Author: naeemm

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Webinar: Palestinians in Israel – Sunday 23rd May at 4:00pm BST

Above is a recording of the webinar West Midlands Palestine Solidarity Campaign organized on the 23rd of May 2021.

The guest speakers included GUEST SPEAKERS included Haneen Zoabi, ex Knesset member and Rachel Beitarie, from Zochrot

This May marks 73 years since the Nakba, or Catastrophe, Israel’s foundational act of ethnic cleansing. In 1948 Zionist paramilitary forces eradicated over 500 villages and cities in Palestine, displacing 750,000 Palestinians and taking over 78% of the land of historic Palestine.

The Nakba did not end in 1948. Since its foundation, Israel has used its control of the land to enact policies and practises which continue to dominate and displace the remaining Palestinian people, forcing them from their homeland, while denying expelled Palestinians and their descendants the legally enshrined right to return to their homeland.

Whether in exile, under occupation, or as citizens of Israel, Palestinians face subjugation and discrimination, denying them their basic human rights. On the other hand, Jewish-Israelis enjoy full rights within a system of racial supremacy. This system of entrenched racism, existing over the whole of historic Palestine, amounts to the crime of apartheid under international law.

This important webinar hosted by West Midlands PSC, focused on hearing from Palestinian citizens of Israel. Find out what the Nakba means to them, how it has led to the apartheid reality of today, and how we can move to a future of freedom, justice and equality.

Haneen Zoabi a Palestinian politician who made history in 2009 when she became the first Arab woman to be elected to Israel’s parliament. She served as a member of the Knesset for the Balad party between 2009 and 2019. On 31st May 2010, Haneen participated in the Gaza flotilla, and was on board the Mavi Marmara.

Rachel Beitarie. Zochrot (“remembering” in Hebrew) is an NGO working since 2002 to promote acknowledgement and accountability for the ongoing injustices of the Nakba.Time

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Stop Arming Israel – Protest outside ELBIT in Shenstone

Protest outside Israel’s Arms Company in Shenstone near Lichfield 11 am to 1 pm Thursday 20th May 2021

Elbit is a private Israeli weapons company, operating in a wide range of areas including, aerospace, land and naval systems, command, control, communication, computers, intelligence and surveillance. The company also provides a range of support services.Elbit is the second biggest arms company in Israel and the biggest private arms company in Israel. Elbit’s biggest single customer is the Israeli Ministry of Defence (IMOD). In 2017, sales to the IMOD generated 19% of Elbit Systems 3,377.8 million USD revenue.In January 2018, the Israeli government’s approval the sale of its wholly owned weapons company, the Israeli Military Industries Ltd. (IMI) to Elbit. The 515 million USD deal is to be finalised in July 2018. Established in 1993, IMI is involved in the manufacturing of a range of weapons, munitions and military technology for the Israeli army. The company’s products are used by the Israeli army and exported internationally to 70 militaries and government agencies around the world.This latest Elbit purchase gives it a greater monopoly over the Israeli arms industry’s internal and external market.Elbit supplies 85% of UAVs used by the Israeli army. One of Elbit’s most famous UAVs the Skylark – an intelligence gathering drone, operational in the Israeli army since 2008 – which is used during military operations of house arrest in the occupied West Bank. The Skylark was used during the so-called “Brothers come home” Israeli attacks in June and July 2014, where scores of Palestinian civilians were arbitrarily arrested.During Israel’s deadly attack on Gaza in 2014, Elbit’s 7.5 Skylark, as well as its lethal UAV, the Hermes 900, were used. The Hermes 900, which was assembled jointly with L-3 Communication in a 120 million USD venture, can stay aloft for up to 24 hours at altitudes of up 18,000 feet and has an array of optical, infrared, and laser sensors that allow the operator to identify and track targets as well as to guide munitions in flight. The UAV carries two Spike-MR missiles, produced by the Israeli firm Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd.Israeli media routinely reports of the crashing of Elbit’s Skylark UAV during intelligence gathering operations in Gaza. The anxiety-inducing buzzing of Israeli military UAVs has become a permanent soundtrack to the lives of Palestinians in Gaza

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National Demo For Palestine

West Midlands Palestine Solidarity Campaign is taking coaches to London

Coaches will leave the Central Mosque, 180 Belgrave Middleway, Birmingham B12 0XS on Saturday 22nd May at 8 am.

