Boycott WORKS!!! - Israeli trade down 40% following military operation on Gaza

There has been a 40 per cent reduction in trade in Israeli cities since Israel began its military operation in Gaza, Israel's Channel Two said today.

Since July 7, Israel has waged raids across the Gaza Strip in a military operation it calls "Operation Protective Edge".

Channel Two reported officials at the Israeli Export Institute saying that there has been a noticeable decline in import and export operations between Israeli cities, especially in the cities of central and southern Israel, which have become an easy target for rockets by Palestinian factions in Gaza.

An Anadolu reporter described southern Israel as being famous for its agricultural land, which is irrigated, in addition to farming for livestock, some dairy plants and factories for packaging and canning crops, in order to be exported to markets in Israel, or to foreign markets.

A few days ago the news site published remarks by the Chairman of the Histadrut (General Organisation of Workers in the Land of Israel) Avi Nissenkorn in which he asked Finance Minister Yair Lapid to issue directives immediately to compensate the owners of factories and shops in the vicinity of the Gaza Strip for indirect losses caused as a result of the security situation.

Israel's current offensive has led to the death of 260 Palestinians and wounded 1,980 others, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

source: Middle east monitor

Stevie Wonder: We Just Called to Say, Don't Entertain Apartheid!

Dear Milena,

Click above to tell Stevie: Occupation is nothing to sing for!

Tomorrow, November 29th, the United Nations and people around the world will observe the annual International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, marking 65 years since the U.N. voted to partition Palestine, leading to Israel's exile and dispossession of Palestinians.

The US Campaign was shocked to discover that one week later, on Thursday, December 6th,legendary musician Stevie Wonder -- himself designated as a "Messenger of Peace" by the United Nations -- is scheduled toperform at the annual gala fundraiser of the "Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces" (IDF). In a letter to Stevie, Palestinian writer Bassem Nasir wrote:

"This army, [the one you are supporting] Stevie, is a tool of oppression and subjugation that has kept me, my family, and my people occupied for over forty-five years. Every day, this army is protecting the seizure of more Palestinian land to build illegal Israeli settlements and further denying me my rights as a human being... I am urging you to cancel this performance and stand with the values of justice and peace for all."

Click below to join Bassem and the chorus of voices saying: 
Stevie, We Are the World... Asking You Not to Glorify or Fundraise for the Israeli Army!

The US Campaign is compiling letters, resources, and updates on thisnew web section dedicated to the growing worldwide call for Stevie Wonder to cancel the performance. Check out this greatTwitter alert, created in partnership with US Campaign coalition member group the US Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (USACBI). Here are some sample tweets:

Be the Sunshine of My Life, don't play for apartheid. Ask @motown's Stevie Wonder to cancel! http://bit.ly/Wuc1ZU #BDS
Click here to tweet the above instantly!

Instead of a 'Ribbon in the Sky', Palestinians get bombs. Don't play for the IDF Stevie. http://bit.ly/Wuc1ZU cc @motown
Click here to tweet the above instantly!

There are many more ready-made, easy-to-use tweets as well.

Stevie's concert comes on the heels of more than a week of brutal attacks by the Israeli army on the Gaza Strip that killed more than 170 Palestinians dead, the majority of whom were civilians. 

These horrifying attacks were only the latest example of the Israeli military regularly violating human rights and international law with impunity, with widespread attacks on civilians going unpunished. For example this past summer, the parents of American peace activist Rachel Corrie were denied justice when an Israeli court absolved the Israeli military of any responsibility for killing Rachel with a Caterpillar bulldozer almost ten years ago as she tried to protect a Palestinian family's home from being demolished. The Israeli military commander in southern Gaza at the time of Rachel's death was Colonel Pinhas "Pinky" Zuaretz -- who went on to become deputy national director and director of development of none other than the Friends of the IDF.

Stevie Wonder has been hailed as a champion of freedom and equality. He is an award-winning civil rights and anti-apartheid advocate. In 1985, he was arrested while protesting apartheid in South Africa, and he wrote the song: "It's Wrong (Apartheid)." Now, 27 years later, let's remind Stevie that apartheid was wrong for South Africa, and it is wrong for Palestinians!

Click here to tell Stevie, Don't be only a Part-Time Lover of Justice -- Cancel Your Date with the Israeli Army!
On the eve of the UN's International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, let's urge Stevie to be true to his UN title of "Messenger of Peace" by standing on the right side of historyand canceling his performance for the Friends of the IDF.

