from: Action Palestine

On Wednesday 11th Feb the University of Manchester Students Union passed a motion in support of the people of Gaza, which includes a resolve to boycott Israel, in an emergency general meeting [1]. The meeting, which was attended by over 1000 students, was called in response to the crisis in Gaza. It follows a week long occupation of University of Manchester buildings by students [2]. The University of Manchester Students Union is the biggest in Western Europe, and is also the first western students union to pass a motion includes an out and out boycott of Israel.

The policy that was passed compared Israel to apartheid South Africa and supported the global Boycott Divestment and Sanctions movement. It called for the Union to divest from Israel, boycotting all companies which support or benefit from the Israeli occupation, and to lobby the University to adopt a similar boycott policy towards Israel. The motion also condemned the University for its lack of progress in divesting from arms companies. Following the meeting the union will send a letter to the BBC condemning their refusal to air the Disaster Emergency Committees (DEC) appeal for Gaza [3], as well as facilitating a day of fundraising with proceeds going to the DEC.

That Students at Manchester have a long history of showing solidarity with Palestinians, most notably in their affirmation of the “Palestine: Right to an Education” motion passed in 2007. This motion twinned our Union with the An-Najah University in the occupied West Bank, and committed the
Union to campaign for the rights of Palestinian students. Similarly, the Students’ Union played an important role in the international solidarity campaign against South African apartheid by divesting the university’s funds from South Africa.

Over the three weeks following December 27th the Israeli army and airforce killed over 1,300 Palestinians, including over 400 children, and injured more than 4,000 in a series of brutal attacks on the besieged population of Gaza. During the onslaught into Gaza, Israel used white phosphorus illegally [4].

The events in Manchester are part of a wave of actions and occupations sweeping universities across the country [5].

Quotes

Matt Scholey, a first year Politics and Modern History student, said “This is going to set a precedent, more and more student unions will have the confidence to take similar step. Last year LSE SU called for divestment, now UMSU calls for a complete boycott, and tomorrow the rest of the student movement will follow suite.”

Notes for Editor
1. http://www.umsu.manchester.ac.uk/downloads/gm_motions/egm_motion11.2.09.pdf
2. For more information see: http://manunioccupation.wordpress.com/about/ For the list of demands: http://manunioccupation.wordpress.com/list-of-demands/
3. The DEC is an umbrella organisation for 13 British charities. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/22/gaza-charity-appeal
4. As reported by Amnesty International on the 19/01/2009, and The Times on the 24/01/2009
5. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/students-are-revolting-the-spirit-of-68-is-reawakening-1604043.html
6. For more pictures from the day in Manchester: https://download.yousendit.com/Y2orZEU5NEhEa1YzZUE9PQ

Prisoner Releases

Report from CADFA http://www.camdenabudis.net/

• the news that 230 Palestinian prisoners have been released by Israel. BUT … some light is cast on who they are by this Abu Dis example:

