23 dec 2019
Dozens of Palestinians suffered from tear-gas inhalation during confrontations with Israeli forces in the town of Beit Ummar, south of the city of Hebron, the Palestinian News and Info Agency (WAFA) reported.
Mohammed Awwad, a media activist, said that Israeli forces stormed the town, in the southern occupied West Bank, and fired tear-gas canisters directly towards Palestinian resident’s homes.
Many local Palestinian residents resisted the invasion, until the tear-gas caused dozens to suffer the effects of tear-gas, and were treated at the scene.
According to wikipedia, 2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile (also called o-chlorobenzylidene malononitrile; chemical formula: C10H5ClN2), a cyanocarbon, is the defining component of tear gas commonly referred to as CS gas, which is used as a riot control agent.
Exposure to this compound causes a burning sensation and tearing of the eyes to the extent that the subject cannot keep his or her eyes open, as wells as a burning irritation of the mucous membranes of the nose, mouth and throat, resulting in profuse coughing, nasal mucus discharge, disorientation, and difficulty breathing, partially incapacitating the subject.
Mohammed Awwad, a media activist, said that Israeli forces stormed the town, in the southern occupied West Bank, and fired tear-gas canisters directly towards Palestinian resident’s homes.
Many local Palestinian residents resisted the invasion, until the tear-gas caused dozens to suffer the effects of tear-gas, and were treated at the scene.
According to wikipedia, 2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile (also called o-chlorobenzylidene malononitrile; chemical formula: C10H5ClN2), a cyanocarbon, is the defining component of tear gas commonly referred to as CS gas, which is used as a riot control agent.
Exposure to this compound causes a burning sensation and tearing of the eyes to the extent that the subject cannot keep his or her eyes open, as wells as a burning irritation of the mucous membranes of the nose, mouth and throat, resulting in profuse coughing, nasal mucus discharge, disorientation, and difficulty breathing, partially incapacitating the subject.
11 dec 2019
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Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC)/ France, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland
The second global AXA Day of Action included mobilizations all around the world, on the same day as the UN Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People and the 4th global climate strike. The second global AXA Day of Action included mobilizations all around the world. This Day fell on the UN Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People and the day of the 4th global climate strike. Though AXA has just pledged new climate commitments and policies on |
coal, it still invests hundreds of millions of dollars in fossil fuels and insures polluting businesses.
Furthermore, a July report by SumOfUs, “AXA: Financing war crimes” [pdf] shows that AXA invest $91 million in Israel’s largest private arms company, Elbit Systems, and in five Israeli banks which finance Israel’s illegal settlements.
Israel’s weapons and its expanding settlements are destroying Palestinian lives and the environment.
The struggle for social, political and climate justice in Palestine and worldwide are deeply connected. This fact sheet explains why Palestine is also a climate justice issue.
On social media, this word cloud shows that #climatestrike and #bds were among the most used hashtags next to #KnowYouCan, Axa’s official hashtag.
“Apartheid” and “divest” were some of the most used words next to Axa’s #KnowYouCan tweets.
Over a 1,000 emails were sent to AXA CEO’s in France, Germany, Belgium and Switzerland.
On the ground over 10 cities organised events. In Belgium a letter signed by 21 organisations to AXA CEO Jef Van was delivered in front of the main AXA office in Brussels and Leuven. Progressive media outlets covered the events in Belgium.
Organisers in Berlin joined the 4th climate strike rally using the banners “Apartheid is not green” and raising awareness on Israel’s destruction of Palestinian land and oppression of the Palestinian people.
This Day of Action built on the previous international Day of Action in April. Since then, SumOfUs has published the report “AXA: Financing war crimes” [pdf] confirming AXA’s $91 million investment in the top five Israeli banks directly financing the settlements and in Elbit Systems.
These investments are mainly held through AXA’s affiliate Equitable Holdings and AXA’s fully-owned subsidiary AXA IM.
Last week AXA announced it has largely divested from AXA Equitable Holdings. This is a positive step, but AXA still holds 9.64% of Equitable Holdings shares which means it is still responsible for the latter’s investments in Israeli crimes.
