Friday, July 23, 2010

CAIRO DECLARATION

January 1, 2010

“End Israeli Apartheid”


We, international delegates meeting in Cairo during the Gaza Freedom March 2009 in collective response to an initiative from the South African delegation, state:
In view of:

  • Israel's ongoing collective punishment of Palestinians through the illegal occupation and siege of Gaza;
  • the illegal occupation of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the continued construction of the illegal Apartheid Wall and settlements;
  • the new Wall under construction by Egypt and the US which will tighten even further the siege of Gaza;
  • the contempt for Palestinian democracy shown by Israel, the US, Canada, the EU and others after the Palestinian elections of 2006;
  • the war crimes committed by Israel during the invasion of Gaza one year ago;
  • the continuing discrimination and repression faced by Palestinians within Israel;
  • and the continuing exile of millions of Palestinian refugees;
  • all of which oppressive acts are based ultimately on the Zionist ideology which underpins Israel;
  • in the knowledge that our own governments have given Israel direct economic, financial, military and diplomatic support and allowed it to behave with impunity;
  • and mindful of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (2007)

We reaffirm our commitment to:
Palestinian Self-Determination
Ending the Occupation
Equal Rights for All within historic Palestine
The full Right of Return for Palestinian refugees


We therefore reaffirm our commitment to the United Palestinian call of July 2005 for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) to compel Israel to comply with international law.

To that end, we call for and wish to help initiate a global mass, democratic anti-apartheid movement to work in full consultation with Palestinian civil society to implement the Palestinian call for BDS.

Mindful of the many strong similarities between apartheid Israel and the former apartheid regime in South Africa, we propose:

  1. An international speaking tour in the first 6 months of 2010 by Palestinian and South African trade unionists and civil society activists, to be joined by trade unionists and activists committed to this programme within the countries toured, to take mass education on BDS directly to the trade union membership and wider public internationally;
  2. Participation in the Israeli Apartheid Week in March 2010;
  3. A systematic unified approach to the boycott of Israeli products, involving consumers, workers and their unions in the retail, warehousing, and transportation sectors;
  4. Developing the Academic, Cultural and Sports boycott;
  5. Campaigns to encourage divestment of trade union and other pension funds from companies directly implicated in the Occupation and/or the Israeli military industries;
  6. Legal actions targeting the external recruitment of soldiers to serve in the Israeli military, and the prosecution of Israeli government war criminals; coordination of Citizen's Arrest Bureaux to identify, campaign and seek to prosecute Israeli war criminals; support for the Goldstone Report and the implementation of its recommendations;
  7. Campaigns against charitable status of the Jewish National Fund (JNF).

We appeal to organizations and individuals committed to this declaration to sign it and work with us to make it a reality. Please go to http://cairodeclaration.org/sign to sign on.

Download the declaration

Signed by: (* Affiliation for identification purposes only)

