty of musicians have defied boycott calls to play in Israel in recent years including Paul McCartney and Elton John.
Hill came to prominence in the mid-1990s with the Fugees, who also featured Haitian American Wyclef Jean and incorporated elements of hip-hop and Caribbean music into R&B.
The Library of Congress recently inducted "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" -- her introspective 1998 solo album, written while pregnant -- into the National Recording Registry of important works.
After the album, Hill decided to drop out of the public eye. She later re-emerged with a variety of side projects and served a brief prison term over tax evasion. The Palestinian civil society campaign for BDS calls for applying broad boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) initiatives against Israel, similar to those applied to South Africa during the apartheid era, until Israel meets its obligations under international law by respecting the basic right of the Palestinian people to self determination.
The International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) accepted on Monday a the Palestinians' request to discuss the option of suspending Israel from the international football organization during a FIFA congress set to be held on May 29.
FIFA published an agenda Monday for its election congress on May 29, including a late proposal by Palestinian football officials to suspend Israel.
A move to consider suspending Israel from world football will be put to FIFA’s 209 member federations just before they elect their president this month, the organization's statement said.
Palestinian officials insist Israel's football federation should be punished for restrictions imposed by its security forces which limit movement of players, opposing teams and equipment.
"Footballers have been targeted, shot and maimed, shot and killed, jailed and tortured, stadiums bombed and players and fans have been refused permission to travel to matches," head of the Palestinian football association Jibril Rajoub said in an earlier meeting in Zurich with Blatter.
FIFA published an agenda Monday for its election congress on May 29, including a late proposal by Palestinian football officials to suspend Israel.
A move to consider suspending Israel from world football will be put to FIFA’s 209 member federations just before they elect their president this month, the organization's statement said.
Palestinian officials insist Israel's football federation should be punished for restrictions imposed by its security forces which limit movement of players, opposing teams and equipment.
"Footballers have been targeted, shot and maimed, shot and killed, jailed and tortured, stadiums bombed and players and fans have been refused permission to travel to matches," head of the Palestinian football association Jibril Rajoub said in an earlier meeting in Zurich with Blatter.
30 apr 2015
Our conscience is clear! We do not buy products from Israeli settlements or invest in settlement industry.”
Danish campaign dubbed 'unnecessarily offensive' by local authorities after bus company gets complaints from residents.
Copenhagen's public transport agency on Thursday ordered the immediate removal of posters opposing Israeli settlements on the capital's city buses after getting "a considerable amount of complaints."
Movia, owned by eastern Denmark local authorities, said the campaign by the Danish Palestinian Friendship Association was "unnecessarily offensive."
The campaign that started Monday was calling for labels on goods produced in Israeli settlements in the West Bank. "Our conscience is clean. We neither buy products from the Israeli settlements nor invest in the occupation industry," the advertisement text read next to photos of two women only identified by their first names.
The company that runs the bus routes must remove the advertisements immediately from the 35 vehicles that displayed the posters, said the agency that is in charge of buses in Copenhagen. "We got somewhere between 75 and 100 complaints, most of them in English," Movia spokeswoman Camilla Struckmann told The Associated Press. Fathi El Abed, head of the association running the campaign, expressed dismay at the bus company's decision.
"This is crazy," he said. "This is a matter of freedom speech. We will talk to our lawyer about this." El Abed said the message expressed in the bus campaign was the same as the EU line on the Israeli settlements. At the campaign's Facebook page, opponents expressed their anger with the posters, saying they are part of a "lying campaign" and a "propaganda machine."
Israel captured the West Bank from Jordan in the 1967 war. Palestinians demand the territory as part of their future state. The international community views the settlements as illegitimate. Last year, Movia transported some 220 million passengers and is in charge of 448 bus lines and 10 smaller train lines in eastern Denmark.
Danish campaign dubbed 'unnecessarily offensive' by local authorities after bus company gets complaints from residents.
Copenhagen's public transport agency on Thursday ordered the immediate removal of posters opposing Israeli settlements on the capital's city buses after getting "a considerable amount of complaints."
Movia, owned by eastern Denmark local authorities, said the campaign by the Danish Palestinian Friendship Association was "unnecessarily offensive."