http://www.ketteringtownfc.co.uk/index.php?q=node/329

Winner of Lloyds TSB Asian Jewel for Business & Commerce to return award in protest at banks actions against UK charity
By Tim Saunders, 10th December 2008
(Please visit the link below to sign a petition requesting Lloyds TSB to stop denying humanitarian aid to 5 million Palestinian refugees and forward to people you know)
http://www.petitiononline.com/FOSISPal/petition.html
Kettering Town Chairman Imraan Ladak will return his 2007 Lloyds TSB Asian Jewel Award (awarded for the extraordinary growth of DRC Locums and Locumlinx) after learning that the bank, recently bailed out by billions of pounds of British taxpayers money, are on the verge of ending humanitarian aid for up to five million Palestinian refugees in desperate need, by cutting off the charity Interpal’s (who have raised over £50m) banking facilities.
The Kettering Chairman feels he has no choice as “Lloyds TSB’s plans can only result in escalating the horrific suffering of innocent children, supported by those with racially motivated agendas. I no longer trust that Lloyds TSB follow the equal opportunities and anti-racist principles the Asian Jewel Awards are based upon. At Kettering Town, like the majority of British football clubs, we value success on and off the field equally. “Off the field” includes supporting and promoting humanitarian causes and dozens of charities and we won’t change these principles, even for a Goliath like Lloyds TSB.”
This evening, Kettering Town (leading scorers in the history of the FA Cup and first club to ever have a shirt sponsor) will continue their quest for FA Cup glory, wearing their Interpal shirts live on Setanta Sports, having displayed the Wateraid and Interpal charities instead of corporate sponsors regularly since July 2007. Gianfranco Zola, Les Ferdinand and Christian Karembeu are some of the legendary footballers that have played for Kettering Town in the charities shirts.
As most are aware, the beleaguered Palestinians have been the victims of ethnic cleansing and sixty years of human rights violations - condemned by 69 United Nations resolutions and almost every country in the world, resulting in a humanitarian crisis of catastrophic proportions. This slow genocide, described by former US President Jimmy Carter as “one the the greatest human rights crimes on earth” and the great Nelson Mandela as “apartheid” is solely because they were born Palestinian. However, the success of Interpal’s humanitarian efforts is at odds with the racially motivated aspirations of those behind the suffering who have made unsupported and damaging allegations against Interpal, with the sanction of the George Bush regime.
The UK Government and Charities commission on each occasion have investigated these allegations and found them to be without merit. Following a two year legal challenge, the Board of Deputies were forced into a substantial out of court settlement and a humiliating apology after having repeated such allegations
When Kettering Town agreed to display Interpal on its playing shirts, they received the congratulations and letters of support from several MP’s within the Labour Party, Conservative Party and Liberal Democrats.
In November 2008, it was reported that Lloyds TSB – the bank that had just received billions in aid from the taxpayer – were trying to stop Interpal from trading.
Kettering Town FC immediately contacted Lloyds TSB to ascertain why a charity, supported by the UK government and it’s main opposition parties, the United Nations and the UK Charities commission was under threat. Lloyds wrote back:
“Lloyds TSB does not hold or never has held accounts for Interpal. Furthermore, Lloyds TSB would not direct nor would it be appropriate for us to direct another institution on how to deal with its own customers.”
However Kettering Town FC are now in possession of a letter from Lloyds TSB (acting as a clearing bank) to IBB (with whom Interpal bank), dated 8th October 2008 which states:
“We are writing to you to give you notice that, from the date falling on the sixtieth calendar day following the date of this letter”..(Eid – the festival somewhat akin to Christmas)..“we do not wish you to transfer, receive, process or in any way deal with any funds, or in any way whatsoever (acting either as banker or agent on behalf of the Customer) be involved with any type of banking arrangements for Interpal…”
This letter clearly indicates that the information Lloyds TSB provided Kettering Town FC was inaccurate at best, downright misleading at worst.
Kettering [Town] have since written to the Lloyds TSB Chairman Sir Victor Blank, who was a Chair of UJS Hillel, a member of “Labour friends of Israel” and a Governor of Tel Aviv University (which sits on a site where scores of innocent Palestinian women and children once lived before their homes were bulldozed). Alas, it appeared Sir Victor Blank was too busy planning the Lloyds TSB/HBOS merger to reply to little old Kettering Town FC’s interest in starving children.
Kettering then wrote to Sir David Manning GCMG CVO who only joined the Lloyds TSB board in May 2008, having previously been an ambassador to Israel, sure that a newly appointed board member would have the time to explain why Lloyds TSB were trying to stop aid to the most desperate of people. To date they have had no response.
However Kettering Town FC have received renewed statements of support from MP’s who are trying to lobby our Prime Minister Gordon Brown to ask his good friend Sir Victor Blank to reverse this sickening act by Lloyds TSB.
We trust the Prime Minister will ensure race does not determine if banks process charitable donations.
Selected letters of support:
“I have seen for myself the excellent work that Interpal does funding hospitals, health clinics, nurseries, schools and orphanages in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza. Because of the current conflict and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Palestine, the work of charities like Interpal is even more essential. As a reputable charity, audited by the Charity Commission, I know that every pound given to Interpal will help to improve the lives of children, women and families in Palestine and I commend this excellent initiative by Kettering Town FC.”
Dr Phyllis Starkey
Labour Member of Parliament
Milton Keynes South West
“As a member of the International Development Committee I have seen at first hand some of the excellent projects that help improve water and sanitation services in Africa and elsewhere. Anybody who works on development issues in the Middle East also knows that millions of Palestinians face appalling levels of poverty and deprivation - whether they are cut off from the outside world in Gaza, in the occupied West Bank or in refugee camps in other parts of the region. That is why the work of groups like Interpal is so important. I congratulate Kettering Town FC for supporting the valuable work done by both of these charities.”
Richard Burden
Labour MP
Birmingham Northfield
i>”…I am writing to say that I applaud your initiative in raising funds for Water Aid and Interpal.
I know that Water Aid is active with regard to water provision in Africa and Asia, whilst Interpal is providing humanitarian aid to the displaced Palestinian people. Whatever one’s views of the situation in the Middle East, it must be right that peoples of all nationalities and persuasions have access to clean water, sanitation and other basic facilities and this is no less true for Palestinians in refugee camps as it is for Israeli people living in new settlements.
So, as Kettering’s local MP, I am very happy to support Kettering Town Football Club in encouraging charitable donations via Interpal and I very hope that as much of the money raised as possible goes to help people in desperate need.”
Philip Hollobone
Conservative MP
Member of Parliament for the Kettering Constituency
House of Commons
“I am delighted to learn of the sponsorship for Interpal and can I wish Kettering Town every success for the new season”
Colin Breed
Liberal Democrat MP for South East Cornwall

