ACTION ALERT - WRITE TO THE GUARDIAN

Last Saturday’s Guardian magazine (27th January) in its feature on ’Brits abroad’, ran a section on living in Israel which you can read online (http://www.guardian.co.uk/weekend/story/0,,1998282,00.html).

Some points you may wish to raise (email letters@guardian.co.uk )

1) « Emigration for Jews to Israel is relatively easy - but for non-Jews it can be very difficult. » What about the millions of Palestinians expelled to form Israel. Point out the insensitivity of publishing this kind of feature - Israel predicated on the expulsion of others etc.

2) « Ideologically, Britons are more likely to be found on the collective kibbutz than the religious settlement on the West Bank. » They may be religious, but they are illegal - why not pointed out by the Guardian - surely people should know that ? Also, this perpetuates the age-old myth that kibbutzes are acceptable and moral, rather than built typically on stolen land etc.

3) One emigrant featured « ... .served in Gaza, around Khan Yunis and the Jewish settlements of Gush Katif » How nice - readers of this article could be Brits abroad, serving in an illegal occupation army and oppressing another people.

4) « (kibbutz ) Kfar Hanassi is also becoming overshadowed by its Arab neighbour, Tuba-Zangaria, which, with 6,000 people, is 10 times bigger. » As if the Arab town is somehow an interloper, threatening innocent Jewish settlers, rather than the reverse.

Please send us a copy of your letters. Many thanks. PSC

Rally for the Launch of the ENOUGH ! coalition

Tuesday 30th January 2007

Friends Meeting House Euston Road, London

7-9pm

2007 marks the 40th anniversary of Israel’s military occupation of the Gaza Strip and West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Enough ! is a major coalition of UK-based charities, trade unions, faith and other campaign groups formed to mark this anniversary by pressing for a just peace for Israelis and Palestinians alike.

Launch Rally
featuring :

Tony Benn
Prof Manuel Hassassian, Palestinian General Delegate to the UK

Dr Mona El-Farra, author, From Gaza, with Love
Yonatan Shapira, Israeli Refusenik pilot and Combatant for Peace

Zakaria Abu Harbid, award-winning cameraman from Gaza

Sharif Omar, Jayous farmer and community leader

plus more speakers films, stalls and merchandise

Tuesday 30 January 2007, 19.00-21.00
Friends House, 173 Euston Road, London NW1 2BJ
Free entry

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Enough !
End the Occupation :
Justice for the Palestinians

Enough !

2007 marks the 40-year anniversary of the Six Day War, in which the Israeli army took military control of the Gaza Strip and West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Since that time the government of Israel has built ‘settlements’ in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and assisted its citizens in setting up homes and businesses using land and resources stolen from the Palestinian people. This situation has continued to the current day despite Israel being in violation of international humanitarian law and over 60 UN resolutions.

Enough !

The Occupation has created serious poverty for the Palestinians, as well as severe human rights violations. But Palestinian suffering dates back further to 1948, when the state of Israel was created and 750,000 Palestinians were driven or fled from their homes. The United Nations asserted the refugees’ right to return home in 1948, but Israel has refused to allow this. Meanwhile the refugee population has grown to over four million, one of the largest in the world, many of whom live in camps waiting for international law to be upheld.

Enough !

Britain bears a particular responsibility for this suffering. From 1917 to 1948 Britain controlled Palestine. Along with the US and many EU countries, the UK government is today involved in a close military, economic and political relationship with Israel, and fails to stand up for the rights of the Palestinian people.

www.palestinecampaign.org

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Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Box BM PSA
London
WC1N 3XX

Tel : 020 7700 6192
Fax : 020 7609 7779
Web : www.palestinecampaign.org