The campaign that started Monday was calling for labels on goods produced in Israeli settlements in the West Bank. "Our conscience is clean. We neither buy products from the Israeli settlements nor invest in the occupation industry," the advertisement text read next to photos of two women only identified by their first names.
The company that runs the bus routes must remove the advertisements immediately from the 35 vehicles that displayed the posters, said the agency that is in charge of buses in Copenhagen. "We got somewhere between 75 and 100 complaints, most of them in English," Movia spokeswoman Camilla Struckmann told The Associated Press. Fathi El Abed, head of the association running the campaign, expressed dismay at the bus company's decision.
"This is crazy," he said. "This is a matter of freedom speech. We will talk to our lawyer about this." El Abed said the message expressed in the bus campaign was the same as the EU line on the Israeli settlements. At the campaign's Facebook page, opponents expressed their anger with the posters, saying they are part of a "lying campaign" and a "propaganda machine."
Israel captured the West Bank from Jordan in the 1967 war. Palestinians demand the territory as part of their future state. The international community views the settlements as illegitimate. Last year, Movia transported some 220 million passengers and is in charge of 448 bus lines and 10 smaller train lines in eastern Denmark.
28 apr 2015
Jerusalem Affairs Advisor for the Palestinian Presidency, Ahmed Rwaidy, said Tuesday French companies have withdrawn from the Jerusalem cable-car Judaization project, which is largely located over Jerusalem’s Old City.
During their meeting with Rwaidy, representatives of the Palestinian-French Friendship Society affirmed that the French companies that earlier declared their involvement in the Judaization project have decided to forgo any further participation.
The delegates have also visited al-Aqsa Mosque and met with members of the Islamic Endowment Department and head of Endowment Council Sheikh Abdel Azim Salhab.
Rwaidy pointed out that efforts have been made in coordination with the Palestinian-French Friendship Society to sue the French companies that participated in the Jerusalem light rail project.
Such cases would help in raising awareness among the European public opinion about the need to boycott Israeli projects implemented in “East Jerusalem” as it violates the international law and European countries’ positions that consider East Jerusalem a part of the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel, the Palestinian official explained.
During their meeting with Rwaidy, representatives of the Palestinian-French Friendship Society affirmed that the French companies that earlier declared their involvement in the Judaization project have decided to forgo any further participation.
The delegates have also visited al-Aqsa Mosque and met with members of the Islamic Endowment Department and head of Endowment Council Sheikh Abdel Azim Salhab.
Rwaidy pointed out that efforts have been made in coordination with the Palestinian-French Friendship Society to sue the French companies that participated in the Jerusalem light rail project.
Such cases would help in raising awareness among the European public opinion about the need to boycott Israeli projects implemented in “East Jerusalem” as it violates the international law and European countries’ positions that consider East Jerusalem a part of the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel, the Palestinian official explained.
27 apr 2015
Member of Hamas political bureau Izzat al-Resheq said, “The United States has never been objective in dealing with the Palestinian Question”.
Commenting on an American draft law that bans the boycott of Israel, Resheq said in a statement on Monday, “The United States has always been bias to Israel and supports its aggressions against the Palestinian people”.
The latest of its pro-Israel standings was the Congress’s voting in favor of the free trade agreement with Europe on the condition that the EU does not participate in any form of economic boycott against Israel”.
Resheq stressed the necessity to boycott Israel on both international and Arab levels.
He called on the EU not to accept such conditions which support Israel in killing the Palestinian women and children, displacing Palestinians, and destroying their houses.
Some of the US MPs submitted a draft law to ban the boycott of Israel and to confront its boycott campaigns especially in Europe.
The Ynet Hebrew newspaper website revealed that the new law grants Israel protection from sanctions as well as enjoying a special economic status with the US in particular.
The Hebrew newspaper stated that this move is due to the increasing of Boycott, Divest, Sanctions (BDS) activities. The BDS aim at imposing sanctions against Israel through boycott campaigns worldwide with great achievements in Europe.
The American draft law threatens boycotting the countries and institutions which boycott Israel.
Commenting on an American draft law that bans the boycott of Israel, Resheq said in a statement on Monday, “The United States has always been bias to Israel and supports its aggressions against the Palestinian people”.
