The Crimes Against Palestinians Continue...

I received this email from the PSC yesterday:

Please take action to stop the demolition of the Bedouin village of Umm Al Hiran

Following the attack and home demolitions in the Bedouin village of Umm Al Hiran in January, the Israeli authorities have now issued demolition orders to additional homes in the village. Please take a minute to call for the demolitions in Umm Al Hiran to be stopped, and for the entire plan to demolish the village and expel its residents to be immediately cancelled.

Take action now (https://secure.avaaz.org/en/petition/Prime_Minister_Binyamin_Netanyahu_Stop_the_demolition_of_Umm_Al_Hiran_Dont_expel_its_inhabitants/?cjJrGhb) 

Denied entry to his homeland

On Friday Kamel Hawwash member of PSC EC and also vice chair of the British Palestine policy council was refused entry into Israel under the new anti boycott law. This follows the refusal last month to allow entry to Hugh Lanning PSC chair, and last weekend to Anuar Majluf, director of the Palestinian Federation of Chile.

Kamel was on a family holiday with his wife and son, who he had to leave at the airport.  Kamel’s wife has Jerusalem ID and he has many relatives in Jerusalem.  Kamel has stated “I am personally devastated at my denial of entry. Firstly because I could not be with my wife and son for our holiday, but also because I have been denied entry to my homeland. I have elderly relatives that I will never see again if I am not allowed to enter in the future. I had to leave my wife and son alone in the airport in tears.”

Ben Jamal PSC Director stated ”The BDS movement peacefully pressures Israel to comply with international law and cease human rights violations. It draws directly from the tactics of Gandhi and Mandela to effect positive change. According to the Israeli government, human rights activism is a security threat. Fundamental democratic norms and freedoms don’t matter. The British government must demand that Israel ceases this harassment.”

See PSC’s full statement including a quote from Richard Burden MP here (https://www.palestinecampaign.org/british-palestinian-easter-family-holiday-banned-israel/) . PSC is raising Israel’s employment of this pernicious law and its wider harassment of human rights activists with the Government and addressed it in our submission to the Foreign Affairs select committee. We will be seeking to raise the issue further in parliament after the recess.
Join us this year to mark the 100^th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration

We are working for a just and lasting peace, 100 years after the Balfour Declaration (https://www.palestinecampaign.org/one-hundred-years-long-wait-demand-justice-now/) when Britain set the framework for the dispossession of the Palestinian people.

Get involved in our #Balfour2Nakba week of activities taking place from 8^th -12^th May around the country, including  films, stalls and meetings all focused on raising awareness of the implications of the Balfour Agreement. Public meetings will be taking place (https://www.palestinecampaign.org/events/balfour2nakba/) in Cardiff, Hastings, Birmingham, London, Norwich, Abergavenny and more to be announced.

Attend the launch of the Just Walk to Jerusalem (http://palestinecampaign.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=39b479575f6b893766d815ffd&id=7b6e16967b&e=7c22c72c9a) on Saturday 10^th June, organised by our colleagues at Amos Trust - or join the walk itself.

Attend the Palestine Expo on the 8 and 9th July at theQEII Centre in  London (http://www.foa.org.uk/events/palestine-expo/) . PSC will be hosting a conference as part of the event – more details to follow.

Join us at our mass rally on Saturday 4^th November in Central London where we will be gathering under the banner of Justice Now: Make it Right for Palestine.

And if you haven’t already, please ask the British government to issue a formal apology to the Palestinian people for the declaration. You can sign the petition here (http://palestinecampaign.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=39b479575f6b893766d815ffd&id=9c833b2879&e=7c22c72c9a) .