27 December 2008

The world majority stands with the Palestinian people in this devastating time that Israeli Defense Secretary Ehud Barak calls "just the beginning." Israeli attacks on Gaza in the past 24 hours have killed over 200 people and injured hundreds more. We decry the multiple forms of collective punishment currently being inflicted that reflect Israel's 60-plus year history of ethnic cleansing: lack of access to electricity and potable water, blockades of food and medicine, and these brutal attacks.

We are outraged but not surprised by this escalation. Israel's unilaterally designed and implemented disengagement from Gaza has maintained control of the borders, air and water space, and completely isolated Gaza practically and politically. This has been accomplished with unconditional support from the United States and its allies and with the complicity of the broader international community and Gaza's neighbors. It has also set the stage for these horrendous events.

The media frames this violence as a conflict between warring peoples with equal power. This framing is possible because the media fails to recognize Israel as an apartheid State or as a colonial occupying force with one of the most technologically advanced militaries in the world.

The Gaza-based One Democratic State Group has called for "all civil society organizations and freedom loving people to act immediately in any possible way to put pressure on their governments to end diplomatic ties with Apartheid Israel and institute sanctions against it." IJAN stands in solidarity with the people of Gaza and supports this call.

We Ask You To Join Us and Take Action!

1. Join or organize emergency protests and direct actions in partnership with Palestine solidarity and social justice organizations in your area. Click here for a list of local actions.
   Please send announcements of actions you are joining or organizing (with date, time and location) to so they can be announced on our web site. Also send reports of actions you participate in so this information can be shared with people around the world.
   
   
2. Donate money through the Middle East Children's Alliance to pay for desperately needed medical supplies and their delivery. The current conditions in Gaza medical facilities are dire. The Middle East Children's Alliance is working with health organizations in Gaza to procure the most-needed medicines and send them direct to Gaza with the help of the Free Gaza Movement.
3. Flood Israeli embassies and consulates with letters and calls decrying the attacks. Find contact info for Israeli embassies around the world.
   
   
4. Contact government officials and call on them to act by denouncing the attacks and demanding an immediate cease-fire.
5. Shift the framing of Israel's actions in the media by phoning into a talk show or writing a letter to the editor.
6. Sign the petition in support of UN General Assembly President Father Miguel D'Escoto Brockmann who has spoken out to condemn Israeli "Apartheid" and call for boycott, divestment and sanctions.

Local Actions

 

We will update this list as often as possible.  Please send announcements of actions you are joining or organizing (with date, time and location) to so they can be announced here. Also send reports of actions you participate in so this information can be shared with people around the world.

 

Barcelona

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• Lunes 29 a las 19 horas : concentración unitaria en la camara de comercio España-Israel. Travessera de Gràcia 21.

 

Belfast

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• Monday Dec. 29, 12 noon: Belfast City Hall.

Bristol

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• Sunday Dec. 28: There was an ad hoc demo with 30 people, many of whom later went to the offices of Raytheon, cluster-bomb company, where there has been a rooftop protest camp for two weeks. More actions are planned for the coming week.

Copenhagen

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• Sunday Dec. 28, 4pm: Demonstration at the Israeli Embassy, Lundevangsvej 4, Hellerup.

 

Leeds

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• Tuesday Dec. 30, 4:30pm: Protest and vigil outside the Town Hall and art gallery.

• 				Saturday Jan. 3, 1pm: Leeds City Centre outside the art gallery.
  	

London

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• Sunday Dec. 28, 2-4pm: Emergency protest opposite Israeli Embassy on Kensington High Street. Nearest tube: High Street Kensington.
• Monday Dec. 29, 1:30pm: Egyptian Embassy, 26 south street, Nearest tube Marble Arch or Green Park.
• Monday Dec. 29, 4-6pm: Emergency protest opposite Israeli Embassy on Kensington High Street. Nearest tube: High Street Kensington.
• Saturday, Jan 3, 12:30pm: Assemble along Embankment, by Embankment tube station, London WC2 - Nearest tube Embankment or Charing Cross. 
• Sunday Jan. 4, 1pm: at Paddington Green Station.

 

Los Angeles / Southern California

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• Sunday Dec. 28, 2pm: Emergency Demo for Gaza in Anaheim 512 S. Brookhurst St. between Orange Ave. & Broadway.
• Tuesday Dec. 30, 4:30pm: Rally in front of Israeli Consulate (6380 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles).

 

Louisville

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• Monday Dec. 29, 4-6pm: vigil on Broadway and Baxter across from Cave Hill cemetary.