  1. Hedy Epstein, Holocaust Survivor/ Women in Black*, USA
  2. Nomthandazo Sikiti, Nehawu, Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), Affiliate International Officer*, South Africa
  3. Zico Tamela, Satawu, Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) Affiliate International Officer*, South Africa
  4. Hlokoza Motau, Numsa, Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) Affiliate International Officer*, South Africa
  5. George Mahlangu, Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) Campaigns Coordinator*, South Africa
  6. Crystal Dicks, Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) Education Secretary*, South Africa
  7. Savera Kalideen, SA Palestinian Solidarity Committee*, South Africa
  8. Suzanne Hotz, SA Palestinian Solidarity Group*, South Africa
  9. Shehnaaz Wadee, SA Palestinian Solidarity Alliance*, South Africa
  10. Haroon Wadee, SA Palestinian Solidarity Alliance*, South Africa
  11. Sayeed Dhansey, South Africa
  12. Faiza Desai, SA Palestinian Solidarity Alliance*, South Africa
  13. Ali Abunimah, Electronic Intifada*, USA
  14. Hilary Minch, Ireland Palestine Solidarity Committee*, Ireland
  15. Anthony Loewenstein, Australia
  16. Sam Perlo-Freeman, United Kingdom
  17. Julie Moentk, Pax Christi*, USA
  18. Ulf Fogelström, Sweden
  19. Ann Polivka, Chico Peace and Justice Center*, USA
  20. Mark Johnson, Fellowship of Reconciliation*, USA
  21. Elfi Padovan, Munich Peace Committee*/Die Linke*, Germany
  22. Elizabeth Barger, Peace Roots Alliance*/Plenty I*, USA
  23. Sarah Roche-Mahdi, CODEPINK*, USA
  24. Svetlana Gesheva-Anar, Bulgaria
  25. Cristina Ruiz Cortina, Al Quds-Malaga*, Spain
  26. Rachel Wyon, Boston Gaza Freedom March*, USA
  27. Mary Hughes-Thompson, Women in Black*, USA
  28. David Letwin, International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network (IJAN)*, USA
  29. Jean Athey, Peace Action Montgomery*, USA
  30. Gael Murphy, Gaza Freedom March*/CODEPINK*, USA
  31. Thomas McAfee, Journalist/PC*, USA
  32. Jean Louis Faure, International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network (IJAN)*, France
  33. Timothy A King, Christians for Peace and Justice in the Middle East*, USA
  34. Gail Chalbi, Palestine/Israel Justice Project of the Minnesota United Methodist Church*, USA
  35. Ouahib Chalbi, Palestine/Israel Justice Project of the Minnesota United Methodist Church*, USA
  36. Greg Dropkin, Liverpool Friends of Palestine*, England
  37. Felice Gelman, Wespac Peace and Justice New York*/Gaza Freedom March*, USA
  38. Ron Witton, Australian Academic Union*, Australia
  39. Hayley Wallace, Palestine Solidarity Committee*, USA
  40. Norma Turner, Manchester Palestine Solidarity Campaign*, England
  41. Paula Abrams-Hourani, Women in Black (Vienna)*/ Jewish Voice for Just Peace in the Middle East*, Austria
  42. Mateo Bernal, Industrial Workers of the World*, USA
  43. Mary Mattieu, Collectif Urgence Palestine*, Switzerland
  44. Agneta Zuppinger, Collectif Urgence Palestine*, Switzerland
  45. Ashley Annis, People for Peace*, Canada
  46. Peige Desgarlois, People for Peace*, Canada
  47. Hannah Carter, Canadian Friends of Sabeel*, Canada
  48. Laura Ashfield, Canadian Friends of Sabeel*, Canada
  49. Iman Ghazal, People for Peace*, Canada
  50. Filsam Farah, People for Peace*, Canada
  51. Awa Allin, People for Peace*, Canada
  52. Cleopatra McGovern, USA
  53. Miranda Collet, Spain
  54. Alison Phillips, Scotland
  55. Nicholas Abramson, Middle East Crisis Response Network*/Jews Say No*, USA
  56. Tarak Kauff, Middle East Crisis Response Network*/Veterans for Peace*, USA
