PSC welcomes the Palestinian unity government and calls on the European Union to lift the Palestinian blockade.

16 March 2007

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) congratulates the Palestinians on their achievement of an agreement on a national unity cabinet. We call on the British government and the European Union to recognise and fully support the democratically elected Palestinian government, and we welcome the news that the EU is at last considering an end to the year-long international boycott, and urge it to restore aid to the Palestinians immediately.

Sarah Colborne, Chair of PSC expressed disappointment at Israel’s response to the announcement of the new cabinet. She stated, “To call it a ‘step backwards’ is a rejection of Palestinian efforts to resolve their internal conflict and to respect their people’s democratic decision. Israel demands that the Palestinians renounce violence and honour previous agreements, while itself doing neither. Israeli violence continues with the daily killing and maiming of innocent Palestinians, including children, and the destruction of homes and infrastructure. Settlement expansion in the West Bank - in violation of previous agreements, including the Oslo Agreement, and international law - also continues unabated.”

Therefore PSC calls upon the British government:

To fully welcome and engage with the new Palestinian unity government, and to call on Israel to do the same.

To immediately work for the restoration of EU aid to the Palestinian Authority.

To demand that Israel ends its blockade and restore taxes owed to the Palestinian Authority.

To demand that Israel cease all military action in the Occupied Territories, and to end Britain’s arms trade with Israel until it abides by international law.

To demand the release of all elected Palestinian representatives who have been abducted and imprisoned by Israel.

To apply pressure through the United Nations for Israel to respect the UN resolutions requiring its withdrawal from the territories it illegally occupied in 1967.

 ends -

Further information:

Palestine Solidarity Campaign - 020 7700 6192 info@palestinecampaign.org

Notes to Editors:

1. For comments please call 020 7700 6192

2. The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) aims to raise public awareness about the occupation of Palestine and the struggle of the Palestinian people. PSC seek to bring pressure on both the British and Israeli government to bring their policies in line with international law. PSC is an independent, non-governmental and non-party political organisation with members from communities across Britain.

 

The PSC AGM 2007 commits members to uniting with broad forces to campaign to end Israeli occupation The Palestine Solidarity Campaign AGM 2007 was an exceptionally positive event. Attendance was around 160 people from over 30 areas of Britain. We heard speeches from Palestinians informing us of the terrible situation currently facing everyone in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem; Professor Manuel Hassassian, the Mayor of Ramallah Janet Michael and Laila Shreim from the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions contributed. They emphasized the importance of international solidarity work such as that of the PSC. Trade Union representatives from PCS, AMICUS, UNISON, TSSA and GMB also spoke about the active role the trade unions are now playing in support of Palestinian rights, as well as PSC activists reporting on successes from around the country.

In the debate on Zionism and anti-semitism, the EC made the following clarifying statement:

‘PSC has no links to, and offers no facilities to the organisation Deir Yassin Remembered’

The following amendment was passed overwhelmingly:

‘Conference reaffirms its opposition to all forms of racism, including anti-Jewish prejudice and that the expression of or support for anti-semitic viewpoints are incompatible with membership of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign.

Conference rejects any attempt by supporters of the State of Israel to try to label those who criticise or condemn actions and policies of that state as guilty of anti-semitism.

Conference recognises that as more and more people become aware of the unjust treatment of the Palestinian people by the state of Israel and in particular its army; the collusion with the Government of Israel by the United States Administration, the European Union, the British Government and others and the failure of the United Nations to deliver the implementation of General assembly and security Council resolutions; that those seeking to defend the indefensible will use any arguments to deflect attention from the continuation of the oppression and repression of the Palestinian people.

The AGM reaffirms that PSC will not be deflected from its task and will meet and challenge all attempts to deflect attention from the plight of the Palestinians.’

The AGM was absolutely united in its determination to build a mass united campaign in support of the Palestinian people calling for the right of Palestinians to self determination, an end to the illegal Israeli occupation, for the right of Palestinian refugees to return and for the immediate dismantling of the illegal Apartheid Wall.

