May 12, 2008 - No. 76 Militant Rallies Mark 60 Years of Al
Nakba
|
 Info-advertisement on Al Nakba. |
Varied organizations were represented, many with their
banners, including the organizers, Coalition for Justice and Peace in
Palestine, the Alliance of Concerned Jewish Canadians, Solidarity
Across Borders, TADAMON!, Independent Jewish Voices Montreal, Jewish
Alliance Against the Occupation,
Palestine-Jewish Unity, student union Association pour une
solidarité syndicale étudiante (ASSÉ) and
community radio station CKUT. Several political parties also
participated including activists of the Marxist-Leninist Party of
Quebec, (PMLQ), the Communist Party of Canada (Marxist-Leninist), as
well as representatives
of the Bloc Quebecois, the Parti Quebecois and the Green Party, Quebec
solidaire. Security for the march was provided by youth contingents
from Concordia Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (SPHR) and their
sister organization, McGill SPHR. The emcee of the event was a woman in
traditional Palestinian dress,
who explained that more than 250 individuals and 25 groups had
contributed financially for the placement of a full-page
info-advertisement in the Quebec mass media, which outlined the basic
facts of Al Nakba and called for recognition of the right of return and
Palestinian nationhood. Only the Montreal
Gazette had refused to publish this advertisement, a fact which
elicited condemnation from the crowd. While people listened to the
speakers and songs extolling the Palestinian nation, a petition was
circulating calling on parliamentarians in Quebec and Canada to
recognize Al Nakba as a great tragedy for the
Palestinian people. The petition achieved its aim of receiving 1,948
signatures, a number signifying the date of this great catastrophe.
The march was beautifully organized. At its head were
community elders in traditional Palestinian dress, carrying
suitcases and large keys to represent the ever-present determination of
the refugees to return. Many of them still have the original keys to
the homes from which they were expelled.
They were followed by a gigantic Palestinian flag carried by people of
all ages, along with representatives of Alliance for Concerned Jewish
Canadians carrying their banner. Immediately behind them were two
vehicles, one draped in two large Palestinian flags and the other with
a loud sound system. This first contingent
was followed by the general march, headed by Hasidic Jews carrying the
banner, "Jews Mourn 60 Years Existence of Israel -- A Rebellion Against
G-D." The march stretched for many blocks, full of hundreds of
Palestinians flags and militant placards expressing the conscience of
the participants, including signs
reading "Globalize the Intifada!," "Canada Stop Supporting Israeli
Apartheid," "Boycott Israeli Apartheid!," "Judaism Rejects Zionism,"
"Israel Cannot Celebrate Ethnic Cleansing," among others. The march
stopped at the offices of the Montreal Gazette, denouncing
their censorship of the Al Nakba info-advertisement. The march also
paused at the Indigo/Chapters bookstore,
whose owners contribute financially to the Israeli Occupation Forces.
The march called on everyone to boycott this pro-Israeli Apartheid
company as part of supporting the Palestinian people. Other slogans
were raised, including "Israel Criminal,
Harper Accomplice!" calling on the Canadian government to end its
support of the Apartheid regime.
Toronto Rally Affirms Palestine Will Be Free!
The May 10 rally at Queen's Park, organized by Palestine House and many supporters, featured over 1,000 people coming together to mark 60 years of resistance to the ethnic cleansing and occupation of Palestine. The crowd was a sea of Palestinian flags, symbolizing the defiant spirit of the Palestinian people who in Israel were fired upon in recent demonstrations simply for carrying their national flag. Along with flags, many banners and placards showcased the demands of the gathering, including "No More Apartheid!" and "Israel=State Terrorism." Many organizations were in attendance, including ones from outside of the city, such as Missisauga, Hamilton, St. Catharines, Waterloo and more.
The rally began with opening words by Dr. Farid Ayad,
President of Palestine House, who pointed out that for 60 years the
Israeli state has tried to obliterate the Palestinian nationality to no
avail. He quoted Ben Gurion, the first Prime Minister of Israel, who
acknowledged that for Israel to exist, Palestine
must be destroyed and claimed that within three generations, the
Palestinian people would have forgetten their homeland. Dr. Ayad
stated, "We are here to tell everyone that the Palestinians are still
here and that we will return to our homeland." He also pointed out that
UN Resolution 194, which has been reaffirmed
110 times in the UN General Assembly, recognizes that right of return
as a
matter of international law.