  57. Jesse Meisler-Abramson, USA
  58. Hope Mariposa, USA
  59. Ivesa Lübben. Bremer Netzwerk fur Gerechten Frieden in Nahost*, Germany
  60. Sheila Finan, Mid-Hudson Council MERC*, USA
  61. Joanne Lingle, Christians for Peace and Justice in the Middle East (CPJME)*, USA
  62. Barbara Lubin, Middle East Children’s Alliance*, USA
  63. Josie Shields-Stromsness, Middle East Children’s Alliance*, USA
  64. Anna Keuchen, Germany
  65. Judith Mahoney Pasternak, WRL* and Indypendent*, USA
  66. Ellen Davidson, New York City Indymedia*, WRL*, Indypendent*, USA
  67. Ina Kelleher, USA
  68. Lee Gargagliano, International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network (Chicago)*, USA
  69. Brad Taylor, OUT-FM*, USA
  70. Helga Mankovitz, SPHR (Queen’s University)*, Canada
  71. Mick Napier, Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign*, Scotland
  72. Agnes Kueng, Paso Basel*, Switzerland
  73. Anne Paxton, Voices of Palestine*, USA
  74. Leila El Abtah, The Netherlands
  75. Richard, Van der Wouden, The Netherlands
  76. Rafiq A. Firis, P.K.R.*/Isra*, The Netherlands
  77. Sandra Tamari, USA
  78. Alice Azzouzi, Way to Jerusalem*, USA
  79. J’Ann Schoonmaker Allen, USA
  80. Ruth F. Hooke, Episcopalian Peace Fellowship*, USA
  81. Jean E. Lee, Holy Land Awareness Action Task Group of United Church of Canada*, Canada
  82. Delphine de Boutray, Association Thèâtre Cine*, France
  83. Sylvia Schwarz, USA
  84. Alexandra Safi, Germany
  85. Abdullah Anar, Green Party – Turkey*, Turkey
  86. Ted Auerbach, USA
  87. Martha Hennessy, Catholic Worker*, USA
  88. Louis Ultale, Interfaile Pace e Bene*, USA
  89. Leila Zand, Fellowship of Reconciliation*, US
  90. Emma Grigore, CODEPINK*, USA
  91. Sammer Abdelela, New York Community of Muslim Progressives*, USA
  92. Sharat G. Lin, San Jose Peace and Justice Center*, USA
  93. Katherine E. Sheetz, Free Gaza*, USA
  94. Steve Greaves, Free Gaza*, USA
  95. Trevor Baumgartner, Free Gaza*, USA
  96. Hanan Tabbara, USA
  97. Marina Barakatt, CODEPINK*, USA
  98. Keren Bariyov, USA
  99. Ursula Sagmeister, Women in Black – Vienna*, Austria
  100. Ann Cunningham, Australia
  101. Bill Perry, Delaware Valley Veterans for Peace*, USA
  102. Terry Perry, Delaware Valley Veterans for Peace*, USA
  103. Athena Viscusi, USA
  104. Marco Viscusi, USA
  105. Paki Wieland, Northampton Committee*, USA
  106. Manijeh Saba, New York / New Jersey, USA
  107. Ellen Graves, USA
  108. Zoë Lawlor, IrelandPalestine Solidarity Campaign*, Ireland
  109. Miguel García Grassot, Al Quds – Málaga*, Spain
  110. Ana Mamora Romero, ASPA-Asociacion Andaluza Solidaridad y Paz*, Spain
  111. Ehab Lotayef, CJPP Canada*, Canada
  112. Adie Mormech, Free Gaza* / Action Palestine*, England
  113. Aimee Shalan, UK
  114. Liliane Cordova, International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network (IJAN)*, Spain
  115. Priscilla Lynch, USA
  116. Jenna Bitar, USA
  117. Deborah Mardon, USA
  118. Becky Thompson, USA
  119. Diane Hereford, USA
  120. David Heap, People for Peace London*, Canada
  121. Danah Abdulla, Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights*, Canada
  122. Wendy Goldsmith, People for Peace London*, Canada
  123. Abdu Mihirig, Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights-UBC*, Canada
  124. Saldibastami, Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights-UBC*, Canada
  125. Abdenahmane Bouaffad, CMF*, France
  126. Feroze Mithiborwala, Awami Bharat*, India
  127. John Dear, Pax Christi*, USA
  128. Ziyaad Lunat, Portugal
  129. Michael Letwin, New York City Labor Against the War (NYCLAW)
  130. Labor For Palestine