We will keep on campaigning until AXA fully divests from Israeli banks and Elbit Systems!
Furthermore, a July report by SumOfUs, “AXA: Financing war crimes” [pdf] shows that AXA invest $91 million in Israel’s largest private arms company, Elbit Systems, and in five Israeli banks which finance Israel’s illegal settlements.
Israel’s weapons and its expanding settlements are destroying Palestinian lives and the environment.
The struggle for social, political and climate justice in Palestine and worldwide are deeply connected. This fact sheet explains why Palestine is also a climate justice issue.
On social media, this word cloud shows that #climatestrike and #bds were among the most used hashtags next to #KnowYouCan, Axa’s official hashtag.
“Apartheid” and “divest” were some of the most used words next to Axa’s #KnowYouCan tweets.
Over a 1,000 emails were sent to AXA CEO’s in France, Germany, Belgium and Switzerland.
On the ground over 10 cities organised events. In Belgium a letter signed by 21 organisations to AXA CEO Jef Van was delivered in front of the main AXA office in Brussels and Leuven. Progressive media outlets covered the events in Belgium.
Organisers in Berlin joined the 4th climate strike rally using the banners “Apartheid is not green” and raising awareness on Israel’s destruction of Palestinian land and oppression of the Palestinian people.
This Day of Action built on the previous international Day of Action in April. Since then, SumOfUs has published the report “AXA: Financing war crimes” [pdf] confirming AXA’s $91 million investment in the top five Israeli banks directly financing the settlements and in Elbit Systems.
These investments are mainly held through AXA’s affiliate Equitable Holdings and AXA’s fully-owned subsidiary AXA IM.
Last week AXA announced it has largely divested from AXA Equitable Holdings. This is a positive step, but AXA still holds 9.64% of Equitable Holdings shares which means it is still responsible for the latter’s investments in Israeli crimes.
We will keep on campaigning until AXA fully divests from Israeli banks and Elbit Systems!
29 nov 2019
Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC) / France
AXA invests hundreds of millions of dollars in fossil fuels, insures polluting businesses, and invests $91 million in Israel’s weapons and its expanding settlements, which destroy the environment.
The 4th global Climate Strike today falls on the same day as the UN Day of Solidarity with Palestinian People. This coincidence reflects an important reality – Palestine is also a climate justice issue.
Today, groups worldwide are joining mobilisations challenging the climate crisis, demanding an end to fossil fuel use and climate justice for all. Many are also demanding an end to Israel’s climate apartheid.
Both the climate crisis and Israeli apartheid are fueled by governments and corporations that put profit before people and planet. The French insurance giant AXA is one example.
Tell AXA: Divest from Israel’s colonial regime and from fossil fuels destroying the planet
Though AXA has just pledged new commitments and policies on coal, it still invests hundreds of millions of dollars in fossil fuels and insures polluting businesses. AXA claims to respect human rights but invests $91 million [pdf] in Israel’s largest private arms company, Elbit Systems, and in five Israeli banks which finance Israel’s illegal settlements. Israel’s weapons and its expanding settlements destroy the environment.
Indigenous Palestinians, living under Israeli occupation and apartheid, have no control over our land or natural resources. Israel’s illegal settlements consume six times more water than Palestinians, and since 1967, Israel has uprooted 800,000 olive trees.
Remind AXA: We won’t stop mobilising until it fully divests from Israeli apartheid and fossil fuels
Israeli apartheid is not green. 97.7% of Israel’s electricity comes from fossil fuels. Warfare, a pillar of Israel’s economy, is one of the world’s most polluting industries.
The struggles against racism and militarization, and for climate, economic and social justice are profoundly interconnected. Join mobilisations on November 29th to call for respect of Palestinian rights and an end to fossil fuel use.
Human Interest 11/28/19 Visit to Al Fawwar Refugee Camp, Hebron, Palestine, June 2019
AXA invests hundreds of millions of dollars in fossil fuels, insures polluting businesses, and invests $91 million in Israel’s weapons and its expanding settlements, which destroy the environment.
The 4th global Climate Strike today falls on the same day as the UN Day of Solidarity with Palestinian People. This coincidence reflects an important reality – Palestine is also a climate justice issue.