PSC has over the last year taken a whole series of initiatives to bring the cause of the Palestinian people to the attention of people in this country. Amongst the most significant developments that have taken place has been the decision by the Trades Union Congress to support the legitimate wishes of the Palestinian people.

PSC is now intent on building a massive demonstration on 9 June in central London, working through the Enough! Coalition to make sure that this will be a major event in solidarity with the Palestinian people and demanding an end to Israeli occupation.

Emergency resolution:

This AGM notes that, following the Mecca Agreement on 8 February issued by Fatah and Hamas, the Palestinians are currently working to create a national unity government to rebuild Palestinian society which has faced systematic destruction under Israeli occupation.

This AGM also notes that the Quartet meeting in February failed to lift the sanctions that were imposed by the US, EU and Israel in an attempt to collectively punish the Palestinian people for the result of the Palestinian Authority elections.

This AGM also notes the hypocrisy of the ’international community’ in demanding that the Palestinian Authority ’recognises Israel,’ ’ends violence’ and ’respects past agreements’ whilst placing no similar demands on Israel, despite its failure to recognise Palestine, its killing of 660 Palestinians in 2006 and its massive expansion of illegal settlements despite the Oslo Agreement.

This AGM believes that the British government must respect the democratic wishes of the Palestinians and seize this opportunity to overturn its wrong and disastrous position of supporting sanctions, which have created a humanitarian disaster. A recent UN report showed that half the Palestinians inside the Occupied Palestinian Territories are malnourished.

This AGM therefore resolves to campaign for the government to end its role in punishing the occupied people, the Palestinians, rather than the occupying nation, Israel, and:

* Respect the democratic wishes of the Palestinian people
* Recognise the Palestinian unity government
* Immediately ensure the European Union resumes its funding of the Palestinian Authority, and that it puts all possible pressure on the US to resume its aid
* Ensure Israel release the withheld tax revenues owed to the Palestinian Authority
* Ensure that Israel release the democratically elected members of the Palestinian Authority that it has abducted and imprisoned.
* Immediately act on the recommendation of the International Development Committee that ’The UK should urge the EU to use the Association Agreement with Israel as a lever for change and to consider suspending the Agreement until there are further improvements in access arrangements’

Other motions agreed at the PSC AGM 2007

Fundraising

In its 26th year, PSC is planning to organise and campaign for Palestinian justice at the widest and most intensive level possible. This requires an enlarged budget to support the staffing, campaign materials and activities, and volunteer expenses which are the essential underpinning for this effort. To make this possible, it is proposed the following commitments should be made:

The EC will appoint a fundraising working group, which will review and coordinate fundraising options, and will ensure that:

one or more major fundraising events is organised nationally
a Merchandise Coordinator is appointed, to ensure that maximum funding is raised from merchandise sales

recognising that some branches already make significant contributions to funding, all branches will be asked to:

a) support the national drive to increase membership by adopting their own targets for increased national membership; and

b) to pledge to organise one fundraising event in the year, with at least 50% of the proceeds donated to national funds.

funding appeals (including for specific costed purposes) will be made to relevant groups of supporters.

Friends of Palestine Educational Trust

Given that there is woeful mis-information about the cause of Palestine and Palestinian rights spread by media and organisations such as Friends of Israel Educational Trust which enjoys charitable status, this AGM instructs the Executive to explore and report back on ways of setting up a Friends of Palestine Educational Trust, with charitable status. Its aims would be to raise funds for and support the provision of educational resources and deployment of speakers who have a sound grasp of the history and the present situation of the Palestinian people.

Constitution adopted with following amendment: 8.3 d) add:
’but a minimum period of membership of 3 months is necessary before voting rights are acquired’

Action Plan 2007 The years 2007 and 2008 are significant dates for all campaigners for a free Palestine and justice for the Palestinians. The Nakba of 1948 and the military occupation of 1967 and all of their results remain effectively unchallenged by the international community. This abdication of the rule of international law must be ended.