Yours,


Anna Baltzer
National Organizer
PS: For tomorrow's International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, we'll be joining with our friends at Kairos USA to deliver more than 30,000 signatures of support to the 15 courageous church leaders who called on Congress to investigate Israel's misuse of U.S. weapons. If you're in DC, please join us for a press conference tomorrow, Thursday, Nov. 29 at 10:00AM at the United Methodist Building, 100 Maryland Ave. NE. If you can't make it in person, watch it anywhere in the world as we live-stream the event here.

Subtitle: Take Action as Israel Escalates Attacks on Gaza

Dear Milena,

Israel has escalated attacks on the Gaza Strip. Click above for updates.

Today, Israel launched a major offensive in the Gaza Strip, killing the Hamas leader nearby civilians, including two girls under the age of five. The death toll continues to rise. The US Campaign strongly condemns these brutal attacks, carried out with U.S. weapons given to Israel as military aid and paid for by U.S. taxpayers, and Israel's ongoing, illegal siege of Gaza. You can follow updates from Gaza here.

Please act now and call on the Obama administration to exert diplomatic pressure on Israel to bring about an immediate cease-fire and to initiate an investigation of Israel's misuse of U.S. weapons against Palestinians in this and previous attacks.

White House: 202-456-1111
State Department: 202-647-6575

As Israeli attacks on Palestinians in Gaza heighten, activists in the United States are taking action. Yesterday, the Associated Students of the University of California at Irvine voted unanimously in support of divestment from companiesthat profit from Israeli occupation and apartheid. The US Campaign congratulates Irvine Divest for its hard work on this principled action, in line with a tradition of campus campaigns leading the way in social justice struggles throughout history.

Among the companies mentioned in the resolution were Caterpillar and Hewlett Packard -- targets of multiple, recent faith-based initiatives and victories following years of work by US Campaign member groups, including the Palestine Israel Action Group of the Ann Arbor Friends Meeting, United Methodist Kairos Response, and the Israel-Palestine Mission Network.

In two historic resolutions this year, the United Methodist andPresbyterian churches voted to boycott products produced in Israeli settlements, including SodaStream, a device that makes carbonated water and soda from tap water, made primarily in the illegal Israeli settlement of Mishor Adumin. SodaStream's illegal activities were also highlighted in this week's UC Irvine resolution.

Click above for more information on and resources to join the Black Friday Boycott SodaStream Day of Action!

SodaStream is being promoted widely this holiday season at such outlets as Costco, Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Macy's. In response, many US Campaign member groups -- both faith-basedand non-faith-based -- are supporting a Boycott SodaStream Day of Action on "Black Friday,"the day after Thanksgiving and the biggest shopping day of the year.

There are many ways to take action on NEXT FRIDAY, November 23rd (Black Friday):

1. Write or call. Generate letters/petitions or calls from individuals, congregations, or groups to one or more stores and their corporate offices. Reference any ethics/responsible business practice policies they may have. Click here for sample letters, store contacts, and links to ethics policies.

2.  Store visits. Go in groups or individually to selected stores to talk to management about not carrying SodaStream. Fill out comment cards to that effect. Most store managers have no information at all about the occupation of Palestine. A visit is a good way to share information. Click here for sample handouts and other materials.

3. Hold a vigil, prayer vigil, informational leafleting, etc. at a local mall or in front of a chain or chain stores that sell SodaStream. This can be effective even with a few people (though be aware that store security guards and local authorities have been known to approach, antagonize, and even arrest vigilers). Click here for sample signs and leaflets.

4.  Tweet! Use the hashtags #SodaStream and #BDS to generate interest in your Tweets. Post information on your own or your group's Facebook page.

Member groups from Sacramento to Washington, D.C. are boycotting SodaStream.

Please send photos and report-backs to the US Campaign by clicking here so we know what you did!

Students in Gaza, in spite of everything, remain steadfast, recently launching Gaza's first campus-based boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) campaign. In solidarity with the students and people of Gaza, and inspired by UC Irvine's recent divestment decision involving SodaStream, member groups are planning actions from Sacramento (building on the recent de-shelving of SodaStream from a major local store) to Washington, D.C. Join them in taking action next Friday in your local community!