End the Siege of Gaza! Solidarity Caravan from India to Palestine

End the Siege of Gaza!

Solidarity Caravan from India to Palestine

Saturday 24th June, 2010

4-6pm, Dosti Trust office, Sadhbhavna Sangh, Arya Soap Premises, 16 Hansraj Lane, Kiddy Land Nursery, Mankeshwar Mandir, near Byculla Police Station (East), Mumbai

Our proposal is that an Asian land convoy leaves from New Delhi mid-September and travels across Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt and ultimately through the Rafah Crossing into Gaza-Palestine!!

Come September and all international road, air and shipping routes will lead to Gaza!

Israel’s occupation of Palestinian and Arab territories has lasted for decades in violation of international law, international humanitarian law and numerous United Nations resolutions. The occupation of Palestine must end! Gaza has been turned into a vast prison with the Palestinian population there under continuous, murderous assaults and a permanent state of siege. The Palestinian people must have the freedom to exercise their right to self-determination including their right to establish, on all the territories that Israel has occupied, an independent state of their own in any manner they see fit. The structure of apartheid that Israel has established must be dismantled and it must grant equal rights to all its citizens including the right of return to the Palestinians refugees. The Palestinians have the right to resist the occupation through all legitimate means.

The terrible massacre aboard the Mavi Marmara on 31 May 2010 has brought a sea change in international opinion against the inhumane siege on the people of Gaza.

Citizens around the world have responded to the plight of the Palestinian people and are taking action to help break the blockade which is suffocating the lives of the people of Gaza and denying them their very right to exist. Far from deterring people from seeking to bring that siege to an end, the Israeli assault on the Freedom Flotilla is spurring on even more people to bring humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and to end the blockade.

We as Asians must do our part. We must join with movements from across the world to support an end to the imperialist occupation of Gaza and the disenfranchisement of the Palestinian people in their own land.

There is an ongoing international effort to lead a gigantic land convoy to reach Gaza at the same time as the armada by sea reaches the shores of Gaza towards the end of September & early October.

Viva Palestina has organized more than 500 vehicles & 60 Ships, whilst the European campaign to End the Siege of Gaza will be sending more than 9000 delegates. Convoys from North and South Africa are also due to join. It is our proposal that there must be a strong Asian involvement in the global movement.

Our proposal is that an Asian land convoy leaves from New Delhi mid-September and travels across Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt and ultimately through the Rafah Crossing into Gaza-Palestine. The Asian convoy will be joined by delegations and vehicles in each of the nine countries through which it passes. In each country public meetings, press conferences, meetings with mass organizations and political parties will be organised along the way.

This historic venture will also provide us with an opportunity to deepen the processes of Asian solidarity.

We stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people in their quest for a state of their own. We express our solidarity to the Palestinian liberation movement in its struggle for democracy and social, economic, political and civil rights and salute the courageous Palestinian people in their struggle against imperialism.

Please make it possible to attend a meeting to prepare and join in this solidarity action to resist imperialism.

In solidarity,

Prakash Ambedkar (Bharip Bahujan Mahasangh, National President), Comrade Prakash Reddy (CPI, Mumbai Secretary), S S Yadav (Advisor, RPI-Athawale), Namdeo Dhasal, Com. Saeed (CPM, State Committee), Brigadier Sudhir Sawant (Shivrajya Party, State President), Com. Sanjay Singhvi (CPI-ML, Central Committee), Nazar Mahdoo (Jamat-i-Islami, State President), Maulana Mustakeem Azmi (Jamiat-i-Ulema-i-Hind), Sarfaraz Arzu (Editor, Hindustan Daily), Meraj Siddiqui (Muslim Intellectual Forum), Com. Vasudevan (Blue Star Union), Sunil Khobragade (Editor, Mahanayak), Aslam Ghazi, Fazal Shaad, Sudhir Dhawale (Republican Panther), Farouk Mapkar, Yavar Ali Qazi, Jyoti Bedekar (Vidyarthi Bharti), Ghazala Azad.

On behalf of the India-Palestine People’s Solidarity Forum:

Ashim Roy (NTUI), Feroze Mithiborwala (Bharat Bachao Andolan), Kishore Jagtap (Awami Bharat), Varsha Vidya Vilas (Sadbhavna Sangh), Sandeep Pandey (Asha Pariwar), Dr. Tasleem Rehmani (Muslim Political Council of India), Akshya Kumar (Navnirman Samiti).