Khaled Mouammar, the President of the Canadian
Arab
Federation, stated that though 60 years have passed since
the Palestinian people had been dispossessed and ethnically cleansed
from their lands, they have kept Palestine in their hearts and minds
from whence it can never be erased.
Today, he said, there are millions of non-Palestinians around the world
who also have Palestine in their hearts and minds, as attested to by
the fact that diverse sectors of Canadians are part of the Al Nakba
actions. The ever
broadening support for the struggle of the
Palestinian people has caused panic for the Zionists
and their supporters, Mr. Mouammar added. He denounced
the recent
statement by the Israeli Ambassador to Canada, Alan Baker, who blames
Muslim Canadians for his alleged inability to speak on Canadian
campuses
and for the broad support for the Palestinian struggle. Mr. Mouammar
pointed out that it is in
fact the general student population, the unions, and organizations such
as the United Church which have opposed him. Mr. Mouammar ended by
denouncing the Harper government's immoral support for Israeli state
terrorism.
The writer and teacher Naji Farah, who was
internally
displaced as a teenager during Al Nakba and had been a leader of the
Day of the Land actions in 1967 to protest the confiscation of
Palestinian lands, spoke of the brutal aggression, massacres and
ethnic cleansing carried out against the Palestinians
in 1948 which continue to this day. He saluted the Jewish people in
Israel who had come to the side of the Palestinians during that time
and those who had issued a statement on the occasion of 60 years of Al
Nakba stating that they would not celebrate 60 years of Israel's
existence. He sent greetings to all the Palestinian
people in Gaza, the West Bank and Galilee. The Palestinians have the
greatest hope of regaining their rights and dignity in their homeland,
he affirmed.
Rafeef Ziadeh, a representative of the Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid, introduced herself as a refugee from occupied Palestine, soon to be free Palestine! She spoke of the growing movement to oppose Israeli Apartheid and the illegal occupation of Palestine, as evidenced by the recent resolutions passed by two trade unions in Canada, and the particpation of twenty-five campuses internationally in Israeli Apartheid Week this year. She called on participants to step up their involvement by becoming active in the daily work of local organizations. She ended by noting the responsibility of all Canadians on this matter, given the fact Harper will be travelling to Israel this June to celebrate in effect racism.
Illiam Burbano, from the Canadian
Union of Public Employees (Ontario), began by acknowledging the
resistance and
spirit of the Palestinians who, despite all that has taken place,
continue to exist as a people and to hold steadfast to their aims. He
informed everyone of the recent resolution
passed by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) in support of the
Palestinian people and their call for a boycott of Apartheid Israel,
making it the first national union in Canada to do so. He pointed out
that both CUPE and CUPW have now passed such resolutions which shows
the
advances being made by
Palestinian solidarity movement as the labour movement continues to
answer the call of the Palestinian people.
Hala Farah, from Students Against Israeli
Apartheid at York University (SAIA) spoke from her own experience
as a third generation refugee
Palestinian, which has shown that the powers that be refuse to uphold
the rights of the Palestinian people, so that it is up to all of us to
do so. As such, she affirmed SAIA's commitment
to pursue an academic boycott at their university. Similar comments
were made by Golta Shahidi on behalf of SAIA at the University of
Toronto, who also emphasized that the rally was a celebration of sixty
years of Palestinian resistance.
Salim Vally, the chair of the Palestine Solidarity
Committee of South Africa, brought a message of greetings to the rally
on behalf of his organization, which includes representation of the
majority of the South African people, with member organizations
like the South African Trade Union Central
and the South African Council of Churches. The message stated that for
Israel to be considered democratic, it must at least dismantle the
Apartheid state, affirming that there can be no solution without the
right of return for refugees and their descendants. Further, the
message emphasized that the South African people stand
as one with the Palestinians as they celebrate the courage, and
fortitude of the Palestinian people whose will to survive and
resistance is a slap in the face of tyrants.