The latest of its pro-Israel standings was the Congress’s voting in favor of the free trade agreement with Europe on the condition that the EU does not participate in any form of economic boycott against Israel”.
Resheq stressed the necessity to boycott Israel on both international and Arab levels.
He called on the EU not to accept such conditions which support Israel in killing the Palestinian women and children, displacing Palestinians, and destroying their houses.
Some of the US MPs submitted a draft law to ban the boycott of Israel and to confront its boycott campaigns especially in Europe.
The Ynet Hebrew newspaper website revealed that the new law grants Israel protection from sanctions as well as enjoying a special economic status with the US in particular.
The Hebrew newspaper stated that this move is due to the increasing of Boycott, Divest, Sanctions (BDS) activities. The BDS aim at imposing sanctions against Israel through boycott campaigns worldwide with great achievements in Europe.
The American draft law threatens boycotting the countries and institutions which boycott Israel.
In its periodic report on the boycott against Israeli products, the national office for land defense said that the movement is growing worldwide, and that people in different fields including cultural, academic, economic, sport and military fields, are demanding Israel be held accountable for its crimes against Palestine.
The last week witnessed a series of activities on Palestinian, pan-Arab and international levels, the Palestinian News Network (PNN) reports.
On a Palestinian Level
The PLO Executive Committee welcomed a letter sent by the foreign ministers of 16 countries to the High Commission of the European Union demanding the speedy marking Israeli settlement products in European markets. It called for the adoption of policies and decisions of concrete and binding and action on illegal Israeli settlements, including the source of certification and proper marking appropriate to the source of goods and products manufactured in these settlements, calling it a first step in a series of steps should lead to a complete ban of all settlement products.
The committee demanded all members of the European Union to implement directive steps, following article 3 (1) (8); products should be marked in reference to the origin and place of issuance, so as to ensure that consumers in Europe are not mislead.
The committee also praised the Palestinian Popular Struggle Front, and the European steps in support of the rights of the Palestinian people, which comes under the intransigence and racism policy adhered to by the Israeli occupation. The front calls on EU foreign ministers for the application of the marking procedure in response to the halt in the peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
In the Arab World
In Egypt, "the Egyptian campaign to boycott Israel (BDS Egypt") was launched. The largest alliance in the Egyptian province of the State of the occupation date.
The campaigners include representatives for political parties and revolutionary movements, in addition to student associations and labor unions as well as thousands of independent personalities, artists and, intellectuals.
The launch of BDS in the heart of the Arab world comes just weeks after the tenth anniversary of the launch of Palestinian society's BDS appeal before the historical province, a very important event in the context of expanding the popular and civil boycott in the Arab world. BDS Egypt has promised expansion in Morocco, Lebanon, Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain and Tunisia.
Internationally
The Latin American Studies Committee has announced US accession to the list of academic organizations boycotting Israel and their educational institutions intersection. During the annual National Conference, which was held last weekend in San Francisco, members voted unanimously absolute and overwhelmingly on the decision to boycott the academic institutions that have a historic obligation towards social justice and anti-colonialism, racism and "apartheid" systems.
The South African Communist Party, a partner in the ruling tripartite coalition, issued a statement calling for a broader academic boycott imposed on Israeli universities and educational institutes.
The statement was issued in reaction to the party's frustration with Israel's ban on the Minister of Higher Education entering, demanding the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador in South Africa.
The satement said that the party is willing to pay the price of a return ticket for the Israeli ambassador to Tel Aviv and adopt the principles of Israel boycott movement (BDS), even isolating Israel to end its occupation of the Palestinian people.
It also promised unconditional solidarity with the Palestinian people and within the global movement of solidarity, concluding with an affirmation of solidarity with all oppressed people of Palestine "to Pretoria, and Cape Town to Cuba, and Soweto Even Swaziland."
The last week witnessed a series of activities on Palestinian, pan-Arab and international levels, the Palestinian News Network (PNN) reports.
On a Palestinian Level
The PLO Executive Committee welcomed a letter sent by the foreign ministers of 16 countries to the High Commission of the European Union demanding the speedy marking Israeli settlement products in European markets. It called for the adoption of policies and decisions of concrete and binding and action on illegal Israeli settlements, including the source of certification and proper marking appropriate to the source of goods and products manufactured in these settlements, calling it a first step in a series of steps should lead to a complete ban of all settlement products.