Today, groups worldwide are joining mobilisations challenging the climate crisis, demanding an end to fossil fuel use and climate justice for all. Many are also demanding an end to Israel’s climate apartheid.
Both the climate crisis and Israeli apartheid are fueled by governments and corporations that put profit before people and planet. The French insurance giant AXA is one example.
Tell AXA: Divest from Israel’s colonial regime and from fossil fuels destroying the planet
Though AXA has just pledged new commitments and policies on coal, it still invests hundreds of millions of dollars in fossil fuels and insures polluting businesses. AXA claims to respect human rights but invests $91 million [pdf] in Israel’s largest private arms company, Elbit Systems, and in five Israeli banks which finance Israel’s illegal settlements. Israel’s weapons and its expanding settlements destroy the environment.
Indigenous Palestinians, living under Israeli occupation and apartheid, have no control over our land or natural resources. Israel’s illegal settlements consume six times more water than Palestinians, and since 1967, Israel has uprooted 800,000 olive trees.
Remind AXA: We won’t stop mobilising until it fully divests from Israeli apartheid and fossil fuels
Israeli apartheid is not green. 97.7% of Israel’s electricity comes from fossil fuels. Warfare, a pillar of Israel’s economy, is one of the world’s most polluting industries.
The struggles against racism and militarization, and for climate, economic and social justice are profoundly interconnected. Join mobilisations on November 29th to call for respect of Palestinian rights and an end to fossil fuel use.
Human Interest 11/28/19 Visit to Al Fawwar Refugee Camp, Hebron, Palestine, June 2019
28 nov 2019
Research released by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign on the week of the United Nations ‘Day of Solidarity’ with The Palestinian people, has estimated that universities in the United Kingdom invest over £450,000,000 in companies complicit in Israeli violations of Palestinian human rights, including through supplying weapons and technology to the Israeli military, and investing in Israel’s illegal settlement economy.
The research has been released as a database available to students and members of the public, the Palestine News Network reported.
Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) conducted the research by sending Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to all 151 UK universities, asking about the market value of their direct investments, as well as their investments in funds.
With this information, alongside data from Bloomberg International’s database containing the holdings of major investment funds, PSC has established the investments of 44 UK Universities in complicit companies, which totals at least £129,239,973.60.
From this information PSC has calculated an average “complicity percentage” for the sector and applied it to the 53 universities who refused to hand over information on their investments to create an overall projection for the entire sector.
The release of the exclusive research comes as students across the country hold protests and rallies as part of a national ‘Apartheid Off Campus’ day of action, seeking to highlight how universities’ investment and partnership policies tacitly support and enable Israel’s ongoing violations of international law and human rights.
One example highlighted by students is the University of Manchester’s ongoing investment in the company Caterpillar, which supplies the armoured bulldozers for the Israeli army to demolish Palestinian homes, schools, olive groves and communities.
Campaigns Officer at PSC, Huda Ammori said: “Israel’s well-documented oppression of the Palestinian people, amounting to the crime of apartheid under international law, can only be maintained because companies continue to provide weapons and other support to the Israeli military, and invest in Israel’s illegal settlement industry.”
“It is shocking that UK Universities fuel Israel’s human rights abuses by investing in such companies, despite the majority holding so-called ethical investment policies. We will continue to support students across the UK in taking action to demand that their institutions divest from complicit companies, and get apartheid off campus.”
Mohammed Ali, President of Kings College London Action Palestine, said: “As a Palestinian student, I am disgusted to find out that my institution has complicit links with Israeli apartheid. We will continue to campaign with students across the country to demand our universities abide by their ethical policies, and remove all links with companies and institutions complicit in human rights abuses.”
The research has been released as a database available to students and members of the public, the Palestine News Network reported.
Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) conducted the research by sending Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to all 151 UK universities, asking about the market value of their direct investments, as well as their investments in funds.
With this information, alongside data from Bloomberg International’s database containing the holdings of major investment funds, PSC has established the investments of 44 UK Universities in complicit companies, which totals at least £129,239,973.60.