Spaces are limited on the coaches so to avoid disappointment please register early. Also, if people book early we may be able to arrange additional coaches if people book early. Those travelling on the coaches will be socially distanced. For each passenger, the full cost will be £20.00 To book your place deposit the full amount in our bank account as detailed below. Please use reference DEM followed by last 5 digits of your mobile number and email nmalik50@yahoo.com with your name and the reference. For subject of your email use Palestine London Demo. Please include your phone number with the email. Your seat will be confirmed by email.

our bank details are: Bank Name Unity Trust Bank Acct Name West Midlands Palestine Solidarity Campaign. Sort Code 60-83-21 Account Number 20364276

ASSEMBLE 1PM AT VICTORIA EMBANKMENTIMPORTANT:

If you have coronavirus symptoms do not attend. Wear a mask, use hand sanitiser, keep social distance.Israel is relentlessly bombarding the population of beseiged Gaza, many refugees from Israel’s ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in 1948. So far, more than a hundred Palestinian civilians have been killed, including children.In addition, Israel is pushing ahead with attempts to ethnically cleanse Palestinian families from their homes in Sheikh Jarrah, occupied Jerusalem. The plans to forcibly dispossess the families is part and parcel of Israel’s attempt to alter the demographic balance of the city, by ethnically cleansing Palestinians, while simultaneously providing financial and political support for illegal Jewish-only settlements built on stolen Palestinian land.As Palestinians protest in Jerusalem against these evictions, and Israel’s ongoing programme of ethnic cleansing, Israeli forces have responded with brutality, including an assault on worshippers at Al Aqsa Mosque.In Israel itself, Palestinian Citizens are being subject to violent armed mobs, attempting to drive them from their homes.This violence is part and parcel of Israel’s regime of institutionalised racist discrimination against the whole of the Palestinian population, amounting to the crime of apartheid.The UK government must take immediate action and stop allowing Israel to act with impunity. It must demand an end to current proceedings to evict these families, and start holding Israel accountable for all its actions ,which contribute to the crime of apartheid.This includes through implementing sanctions, including an immediate military embargo to cut the supply of deadly weapons to Israel, and banning the import of goods from Israel’s illegal settlements.In the face of Israel’s brutal crimes, we can’t remain silent, we must remain on the streets!Come together on the streets to demand our government sanction Israel now!STOP ARMING ISRAEL! STOP BOMBING GAZA, FREE PALESTINE!
See lessCauses

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Protest in Solidarity with Palestinians 15th May 2pm Victoria Square Birmingham City Centre

https://www.facebook.com/groups/wmpsc/
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Emergency Protests against the Israeli attack on Al-Aqsa

Emergency Rallies for Jerusalem have been called in many places including in Birmingham for 3pm Sunday the 9th of May 2021 outside Waterstones

On Tuesday the 11th of May, there will be a rally outside Downing Street 11th May, at 6pm in Downing Street. See information below. If you  have the capacity to organise something in your town/city, do let us know. The rallies is being supported by Stop The War, Muslim Association of Britain, Friends of Al Aqsa and Palestinian Forum in Britain.

PLEASE SHARE both these events FAR AND WIDE
🚨 LONDON: EMERGENCY RALLY FOR JERUSALEM 🚨TUESDAY 11TH MAY // 6PM // 10 DOWNING STREET

Israel is attempting to ethnically cleanse Palestinian families from their homes in Sheikh Jarrah, occupied Jerusalem. Four of the Palestinian families face the prospect of being evicted next week.In the face of Israel’s brutal crimes, we can’t remain silent! Come together on the streets to demand our government take action.SAVE SHEIKH JARRAH, FREE PALESTINE 📣https://www.facebook.com/events/893450637983161/

Other protests are being planned. A vigil will be taking place in Victoria Square outside the Council House 10:30 am Saturday the 15th May 2021 as part of the Nakba day event please watch this space for further details.

