PSC WEEKLY UPDATE

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1. Gaza convoy leaves on Sunday!

Follow the Convoy to Gaza

The Convoy to Gaza leaves London this weekend with a fleet of vehicles filled with medical and other essential needs as it attempts to break Israel’s illegal siege that has denied Palestinians their basic human rights. We will be sending regular updates via twitter, blogs and photos from the journey. Follow the latest action by visiting the PSC website convoy section.

The Sunday send off:
Due to logistical difficulties, not all of the vehicles going to Gaza will be coming into Central London for a send off on Sunday morning. Those driving the 15 ambulances dedicated to the memory of those killed during Israel’s assault on Gaza last December/January whilst on duty will attend a photo call and mini send off for supporters, families, and media outlets. This will take place on the Embankment between Westminster Bridge and Hungerford Bridge at 10am.

 LSE students union twins with Islamic University of Gaza http://www.palestinecampaign.org/index7b.asp?m_id=1&l1_id=4&l2_id=24&Content_ID=1000

 Remember Gaza – end the siege
A year on, join the protest on Sunday 27 December from 3pm outside the Israeli Embassy, London. More details: http://www.palestinecampaign.org/Index9b.asp?m_id=1&l1_id=3&l2_id=62&Content_ID=976

2. Israeli settlement goods debated in Parliament:

Phyllis Starkey MP asked on 2 December why the long-awaited consultation on the labelling of settlement goods is still not available and said ‘there is a suspicion that the delay is due to lobbying by the Israeli Government, and Israeli press reports suggest that that is the case. That leads one to wonder whether it is normal for our Government to listen more to foreign Governments with a track record of flouting EU labelling regulations than to UK retailers and consumers’.

She referred to the appalling conditions endured by Palestinian workers, pointing out that ‘settlement goods are therefore not only illegal but rely on an exploited, underpaid and under-protected work force.’ and ended by saying ‘The delays in enforcing clear and unambiguous labelling of settlement goods is yet another example of the Government’s pusillanimous approach in matters relating to the Israeli occupation. It is not enough to make declaratory statements, as the Foreign Office frequently does, recognising that the occupation is illegal. Those declaratory statements must be backed up by practical policies to give force to that recognition of illegality’.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmhansrd/cm091202/halltext/91202h0004.htm#09120233000002.

 Must-watch film ‘No Way Through’ – imagining Israeli checkpoints in London: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcYcw-uWqzk

 Channel 4’s Unreported World reports on Israeli settlers http://www.channel4.com/programmes/unreported-world/4od#3011374

3. East Jerusalem

A draft EU proposal refers to East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state: the Independent’s coverage of this story also refers to the debate on settlement goods labelling http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/eu-palestine-move-enrages-israelis-1832238.html

 Israel’s Interior Ministry stripped 4,577 Palestinians of their right to live in East Jerusalem in 2008, an all time record in 42 years of occupation. http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=243675

4. BDS update:

 PSC handed in a letter to Veolia HQ on 3 December http://www.palestinecampaign.org/index7b.asp?m_id=1&l1_id=2&l2_id=14&Content_ID=1001

 Boycott of Ahava makes an impact http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article10925.shtml - Day of action against Ahava 19 December http://www.palestinecampaign.org/index9b.asp?m_id=1&l1_id=3&l2_id=62&Content_ID=991

 Protest Tzipi Livni in London at JNF event – Sunday 13 December – More information soon, watch this space!!!

5. Israel’s killing in Gaza under fire

Public Committee Against Torture in Israel reports on Israel’s new ‘combat doctrine’ which prioritises ‘avoiding IDF casualties while disregarding the increased risk to Palestinian civilians’. http://www.stoptorture.org.il/en/node/1504

 Zionists ‘bemused’ by British Jewish support for Goldstone report
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1132156.html

UPCOMING EVENTS: Check the PSC website for events, protests, meetings, fundraising events and much more!

Some upcoming events, all listed in the PSC events section, include:

 UK Speaking Tour: Israel, the Palestinians and Apartheid: The Case for Sanctions and Boycott from Friday 4th to 10th December in London, Leeds, Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

 Reem Kelani Live at the Tabernacle, London Monday 7 December

 Bethlehem Now - Alternative Lessons & Songs of Protest for Palestine, 8 December London

 Bethlehem Weekend, at St Ethelburga’s, London Friday 11 to Sunday 13 December

 UNRWA and the Palestinian Refugees Conference, Friends House 16 December

These and many more events on the PSC website events section!