PSC Weekly update October 2010

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UJ: War criminals not welcome - Take two minutes to send an email to your MP
Following the successful issuing of an arrest warrant for Tzipi Livni last December for committing war crimes during Operation Cast Lead, the Conservative government made an election pledge to change the law on Universal Jurisdiction.

PSC has set up an easy to use e-tool that allows you to send a model letter to your MP, urging them to sign EDM 108 ‘Human Rights and the Law’ - calling on them to make public their opposition to any change in the law on Universal Jurisdiction. The new proposals adds a political dimension to a legal decision and introduces a source of delay when urgent action may be required to stop a suspected war criminals escape justice.

Email your MP now: http://psc.iparl.com/lobby/51

Follow up your email by arranging a meeting with your MP at their next surgery. You can find your MP’s contact details at: http://findyourmp.parliament.uk/

For more information on Universal Jurisdiction, and why we are calling for ’no change’ to the law, read the PSC briefing at: http://www.palestinecampaign.org/universal-jurisdiction

Convoy to Gaza prepares to sail to Egypt this Sunday
Following week long negotiations with the Egyptian government, the Viva Palestina convoy has been given permission to sail to Egypt and logistical preparations for travel to Al-Arish are now underway. They are expected to set sail on sunday morning.

The ship will pass the exact place in international waters where Israel boarded the Mavi Marmara in May and killed nine Turkish humanitarians on board as they attempted to sail to Gaza to deliver aid.

Those on board the ship, including 40 survivors of the Mavi Marmara attack, will throw a wreath into the sea to commemorate those killed by Israeli troops.

For regular updates and news on when they are on the high seas, keep visiting the PSC to Gaza blog and follow @pal_s_campaign on twitter.

Al-Jazeera: Egypt grants passage to Convoy

BDS

DUMP VEOLIA DEMO: SATURDAY 23 October, 3 - 5pm, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD

Once again, Veolia is sponsoring the “Veolia Environnment Wildlife Photographer of the Year Exhibition” at the Natural History Museum, London. The exhibition provides an excellent opportunity to demonstrate once again against Veolia’s complicity in Israel’s war crimes through their supply of services to the illegal settlements - the tramway and bus services linking settlements to Israel, and the landfill site taking settlement refuse.

Join PSC at the Dump Veolia demo outside the Cromwell Road entrance, where we will have an ‘Alternative Exhibition’ - feel free to bring along pictures of the occupation.

Start planning for the BDS Week of Action: www.palestinecampaign.org/bds

This Saturday - Fortnightly Ahava ‘No to Stolen Beauty’ protest, Covent Garden 12-2pm.

BDS Success: Unilever to Move Factory out of West Bank

BDS French activist update - case dropped!

The trial against French MP Alima Boumediene-Thiery and Omar Slaouti, being prosecuted for participating in a supermarket BDS action (May 2009), had the charges dropped after their lawyer stressed all the irregularities committed by the plaintiffs (including the French government) that was also suing them. The main plaintiffs of the French Israeli lobby (Sammy Ghozlan and William Goldnadel, both French and Israelis did not even dare attend the trial and just sent their lawyers)

Thank you to all the members who responded to the action alert in last week’s weekly update - the next trial is due on November 29.

Action Alert : Demand The OECD Cancel Their Planned Tourism Conference in Jerusalem
Between the 20th and 22nd of October, the Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) plans to hold its bi-annual tourism conference in Jerusalem - a city whose indigenous Palestinian residents suffer from systemic discrimination and expulsion.

Despite Israel’s persistent violations of human rights and disregard for International law, the OECD - whose member countries include the majority of the world richest countries - granted Israel membership on May 27th of this year.

Tourism plays an important role in Israel’s colonization of occupied East Jerusalem. The state and right wing settler organizations cooperate in expelling Palestinians residents from East Jerusalem neighborhoods such as Silwan and Sheikh Jarrah for the creation of colonies and biblically theme parks for tourists.

Please follow this link to send an email to Angel Gurría, the Secretary General of the OECD, and demand that his organization respect International law by canceling the planned OECD tourism conference in Jerusalem.

NEWS: OECD protest over Israeli minister’s Jerusalem remarks

Israeli Citizen Call: Do Not Attend OECD Conferences in Apartheid Jerusalem Until Israel Abides by International Law

As Israeli citizens, we are concerned by the policies of the Israeli governments, policies which violate international law, violate the basic human rights of Palestinians under occupation and serve to instigate instability, violence and suffering in the Middle East. We are also concerned by the double standards applied by some countries in the international community, especially the developed countries, towards Israel’s violations. Such double standards imbue violent and blatantly illegal Israeli policies of land theft, torture and physical abuse of civilians with an aura of legitimacy.

Read the full letter here >>

Breaking the silence nominated for Peace prize

Israeli human rights group Breaking the Silence has been nominated for a prestigious peace prize from the European Parliament. Breaking the Silence is run by a group of former Israeli soldiers who work to expose human rights abuses by the Israeli army in the period since 2000.

Right wing Israeli groups are now attempting to coerce Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) not to let Breaking the Silence win the Andrei Sakharov prize for Freedom of Thought.

You can read more about the nomination here: http://bit.ly/bKJLyZ
See a short film about Breaking the Silence here: http://vimeo.com/15573512

MEMO/PSC meeting with Professor Richard Falk: The Israeli assault on human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories01 Dec 10, 18:30, Senate House, University of London. Registration essential - RSVP: events@memonitor.org.uk . Plus, Richard Falk interview.

NEWS
Israel’s loyalty oath: Discriminatory by design - Israeli academics: Loyalty oath resembles racist laws of 1935; Gideon Levy: The Jewish republic of Israel; Yitzhak Laor: New law tells Palestinians in Israel ‘Slavery or Emigration’

A Special Place in Hell / Top 10 worst errors Israel is about to make
OCHR Report: The case for Sheikh Jerrah

Ireland PSC victory - Irish government scraps ‘Israeli bullets’ deal
Defence for Children International - violations bulletin Israeli troops accused of shooting children in Gaza

Jonathan Cook: Israel’s other “peace” plan: arm-twisting Obama

EVENTS

Friday 15 October 7pm AWA Annual Fundraising Dinner Featuring Haneen Zoabi MK and Leon Rosselson, plus food, talks, music and more! In London. For more information and to book visit their website: www.awa-london.org

Sunday 17 October 6.30pm There is a Field - At the Tricylce Theatre, London

Sunday 17 October Reem Kelani Live in Brighton

Sunday 17 October 7pm Gaza Monologues - In Oxford Pegasus Theatre

Tuesday 19 October 7pm Professor Ilan Pappe Book Presentation: Out of the Frame : The Struggle for Academic Freedom in Israel - In Truro

Thursday 21 October 8pm ’Breaking the Gaza Blockade’ at the 2010 Reading International Festival

21 to 24 October Photo exhibition -We Refuse to be Enemies in London, at Ragfactory just off Brick lane E1 - including Film Screening and Discussion Saturday 23rd October 2.30pm.

Plus, many more events around the country on the PSC website events section