In refusing to accept the democratic decisions of the Palestinian people, Israel has successfully solicited the support of the UK, the US and the EU. This undermining of Palestinian democracy includes:

withholding of EU funds
Israel’s withholding of Palestinian tax revenues
the imprisonment of democratically elected parliamentarians
and has resulted in mass unemployment and the systematic impoverishment of Palestinians.

In addition the continued occupation with its closures, curfews and checkpoints, colonial expansion of settlements, the Wall and settler only roads destroy Palestinian lands and homes and any hope of an independent, viable, sovereign state.

It is external international pressure and refusal to confront the illegality of Israel’s actions and policies which is exacerbating problems for Palestinians.

The PSC must expose the responsibility of the British government (as well as other governments) for the continuing collective punishment of the Palestinian people. Our objective is to change the policies of the British government by lobbying and raising public awareness to achieve support for Palestinian rights throughout all sections of British society.

PSC must work to help create a mass solidarity movement to effect change in consciousness, policies and actions at a national and international level.

Our priorities are to:

1: increase public activities in support of Palestinian rights

2: effectively communicate PSC’s message

3: Improve our work with other organisations and network effectively

4: Increase visible support by MPs and MEPs

5: Increase activity by trade unions at national and local level

6: Increase student involvement

7: Increase activity and support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign

8. Continue to build the active campaign to dismantle the Apartheid Wall and its related structures

In particular, PSC will improve our work with other organisations, including Palestinian organizations such as Stop the Wall and The Open Bethlehem Campaign, as well as Israeli anti-occupation organizations, and network effectively.

PSC welcomes the coalition of charities, trade unions, faith and other campaign groups – including the PSC, War on Want, trade unions, Muslim, Jewish and Christian organisations – which have come together to work during the 40 years anniversary of the 1967 war. This coalition - ‘Enough! End the Israeli Occupation: Justice for the Palestinians’ has a plan of action throughout 2007 on pressing the British government to stand up for international law and human rights, to deliver justice, equality and freedom and end the Israeli occupation.

The coalition’s founding statement highlights Israel’s settlement-building policy, Israel’s violation of international humanitarian law and over 60 UN resolutions. It also notes that ‘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.’

The founding statement ends: ‘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.’

PSC therefore resolves to fully support and build the Enough coalition, and ensure that the maximum pressure is placed on the British government through the coalition and in all of our work.

PSC will work throughout 2007 with the Enough! coalition:

· on local actions at Easter time focusing on Jerusalem

· building a massive national demonstration on June 9th

· building a mass lobby of Parliament in November 2007

Zionism and anti-semitism

Conference reaffirms its opposition to all forms of racism, including anti-Jewish prejudice and that the expression of or support for anti-semitic viewpoints are incompatible with membership of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign.

Conference rejects any attempt by supporters of the State of Israel to try to label those who criticise or condemn actions and policies of that state as guilty of anti-semitism.

Conference recognises that as more and more people become aware of the unjust treatment of the Palestinian people by the state of Israel and in particular its army; the collusion with the Government of Israel by the United States Administration, the European Union, the British Government and others and the failure of the United Nations to deliver the implementation of General assembly and security Council resolutions; that those seeking to defend the indefensible will use any arguments to deflect attention from the continuation of the oppression and repression of the Palestinian people.

The AGM reaffirms that PSC will not be deflected from its task and will meet and challenge all attempts to deflect attention from the plight of the Palestinians.

Membership and Branch building
PSC applauds the work done by branches and members which is increasingly effective. We will continue to support local work as much as possible and encourage branch activity by publicising successful branch initiatives. To build on this work, we will seek to increase individual membership and branches with the aim of increasing participation at meetings, demonstrations and all events and having

· 50 branches established by end 2007

· membership number increased

National PSC will work with local members and branches to:

1. Increase national membership through stalls, public meetings, encourage periphery of branch membership to join nationally

2. Start a “next door” branch

3. Hold meetings where there is an existing membership but no branch

4. Hold film shows, stalls, meetings, social and fundraising, press and media, street theatre, protest vigils

5. Establish regional membership recruiters

6. Increase coordination and cooperation between branches through regional meetings, the internet, newsletters, regional officers

7. Use petitions more effectively – insert a contact details column which conforms with the Data Protection Act.

8. Use national ads to bring PSC’s vision to the attention of the British public

9. Consider ways in which AGM processes can build members’ participation, develop practical action and build consensus and commitment. Rather than have all AGM business conducted through resolutions which require either support or opposition, it is proposed that the Exec and NCC
explore more participatory ways of conducting at least part of the AGM to create working groups on the day to develop practical ideas for action in a constructive and supportive way.