Yours,


Anna Baltzer
National Organizer


P.S. -- On Friday, we will be delivering our open letter and petition to the State Department calling on the United States to investigate Israel’s killing of Rachel Corrie in the Gaza Strip and its injuring and killing of additional U.S. human rights defenders. You can still have your signature delivered to the State Department if you sign before 4pm Eastern tomorrow.

INTEL MUST CLOSE ITS PLANTS IN "KIRYAT GAT"

Posted by Zahi Damuni (cause Palestinian Refugees Right to Return - Al-Awda leader) Add your voice SIGN THE PETITION Thanks to all who have added their signature to the petition demanding Intel close its manufacturing plants built on stolen Palestinian Arab land of Iraq Al-Manshiya on which the company is trespassing. We are pelased to inform you that we have gathered more than 3000 signatures so far and were well on the way to our first target! We need your help to do this! We will send the petition to Mr. Paul S. Otellini, Intel's President and Chief Executive Officer as soon as we have 5000 signatures. Please add your signature and/or invite your friends to do so if you haven't already. Thank you for all your efforts to help us achieve this first goal. Until Return!

Need More Reasons to Boycott Nestlé?

A new note from the cause Palestinian Refugees Right to Return - Al-Awda

Posted by Zahi Damuni (cause leader) Tell your friends about this SHARE THIS NOTE Need More Reasons to Boycott Nestlé? Did you know that in addition to its plant on the stolen occupied land of the Palestinian village of Najd ("Sderot"), Nestlé has plants on stolen Palestinan Arab land belonging to Iraq Al-Manshiya ("Kiryat Gat") and a logistics center built on the land of Tantura ("Nachsholim"). Nestlé also owns a 30% share of L'Oréal which has manufacturing plants on stolen occupied land belonging to the Palestinian Arab village of Al-Mujaydil ("Migdal HaEmek"). Some Brands under the Nestlé company: Nescafé, Perrier, Vittel, Pure Life, Carnation, Libby's, Milkmaid, Nesquik, Maggi, Buitoni, Crosse & Blackwell, Milkybar, KitKat, Quality Street, Smarties, Shreddies cereal, Quality Street, Baci, After Eight, Baby Ruth, Butterfinger, Lion, Aero, Polo, Frutips, and Felix (cat food).

ACTION: DEMAND INTEL CLOSE ITS PLANTS IN "KIRYAT GAT"

A new note from the cause Palestinian Refugees Right to Return - Al-Awda

Posted by Zahi Damuni (cause leader) Tell your friends about this SHARE THIS NOTE ACTION: DEMAND INTEL CLOSE ITS PLANTS IN "KIRYAT GAT" Intel operates two manufacturing plants, known as FAb 18 and Fab 28, and which it opened in 1999 and 2009, respectively in "Kiryat Gat", a city Israel built on the occupied and stolen Palestinian Arab land of the village of Iraq al-Manshiya. The original inhabitants of Iraq Al-Manshiya and the nearby village of Al-Faluja were expelled from their villages in 1949 by the Zionist state contrary to international law and an armistice agreement sponsored by the UN and which Israel itself signed in 1948. According to Zionist historian Benny Morris, the villagers of Iraq Al-Manshiya were expelled by "intimidation using all means". ACTION Al-Awda, the Palestine Right to Return Coalition, calls on all its members and supporters to write to Intel and demand that: * Intel abandon its investments and shut down and dismantle its plants in Israel. The company's manufacturing plants in Kiryat Gat are built on land confiscated and stolen from the Palestinian Arab village of Iraq Al-Manshiya. * The original inhabitants of Iraq Al-Manshiya and the nearby village of Al-Faluja in 1949 were expelled by the Zionist state contrary to international law and an armistice agreement sponsored by the UN and which Israel itself signed in 1948. * Intel should not participate and allow Israel to have economic benefits from the illegal dispossession of Palestinians. The Zionist state is denying Palestinian refugees their right to return to their lands and homes which it is occupying. This natural, inalienable, individual and collective right is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and International Law, and is supported by numerous UN resolutions. * Intel has far more attractive options long-term for building and expanding in other countries. These options serve Intel's customers, shareholders and employees in far more productive and honorable ways. CALL AND WRITE TO: Paul S. Otellini Intel President and Chief Executive Officer at Paul.Otellini@intel.com Tel: 408-765-5551 AND use this online form: http://links.causes.com/s/clEl9Y?r=EP3h Please cc your correspondence to alerts@al-awda.org Al-Awda, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition PO Box 131352 Carlsbad, CA 92013, USA Tel: 760-918-9441 Fax: 760-918-9442 E-mail: info@al-awda.org WWW: http://links.causes.com/s/clEmai?r=EP3h Al-Awda, The Palestine Right to Return Coalition (PRRC) is the largest network of grassroots activists and students dedicated to Palestinian human rights. We are a not for profit tax-exempt educational and charitable 501(c)(3) organization as defined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the United States of America. Under IRS guidelines, your donations to PRRC are tax-deductible.