Lloyds TSB has demanded that the Islamic Bank of Britain cease all dealings with the registered charity.  By hitting Interpal’s banking facilities, Lloyds TSB aims to support Israel by shutting off the trickle of aid that Interpal has managed to get into occupied Palestine over the years of Israel’s brutal siege.

British bank customers, and those who support Palestinians’ right to existence, can oppose this sadistic move by Lloyds TSB.  While Palestinians are facing Israeli bulldozers, snipers, torture chambers and denial of medicines and food, we have an opportunity to join in their resistance to the vast criminal alliance that is trying to crush them.

• Join the planned protests outside Lloyds TSB branches in your area.
• Organise a one- or two-person protest outside a Lloyds TSB branch near you (we’ll send leaflets and publicity materials).
• Make sure local Lloyds TSB branches and cashpoints are kept covered with informational material, posters, stickers, etc.
• Write, email and call Lloyds TSB to complain of their cruel move against the people of Palestine.
• Donate to Interpal, however little, and send a message of support.

When Bush, Obama, Blair, Brown and Blank are united against the Palestinian people, we have a duty to join with Palestinians to resist the crime.  The crime has now washed up on your doorstep at a Lloyds TSB Branch near you. You can make a difference.

Join the protests outside Lloyds TSB branches, Saturday 13 December, 12-2pm:

Edinburgh - Hanover Street

Glasgow - St Vincent Street

Visit our website for more information, reports of protests and information on what you can do.

Campaign stickers (above) - order by emailing campaign@scottishpsc.org.uk

2008 CHRISTMAS APPEAL to raise £50,000
(£15,000 already raised)
Give a Palestinian student a chance to study
Palestinian students face huge challenges and are often unable to pay fees. At a time when hope for the future has never been more vital the right of young Palestinians to education is being jeopardized.
Scholarship Gifts Change lives!

Any amount will help us expand our work in support of Palestinian education.
To make a donation, large or small, please send a cheque made payable to ‘Friends of Birzeit University’ and send it to:
Development Director
Jocelyn Hurndall
1 Gough Square, London EC4A 3DE
T. 020 7832 1340
E. director@fobzu.org
W. www.fobzu.org
Registered Charity Number 114343, Company Number 5713430

Annual Scholarships at Birzeit University:
Help us raise £50,000 to change lives

Birzeit, founded in 1924, is an independent Palestinian university, situated 20 miles north of Jerusalem in the West Bank. Birzeit University encourages the education of students from economically deprived families by establishing scholarships to cover the tuition fees of male and female students, concentrating on students from rural backgrounds. FOBZU is contributing to this programme by raising awareness and funds in the UK to administer the scholarships which cover the cost of registration and tuition wherever the need is greatest. There is a separate Hardship fund which helps with books, travel expenses and technology. Many of our sponsors wish to name the scholarships in honour of someone or to sponsor a student in a particular Faculty.
Your contribution during this difficult time in Palestine would help us to continue our work for
students and faculty at Birzeit as they seek to develop their society.
•£175 per month will cover a student’s housing costs.
•£1950 will cover an Academic Scholarship and allow ‘Friends of Birzeit University’ to cover the cost of educating one student for a year.
•The ‘Hardship Fund’ helps with books, travel and technology.