North of England

Over the last two years there has been a steady growth in the number of supporters of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign in the north of England and a number of new branches have been established. In order to build on this activism and to raise the profile of the boycott, sanctions and disinvestment campaign members of York PSC, Sheffield PSC and Halifax PSC are planning a major protest rally and festival of Palestinian culture, the first of its kind to be held outside London. The aim is to allow northern supporters to demonstrate their solidarity with the Palestinian people, and to take our campaign to the general public on a busy Saturday in the centre of a major city. We are hoping that the rally will become an annual event in the north of England.

This conference calls on all branches, particularly those in the north of England, to support the rally and to mobilise supporters to attend it.

Communications

PSC recognises and commends the work done by the Media Group in 2006-7, in particular its presentation to the BBC Israeli-Palestinian Impartiality Review and the publication of several letters to the national press thanks to co-ordination by the Group.

PSC recognises that good communication which is focused and ‘on message’ is essential in our work and resolves to make media work a primary focus for 2007 and calls for the incoming Executive Committee:

 to appoint a media co-ordinator as one of the unnamed posts (as in 2006)

 to develop and implement a media strategy for 2007 with realistic targets

 to consider taking on paid workers to undertake specific media work during the year

 to fully exploit any existing media expertise within PSC’s membership

 to develop better working contacts with media organisations through attending media events, inviting media contacts to PSC events etc

 to consider means of publishing leading articles/editorials from Palestine News in the national press

 to improve co-ordination with Arab Media Watch through regular meetings or joint actions

 to continue and expand the existing Media monitoring email group

 to further develop the website to support PSC activities locally and nationally including providing resources and information

 to increase the size of email list/mailing list and use it to increase activity and membership-

 to continue to produce printed material/leaflets of a high standard

 to develop the distribution and sales of Palestine News Magazine through a part time post or volunteer

 to encourage branches and members to sell Palestine News

 to establish a workshop group to develop PSC documents on key issues to use to inform all PSC communications

Website – this motion was referred to the executive committee

Promotion and distribution of “Palestine News”

In order to maximise the impact of this publication, this AGM instructs the Executive to appoint an officer to promote Palestine News as the authoritative voice of the pro-Palestine movement in the UK, encouraging wholesalers and distributors to make bulk purchases and supply all their outlets with each issue of the magazine; and to call for volunteers to act as regional representatives to promote the distribution and sale of Palestine News, especially at PSC events.

Parliamentary work

The AGM notes the increased support of MPs to issues concerning Palestine and the very successful lobby of Parliament organised by PSC and others. PSC will continue to work to increase support from MPs and MEPs. We will:

· Aim to increase numbers of of MPs/MEPs signing Early Day Motions (EDMs), asking parliamentary questions, supporting all-party group on Palestine

· Build relationships with MPs and MEPs prepared to support our work on Palestine

· Aim to involve more MPs and MEPs in our public work nationally and locally

· Increase activities inside parties – fringe meetings, stalls, debates at conference, send speakers to local meetings etc.

· Increase lobbying at local and national level, through meetings with MPs, letters/postcards, campaigns and templates

· Make sure all branches know who local MEPs are and work (together if appropriate) to communicate and lobby them

· Increase PSC’s knowledge of MPs and MEPs positions on issue: add to current database of EDMs

· Organise events at Parliament with MPs to demonstrate support

Trade Union Work

The PSC AGM welcomes the Motion passed at the TUC in September 2006 which expressed support for:

* the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination;

* the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homeland;

* the withdrawal of Israeli troops from all occupied territories; and

* the removal of the illegally constructed ‘apartheid wall’.