Freedom for Baseem al Tamimi and other activists

the Arrest of four activists, including BassimTamimi 

Today 10/24/2012 ... a group of Palestinian and international activists storming the mall (Rami lave) calling for boycott of Israeli goods

نشطاء المقاومة الشعبية وأجانب يقتحمون سوق "رامي ليفي" الاستيطاني المقام على أراضي مخماس، اليوم الاربعاء 24-10-2012
تصوير هيثم الخطيب

Disney just denounced Ahava

July 24, 2012
Dear Milena,
Last week Abigal Disney announced that she was disowning her share of her family's investment in Ahava cosmetics. Abby is a principal investor in Shamrock Holdings, the Roy E. Disney Family Fund that owns about 18% of Ahava Dead Sea Laboratories. She said, “I cannot in good conscience profit from what is technically the ‘plunder’ or ‘pillage’ of occupied natural resources and the company’s situating its factory in an Israeli settlement in the Occupied West Bank.” Read the full statement and see the excellent press coverage.

You can thank Abigail Disney for her brave stand by signing our e-card here. 
In addition to this campaign victory, earlier this month the Presbyterian Church (USA) overwhelmingly passed a boycott of all Israeli settlement products, specifying Ahava in their resolution. Over a dozen rabbis signed onto the Stolen Beauty letter of support to the church for taking this courageous stand. CODEPINK co-director Rae spoke at the Presbyterian General Assembly in favor of the boycott and co-authored this open letter to the church. In May the United Methodist Church also voted to boycott Israeli settlement products.
As we move forward with the campaign, our next target isNordstrom, a retailer that takes pride in being “socially responsible.” With churches and people of influence speaking out against Ahava’s occupation profiteering, Nordstrom needs to stop selling these illegal settlement goods.
You can send a letter to CEO Blake Nordstrom by clicking here.
Israel claims to be the “only democracy in the Middle East,” but it will never be a true democracy while it subjugates millions of Palestinians. We believe the most effective route towards a peaceful future for all in Israel and Palestine is through making the occupation more costly in both financial and moral terms. We are standing up for dignity, equality and justice as part of the Global BDS Movement.

Thank you for your work and support to make this campaign possible.
Onward ever,
Nancy K, Jodie and Rae

Thank You Abigail Disney!

On July 16, Abigal Disney announced that she was disowning her share of her family's investment in Ahava cosmetics. Abby is a principal investor in Shamrock Holdings, the Roy E. Disney Family Fund that owns about 18% of Ahava Dead Sea Laboratories. She courageously said, “I cannot in good conscience profit from what is technically the ‘plunder’ or ‘pillage’ of occupied natural resources and the company’s situating its factory in an Israeli settlement in the Occupied West Bank.”

Campaign to boycott Adidas

Adidas falls in the test of integrity

Sports is a human effort, bringing together people on the principles of freedom, justice, equality and non-racism and slavery. 
For a long time, sport was used to face the associations and countries that practiced racial segregation, discrimination and all forms of ethnic cleansing, occupation and colonization, for example, many sport associations for several types of sports, especially the Federation of Sports English Football (Alrjbe) adopted the principle of boycott the Pretoria regime apartheid in South Africa, and the policy has had a great impact on the dismantling of the apartheid regime.
On March 16, the Zionist occupation organized a competition to run Marathon in the city of Jerusalem. Marathon The path was divided into track between East Jerusalem and West Jerusalem, in an attempt to prove that Jerusalem is the capital of their state.
This action was opposed to all international laws that states that Jerusalem is an occupied city. Many international companies, including Adidas, the manufacture of sports clothing and shoes, had applied to be the sponsor of this unfortunate event that is totally against the spirit of freedom, equality and justice for which sports competitions are held.
This irresponsible act of corporate sponsors to support Zionist entity's Marathon, must not go without punishing those companies that promote killing and occupation. Arab Sports Federation has announced the boycott to all companies that sponsoring the Marathon, including "Adidas" for their contribution in spreading hatred and racial discrimination and their support for the Israeli occupation in Palestine that's killing hundreds and thousands of Palestinians, and deportation of millions of their land in the greatest human tragedy after World War II.