Hussan, from No One is Illegal-Toronto, spoke to the criminal history of the Canadian state which in 1945 passed an exclusion act to keep European Jews fleeing concentration camps out of Canada. Through such policies, the Canadian state aided the Zionists' project and their efforts to bring massive waves of Jewish immigrants to historic Palestine. He pointed out that such policies are consistent with the Canadian state's genocide and dispossession of the First Nations of Canada; the reserve system they imposed on the First Nations was exported to South Africa as a model for that Apartheid bantustan system. He provided another example, namely the fact that the government recently sent the Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner, Julian Fantino and many local police chiefs to train with the Israeli police. He ended by saying that a people who are fighting for their rights, such as the Palestinians, can never be extinguished.
Ali Mallah spoke on behalf of the Toronto
Coalition to
Stop the War, beginning by opposing the criminalization of all those
who support Palestinian rights as anti-Semitic. Rather, it is our moral
duty and right as Canadians to politically demonstrate and express
our views, he added.
Matt, from the Coalition to Support the Tyendinaga Mohawks, linked the struggle of the First Nations in Canada and the Palestinians as one of indigenous peoples fighting against settler states. He demanded the release of the indigenous political prisoners held in Canadian prisons and the thousands of Palestinian political prisoners in Israel. He was followed by Louisa from High School Students Against Israeli Apartheid, who informed everyone that high school youth are coming together to educate themselves on the situation and take action. Next, Lena from Women in Solidarity with Palestine stated that her organization of Jewish women has stood in solidarity with the Palestinian peoples since Al Nakba.
Following these speakers, the participants took to the streets in a spirited march to the honking of many passing cars and enthusiastic support of passers-by. The march ended at Ryerson University where a beautiful cultural fair was scheduled. The fair included musical performances, traditional Palestinian food, tables featuring Palestinian art, crafts and Zatoun free trade olive oil and displays from activist organizations.
Vancouver March Condemns Violation of
Palestinian Rights
On May 10, over 400 people gathered at Clark Park at 1:00 pm to mark the 60th anniversary of Al Nakba. The day's activities began with speakers, who stated that neither the Palestinian people nor the justice loving peoples around the world will ever accept this gross violation of human rights and international law. Speakers also condemned the attempts to impose silence and sow confusion within the workers' and peace movements by calling any criticism of Israel anti-Semitism. These efforts have not succeeded because of the serious work that is undertaken to inform themselves and the broader Canadian people of the facts, while demanding that their Canadian government represent these facts and the interests of the workers and peoples. They affirmed that the interests of the peoples are the same worldwide and will be realized by everyone stepping up support for the just struggle of the Palestinian people including through participation in the campaign to boycott, divest and sanction Apartheid Israel.
The march filled the whole street, stopping while participants chanted and raised their voices in militant slogans at the intersection of Commercial and 12th Avenue. Later, the march stopped at the intersection with Broadway, where further speeches were made outlining the justness of the demands of the Palestinian people and calling on the Canadian government to demand Israel uphold and implement international law. They continued in high spirits to Grandview Park for a silent vigil.
Anti-Israeli Apartheid Campaign
Postal Workers Take Firm Stand to
Support Palestinian Workers
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) joined the international campaign of boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel during their national convention this month.
Hundreds of delegates to CUPW's convention passed a resolution supporting sanctions and calling on the union to work toward an end to suicide bombings, military assaults and other acts of violence that take the lives of innocent people.
"It's time to push for a fair and just settlement so that both Palestinians and Israelis can live in peace," said Denis Lemelin, CUPW National President. "There can't be a solution while settlements exist on Palestinian land and while a security barrier restricts the movement of Palestinian workers."
CUPW is the first national union in North America to pass a resolution supporting the boycott, divestment and sanctions. However, a number of international and Canadian organizations support the campaign.
"Delegates at our convention listened to the call from Palestinian unions and organizations in joining this campaign," said Lemelin. "This is a non-violent tactic aimed at reaching a just peace," he added.