The PSC AGM notes that the resolution expressed the view that:

“Congress condemns the Government of Israel’s suspension of revenue payments to the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the suspension of aid by the European Union, the United States Administration and others.”

The PSC AGM welcomes the fact that the TUC resolution called on TUC affiliates to affiliate to PSC, and welcomes the increasing numbers of national trade unions who have affiliated to the Campaign and considers that the winning of support amongst trade unions and their members is an important task for PSC.

The PSC AGM welcomes and endorses the formation of the PSC Trade Union Advisory Committee comprised of all affiliates as a crucial development to expand the work of the Campaign in the broader trade union movement.

The PSC AGM notes the programme of work already undertaken by the TUAC to:

a) develop appropriate educational material to be used by trade unions;

b) facilitate the building of links between unions in Britain and Palestine;

c) organise visits and speakers from Palestinian trade unions.

The PSC AGM agrees to:

i) continue to encourage affiliations from national, regional and local trade unions;

ii) work for the active participation of the trade unions in the campaign;

iii) produce publicity material to support the work of PSC in the trade unions;

iv) consider ways in which links can be built around specific international campaigns with trade unions from other countries.

The PSC AGM also agrees to encourage PSC Branches to:

1) take initiatives to contact unions and trade councils locally;

2) seek affiliation by local trade union branches to PSC nationally;

3) offer to provide speakers for branches and workplaces;

4) invite unions to attend local branch meetings and to participate in local and national activities.

Students and Young People

PSC recognises the importance of engaging with young people and students. We welcome the student day school held in Autumn 2006 and attended by representatives of 22 universities. We will continue to work on building an effective student network and continue our education work in schools and colleges. We recognise the need to change NUS policy on the issue of Palestine.

We will:

1. Facilitate networks to Palestine Societies and groups in institutions using the internet, website ,email and other means

2. Produce regular emailed newsletters to students

3. Encourage meetings at universities and colleges, with PSC helping to provide speakers, films and other resources.

4. Encourage PSC members to support events at NUS conferences.

5. Provide ideas and resources to engage in campaigns.

6. Encourage students to promote and get involved in the Right to Education campaign.

7. Encourage branches to work with local education institutions, including building for national events, particularly the national demonstration on 9th June 2007

8. Encourage the establishment of Palestine Societies in universities

Campaigning on Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions PSC welcomes the call from Palestinian Civil Society for an international BDS Campaigns. We welcome the PACBI call for an academic and cultural boycott and note the successes of BRICUP and the John Berger initiative.

We reiterate our commitment to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaigns as major public activities of PSC while recognising that we must take account of the different factors in the various milieu in which we are working.

We are committed to building support and taking account of the many initiatives which members have taken, we will:

build a larger BIG Network and set up a wider forum for groups interested in the BDS campaign,
continue dialogue with supermarkets over selling of Israeli goods
ask branches to assign members to be link persons for BDS
Organise a tour of Palestinian working for supermarket supplier
Increase members working on research/publications
· Prioritise campaigns on Carmel Agrexco and Caterpillar

support direct action against companies profiting from the occupation
Co-ordinate actions around sporting events, particularly football. The September Wembley match will be a priority
Establish a working group on divestment
continue to support Stop Arming Israel campaign
· work at an international level with other Palestine Solidarity organizations to co-ordinate campaigns

We will develop the BIG website and continue to produce literature on specific supermarkets, specific products etc.

We will improve media coverage of the BDS campaign.

Boycott

Conference:

1. Notes the call from Palestinian Civil Society, the text of which

can be found on the website of PACBI at http://www.pacbi.org/boycott_news_more.php?id=66_0_1_10_M11

2. Notes that this call is endorsed by numerous Palestinian political parties, trade unions, associations, coalitions and organizations representing the three integral parts of the people of Palestine:

Palestinian refugees, Palestinians under occupation and Palestinian citizens of Israel

3. Endorses this call for "diverse forms of boycott, divestment and sanctions" against Israel 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 by:

(a) Ending its occupation and colonization of all Arab lands and dismantling the Wall around the West Bank;

(b) Recognizing the fundamental rights of the Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel to full equality; and

(c) Respecting, protecting and promoting the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties as stipulated in UN resolution 194.