 

Madrid

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• Sábado 27 de Diciembre Encierrro: en la Asociacion Hispano Palestina Jerusalén, en la calle Navarra 35 de Madrid, metro Estrecho.
• Domingo 28 a las 12 del mediodia concentracion : ante la Embajada de Israel en Madrid, calle Velázquez 150, metro República Argentina.

 

Minneapolis

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• Tuesday, Dec. 30, 10am - 5pm: at Sen. Klobuchar's office (1200 Washington Ave. S.) & at Rep. Ellison's office (2100 Plymouth Ave. N.) in Minneapolis. 1pm press conference at Sen. Klobuchar's office.

New Brunswick

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• Sunday, Dec. 27: One small one today brought together on a couple of hours notice.
• Tuesday, Dec. 30, 4-6pm: Larger demo at the corner of Albany and George Streets, in front of Bank of America Building.

New York

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• Sunday, Dec. 28, 2:00 pm: Met at 50th St. and 5th Ave. then marched to the Israeli Consulate at 800 2nd Ave. btw 42nd and 43rd Sts.
• Monday, Dec. 29, 5-6pm: Leafleting at the south end of Union Square, near the corner of 14th St. and 5th Ave. and at the triangular park at 6th Ave and 32nd Street.
• Monday, Dec. 29, 6:30pm: Funeral Procession meets at the triangular park at 6th Av. & 32nd Street. Look for the Palestinian Flag. March to Bryant Park.

Oakland

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• Tuesday 30 Dec. 4pm: rally outside the US Embassy, Quay Street.

Philadelphia

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• Tuesday December 30, 4pm: Meet outside the Israeli Consulate, 1880 JFK Blvd.

 

Rabat

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• Sunday Jan 4, 10am:  In front of the Morrocon House of Parliament.

Rochester

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• Tuesday, Dec. 30, 4-5pm: Meet at Federal Building.  Plan is to stand with a large picture of Picasso's Guernica with the caption "Gaza" and a picture of a US / Israel missile targeting Gaza.

San Francisco/ Bay Area

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• Sunday Dec. 28, 12pm: Emergency Demo in SF. Meet at Market and Powell.
• Monday Dec. 29, 5pm: Silent Vigil at Feinstein's Office (Montgomery and Market, SF). Bring candles, posters, banners; wear black. Rain or Shine.
• Tuesday Dec. 30, 5pm: Rally in front of Israeli Consulate (456 Montgomery St., SF).
• Friday Jan. 2, 2:30pm: at Powell and Market.

Málaga

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• Lunes 29 a las 19 horas : Plaza de la Marina inicio de la calle Larios. Convocan: Asociación Al Quds y Paz Ahora de Málaga.

Toronto

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• Sunday Dec. 28, 2pm: Demonstration outside the Israeli Consulate (180 Bloor Street West)
• Tuesday Dec. 30, 5-6pm: at the Israeli Consulate Building, 180 Bloor Street West (across from ROM), Northwest corner of Bloor and Avenue Rd.
• Wednesday Dec. 31, 5-6pm: at the Israeli Consulate Building, 180 Bloor Street West (across from ROM), Northwest corner of Bloor and Avenue Rd.
• Thursday Jan. 1, 5-6pm: at the Israeli Consulate Building, 180 Bloor Street West (across from ROM), Northwest corner of Bloor and Avenue Rd.
• Friday Jan. 2, 5-6pm: at the Israeli Consulate Building, 180 Bloor Street West (across from ROM), Northwest corner of Bloor and Avenue Rd.

Valencia

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• Domingo 28 a las 6 de la tarde : en la puerta del Ayuntamiento de Sevilla.
• Martes día 30 de Diciembre, a las 19h : en la Plaza de la Virgen.

Vancouver

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• Monday Dec. 29, 12 noon: US Consulate (1075 West Pender) Gather on HASTINGS side (corner Thurlow).

 

Warwick

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• Wednesday, Dec. 31, 12-2pm: Protest Against Ron Prosor, the Israeli Ambassador to the UK, at TES, University of Warwick.

Click here for a list of actions in the United Kingdom.

Click here for a list of actions in the United States. 

To add an action, email us at .

United Nations General Assembly President Miguel D'Escoto Brockmann likened Israel's policies toward the Palestinians to South Africa's treatment of blacks under apartheid. He also called on his collegues to use the term 'apartheid' without fear and urged that:

      Today, perhaps we in the United Nations should consider following the lead of a new generation of civil society, who are calling for a similar non-violent campaign of boycott, divestment and sanctions to pressure Israel to end its violations. 

This is a ground breaking statement by a U.N. official. It raises hopes of a U.N. engagement with apartheid tat goes beyond rethoric and begins to put real pressure for the dismantling of apartheid. Not surprisingly, Brockmann has been immediately accused of antisemitism.

>> Please sign and circulate this petition in support of UNGA President Brockmann's call for boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel!

>> We also urge all individuals and organizations to write in support of Brockmann and to denounce the accusations of antisemitism.  Letters may be sent directly to .  IJAN's letter of support is posted and available for download below.

 (read more...)

Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are threatened by a humanitarian crisis created by a two-year-old economic blockade that further exacerbates the effects of 60 years of ruthless colonial oppression. In the past two weeks, the blocking of all food and medical supplies to Gaza raises this humanitarian crisis to a level that rings with the threat of annihilation.

We are outraged but not surprised by this escalation.  As predicted by political writers such as Ilan Pappe and Toufic Haddad, Israeli’s unilaterally designed and implemented disengagement from Gaza prepared the terrain. With this withdrawal, Israel maintained control of the borders, air and water space, and completely isolated Gaza practically and politically. This has been accomplished with unconditional support from the United States and its allies and the complicity of the broader international community and Gaza’s neighbors.

The warnings about Gaza are similar to others throughout history. Mordekhai Gebirtig, the great Yiddish poet, wrote his famous song ‘S’brent’ (It Is Burning) in 1938. He wrote the song in response to the 1936 pogrom in the town of Przytyk, warning against the coming catastrophe that would befall the Jews in Europe.

The end of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas - Israel’s justification for belligerence - was in fact provoked by Israel during the United States presidential election. Israel is acting in bad faith, attacking Gaza’s civilians and using the Palestinian response to justify ratcheting up the suffering. Israel’s actions in Gaza are an assault on life itself. They are an unconscionable crime against humanity and a form of collective punishment.

Israel has taken a lesson from the Nazi government in Warsaw and other oppressive regimes by kidnapping and holding hostage humanitarian aid workers and international human rights observers. Such a tactic prevents their witnessing of and communication about what is happening in Gaza.

The latest naked display of violence by Israel and the arrogant contempt of Israel’s leaders for the humanity of the people of Gaza and therefore for the humanity of us all should move world bodies, non-governmental organizations, faith-based groups, and all people of conscience to take immediate action.

Those who have supported Israel’s refusal to deal with the democratically elected Hamas government should now understand that the starving of Gaza is the inevitable outcome of that support.

Stop the assault on and blockade of Gaza now! Stop the holding of humanitarian aid workers and human rights observers hostage!

Only a campaign of boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel has a chance of stopping Israel’s violence.

If Mordechai Gebirtig, the Jewish artist and revolutionary, were alive today, he would be writing ‘S’brent’ for Gaza.

 (read more...)

We need your leadership!

With the launch of the network, we are hoping anti-Zionist Jews will take up the Charter and Call-to-Action in ways that are relevant to their location and in partnership with existing Palestine solidarity work. Share your current work and support the building of international campaigns and strategies to collectively confront Zionism.

For the past two years, we have been building an international network of anti-Zionist Jews to support existing and seed new Jewish anti-Zionist organizing in solidarity with Palestinian resistance. The enemy we face is international, and what we can do is limited unless we find ways to work together across boundaries and regions.

We are building an international voice which challenges Zionism and its claim to speak on behalf of Jews worldwide. As an international force, we can contribute to the movement to defeat Israeli colonialism. Click here to read more about the history of IJAN.

Charter of the International Jewish anti-Zionist Network

We are an international network of Jews who are uncompromisingly committed to struggles for human emancipation, of which the liberation of the Palestinian people and land is an indispensable part. Our commitment is to the dismantling of Israeli apartheid, the return of Palestinian refugees, and the ending of the Israeli colonization of historic Palestine.

From Poland to Iraq, from Argentina to South Africa, from Brooklyn to Mississippi, Jews have taken up their quest for justice, and their desire for a more just world, by joining with others in collective struggles. Jews participated prominently in the workers' struggle of the depression era, in the civil rights movement, in the struggle against South African Apartheid, in the struggle against fascism in Europe, and in many other movements for social and political change. The State of Israel's historic and ongoing ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people from their land contradicts and betrays these long histories of Jewish participation in collective liberation struggles.

Zionism-the founding and current ideology that manifested in the State of Israel-took root in the era of European colonialism and was spread in the aftermath of the Nazi genocide. Zionism has been nourished by the most violent and oppressive histories of the nineteenth Century, at the expense of the many strains of Jewish commitment to liberation. To reclaim them, and a place in the vibrant popular movements of our time, Zionism, in all its forms, must be stopped.