Later, ministers of Sports and youth Arab countries announced the Arab boycott of Adidas from contributing and sponsoring all Arab sports activities.
And For the Holy Jerusalem, the Arab Sports Federation decided that the Arab Marathon will be held next year in countries Archive on the same day of the Israeli marathon in most Arab countries, entitled "Jerusalem is ours. Finally, we would like to extend our sincere thanks to the Arab Federation for Sport and ministers of Youth and Sports, and we call all sports fans and athletes to boycott all products of "Adidas" as a contribution from them in response to the illegal act made by Jerusalem Occupiers and also as a contribution in the fight against Israel occupation in the Arab-Islamic land of Palestine.

We also call all fans of sports teams being sponsored by Adidas to boycott this company for their support of the occupation of Palestine and Jerusalem. Finally, Adidas has to know that all Arabs and Muslims love Jerusalem and Palestine, and hate the Zionist occupation.

Translate from Arabic, Team Palestine

Palestine: the time is now

Avaaz.org - The World in Action Dear friends,

Our 900,000 strong campaign for Palestinian independence has caught fire across the globe. But to win the crucial votes in key EU countries, we need to deliver our message of hope for Palestine spectacularly in the next 72 hours -- and just 10,000 small donations can make it happen. Click below to chip in:

The Palestinian bid for recognition is down to the wire -- and if we join forces in the next 72 hours we could get the crucial EU leadership needed to push it through.

Right now three key countries -- France, the UK and Germany -- are still wavering under pressure from nay-sayers who are trying to crush this new opportunity for freedom. To flip them we're planning a spectacular delivery of our 900,000 strong petition with a gigantic 300 sq m Palestinian flag right outside the EU Council meeting. We also need to run 3 urgent public opinion polls that clearly show these leaders that their people support recognition, and flood the media with full page ads. 

We can grab the attention of these leaders, show them a massive public mandate to act and hammer home a message of hope for the Palestinian people. We may not get this chance again -- if 10,000 of us make a small donation now, we can rush funds into the powerful public actions we need at this critical moment:

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/time_for_palestine/?vl

Recognition of Palestine could open up a new avenue for peace in the region, and give the Palestinian people the support they need for protection under international law. And this support could not come soon enough: a far-right government in Israel is expanding settlement building in the West Bank, and obstructing the possibilities for a viable two-state solution -- a solution supported by the majority of citizens in Israel and Palestine.

More than a hundred and twenty countries have already pledged to support Palestinian statehood, butgetting key EU countries on board now is crucial to give this bid the backbone and global legitimacy it needs. Public pressure pushed Spain to pledge its support for statehood. Public opinion polls that show that the majority of citizens want their leaders to support the bid and a stunning media-grabbing stunt at the heart of decision-making could shift the three decisive countries: UK, Germany and France.

It's countdown time. Our actions in the next few days could flip leaders from a collision course to a decision that would usher in an era of freedom and rescue a path to a negotiated settlement. Just a small donation today will make a difference -- click below to chip in:

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/time_for_palestine/?vl

Over 900,000 of us have already lent our voice to this hopeful call for self-determination and peace. Catapulting that call to key EU leaders, news media and the UN meeting itself is the vital next step. Together, we can drown out the fear and intolerance with a global call for non-violence, diplomacy and recognition for Palestine.