4. Encourages all members and branches of PSC to sign statements in support of academic and cultural boycott of Israel as appropriate, provided that the statements are in accordance with the PACBI call, and to encourage others to endorse such statements."

Arms Embargo Campaign

This PSC AGM notes that the sale of arms to Israel by UK companies rose from £12million in 2004 to £22.5 million in 2005. Following the recent re-launch of the campaign for an arms embargo, it therefore calls on the incoming executive to launch a campaign in the trade union movement for an embargo on the sale to Israel of UK-manufactured arms, including spare parts; of weapons used in the Occupied Palestinian Territories against the Palestinian people; on the purchase by the UK of arms produced by Israeli companies.”
The EC should explore all possible means of building such a campaign, including persuading union leaders within the arms industry to call on their members to refuse to work on arms contracts to Israel.

Also, to persuade union leaders within the transport industry to call on their members to refuse to move arms destined for Israel.

Where rank-and-file trade unionists within the arms and transport industries are prepared to take such action in support of the Palestinian people independently, they should, of course, receive official backing.

 

 

PROTEST THE ENGLAND vs ISRAEL EURO 2008 MATCH ON MARCH 24th 2007

Outside the Football Association HQ, Soho Square, London (map at www.bigcampaign.org)

We will be picketing the FA HQ from 1pm on Saturday March 24th over England’s Euro 2008 Qualifier against Israel. Join us...

The Boycott Israeli Goods Campaign calls for a sporting boycott of Apartheid Israel until Israel complies with international humanitarian law.

FOOTBALL ACTION ALERT

Write to the Football Association to complain about Israel’s inclusion in Euro 2008 and England’s qualifier match with Israel in Tel Aviv on the 23rd March: Football Association, 25 Soho Square, London W1D 4FA.

Complain to the FA at info@thefa.com or call them on 02077454999. You could copy in UEFA at info@euro2008.com

Please also write to Kick Racism out of Football about the inclusion of Apartheid Israel in Euro 2008 while Palestinian footballers are excluded from international football. Email them at www.kickitout.org or email their chairman Lord Herman Ouseley at hermanouseley@aol.com

Please email boycott@palestinecampaign.org to let us know if you receive a reply

More info on sports boycott and on the repression of Palestinian international football:

Sport boycott as a Political Weapon - India ENews

http://www.pacbi.org/boycott_news_more.php?id=428_0_1_0_M27

PA Football Team Unable to reach the Asian Cup qualifier because of Israeli Gaza travel ban - Haaretz http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/788528.html

Website of Goal Dreams - a Film about Palestine’s national football team http://www.goaldreams.com/

Palestine’s Football Pride - BBC Online

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3834193.stm

Activists plan to Kick Israeli Apartheid Out of Football - Stop the Wall http://stopthewall.org/worldwideactivism/1138.shtml

Allaa Shahine Reports on Arab Calls to Kick Israel out of International Football Organisations - Al Ahram http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2002/582/sp2.htm

Last Summer the campaign for a sporting boycott of Apartheid Israel gathered momentum after Israel’s bombing of Lebanon. In July a large pickett was held outside the Davis Cup Israel-Britain tennis tournament in Eastbourne. On the 3rd August a planned Israel-Scotland cricket match was cancelled after protests were announced. Protests have taken place over Arsenal’s sponsorship deal with Israel.

The sporting boycott was an integral tool in the movement against South African Apartheid and can be used effectively to highlight Israeli apartheid. Sporting boycott actions often receive significant media attention in the UK, Israel and Palestine.

For more information please visit www.bigcampaign.org and www.palestinecampaign.org

 

 

www.palestinecampaign.org

***********************

Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Box BM PSA
London
WC1N 3XX

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