The committee demanded all members of the European Union to implement directive steps, following article 3 (1) (8); products should be marked in reference to the origin and place of issuance, so as to ensure that consumers in Europe are not mislead.
The committee also praised the Palestinian Popular Struggle Front, and the European steps in support of the rights of the Palestinian people, which comes under the intransigence and racism policy adhered to by the Israeli occupation. The front calls on EU foreign ministers for the application of the marking procedure in response to the halt in the peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
In the Arab World
In Egypt, "the Egyptian campaign to boycott Israel (BDS Egypt") was launched. The largest alliance in the Egyptian province of the State of the occupation date.
The campaigners include representatives for political parties and revolutionary movements, in addition to student associations and labor unions as well as thousands of independent personalities, artists and, intellectuals.
The launch of BDS in the heart of the Arab world comes just weeks after the tenth anniversary of the launch of Palestinian society's BDS appeal before the historical province, a very important event in the context of expanding the popular and civil boycott in the Arab world. BDS Egypt has promised expansion in Morocco, Lebanon, Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain and Tunisia.
Internationally
The Latin American Studies Committee has announced US accession to the list of academic organizations boycotting Israel and their educational institutions intersection. During the annual National Conference, which was held last weekend in San Francisco, members voted unanimously absolute and overwhelmingly on the decision to boycott the academic institutions that have a historic obligation towards social justice and anti-colonialism, racism and "apartheid" systems.
The South African Communist Party, a partner in the ruling tripartite coalition, issued a statement calling for a broader academic boycott imposed on Israeli universities and educational institutes.
The statement was issued in reaction to the party's frustration with Israel's ban on the Minister of Higher Education entering, demanding the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador in South Africa.
The satement said that the party is willing to pay the price of a return ticket for the Israeli ambassador to Tel Aviv and adopt the principles of Israel boycott movement (BDS), even isolating Israel to end its occupation of the Palestinian people.
It also promised unconditional solidarity with the Palestinian people and within the global movement of solidarity, concluding with an affirmation of solidarity with all oppressed people of Palestine "to Pretoria, and Cape Town to Cuba, and Soweto Even Swaziland."
25 apr 2015
If passed, new legislation would reverse the long standing official US policy of opposing the illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories by de facto recognition of all settlements as part of a “Greater Israel”.
Greater Israel is a term used, historically, to define the so-called "natural" or desired borders of Israel in the eyes of radical Israeli nationalists.
Founding father of the modern Israeli colonial movement, Theodore Herzl, described the area of the proposed Jewish state as stretching “from the Brook of Egypt to the Euphrates.” According to Rabbi Fischmann, the so-called Promised Land extends "from the River of Egypt up to the Euphrates" and "includes parts of Syria and Lebanon.”
From this context, the current crisis in the Middle East, including the war on Syria and Iraq (as well as any proposed "humanitarian intervention" by Western powers) has often been perceived by geopolitical analysts to be merely a part of a process for Israeli territorial expansion, via proxy war and any number of destabilization methods affecting vital Arab interests.
For related info, see Preparing the Chessboard for the “Clash of Civilizations”: Divide, Conquer and Rule the “New Middle East” by Mahdi Darius Nazemroaya.
Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) states that the proposed legislation would also mandate US government actions to track and penalize commercial boycotts, a violation of constitutionally protected political speech.
The organization strongly opposes proposed amendments to trade legislation intended to institutionalize support for the Israeli occupation and the attempt to criminalize non-violent boycotts of Israel. The Senate Finance Committee recently approved amended language to S.995, while a related bill (HR. 825) is pending in the House. This added language regarding boycotts of Israel, backed by AIPAC, comes in response to growing grassroots support in the United States and across the globe for using boycotts, divestment and sanctions tactics as tools to further justice, equality, and human rights for Palestinians.
From South Africa to the grape boycott to the Montgomery Bus Boycott, boycotts, divestment and sanctions (BDS) tactics have been essential tools used to create a more just society, JVP goes on to say. Rabbi Joseph Berman, theFederal Policy Organizer of the group notes: “This legislation, which actually encourages illegal settlement building while strengthening the far right in Israel, shows that BDS is an increasingly powerful means to challenge Israel's impunity when it comes to Palestinian rights. We urge Congress to reject this legislation."