With hope,

Emma, Alice, Antonia, Ricken, Benjamin, Pascal, Diego and the whole Avaaz team


MORE INFORMATION

Q&A: Palestinian statehood bid at the UN (BBC)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-13701636

US tries to stall Palestinian statehood bid: report (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/04/us-palestinians-israel-usa-idUSTRE78308520110904

Palestinian Statehood bid ‘papers ready’ (Al Jazeera English)
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2011/09/201194145150327397.html

Tony Blair to meet Palestinian and Israeli leaders in peace push (The Guardian)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/sep/04/tony-blair-palestinian-israel-talks

U.S. Is Appealing to Palestinians to Stall U.N. Vote (New York Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/04/world/middleeast/04mideast.html

Israel's diplomatic drive to block Palestinian UN bid (The Independent)
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/israels-diplomatic-drive-to-block-palestinian-un-bid-2296143.html

Mondoweiss and Electronic Intifada report on our recent news about Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar decides to pass on Jerusalem Film Fest following ‘Nakba Day violence’
by Adam Horowitz 
June 29, 2011The Jerusalem Film Festival foreign office has confirmed that legendary basketball star and actor Kareem Abdul-Jabbar reversed plans to visit Israel due to concerns arising "after the Nakba Day violence."
Abdul-Jabbar was slated to present his film, "On the Shoulders Of Giants," at the festival next month, as a candidate for the "Spirit of Freedom Award." According to YNet News, his visit was scheduled in coordination with the Israeli Foreign Ministry and the Israeli Consulate of New York.
101 organizations of Palestinians, Israelis, Muslim-Americans, African-Americans, Jewish Americans and others have signed a letter thanking the Los Angeles Lakers legend for declining to attend the festival. The letter highlighted Israel's discriminatory policies against the Palestinian people—whether living under occupation in the West Bank and Gaza, living as second-class citizens in Israel, or living as refugees in exile. It also highlighted the Palestinian civil society call for boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) on Israel until it ends its discriminatory practices. The boycott includes targeting Israeli cultural institutions.
ARTICLE CONTINUES

Thank Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for Slam-Dunking Israeli Apartheid!

Dear Milena,

Two months ago, YNet News reported that legendary basketball star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was planning to visit Israel in coordination with the Israeli Foreign Ministry and the Israeli Consulate of New York. NBA Sporting News reported that Abdul-Jabbar would be competing for the "Spirit of Freedom Award" at the Jerusalem Film Festival.

In private correspondence, the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation has confirmed that the former Los Angeles Lakers star has decided not to visit Israel due to concerns arising "after the Nakba Day violence." This year's commemoration of the Nakba, left 12 unarmed Palestinians dead after Israeli forces opened fire on refugees attempting to exercise their internationally recognized right of return.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, thank you for calling Israel's foul! Israeli cultural institutions like the Jerusalem Film Festival are used cynically to brand Israel as a beacon of cultural and technological progress, diverting attention away from its occupation and apartheid policies. For this reason, cultural boycott of Israel is a key component of the growing Palestinian-led movement for boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) against Israel until it complies with international law. You can read the Palestinian guidelines for cultural boycott here.

100 organizations signed a thank-you letter to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, urging him to hold fast to his decision not to lend his good name or an air of legitimacy to Israeli human rights violations. In addition to the US Campaign, signatories include the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel, Boycott! Supporting the Palestinian BDS Call from Within (Israel), the Organization for Black Struggle, six Islamic-American organizations, four Jewish organizations, fourteen campus groups, and dozens of other US Campaign member organizations.

The letter points out to Abdul-Jabbar:

Your film, "On the Shoulders of Giants," documents the policies of segregation and racism that characterized the world of basketball in the 1930s. Ironically, the majority of Muslim and Christian Palestinians could not even have attended such a screening because they are excluded from entering Jerusalem on the basis of their ethnicity and religion.


Click here to thank Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for slam dunking apartheid!

Meg Ryan and Dustin Hoffman similarly declined an invitation to the Jerusalem Film Festival last year following the deadly attacks on the first Gaza Freedom Flotilla. The second Freedom Flotilla is set to sail to Gaza this month.

Milena, join 100 organizations in showing support for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's decision and urging him to consider the Palestinian call for BDS!


Anna Baltzer
National Organizer


P.S. -- The US Campaign's ability to build cultural boycott campaigns like this is a result of the generous support we receive from people like you. Please donate today to the US Campaign to make our BDS work even stronger.

Ask Jello Biafra to observe the cultural boycott of Israel

Free Palestine Movement is a coalition member of the US Campaign. 


From Free Palestine Movement


Dear Jello,


In 1948, 800,000 Palestinians were driven by force from their homes during the creation of the State of Israel.  To this day, their right of return as guaranteed by the United Nations has not been granted.  In many cases refugees still hold the keys to their homes.  