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West Midlands Palestine Activists meeting Wednesday 13th January 7 pm over zoom

West Midlands Palestine Solidarity Campaign will meet on Wednesday the 13th January 7 pm over zoom. The meeting will discuss the plans for Palestine Solidarity in 2021 including the upcoming Annual General meeting of the National Palestine solidarity Campaign. Please join us to discuss how we can show our solidarity with the Palestinians in 2021. 

Zoom Details Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84908960551?pwd=aGg2R24ySFhacCtJSmpFaUVZU245Zz09
Meeting ID: 849 0896 0551
Passcode: 900592

Alternatively, you can phone in to the meeting on one of the numbers below
0203 901 7895, 0131 460 1196 and when prompted to enter the following
Meeting ID: 849 0896 0551 and Passcode: 900592
  
Wave of Prayer for the Holy Land
Sabeel is an Arabic word which means the
Way or a Spring of living water.
Each day at noon in Jerusalem, Sabeel holds a communion service open to the whole community. On Thursdays, the service includes a prayer that is sent to Sabeel’s network of supporters and used in services around the world. This prayer ministry enables local and international friends of Sabeel to pray over regional concerns on a weekly basis; as each community in its respective time zone lifts these concerns in prayer
at noon every Thursday, this “wave of prayer” washes over the world to pray for Peace with Justice.
We used to meet in St Dunstan’s church at 12.00 on Thursdays to spend a time in prayer in solidarity with them. Since COVID
19, please join us in spirit.Sabeel Wave of Prayer
Thursday 7
th
January 2021
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BDS Events

Palestine National Day of Action

National Day of Action for Palestine #EndApartheid #SanctionsNow

Saturday, 28 November 2020 from 09:00 UTC-20:00 UTC

The Israeli government continues to press ahead with its gross violations of international law and Palestinian human rights, accelerating the ongoing colonisation of yet more Palestinian land.

These include plans to proceed with formal annexation. Despite the rhetoric from some of our political leaders that the US- UAE has taken annexation off the table, Israel has made clear that its plans are merely on temporary hold .

Netanyahu, has stated clearly , speaking after the UAE deal that “There is no change to my plan to extend sovereignty, our sovereignty in Judea and Samaria, in full coordination with the United States.”Meanwhile Israel proceeds with the de facto annexation on the ground. In October 2020 the Israeli government approved 5,400 new settlement units on stolen Palestinian land in the West Bank.In tandem, Israel has continued to demolish Palestinian homes and buildings, with 389 Palestinian structures in the West Bank razed from March to August 2020, leaving over 400 Palestinians homelessIsrael continues to subject Gaza to an ever-tightening land, air and sea blockade, making life insufferable for the nearly two million Palestinians, the majority of them refugees from Israel’s ethnic cleansing, trapped in the enclave. Like Palestinian refugees everywhere, they are denied the right to return to the homes from which they, their parents or grandparents were expelled.As the TUC the reality recently affirmed, Israel’s current actions are the next “significant step in the creation of a system of apartheid” .The UK government must take action by banning trade with illegal Israeli settlements and implementing sanctions, including a two-way arms embargo, until Israel complies with international law.Public bodies also need to take action to ensure that they are not investing funds or procuring contracts with companies complicit in Israel’s human rights abuses.
That’s why we’re calling for a day of action on November 28th under the banner #StopAnnexation #EndApartheid #SanctionsNowHow to take action:
1. Print and and hold our signs (complying with all social distancing and lockdown restrictions). You can use ours (check the comments, or get creative and make your own).

2. Post on social media with the hashtags #StopAnnexation#EndApartheid#SanctionsNowLet’s once more flood social media with our protest!

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Palestine Conversation

Zoom ID 976-1649-5610
Passcode 286871
Sunday 15:30 to 17:30 22nd of November 2020 

Trump went even further than previous US presidents in support of Israel with recognition of Jerusalem as the Israeli capital and a ‘peace plan’ which endorsed further large scale annexation of Palestinian land. What though, will Biden bring?