Greater Israel is a term used, historically, to define the so-called "natural" or desired borders of Israel in the eyes of radical Israeli nationalists.
Founding father of the modern Israeli colonial movement, Theodore Herzl, described the area of the proposed Jewish state as stretching “from the Brook of Egypt to the Euphrates.” According to Rabbi Fischmann, the so-called Promised Land extends "from the River of Egypt up to the Euphrates" and "includes parts of Syria and Lebanon.”
From this context, the current crisis in the Middle East, including the war on Syria and Iraq (as well as any proposed "humanitarian intervention" by Western powers) has often been perceived by geopolitical analysts to be merely a part of a process for Israeli territorial expansion, via proxy war and any number of destabilization methods affecting vital Arab interests.
For related info, see Preparing the Chessboard for the “Clash of Civilizations”: Divide, Conquer and Rule the “New Middle East” by Mahdi Darius Nazemroaya.
Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) states that the proposed legislation would also mandate US government actions to track and penalize commercial boycotts, a violation of constitutionally protected political speech.
The organization strongly opposes proposed amendments to trade legislation intended to institutionalize support for the Israeli occupation and the attempt to criminalize non-violent boycotts of Israel. The Senate Finance Committee recently approved amended language to S.995, while a related bill (HR. 825) is pending in the House. This added language regarding boycotts of Israel, backed by AIPAC, comes in response to growing grassroots support in the United States and across the globe for using boycotts, divestment and sanctions tactics as tools to further justice, equality, and human rights for Palestinians.
From South Africa to the grape boycott to the Montgomery Bus Boycott, boycotts, divestment and sanctions (BDS) tactics have been essential tools used to create a more just society, JVP goes on to say. Rabbi Joseph Berman, theFederal Policy Organizer of the group notes: “This legislation, which actually encourages illegal settlement building while strengthening the far right in Israel, shows that BDS is an increasingly powerful means to challenge Israel's impunity when it comes to Palestinian rights. We urge Congress to reject this legislation."
24 apr 2015
Foreign minister lashes out at South African Communist Party for 'hypocritical' statements against Israel following its refusal to grant education minister visa to visit Palestinian territories.
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman slammed the South African Communist Party on Friday after it criticized the Israel government for denying a South African minister a visa to travel to the Palestinian territories.
Lieberman said that the statements made by the South African party were "hypocritical", given a number of recent events against foreigners in South Africa which he described as "racist".
Following Israel's refusal to grant the South African Minister of Higher Education and Training Blade Nzimande a visa to enter the Palestinian territories, the South African Communist Party issued a statement in which it said it "condemns in strongest terms possible, the apartheid Israeli regime`s decision."
The party further said that "The reason given for refusal to grant Cde Nzimande the visa is that he 'had criticized the Israeli government'. As the SACP we will not allow any foreign government to decide for us what to think, say and do.
"The despotic decision by the Israeli government is a declaration of diplomatic aggression on our government…The SACP calls on our government to reciprocate and reject Israeli requests for visits to South Africa." The party added that it intends to "further intensify its campaign of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel."
Following the announcement made by the South African party, Lieberman said: "It was only a few days ago when a violent, racist and harsh attack was directed against immigrants in Johannesburg…during these riots, the South African police fired rubber bullets and stun grenades against other immigrants from neighboring African countries. We all remember the mass killings carried out by the South African police at the Platinum Mine three years ago."
"These events and others have proven repeatedly that South Africa has remained a country where there are serious problems of racism and violence. "Therefore," he added, "the South African government and the Communist Party should stop preaching and attacking Israel, which is a glorious democracy that exceptionally handles threats and terrorist elements while maintaining human rights and international codes of conduct."
"It is no surprise that the members of the Communist Party prefer the Palestinians to Israel," the foreign minister stated, calling it "a case of like attracts like."
Seven people have died this month in anti-immigrant violence in South Africa that has mainly targeted migrants from other African nations, according to South African officials. After two weeks of turmoil in specific areas of Johannesburg and Durban, the unrest has declined.