Over 170 Palestinian political parties, unions and other organizations issued a call in July 2005 for a global campaign of boycott and divestment against Israel similar to the one applied to South Africa in the apartheid era. These measures are intended to continue until Israel recognizes the right of Palestinian people to self-determination and fully complies with international law.
CUPW represents 56,000 workers in the postal sector. From April 13-17, postal workers voted on a vast array of resolutions at their national convention held in Ottawa.
Composite Resolution of Resolutions nos. 338 and 339
CUPW will:
-Continue to demand that Israel immediately end all military assaults and abide completely by the most recent and unanimous Security Council resolution calling on them to do so.
-Call for and actively work towards an end to the suicide bombings, military assaults and other acts of violence that take the lives of innocent people and demand that the Israeli West Bank barrier be immediately torn down.
-Demand that the Israeli Government immediately withdraw from the occupied territories and abide by UN resolution 242.
-Call on the Canadian government to increase humanitarian aid to Palestinians that have been affected by the ongoing conflict.
-Support the international campaign of boycott, divestment and sanctions until Israel meets its obligation to recognize the Palestinian people's inalienable right to self-determination and fully complies with the precepts of international law including the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties as stipulated in UN resolution 194.
-With Palestine solidarity and human rights organizations, develop an education campaign about the apartheid nature of the Israel state and the political and economic support of Canada for these practices.
-Commit to research into Canadian involvement in the occupation and call on other Canadian unions to join us in lobbying against the apartheid like practices of the Israel state and call for immediate dismantling of the wall.
We want to do this for these reasons:
BECAUSE no lasting peace can be created unless there is implementation of international law, United Nations resolutions and respect for the human rights of both Palestinians and Jewish-Israelis equally.
BECAUSE 35 years ago, the United Nations Security Council unanimously called for Israel to withdraw from territories it invaded in 1967 (West Bank, Gaza, East Jerusalem) in resolution 242.
BECAUSE Israel has refused to implement resolution 242 for 40 years and, moreover, has illegally established Jewish-only settlements in these areas in further violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
BECAUSE the Israeli Apartheid Wall has been condemned and determined illegal under international law.
BECAUSE over 170 Palestinian political parties, unions and other organizations including the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions issued a call in July 2005 for a global campaign of boycotts and divestment against Israel similar to those imposed against South African Apartheid;
BECAUSE the barrier severely restricts the movement of and work possibilities for Palestinians, violates international law, is partially built on land confiscated from Palestinians and is not a way to create lasting peace and security.
BECAUSE CUPW has a constitutional policy in favour of peace and disarmament and has consistently worked within the Canadian labour movement to pressure the Canadian government to promote peaceful solutions in the face of war.
BECAUSE the Canadian government cut funding for the Palestinian Authority after Hamas was democratically elected.
Students Against Israeli Apartheid
L'Association pour une solidarité syndicale étudiante (ASSÉ), a Quebec-wide student union representing over 42,000 students, has passed a resolution to support the growing boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign against Israeli Apartheid. The motion was passed at the ASSÉ Annual Congress, held on April 26th and 27th in Montreal. This resolution comes after over a year of consultations and discussions held within local student unions, in collaboration with Tadamon! Montreal, a local social justice collective. ASSÉ now invites all progressive organizations to join and support the call for the boycott campaign, issued by over 170 Palestinian civil society groups.
Student unions present at the ASSÉ annual congress have decided to actively support the boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign against Israeli Apartheid. This decision follows past resolutions in support of Palestinian liberation and in solidarity with international struggles for self-determination. Since october 2007, ASSÉ has been working with Tadamon! Montreal to organize the "Middle East/Montreal Popular Education Project," a series of workshops held in cegeps and universities. ASSÉ has decided to continue these discussions and to actively engage in promoting the boycott campaign.
The boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign against Israeli Apartheid comes in response to a call issued by over 170 Palestinian civil society groups to organizations and "people of conscience all over the world," in support of their struggle. This campaign is an opportunity to stand in solidarity with Palestine and to pressure the governments supporting Israeli Apartheid, including Canada and Quebec.
Until now the Fédération nationale des enseignants et enseignantes du Québec (FNEEQ-CSN), the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) and the Canadian Union of Public Employees - Ontario CUPE have expressed their support for the boycott campaign.
ASSÉ members will also take part in actions to concretely support the boycott resolution. We will also continue to organize workshops about Canadian complicity with Israeli Apartheid over the course of the Fall Semester.
For more information:
Hubert Gendron-Blais, Communications at (514)390-0110
www.asse-solidarite.qc.ca
(Original French statement: http://www.asse-solidarite.qc.ca/spip.php?article1036〈=fr)
United States
Progressive Jews Expelled from Israel's Birthday
Event and Banned from Benaroya Hall
Four members of the Seattle Jewish community were escorted out of last night's Israel at 60 celebration by police and banned from Benaroya Hall for one year. Some celebrate 60 years of Israel's statehood, but other Jews mourn 60 years since Al Nakba -- Arabic for "catastrophe" -- of 1948, asking, "Is our nation-state worth the displacement of another people?" Though they strive to honor the tragedy of the Holocaust and its survivors, they believe that the occupation of Palestine is not a fitting memorial and does not increase the security of Israel.
WHERE: Benaroya Hall, 200 University St.
WHEN: Wednesday night, 9:30 pm
HOW: Seattle Jews for a Free Palestine attended the Israel@60 event as ticket holders. Before the show, they distributed hundreds of leaflets to other attendees questioning the dominant narrative of Israel's independence. "What happened to 418 Palestinian villages that existed in 1947? How is this different from the ethnic cleansing that has long been practiced upon us?" These were met with widely varying responses, including deep appreciation. "We need more students doing this," one attendee said.
After the performance, Seattle Jews for a Free Palestine unfurled banners reading "Shame on Us for Making Refugees" and "Seattle Jews for a Free Palestine." They were quickly surrounded by police and escorted off the premises, singing Lo Yisagoy -- nations shall not learn war anymore. Benaroya Hall Director of Operations Troy Skubitz told the protesters that they were not welcome back. "Do you understand what that means?" asked Police Sgt. Paul Gracey, "If you return here in the next year, you will be arrested."
MORE: Sixty years ago, militias destroyed over 500 Palestinian villages and made more than 800,000 Palestinian people refugees in order to create a Jewish state in a land where the majority was not Jewish.
Today the Palestinian Nakba continues. In order to maintain Israel's Jewish majority, the Israeli government has continued campaigns of ongoing displacement, violence, and occupation. Inside of the 1948 borders of Israel, Palestinian citizens are denied legal rights received by Jews. Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem are denied access to land, water, health care, and other basic resources.
Palestinians throughout historic Palestine experience international isolation, economic devastation aided by the erection of a 730-kilometer wall, and continued closures and invasions including the current horrific siege of Gaza.
Today there are more than 6 million Palestinian refugees around the world, all of whom are denied their internationally recognized Right of Return to their homes and land.
Seattle Jews for a Free Palestine
sjfp@riseup.net
Visit our web site: https://we.riseup.net/sjfp
Leaflet PDF: https://we.riseup.net/assets/1198/Commemorate_60_Card.pdf
Banner drop photo: https://we.riseup.net/assets/1206/banner_drop.jpg
Palestine
World's Largest Key? Right of Return
in Aida Refugee Camp
Painting on the wall of the Aida refugee camp. The man is holding his hayiyah (refugee card). To the right,
the painting depicts a key, symbolizing the determination of the refugees to return to their homes.
The Aida Youth Activity Center is located in northern Bethlehem's Aida Refugee Camp. Today it has launched a project to build a gigantic structure in the shape of key hole, in addition to the largest iron key which goes next to it. This is all in memoriam of 60 years of Al Nakba, the Catastrophe.
The key is 10 meters long and weighs two tons. The key
hole structure is about 12 meters high.
The key represents the symbol of Right of Return, United Nations resolution 194, for Palestinians over the years. [...] Mr. Munther Ameera, the Director of the Center, asserts that this campaign aims at raising awareness to the unsolved and forgotten problem of Palestinian refugees.