From this information PSC has calculated an average “complicity percentage” for the sector and applied it to the 53 universities who refused to hand over information on their investments to create an overall projection for the entire sector.
The release of the exclusive research comes as students across the country hold protests and rallies as part of a national ‘Apartheid Off Campus’ day of action, seeking to highlight how universities’ investment and partnership policies tacitly support and enable Israel’s ongoing violations of international law and human rights.
One example highlighted by students is the University of Manchester’s ongoing investment in the company Caterpillar, which supplies the armoured bulldozers for the Israeli army to demolish Palestinian homes, schools, olive groves and communities.
Campaigns Officer at PSC, Huda Ammori said: “Israel’s well-documented oppression of the Palestinian people, amounting to the crime of apartheid under international law, can only be maintained because companies continue to provide weapons and other support to the Israeli military, and invest in Israel’s illegal settlement industry.”
“It is shocking that UK Universities fuel Israel’s human rights abuses by investing in such companies, despite the majority holding so-called ethical investment policies. We will continue to support students across the UK in taking action to demand that their institutions divest from complicit companies, and get apartheid off campus.”
Mohammed Ali, President of Kings College London Action Palestine, said: “As a Palestinian student, I am disgusted to find out that my institution has complicit links with Israeli apartheid. We will continue to campaign with students across the country to demand our universities abide by their ethical policies, and remove all links with companies and institutions complicit in human rights abuses.”
23 nov 2019
Husam Zomlot, the Palestinian ambassador to the United Kingdom, hailed the U.K. Labor Party, the main opposition in the U.K., for vowing to suspend British arms sales to Israel, the Palestinian News and Info Agency (WAFA) reported.
Labor Party leader, Jeremy Corbyn launched his new manifesto on Thursday, saying it was “the most radical and ambitious plan to transform our country for decades.”
In its section on internationalism and diplomacy, it commits a Labor government to “immediately” suspend arms sales to Saudi Arabia and Israel. “This is an important step towards providing international protection to our people from the flagrant and daily violations of the occupation state,” he continued.
The manifesto vows to “conduct a root-and-branch reform of our arms exports regime so ministers can never again turn a blind eye to British-made weapons being used to target innocent civilians.”
Zomlot commented on the manifesto, “The announcement by the Labor Party of its intention to suspend arms sales to Israel for the first time, is a historic development and a victory for the just Palestinian cause.”
Ambassador Zomlot also praised the Liberal Democrat Party, whose manifesto incidentally pledged to “officially recognize an independent state of Palestine”.
He thanked the leadership and members of both parties for the growing support for the just cause of Palestine, saying that Britain’s recognition of the State of Palestine is a moral and legal duty for Britain, given its historic role in Palestine.
He called on all British parties to follow suit and “do what is right for the Palestinian people.” Zomlot added, “It is the duty of British political parties to align themselves with the right of peoples to freedom, justice and self-determination, and to defend the international order based on one law for all.”
Labor Party leader, Jeremy Corbyn launched his new manifesto on Thursday, saying it was “the most radical and ambitious plan to transform our country for decades.”
In its section on internationalism and diplomacy, it commits a Labor government to “immediately” suspend arms sales to Saudi Arabia and Israel. “This is an important step towards providing international protection to our people from the flagrant and daily violations of the occupation state,” he continued.
The manifesto vows to “conduct a root-and-branch reform of our arms exports regime so ministers can never again turn a blind eye to British-made weapons being used to target innocent civilians.”
Zomlot commented on the manifesto, “The announcement by the Labor Party of its intention to suspend arms sales to Israel for the first time, is a historic development and a victory for the just Palestinian cause.”
Ambassador Zomlot also praised the Liberal Democrat Party, whose manifesto incidentally pledged to “officially recognize an independent state of Palestine”.
He thanked the leadership and members of both parties for the growing support for the just cause of Palestine, saying that Britain’s recognition of the State of Palestine is a moral and legal duty for Britain, given its historic role in Palestine.
He called on all British parties to follow suit and “do what is right for the Palestinian people.” Zomlot added, “It is the duty of British political parties to align themselves with the right of peoples to freedom, justice and self-determination, and to defend the international order based on one law for all.”
