Welcome to Bennett's World: a collection of articles and references covering a wide variety of topics in which I am involved. I am a very political person but I have no allegiance to any political party. Follow me on twitter @colinhove

Friday, March 24, 2017

Please consider the dreadful situtation in Israel/Palestine

I received this email this morning. It is very well written in my view, and clearly spells out how bad the situation is in Israel/Palestine. Please hearken to the request to make contact with your MP. I don't think such an action is ever wasted, even in your MP doesn't appear to be fertile ground in this matter.  You never know, and things do change - and we help to make that change. I haven't noticed more understanding on this question on the part of my own MP. I don't harangue him, but just present information to him.

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Issa Amro is a peace activist in the West Bank city of Hebron and has been engaged in organising non-violent activities against the Israeli occupation for over a decade. Now his crucial role is under threat – the Israeli military court has brought 18 charges against him dating all the way back to 2010.

The accusations against Issa are spurious and politically motivated (https://freeissa.org ) . They include “participating in a march without a permit”, and a charge of assault at a protest that he was not present at – because he had already been detained.

Issa has been recognised as a Human Rights Defender by the European Union and the United Nations. His case is an example of widespread targeting of human rights activists using trumped-up old charges, and brought through the military court system.
Take action (https://palestinecampaign.iparlsetup.com/lobby/support-issa-and-omar)

As Amos Gilad, director of the Political-Military Affairs Bureau at Israel’s defense ministry told American officials (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/27/opinion/whos-afraid-of-nonviolence.html) “We don’t do Gandhi very well”.

Omar Barghouti, leader of the Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, was arrested only days before traveling to the U.S. to receive the Gandhi Peace Award jointly with Ralph Nader in a ceremony at Yale University. The arrest for the fabricated allegation of  tax fraud (https://bdsmovement.net/news/bnc-statement-israels-ongoing-campaign-silence-omar-barghouti-repress-bds-movement) comes after years of harassment and threats by the Israeli government. The latest attack includes a travel ban on Omar, and is another attempt to criminalise the BDS movement, intimidate activists and stop free speech.
Take action (https://palestinecampaign.iparlsetup.com/lobby/support-issa-and-omar)

Hugh Lanning, Chair of PSC said: “Any day now Issa’s trial is due to start; unable to pin any crime on him, he is being retrospectively charged with his accumulated protests as a human rights defender. The international campaign to defend him is not important just because the trial is unjust, but because it is trying to silence legitimate opposition. Under international law it is lawful to resist military occupation – and campaigners for justice and peace like Omar and Issa are paying the price of the repression and intimidation by the Israeli government”.

Please take a minute to send a message to your MP asking them to raise the issue of Issa and Omar with the UK Government.
Take action (https://palestinecampaign.iparlsetup.com/lobby/support-issa-and-omar)

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