The ethnic cleansing of non-Jews continues as Jewish-only settlements are being built in the West Bank.  The collective punishment and siege of Gaza also continues and rebuilding of infrastructure remains impossible after the destruction caused by Operation Cast  Lead in 2008.


Please consider joining Elvis Costello, The Gorillaz, The Pixies and others in observing the cultural boycott of Israel by canceling your show in Tel Aviv on July 2.

To sign this letter to Jello Biafra visit: http://www.freepalestinemovement.org/jello.html

Caterpillar, Inc., moves board meeting to Little Rock, AR, to avoid protests on sale of militarized bulldozers to Israel

Caterpillar Inc., the Peoria, IL based heavy equipment manufacturer, has moved its annual shareholder meeting to Little Rock, AR, from the Chicago area in order to avoid continued protests over its sale of militarized bulldozers to Israel. Instead of seeking to resolve the issue, Caterpillar’s response to the submission of resolutions seeking to hold it accountable to its own code of conduct and protests inside and outside of the shareholder meetings in prior years is to avoid corporate responsibility.

Chicagoan Against Apartheid in Palestine (CAAP, successor to StopCAT) joins End the Occupation and Jewish Voices for Peace in telling Caterpillar “YOU CAN RUN, BUT YOU CAN’T HIDE!” Moving the shareholder meeting to Little Rock will not stop the protest for justice for those killed, injured and dispossessed through the destruction of Palestinian homes with Caterpillar bulldozers.

Since 2004, CAAP, End the Occupation, Jewish Voice for Peace, the Sisters of Mercy and others have sought to end sales of militarized bulldozers by Caterpillar to Israel. These bulldozers are principally used to destroy homes of Palestinian families in a form of collective punishment (in violation of international law) and in furtherance of the occupation of Palestinian lands. Caterpillar’s response has been to claim no control over end use of the bulldozers even in the face of mountains of evidence of just such use.

Moving the meeting will not end our protests and goal of an immediate end to these sales. We will continue our campaign for justice.

See www.caap.org and US Campaign for more information on the campaign to stop Caterpillar sales to Israel.

Nakba Day Killings: One More Reason to Boycott Bibi

Dear Milena,

Above: Protesters gather along the Lebanese-Israeli border in Maroun al-Ras, Lebanon, to mark the anniversary of the Nakba. Photo: Mahmoud Ramsey. (click image to enlarge).

On Sunday Israel killed at least 12 unarmed Palestinian refugees and injured hundreds more. The refugees were commemorating the 63rd anniversary of the Nakba, or "catastrophe," as Palestinians call their dispossession and expulsion by Israel before, during, and ever since its founding in 1948.

These Palestinian refugees, inspired by the "Arab Spring" to act as their own agentsfor achieving their fundamental human rights, sought to exercise their internationally recognized -- but long-denied -- right of return to their homes.

Israel's lethal response with live ammunition provides a stark reminder of the extent to which it will go to maintain its apartheid policies against Palestinians.

While Israel allows Jewish people from anywhere in the world automatically to attain citizenship, it forcibly forbids the return of Palestinian refugees whom it exiled from their homes. Such a policy -- discrimination based on religious or ethnic differences -- is the very definition of apartheid.
Israel's latest atrocity adds one more reason why our petition to Members of Congress -- to boycott Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu's upcoming address to a joint meeting of Congress on May 24 -- is important. Thank you for signing!

Thanks to you, we've almost reached two thirds of our goal of 10,000 signatures, after which we'll deliver your signature to House Speaker John Boehner, who invited Netanyahu to speak.

Our message is starting to be heard. There's evidence that if Bibi comes to Congress to deliver more of the same tired arguments -- about why Israel should continue its apartheid rule over Palestinians -- then perhaps his reception won't be so warm.

Last Friday, the Israeli newspaper Ma'ariv cited U.S. sources stating that if Bibi's speech doesn't contain "real content," then "he would bebetter off canceling italtogether... a speech before Congress is not a ritualistic matter -- he must lay out his vision for peace."[1]

While in Washington, DC, Netanyahu also will be speaking to the annual policy conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the largest and most influential lobby supporting Israeli occupation and apartheidagainst Palestinians.

To coincide with AIPAC's conference, the US Campaign Steering Committee, Advisory Board and staff are gearing up to participate in the discourse-challenging panels and workshops of "Move Over AIPAC," a US Campaign-endorsed event, May 21-24.

