On Wednesday 10th September  Greater Manchester Stop G4S Campaign  launched a petition at the Mechanics Institute  calling for Manchester City council to end future contracting with G4S. Continue reading Greater Manchester Stop G4S Campaign Petition Launched →

Dr. Rania Masri’s Speech at “Crisis in Gaza and West Bank: Context and Action” Forum  

9 August 2014

This is a must watch video about the rights of Palestinians delivered by a Palestinian speaking with all the eloquence, intelligence, dignity and grace that we would applaud from anyone speaking for our own precious rights and freedoms.  Those rights are no less precious for each and every Palestinian struggling against Israel’s oppressive and brutal policies designed to negate their very existence.

In the wake of the current Israeli attacks on Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, many people have asked how they can get more involved in campaigning for justice for the Palestinian people. One way is the campaign for boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS)  against Israel as a way of showing solidarity from the UK.

Governments world wide and the Uniterd Nations have failed to end their support for Israel’s crimes or put pressure on Israel to comply with international law and human rights. Due to this failure civil society has to act. The BDS campaign urges various forms of boycott against Israel until it meets its obligations under international law by:

1. Ending its occupation and colonization of all Arab lands occupied in June 1967 and dismantling the Wall
2. Recognizing the fundamental rights of the Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel to full equality
3. Respecting, protecting and promoting the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties as stipulated in UN Resolution 194.

The BDS call was made in 2005 and was endorsed by over 170 Palestinian civil society organisations including trade unions, political parties, and human rights and refugee organisations. The signatories represent Palestinian refugees, Palestinians in the Occupied Territories, and Palestinian citizens of Israel.

The BDS campaign website give more information on products to  boycott.

During a recent picket of the  Kedem shop in King St, Manchester a young man passing by commented provocatively to the Zionists that he loved Hitler, this in fact has been reported in an Israeli newspaper and on a website. The incident has been used to smear those protesting against the Kedem shop. What is not shown or acknowledged was the way this was dealt with by our activists. The incident was reported to the police and the culprit told to leave by the protestors as he was not welcome.

Perhaps, worth noting that the shop’s Zionist supporters have been happy to stand with the islamophobic English Defence League.