This is crucial, first and foremost, because of Zionism's impact on the people of Palestine and the broader region. It also dishonors the persecution and genocide of European Jews by using their memory to justify and perpetuate European racism and colonialism. It is responsible for the extensive displacement and alienation of Mizrahi Jews (Jews of African and Asian descent) from their diverse histories, languages, traditions and cultures. Mizrahi Jews have a history in this region of over 2,000 years. As Zionism took root, these Jewish histories were forced from their own course in service of the segregation of Jews imposed by the State of Israel.

As such, Zionism implicates us in the oppression of the Palestinian people and in the debasement of our own heritages, struggles for justice and alliances with our fellow human beings. (Read more)

Call-to-Action

Our pledge in the Charter will be carried out through our commitments to: 1) solidarity with Palestinian self-determination, 2) participation in global movements to end imperialism, and 3) the extrication of Jewish history, politics, community, and culture from the grip of Zionism.

To these ends, in this historical moment, the IJAZ Network will be a clear anti-Zionist Jewish point of reference to set an ideological pole, open space for non-Jewish anti-Zionist voices, and broaden support for Palestinian liberation.

Towards fulfilling this strategic role, we are calling anti-Zionist Jews to take up the following actions in the world. (Read more)

At least 10,000 people gathered at Toronto's Yonge-Dundas Square to protest against Israel's recent assault on Gaza. Protesters then marched through the streets of Toronto to the Israeli Consulate and the United States Embassy. Demonstrators called on the Canadian government to condemn Israel's latest aggression and to cut all political, economic and military ties with Israel until it complies with international law. Protests were also held across Canada in Ottawa, Winnipeg and Vancouver. Demonstrations are scheduled in Montreal on Sunday.

"We are overwhelmed by the support we have received from Canadian civil society, the trade union movement, and allies in the Jewish community. The large number of people on the streets today shows that the Harper government is out of touch with the Canadian public," said Khaled Mouammar President of the Canadian Arab Federation.

As the protest was taking place, Israel began a ground invasion of the Gaza Strip. This latest escalation comes in spite of international condemnation and calls for Israel to end its full-scale military assault on the people of Gaza, which has already killed over 400 people.  It is clear that Israel believes it can act with impunity, and continue to commit war crimes against the illegally occupied Palestinian people.

"We will continue to mobilize and voice our outrage at the crimes being committed in Gaza until the Harper government publicly condemns Israel's violations of international law" stated Farid Ayad, President of Palestine House.

Numerous speakers at the demonstration, including the president of CUPE Ontario Syd Ryan, local Jewish activist Jenny Peto, and Rafeef Ziadah from Palestine House urged the crowd to support the campaign of boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israeli apartheid. As part of this campaign, organizers called on the Canadian government to implement sanctions against the Israeli government until Israel halted its aggression upon the population of Gaza and fully complied with international law. Organizers further demanded that Canada insist Israel ends the siege on Gaza and open the borders to allow for food, medicine, water and other essentials of life.

Rally was endorsed by:
Palestine House
Canadian Arab Federation
Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid
Canadian Union of Public Employee (Ontario)
Canadian Union of Postal Workers
Steel Workers - Toronto Area Council
Toronto Coalition to Stop the War
Not in Our Name - Jewish Voices Opposing Zionism
International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network Toronto
Yosher - Jewish Social Justice Network
Women In Solidarity with Palestine
Educators for Peace and Justice
Muslim Unity
Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East
Near East Cultural and Educational Foundation
Canadian Forum for Justice and Peace in Sri Lanka
Muslim Association of Hamilton
Canadian Druze Society
Canadian Syrian Cultural Club
Al Huda
Muslim Unity
Canadian Shia Muslims Organization
Worker to Worker Canada Cuba Solidarity Network
Somali Canadian Diaspora Alliance
Science for Peace
Bayan - Canada
Bengali Student Association
McMaster Muslims for Peace and Justice
Arab Students Association at Ryerson University

The Jewish National Fund is scheduled to hold an annual Negev fund-raising dinner at Canada’s Museum of Civilization this coming Monday, November 24.

Please sign the petition now in an attempt to cancel this event. The petition was written by Independent Jewish Voices in Canada and can be found at http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/MuseumofCiv/ .

Click here to read a letter sent to the Museum by the International Jewish anti-Zionist Network.

 

Even if the event takes place, it is not too late to write your own letter telling the museum your opinion on this matter.

Letters can be sent (with a copy to ) to:

Dr. Victor Rabinovicth

President and CEO Canadian Museum of Civilization

Gatineau, Quebec

Fax 819-776-7122