More than 100 humanitarian groups have urged the African Union's human rights body to ensure that South Africa take "concrete steps" to prevent further attacks on immigrants.
The group of organizations asked the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights to appeal to the South African government to protect foreigners living in the country. In the wake of the violence, a few thousand migrants have chosen to return home.
"The solution to the violence should not be to repatriate all foreign nationals, but to ensure an environment in the country in which their rights are protected," said an open letter signed by 129 groups that represent organizations from a number of African countries. They also urged South Africa to set up special courts to deal with the cases of attacks against immigrants and foreign-owned shops.
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman slammed the South African Communist Party on Friday after it criticized the Israel government for denying a South African minister a visa to travel to the Palestinian territories.
Lieberman said that the statements made by the South African party were "hypocritical", given a number of recent events against foreigners in South Africa which he described as "racist".
Following Israel's refusal to grant the South African Minister of Higher Education and Training Blade Nzimande a visa to enter the Palestinian territories, the South African Communist Party issued a statement in which it said it "condemns in strongest terms possible, the apartheid Israeli regime`s decision."
The party further said that "The reason given for refusal to grant Cde Nzimande the visa is that he 'had criticized the Israeli government'. As the SACP we will not allow any foreign government to decide for us what to think, say and do.
"The despotic decision by the Israeli government is a declaration of diplomatic aggression on our government…The SACP calls on our government to reciprocate and reject Israeli requests for visits to South Africa." The party added that it intends to "further intensify its campaign of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel."
Following the announcement made by the South African party, Lieberman said: "It was only a few days ago when a violent, racist and harsh attack was directed against immigrants in Johannesburg…during these riots, the South African police fired rubber bullets and stun grenades against other immigrants from neighboring African countries. We all remember the mass killings carried out by the South African police at the Platinum Mine three years ago."
"These events and others have proven repeatedly that South Africa has remained a country where there are serious problems of racism and violence. "Therefore," he added, "the South African government and the Communist Party should stop preaching and attacking Israel, which is a glorious democracy that exceptionally handles threats and terrorist elements while maintaining human rights and international codes of conduct."
"It is no surprise that the members of the Communist Party prefer the Palestinians to Israel," the foreign minister stated, calling it "a case of like attracts like."
Seven people have died this month in anti-immigrant violence in South Africa that has mainly targeted migrants from other African nations, according to South African officials. After two weeks of turmoil in specific areas of Johannesburg and Durban, the unrest has declined.
More than 100 humanitarian groups have urged the African Union's human rights body to ensure that South Africa take "concrete steps" to prevent further attacks on immigrants.
The group of organizations asked the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights to appeal to the South African government to protect foreigners living in the country. In the wake of the violence, a few thousand migrants have chosen to return home.
"The solution to the violence should not be to repatriate all foreign nationals, but to ensure an environment in the country in which their rights are protected," said an open letter signed by 129 groups that represent organizations from a number of African countries. They also urged South Africa to set up special courts to deal with the cases of attacks against immigrants and foreign-owned shops.
Palestinian People's Party condemned Israel for barring Blade Nzimande, the secretary-general of the communist party and the Minister for Higher Education in South Africa, from visiting Palestine, the visit was scheduled to take place from 25 until 28 April.
The People's Party said in a press release on Friday: "Preventing the minister's visit is a racist measure which reflects the nature of the Israeli occupation; it also reflects the Israeli aggressive reaction against the international solidarity with the Palestinian cause."
The party also considered this arbitrary measure as an attempt to take revenge of the communist party in South Africa and its secretary-general, Comrade Blade Nzimande, for his bold position in defending the Palestinian cause.
It said that the step also posed as a retaliatory message from Israel to South Africa for its policy and positions in support of the Palestinian cause and people.
The People's Party said in a press release on Friday: "Preventing the minister's visit is a racist measure which reflects the nature of the Israeli occupation; it also reflects the Israeli aggressive reaction against the international solidarity with the Palestinian cause."
The party also considered this arbitrary measure as an attempt to take revenge of the communist party in South Africa and its secretary-general, Comrade Blade Nzimande, for his bold position in defending the Palestinian cause.
It said that the step also posed as a retaliatory message from Israel to South Africa for its policy and positions in support of the Palestinian cause and people.