It also aims at making the international world more active in pressuring the Israeli occupation to yield to the UN's many resolutions, particularly UN resolution 194, which grants Palestinian refugees their Right of Return to their homes and lands from which they have been expelled.
Local and international supporters of the Right of Return gathered on 8 May at the Key Monument at the gates of Aida Refugee Camp. This demonstration protested the ongoing occupation and its manifestations such as the Wall which surrounds this refugee camp from two sides. In addition, Ameera hopes that by building this Key Monument it will be entered into the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest key in the world.
Ameera says this idea was a collaboration with journalists from the Alzaitona Network. He thought of building the largest key in the world at the entrance of the camp in hopes of raising awareness in the international community to the forgotten issue of Palestinian refugees.
"We need to pressure the world to make the solving of
the refugees issue, who are still hoping to return to their lands and
homes and to end their long misery as it is their legal and moral right
granted by the UN and international law, a priority."
Letter from a Palestinian
TML is publishing below a public letter by Ayed Al Azzeh on the recent initiative in Aida Refugee Camp, Bethlehem, to build the gigantic structure in the shape of a keyhole along with a key.
***
Even the toughest of people couldn't stop their eyes from dropping some tears on the scene of the mounting of the Right of Return Key. The largest key my eyes ever seen. It's the largest, I presume, anyone has ever seen. Munther Ameera, the sole creator of this "crazy" idea, said, "I consider my self hard-hearted but today my eyes are full of tears as everyone else's. This key symbolizes our hope of return to our homes and lands that we have been injustly forced out of. Its our hope in the future that the day of return is close and no one can deny us this right and hope. Even the elders of the crowd cried and said today we will die knowing our children and grandchildren are faithful to our legacy that we should and will return. The new generations are determined even more now of their right of return. This key is as big as our dream of return. It's as big as our hopes and ambitions. It's as big as our confidence in the actuality of justice.
"We are so confident that at the end, our new
generations at one point will utter the famous 'Justice has been
Served.' It will be worthwhile no matter the hardships and sacrifices
we make along the way. Our Right of Return is not just an empty slogan
which we like the sound of it. It has been engraved
in the minds and souls of our people. It will never cease nor vanish
with
time. Those on the other side who count on its disappearance in time
will die tired also in time before this will happen. This Key in Aida
refugee camp is one nail in the coffin of Apartheid Zionist Regime
called 'Israel.' This key stands opposite
of the Israeli military encampment called 'Rachel's Tomb.' It will
spread fear and confusion in the minds and hearts of Zionists who come
daily to the area."
I thought, as many others, that we had failed to be creative in our war against the Apartheid Regime but today Munther Ameera proved us wrong in his idea of building the largest key along with the largest gate of return at the entrance of Aida camp. The whole major and non-major news media were here in Aida camp to witness this creative way of Palestinian resistence. The whole world was at this Return Gate. It brought new light to the western world that "The Refugee Problem is the core of any solution to the Israeli- Palestinian Problem." No solution will capture the so-called comprehensive and lasting peace without the just solving of the refugee problem. Any other solution will fall short of this so-called comprehensive lasting peace.
"This key will enter the Guinness numbers as we hope
since we have contacted the people in the Guinness Record numbers to
enlist our Return Key in their record numbers as the largest key in the
world. The key is about 10 metres long and weighs approximately 2 tons
of steel," Ameera announced,
adding, "It has been mounted on a wall in the shape of a key hole at
the
entrance of Aida Refugee camp. It will become, as we hope, a historic
site in the Bethlehem area and address for the refugees in Palestine
along
with their friends from all the world who share their solidarity with
them,"
Please share with me your thoughts on this and let me know what you think of any new ideas. I will appreciate your correspondence. I have attached some of the photos of the event of mounting the key in Aida.
Peace to all,
Ayed Al Azzeh
ayidalazzeh@yahoo.com
Read The Marxist-Leninist
Daily
Website: www.cpcml.ca
Email: editor@cpcml.ca