Learn more about this seminal event, organized by US Campaign member group CODEPINK, and how you can get involved in efforts to challenge U.S. support for Israeli occupation and apartheid. Join us as we continue our work to change U.S. policy to support freedom,justice and equality as we help to Move Over AIPAC.

We hope to see you in Washington, DC this weekend!

In solidarity,
Josh Ruebner
National Advocacy Director


PS -- We do all of our work to challenge U.S. policy with just 0.4% of AIPAC's budget. If it were an even struggle, then we'd be sure to win. Help make that possible by sending your generous, tax-deductible contribution to us today. Thank you!
[1] Thanks to Israeli human rights activist Didi Remez for thetranslation of this article.

Take Action: Boycott Bibi

When Congress overrode President Ronald Reagan's veto of a bill to impose sanctions against Apartheid South Africa, enacting the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986 into law, the New York Times reported^[1] that:

"Senator Richard G. Lugar, the Indiana Republican who heads the Foreign Relations Committee and was the chief sponsor of the measure, appealed in emotional terms to Pretoria to heed the action taken by Congress.

'As a friend of that Government we are sayingwake up!' he said."

Members of Congress often declare that the United States is Israel's "best friend." As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin(Bibi) Netanyahu prepares to address a joint meeting of Congress later this month, it is time for us to wake upmembers of Congress and tell them that the United States must end its support for Israeli apartheid against Palestinians.

Sign our petition to members of Congress demanding they boycott Bibi's address.

Help us reach our goal of 10,000 signatures this week and we'll personally deliver your signature to House Speaker John Boehner, who invited Netanyahu to address Congress.

Although we haven't yet gained the strength to force the United States to adopt sanctions against Israel for its apartheid practices against Palestinians, we are part of a growing and formidable international movement, taking its lead from Palestinian civil society, that is running successful boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) campaigns against Israel and corporations that profit from its apartheid policies.

Be a part of this movement by demanding that Congress boycott Bibi's address.

Congress never once invited a leader of Apartheid South Africa to address a joint meeting. Post-apartheid President Nelson Mandela was the first and only South African president to receive this honor.

Netanyahu's address this month to a joint meeting of Congress will be the seventh time an Israeli political leader does so.^[2]

Tell your members of Congress that they should boycott Bibi's address.

Netanyahu's address to Congress coincides with the annual policy conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Join us in Washington, DC, at the US Campaign-endorsed Move Over AIPAC gathering, May 21-24, as we continue to build our movement to end U.S. support for Israeli apartheid.

[1] http://www.nytimes.com/1986/10/03/politics/03REAG.html?pagewanted=1

[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_joint_sessions_of_the_United_States_Congress

Israeli Knesset adopts law criminalizing boycott, targeting Palestinian citizens

Who Is Annexing Whom?


By Uri Avnery
March 27, 2011


In a rare late-night session, the Knesset has finally adopted two obnoxious racist laws. Both are clearly directed against Israel’s Arab citizens, a fifth of the population.


The first makes it possible to annul the citizenship of persons found guilty of offences against the security of the state. Israel prides itself on having a great variety of such laws. Annulling citizenship on such grounds is contrary to international law and conventions.


The second is more sophisticated. It allows communities of less than 400 families to appoint "admission committees" which can prevent unsuitable persons from living there. Very shrewdly, it specifically forbids the rejection of candidates because of race, religion etc. – but that paragraph is tantamount to a wink. An Arab applicant will simply be rejected because of his many children or lack of military service.


...


But far worse is a third law that is certain to pass its final stages within a few weeks: the law to outlaw the boycott of the settlements.


...


As it stands now, the law will punish any person or association publicly calling for a boycott of Israel – economic, academic or cultural. "Israel", according to this law, means any Israeli enterprise or person, in Israel or in any territory controlled by Israel. Simply put: it is all about the settlements. And not only about the boycott of the products of the settlements, which was initiated by Gush Shalom some 13 years ago, but also about the recent refusal of actors to perform in the settlement of Ariel and the call by academics not to support the so-called University Center there. It also applies, of course, to any call for the boycott of an Israeli university or an Israeli commercial enterprise.


This is a fundamentally flawed piece of legislation: it is anti-democratic, discriminatory, annexationist, and altogether unconstitutional.


ARTICLE CONTINUES...