News:
1. Scottish TUC votes to support boycotts, divestments and sanctions on Israel;
2. Government admits Israel used British military equipment in Gaza;
3. War crimes charges for Olmert and Livni;
4. Israel says it won’t pursue peace until US stops Iran;
5. Remembering Bassem Abu Rahme, killed by Israel;
6. Child malnutrition increases in Gaza;
7. Foreign Office accused of hindering human rights lawyers in Gaza;
8. Guardian guide claims Jerusalem is ‘de facto capital of Israel’
 
Actions:
European Elections – lobby candidates on the EU-Israel upgrade; Build for 16 May demo;

Other events

1. Scottish TUC votes to support boycotts, divestments and sanctions on Israel

This weeks Scottish TUC conference voted to endorse ‘a position of: supporting boycotts and disinvestment against lsrael, calling for sanctions against lsrael, encouraging positive investments in the occupied territories. The General Council is recommending this action because of lsrael’s attacks on the human rights of Palestinian people, and its failure to comply with agreed international law.’

Before the debate, STUC General Secretary, Grahame Smith, said: “On our recent visit to Israel and Palestine we witnessed the human rights violations experienced by ordinary Palestinians on a daily basis. We saw how restrictions on movement and checkpoints prevent people from going to work, to school and to visit their families – even when they are sick and dying.”

Betty Hunter, PSC’s General Secretary, congratulated the Scottish TUC for passing this policy, and said ‘this decision paves the way for even more unions standing firm for Palestinian rights, and adopting similar policies calling for boycotts, divestments and sanctions on Israel until it abides by international law. Trade unions affiliated to PSC played a critical role in ensuring this policy was passed’.

This highly significant development followed the findings of a STUC delegation to Palestine and Israel earlier this year.
 
www.stuc.org.uk/files/Palestine/Dele
gation%20Report%202009.pdf
 
The press release from the Scottish TUC issued prior to the debate:
www.stuc.org.uk/news/633/stuc-debates-boycott-of-israel
 
2. Government admits Israel used British military equipment in Gaza

The Guardian reported on 22 May: ‘Britain announced last night that it is to review all its military exports to Israel in the light of the recent offensive in the Gaza Strip which killed around 1,400 Palestinians…

[David] Miliband said Britain provided less than 1% of Israel’s military imports. But he acknowledged that some components supplied by Britain were “almost certainly” used by Israel in its military offensive.’
www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/apr/
22/israel-gaza-military-exports
 
David Miliband’s statement is at:
www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/
cmtoday/ cmwms/archive/090421.htm#hddr_8
 
3. War crimes charges for Olmert and Livni

‘Former prime minister Ehud Olmert and opposition leader Tzipi Livni may face war crimes charges in Norway over their role in Israel’s offensive against Hamas in Gaza, AFP reported Tuesday.

The news agency said six Norwegian lawyers announced plans Tuesday to accuse the pair, as well as Defense Minister Ehud Barak and seven senior Israel Defense Forces officers, of the crimes.

The lawyers, who planned to file their complaint with Norway’s chief prosecutor on Wednesday, were quoted as saying they would also call for the arrest and extradition of the Israeli leaders.’
 
www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1080189.html
 
4. Israel says it won’t pursue peace until US stops Iran

‘The new Israeli government will not move ahead on the core issues of peace talks with the Palestinians until it sees progress in U.S. efforts to stop Iran’s suspected pursuit of a nuclear weapon and limit Tehran’s rising influence in the region, according to top government officials familiar with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s developing policy on the issue.’
 
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/
article/2009/04/21/AR2009042103998.html
 
5. Remembering Bassem Abu Rahme, killed by Israel
 
Bassem Ibrahim Abu Rahme was killed by an Israeli tear gas canister fired at his chest on 17 April whilst he was protesting against the Apartheid Wall in Bili’n: links to two articles commemorating his life and struggle are below.
 
Sayed Mohamed Dansay writes in Bassem’s memory: ‘Suddenly a tear gas canister whizzes past the camera making an audible “clunk” as it hits something to the right. He tries to let out a scream, but all he manages is a stifled yelp. One can almost hear his breath being cut short as the projectile punctures his chest. Another muted scream of pain. He falls to the ground then jumps up quickly, running a few steps before collapsing again.

His body rolls a few times as he hits the ground, his limbs flapping loosely underneath him. Two fellow demonstrators run to him, looking almost surprised and unsure of what has just happened. They turn him over, lifting his shirt and calling his name. But he is unresponsive. His eyes are open but his body lies motionless. His bright yellow shirt now quickly growing a wet red stain over his heart.

And so the occupied people of Palestine sacrifice yet another one of their young men. Another one. Again. Just like that. In an instant. Caught live on camera for the world to see.’
 
electronicintifada.net/v2/article10476.shtml
www.palestinemonitor.org/spip/spip.php?article919
 
6. Child malnutrition increases in Gaza

‘ Rising poverty, unemployment and food insecurity in Gaza, compounded by the recent 23-day Israeli offensive, have increased the threat of child malnutrition, say UN agencies, health ministry officials and healthcare non-governmental organizations in Gaza.’
electronicintifada.net/v2/article10479.shtml
 
7. Foreign Office accused of hindering human rights lawyers in Gaza
 
‘British lawyers attempting to build a war crimes case against Israel have been blocked from entering the Gaza Strip because the Foreign Office has refused to support their work, the Guardian has learned.

A number of the lawyers, who have travelled to the region on fact-finding trips, could not get into the Palestinian territory because they cannot cross the border without letters from the British government authorising their visits.
One lawyer, whose MP, Diane Abbott, wrote to the Foreign Office on her behalf, was told her effort would be better spent contributing to humanitarian work.’
www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/apr/21/gaza-lawyers-foreignoffice

8. Guardian guide claims Jerusalem is ‘de facto capital of Israel’

Palestine Solidarity Campaign’s General Secretary, Betty Hunter, and PSC executive members Gill Swain and Hilary Wise wrote the following complaint to the Guardian:

‘The assertion that Jerusalem is the ‘de facto capital of Israel’ contained in your World Factfiles, makes shocking reading in view of Israel’s brutal campaign to ethnically cleanse and annex Jerusalem. There are currently 211,000 illegal Israeli settlers living in and around Jerusalem on land stolen from Palestinians. Even Hilary Clinton recently referred to Israel’s house demolitions and expulsions of Palestinians as ‘unhelpful.’ Yet your ‘Factfile’ bolsters Israel’s campaign of colonisation.

‘The Foreign Office website states:
 ”… in 1980 [..] Israel enacted its ‘Jerusalem Law’, formally declaring East and West Jerusalem together, ‘whole and united’, to be ‘the capital of Israel’ … The UK rejects these Israeli measures to change the status of Jerusalem.”

The UN General Assembly has passed various resolutions stating explicitly:

“All legislative and administrative measures and actions taken by Israel, the occupying Power, which have altered or purported to alter the character and status of the Holy City of Jerusalem, in particular the so-called “Basic Law” on Jerusalem and the proclamation of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, were null and void and must be rescinded forthwith”.

‘We find it distressing that the Guardian appears to be rendering assistance to the apartheid system perpetrated by Israel in defiance of international law, including

The International Court of Justice ruling declaring the apartheid Wall illegal and instructing the International Community “not to render any aid or assistance in maintaining the situation created by it.”
 
‘Swift action to retract and correct this misinformation would be greatly appreciated by all concerned with justice in the Middle East.’
 
Actions
 
1. European Elections – LOBBY CANDIDATES ON THE UPGRADE OF THE EU-ISRAEL TRADE AGREEMENT
 
In spite of the Israeli massacres and the continuing blockade of Gaza, and despite the fact that the last Council of Foreign Ministers halted the upgrading of EU-Israel Agreement in December, the European Commission continues to prepare a new ACTION PLAN which will bring Israel vital new economic, commercial and social benefits, bringing it closer than ever to full entry into the EU Community Programmes (ec.europa.eu/external_relations/israel/index_en.htm).

The freezing of the work on the Action Plan is only temporary and work could resume on May 18th at the next scheduled meeting on the EU-Israel Association Council.   We urgently need to press the present European Parliament and the candidates for the next one.

We need to keep demanding the complete suspension of the 9 year old Association Agreement on the grounds that Israel violates Article 2, which states that the ‘provisions of the Agreement itself shall be based on respect for human rights and democratic principles’.

Ask your MEPs to require the External Affairs Commissioner, Benita Ferrero Waldner, to explain why the EU is continuing to work on the Action Plan with an Israeli government that opposes the 2 state solution and the whole Annapolis peace process. Does the Commission intend to reward the war crimes that Israel committed during Operation Cast Lead with even greater financial benefits and closer relations with the EU?  Does one usually reward states that refuse to accept the elements that are central to Europe’s declared position? No!

We must press the EU to take this opportunity to express the outrage that European civil society feels towards Israel in a suspension of relations with Israel until it ends its human rights abuses against the Palestinian people and abides by international law.

WRITE TO MEPs and candidates for the June elections to the European Parliament (find your MEPs at www.writetothem.com)

The Foreign Secretary, The Rt Hon David Miliband MP, House of Commons, London SW1A OAA.

The European Commissioner, Ms Benita Ferrero-Waldner (fax number 003222981299, email address: benita.ferrero-waldner@ec.europa.eu). Copy your letter to your MEPs.

Express your strong wish to see the European Commission acting exclusively within the framework of human rights standards set by International Law.
 
PSC has an Action Plan and briefing with further information on the elections and what you can do – which will be available on the website from next week: www.palestinecampaign.org
 
2. Build for the 16 May demonstration – assemble 12 noon, Malet St, London
 
Coaches are now being booked to travel to the demonstration – please contact your local branch for more details. We have new leaflets, posters and stickers in the office – please contact us for copies. And finally, our new e-flyer has been sent out – please forward it on to all your contacts.
 
3. Events listings

Other events, including Lowkey’s Tears to Laughter Halal Launch party on 7 May are on the PSC website: www.palestinecampaign.org

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 the UK. Join PSC today!

Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Box BM PSA
London
WC1N 3XX
Tel:   020 7700 6192
Fax:  020 7609 7779
Email: info@palestinecampaign.org
Web: www.palestinecampaign.org