December 4^th 2008: EU Parliament to vote on EU-Israel Association Agreement

[As we work to support the struggling and ensieged Palestinian economy, we are all too aware at Olive of how preferential terms given to Israel impact negatively on the survival of Palestinian businesses and social enterprises - Ed.]

Urgent Action Needed – Contact your MEP now!

No New EU-Israel Action Plan!!

(forwarded from the Palestinian Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign)

The European Parliament (EP) has recently announced that a vote will be held on December 4 to enter into force the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which will enable far greater Israeli participation in European Community programs.  Originally, the EU had stated that the vote on this issue would not take place until 2009, but it seems clear that the EU and Israel are attempting to minimize the voice of international civil society by suddenly announcing that it has been moved up to December 4.

The proposed agreement offers to Israel full access to the EU scientific, academic, research and technical programmes, and will significantly deepen EU-Israeli cooperation and integration in many important sectors.  It ignores the fact that these sorts of cooperation agreements that increase Israel’s relationships with the international community are one of Israel’s primary means of its ongoing occupation, the displacement of and systematic racial discrimination against the Palestinian people.  By engaging in this agreement, the EU sends the message that it effectively condones the Israeli apartheid regime, and that it will not challenge Israel on its massive violations of Palestinian rights.

It is urgent that all civil society organizations, and especially those in Europe, take action against the EU-Israel Association Agreement.  We must not submit to the EU and Israel’s attempt to manipulate the democratic process by silencing the voice of civil society.  We must respond to this injustice, and we must ensure that our collective voice to oppose the agreement is heard loud and clear.

We therefore ask you to:

1) Send a letter or a fax to your MEP (Pro forma letter attached below)

For a list of MEPs: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/members/public/geoSearch/zoneList.do;jsessionid=A9BFDD6F70138D7D712D534808182575.node1?country=GB&language=EN

2) Phone your MEP or meet with them in person

3) Have your organization, institution, union, or network endorse the Palestinian BNC call against the EU-Israel Association Agreement, and send it to your MEP.

http://www.bdsmovement.net/?q=node/179

Please let us know when you have contacted your MEP!

*****************************************************

Pro forma letter:

Dear Member of European Parliament,

As a member of your constituency and as a concerned citizen of the world, I urge you to vote against the EU-Israel Association Agreement on December 4.  This agreement involves the strengthening of a broad spectrum of ties with Israel – including economic, trade, academic, security and diplomatic relations – at a time when the European Union should be challenging Israel and holding it accountable for its persistent violations of human rights and international law.

The EU is well aware of Israel’s ongoing illegal occupation of Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the massive colonization of the latter; after all, the EU member-states have regularly voted for UN resolutions condemning Israel’s human rights violations, collective punishment and construction of settlements and the Wall.  Moreover, in 2002 the EU Parliament voted to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement on the grounds of Israel’s violations of human rights.  Since these violations are still ongoing, there is no reason for the EU to change its decision to suspend the agreement.

Indeed, Israel still maintains its criminal one-year-long siege on Gaza – described by the current UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights, Prof. Richard Falk as a “prelude to genocide” – that has already cost the lives of hundreds of patients, mainly children and elderly, all denied freedom of movement to access treatment outside Gaza.  Israel’s siege has intentionally and systematically impoverished hundreds of thousands of civilians in Gaza, more than 50% by now, shutting down most of the industrial sector and ruining agriculture. Most vital infrastructure has been destroyed and the economy has completely collapsed; malnourishment among children has increased sharply, as noted in various UN reports.

Furthermore, Israel has continuously disregarded basic human rights by the enclosure and forced displacement of entire Palestinian communities behind the illegal Wall, the imprisonment of thousands of Palestinians without trial, and its policy of extra-judicial assassination.  Israel has also stubbornly refused, for over 60 years and despite its obligations under international law, to recognize and implement the right of millions of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes, as stipulated in UNGA resolution 194.  Last, but certainly not least, for 60 years, Israel has enacted a system of state-sanctioned racial discrimination against Palestinians with Israeli citizenship in vital domains, including land ownership and employment, simply because they are “non-Jews.”