Meanwhile, Israel’s supporters are seeking to delegitimise Palestinian solidarity as Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions is making an impact. In Britain, this has centred on allegations of anti-Semitism in the Labour Party being conflated with criticism of the Israeli state.

This Palestine Conversation will assess the current situation and discuss the way forward for the Palestine solidarity movement.
All those who want to see justice for the Palestinians are very welcome to this meeting.

Hosted by Walsall Kobar Friendship Association & West Midlands PSC 

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BDS Events

Stop Arming Israel Saturday 22nd August 1pm-2pm

http://www.facebook.com/groups/wmpsc/?ref=bookmarks
https://www.thebigride4palestine.com

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Events

The Big Ride for Palestine Saturday 1st August 9:15 am start

Hundreds of human rights supporters to take part in rides across the country to raise money for children in Gaza

  • Hundreds of human rights campaigners to participate in rides across the UK in show of solidarity with the Palestinian people
  • Now in its 6th year, The Big Ride for Palestine 2020 will raise money for Middle East Children’s Alliance which works with children who have been traumatised by living under military occupation
  • Campaigners are seeking to highlight human rights abuses suffered by Palestinian people, especially those living in the besieged Gaza strip
  • In Birmingham cyclists will assemble outside the Council House, Victoria Square from 9:30 am leaving to cycle around Birmingham for 36 miles.

Hundreds of human rights campaigners from across the UK are set to take part in The Big Ride for Palestine 2020, an annual event combining a love of cycling with passion and solidarity with the Palestinian people. Last year’s event saw hundreds take part in the rides organised in Manchester and London.

Although similar numbers are expected to participate again this year, the 2020 event will be structured differently due to coronavirus restrictions. Dozens of small scale rides taking place all over the UK, with participants given two options. They can choose to complete a ‘Big Solidarity’ ride of 36 or 44 miles between Monday 27th July and Sunday 2nd August. The distances represent the length of the military fence between Gaza with Israel and the military fence between Gaza, Israel and Egypt respectively.
 
Alternatively, riders can complete the ‘Big Ride’ challenge which involves cycling 440 miles in the 6 weeks from July 20th to August 30th. Organisers intend this distance to symbolise the length of the Separation Wall built by Israel in the West Bank, which the United Nations Security Council and the International Criminal Court consider to be illegal. In line with this, The Big Ride 2020 intends to bring attention to Israel’s plans to annex large swathes of Palestinian land in the West Bank, a move that would be in breach of international law.

This year’s event is also raising money for the Middle East Children’s Alliance (MECA); a charity that specialises in working with children who have been traumatised by living under a military occupation. Since 2015, The Big Ride has raised nearly £170,000 for sports equipment used in the healing and rehabilitation of children, a project run in partnership with MECA. This year, they are partnering to raise funds for the construction of a secure playground for Khuza’a Village in Gaza.

The event is supported by a number of campaigning organisations including Palestine Solidarity Campaign, War on Want, Jews for Justice for Palestinians and Campaign Against Arms Trade. It has also been endorsed by Ambassador Husam Zomlot, Head of Palestinian Mission to the UK.

Ben Jamal, Director of Palestine Solidarity Campaign said: “The Big Ride is a truly fantastic way of raising awareness of the human rights abuses suffered by Palestinians by combining cycling with solidarity. PSC is a proud supporter of this innovative initiative and we encourage anyone who is able to get involved this year.”

Owen Cooper, an organiser of The Big Ride said: “Participating in The Big Ride enables a whole range of conversations to take place with friends, family and our wider community. This year, we are focusing on making annexation a live issue on the current political agenda. That’s why we’re asking riders and supporters to contact their MP and place pressure on the UK Government to take effective measures, including the use of sanctions when a country we trade with is breaking international law.” 

Sign-ups are still open for The Big Ride 2020, more information can be found here.

ENDS

CONTACT: info@thebigride4palestine.com

Notes to Editors: