Boycott Divestment Sanctions
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JANUARY 2014 (17 national unions are now affiliated to PSC — representing and www.whoprofits.org, which exposes the activities of more than 80% of trade union members of the TUC.) companies involved in the Occupation). Hugh Lanning, Chair of Palestine Solidarity Campaign, The Israeli organisation ‘Boycott from Within’ states: The non-violent said: “Just as the movement against South African “A critical stance against the occupation, including BOYCOTT apartheid inspired a previous generation, the Palestinian explicit BDS actions taken by individuals and struggle is inspiring a new generation to take action.” organisations, is not anti-Semitic. On the contrary, only response to Trade unions in Norway, Italy, Canada, New Zealand resistance of this kind, as part of the struggle for peace and Australia have also been very supportive of the based on justice and equality, will enable a common DIVESTMENT rights of Palestinian workers. Above all, the South African future for Arabs and Jews in the region.” Israeli apartheid trade union COSATU has passed a number of strong motions supporting boycott, divestment and sanctions. Backing the Palestinian economy International union bodies such as Public Services SANCTIONS and occupation International have also passed BDS policy. t is almost impossible for fresh produce to be exported from the Occupied Territories as Israel’s policy is to When he came Israel reacts Idelay fruit, ‘I’ve been very deeply distressed in my visit flowers and to power, President he creation of very well-funded propaganda vegetables to the Holy Land; it reminded me so much Obama called for a halt organisations (Bicom, Just Journalism, Honest at road of what happened to us black people in on settlement building TReporting), penetration of the media, intimidation blocks so South Africa.’ — but fell silent when of journalists and attempts to smear campaigners with that they Israel continued to the label of anti-Semitism all show that the campaigns of become Archbishop Desmond Tutu announce expansions. awareness-raising and of boycott are working. PSC was unsaleable. Israel naturally feels it proud to hear that the Reut Institute – an advisory body However, can act with impunity. to the Israeli government – believes that ‘London stands olive oil is Why boycott? As our government out as a hub of delegitimisation’ and that PSC is a major exported won’t apply pressure ‘catalyst’ within that hub. and the n For decades Israel has been destroying Palestinian on Israel, it is up to In July 2011 the Israeli parliament passed the “Law voluntary lives, homes and livelihoods. It continues to build illegal ordinary citizens to act. for Prevention of Damage to the State of Israel through organisation settlements in the West Bank, stealing land and water Boycott”, which aims at silencing criticism or dissent. Zaytoun (www.zaytoun.org) sells it through retail outlets resources and setting up hundreds of checkpoints to Our role In June 2012 the Israeli Embassy in London hosted and volunteers in the UK. stop Palestinians getting to work, school or hospital. The a two-day conference for 150 lawyers from around the Other non-perishable Palestinian products can be Jordan Valley has, in effect, been annexed to Israel. SC formally launched the Boycott Israeli Goods world to discuss ways of combating the growing global obtained via the following websites: www.hadeel.org; campaign in the UK at a House of Commons BDS movement. www.holyland-handicraft.org; www.jimmysbazaar.net; n Israel has almost completed an eight-metre high Pmeeting in September, 2001. Since then we have www.olivecoop.com; www.palestineonlinestore.com; Apartheid Wall which snakes through the West Bank, entered into a dialogue with supermarkets that stock www.palestinianpottery.com; www.taybehbeer.net. isolating many Palestinian centres of population, Israeli goods, Boycott from within Visiting Palestine also helps to support the Palestinian including Bethlehem. and with ithin Israel there is a small but growing economy. See www.travelpalestine.ps for all kinds of organisations n In East Jerusalem Israel is carrying out a policy of movement in support of the Palestinian call for travel information. and institutions ethnic cleansing; Palestinians whose families have lived Boycott (see, for example, boycottisrael.info that promote W there for centuries are being evicted from their homes, cultural, which are then destroyed or occupied by settlers. sporting and academic Your actions can help bring about a just peace in the Middle East. Get involved! n Since 2006 the Gaza Strip has been under siege; relations with even basic necessities are denied entry. In the winter Israel. We seek Join the Palestine Solidarity Campaign of 2008–2009, over 1400 Palestinians including more to explain the than 300 children were killed in three weeks of bombing current legal Join online: www.palestinecampaign.org Name .............................................................. and shelling by land, sea and air, condemned by the UN and political Or by phone on 020 7700 6192 or return this form. Goldstone report as war crimes. situation to q I wish to join the PSC and enclose Address .......................................................... them. We also n In Israel itself the indigenous Palestinians are treated q £24 waged q £12 unwaged ........................................................................ campaign q I wish to help PSC’s campaign and enclose as second class citizens, and no refugees have been within trade allowed to return to their homes. q £10 q £25 q £50 q £…. other unions and .......................................... Postcode ............. church groups and lobby parliament on these issues. Cheques payable to PSC. A shameful silence PSC branches have made the BDS campaign Return to: PSC, BM Box PSA, London WC1N 3XX. Tel ................................................................... central to their work in communities around the UK. As Phone: 020 7700 6192 ll these actions fly in the face of international one member said: “This is an excellent way to open email: [email protected] Email .............................................................. law. The Fourth Geneva Convention, to which up a discussion with the general public. You start with AIsrael is a signatory, is being violated on a daily imported avocados and end up with the Fourth Geneva • See PSC’s website www.palestinecampaign.org • See the BIG website www.bigcampaign.org for more basis. The International Court of Justice and dozens of Convention!” for factsheets on other aspects of Israel’s policies of details of the campaign, including lists of Israeli products UN resolutions have called for immediate action to put Local activities vary from leafleting supermarkets to occupation,house demolition, expulsion, land grab, and firms complicit in the process of occupation and a stop to Israel’s illegal activities — yet not a single challenging the promotion of Israel’s economy, sport and targeted killings and imprisonment without trial. colonisation. western government has taken any action. culture in the UK. PALESTINE SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN FACTSHEET WWW.PALESTINECAMPAIGN.ORG PALESTINE SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN FACTSHEET WWW.PALESTINECAMPAIGN.ORG and that support their government’s policies – by, for place; the only solution, legally and morally, is to avoid all n Sanctions are a crucial method of exerting Palestinians call for boycott example, playing to segregated audiences in the illegal Israeli goods. In April 2012 the Co-op decided to expand governmental pressure on Israel. Thanks to the n 2005 over 170 organisations, fully representative settlements – find themselves unwelcome abroad. At its boycott of settlement goods to a complete boycott of all campaigning of constituents, MPs are increasingly of Palestinian civil society, called upon international the same time singers, writers, musicians and actors are Israeli companies sourcing any goods in the settlements. critical of Israel’s policies and, via Early Day Motions and Iorganisations and people of conscience all over refusing to appear in Israel, and academics are refusing Carmel-Agrexco, Israel’s major exporter of settlement debates, demand that the government take action. (The the world “to impose broad boycotts and implement to attend conferences. Universities and student unions in produce, went bankrupt in 2011 after a long campaign House of Commons website gives information about the divestment initiatives against Israel similar to those the US, S Africa, Canada, Sweden, Norway and Britain are exposing its activities, while the cosmetics company signatories of EDMs and the texts of debates: applied to South Africa in the apartheid era”, until Israel organising debates on these issues, and calling for non- Ahava had to close its flagship store in Covent Garden www.parliament.uk.) Members of the House of Lords are complies with international law. cooperation or boycott. For instance, Britain’s University following protests about the illegal sources of its products. also active in debating these issues, and have visited the The BDS National Committee in Palestine (www. and College Union (UCU) voted in 2007 to promote a Local authorities and other large organisations have Occupied Territories as part of PSC delegations. bdsmovement.net) has since been coordinating the BDS boycott of Israeli academic institutions and called for been divesting from or refusing to use firms complicit n Groups of lobbyists from around Europe are constantly campaign