As such, I am appalled that the EU refuses to take concrete action to condemn Israel on any of these accounts.  Instead, the EU is proposing to turn a blind eye to Israel’s violations of Palestinian rights by deepening its relations with the occupying power. These sorts of cooperation agreements that increase Israel’s relationships with the international community are one of Israel’s primary means of its ongoing occupation, the displacement of and systematic racial discrimination against the Palestinian people.  By engaging in this agreement, the EU sends the message that it effectively condones the Israeli apartheid regime, and that it will not challenge Israel on its massive violations of Palestinian rights.

I therefore urge you, as a representative of the European Union and as a global citizen of conscience, to vote against the EU-Israel Association Agreement.  In so doing, you would be heeding the call from the Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions National Committee (BNC), which represents the entire spectrum of Palestinian civil society, and which has been endorsed by over 100 international organizations, to exert pressure on Israel and to isolate it, rather than to strengthen ties with it (http://bdsmovement.net/?q=node/179).  This call was taken up by Father Miguel D’Escoto Brockmann, President of the UN General Assembly, who urged the United Nations to consider following the lead of this generation of civil society who are calling for a campaign of boycott, divestment, and sanctions to pressure Israel to end its violations.  I believe it is high time that the EU adopt this position as well.

As such, your vote is an important one in suspending the agreement, thereby standing up to injustice in Palestine.  I urge you to listen to your constituents, and to the hundreds of civil society organizations from around the world who call upon the EU to stop rapprochement with Israel, and instead to hold it accountable for its ongoing violations of human rights and international law.

Sincerely,

**************************************************************

==========================================

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) aims to raise public awareness about the occupation of Palestine and the struggle of the Palestinian people. PSC seek to bring pressure on both the British and Israeli government to bring their policies in line with international law. PSC is an independent, non-governmental and non-party political organisation with members from communities across the UK. Join PSC today!

Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Box BM PSA
London
WC1N 3XX

Tel:   020 7700 6192
Fax:  020 7609 7779

Email: info@palestinecampaign.org

Web: www.palestinecampaign.org

Camden Abu Dis Friendship Association

promoting human rights and

respect for international humanitarian law

PO Box 34265

London NW5 2WD

tel + fax  0845 458 1167

www.camdenabudis.net

contact@camdenabudis.net

charity number 1112717

Reem will be giving a workshop on Palestinian and Arabic singing at the WFA Film Society, 9 Lucy Street, Manchester at 2.15pm next Saturday 6th Dec: http://www.labournet.net/events/0811/pscwfa1.html.

For more details please phone 01706 648104 or 01422 320139.

I hope you can make it.

Best wishes and thanks for your support.

Chris

ReemKelani & Chris Somes-Charlton
The Miktab Limited
PO Box 31652
London W11 2YF
www.reemkelani.com

[note - you can buy Reem Kelani CDs from Olive Cooperative here - Ed.]

Israel’s Eden Springs taking hits from successful boycott campaign

From Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign http://www.scottishpsc.org.uk/

Israeli water cooler company Eden Springs has closed its East of Scotland depot after losing, according to a well placed industry insider, ‘hundreds of contracts’ across Scotland.  Among the major losses in recent months, in an industry that is generally expanding, are contracts with East Lothian and West Lothian Councils and Caledonian MacBrayne Ferrries, the sole link between the mainland and Scotland’s many islands.  Heriot –Watt University in Edinburgh has also cancelled  and Stevenson College, the Scottish Council of Voluntary Organisations, as well as a number of Scottish trade union and student bodies have all voted to boycott Eden springs explicitly on the grounds of their violations of international and human rights law.

The closure of Eden Springs East of Scotland depot at Loanhead (Edinburgh) and the loss of so many contracts is widely recognised within the industry to be due in part, according to the same source, to a determined publicity campaign by the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign.  This campaign is in response to the appeal from Palestinians, and is supported by the main Israeli peace group, Gush Shalom, who oppose Eden Springs’ violations of international and human rights law in the occupied Golan Heights.

Eden Springs has been keen to conceal its status as an-Israeli owned company.  Another industry insider, who wished to remain anonymous, reports that Eden Springs manager, Graham Carruthers, has been canvassing customer responses to a name change as one way to limit the damage done by increasing association of the brand with Israel and its crimes.  In view of the gravity of the crisis that Eden Springs faces in Scotland, Mr Carruthers has also been handling personally all calls to the sole remaining Scottish depot in Blantyre that relate to Eden Springs’ Israeli connection.

Contact campaign@scottishpsc.org.uk for more information and resources on getting rid of Eden Springs from your school, university, college or workplace.