| |
Stop Arming Israel - National Day of Action. Saturday 22 August
12:00-13:00 Hastings Town Centre, Outside Debenhams
 It is just six years since Israel's ground invasion and aerial bombardment of Gaza left over 2,200 dead, a quarter of whom were children.
Yet the UK government continues to allow millions of pounds worth of weapons and other technology to be exported to Israel, used to oppress the Palestinians.
So far about 40 actions throughout the UK have been announced. Join our event in Hastings: Facebook event. At the vigil we will be socially distancing; we invite all those attending to wear masks for the comfort and safety of all. There will also be sanitisers at the stall.
If people can't get to the event, there's still lots we can do:
E-mail your MP to demand an immediate two-way arms embargo with Israel. Link here.E-mail HSBC: they must end their complicity with Israel's attacks on Gaza! Link here.
Here are several good reasons why we should keep up the pressure: For 10 days, the Israeli military has bombed Gaza; Israel has completely closed Gaza's fishing zone; Israel cuts to fuel imports has led to the only power station in Gaza to shut down. Article and video here.
______________________________________________________________________
Israel's illegal annexation - the killings, demolitions and arrests continue
 The main goal of annexation is clearly for Israel to take over as much territory as it can while excluding and forcing Palestinians out. Israel's plan formalises what has already been its policy for decades. Whether Israel announces its annexation plan or not, the killings, demolitions and arrests continue.
Dalia Samoudi, 23 was shot dead a week ago, the 24th Palestinian to be killed in the occupied Palestinian territories this year. The UN has reported that the number of Israeli demolitions last month were the highest since January 2017. Article here.
UN: 90 Palestinians homeless as Israel demolishes 70 buildings in 2 weeks Article here.
No let-up in arrests 
Israeli military arrested BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) general coordinator Mahmoud Nawajaa (pictured right) near Ramallah, at 3.30 in the morning, July 30. He was handcuffed and blindfolded.
Following a global campaign against Mahmoud's arrest, he was released on 17 August. "Thanks to sustained international pressure, Palestinian human rights defender and BDS coordinator Mahmoud Nawajaa was released." Article here.
Israel must release all Palestinian child detainees amid coronavirus resurgence. Article here.
Israel arrests PA's Jerusalem governor for 17th time. Article here.
Palestinian cultural figures arrested in occupied Jerusalem. Article here.
Israeli forces raid home to arrest 4-year-old. Article here.
Emboldened by promises of annexation, Israeli settler attacks soared in July Article here. Write to your MP: Ban UK Trade with Illegal Settlements.
Latest: Israel approves mega settlements projects.
______________________________________________________________________
Hastings and Rye PSC in the news
We've had no meetings or information stalls for a while, but we've carried on getting the word out locally in support of Palestine. The article in the Hastings Independent Press described the work we've been involved in: Hastings Takes Stand Against Israeli Annexation. The article was widely seen and shared by thousands through Facebook and Twitter.
One of the photos (bottom left) is from the day of action against annexation called for by the national PSC. Over 100 actions throughout the UK took place. We would like to thank all those that took part in the Hastings event. Despite conditions of rain and wind, there was a good turn out.
 
What we found encouraging was the interest in the photos we took by Hastings Pier (above right). The beach was deserted during the height of the the lockdown. But the photos went viral on our Twitter page.
If members and supporters can come up with eye-catching ideas that we can use, please write in and tell us. Our Facebook page. Our Twitter page.
______________________________________________________________________
East Sussex Pension Fund - divest from all companies complicit in Israel's abuses of Palestinian Human Rights
Our campaign to get the ESPF to divest from companies complicit in Israel's occupation of Palestine has got off to a great start. East Sussex County Council has approximately £132,085,000 invested in 64 companies complicit in Israel's war crimes. We asked for letters to be written to the council. We'd like to say a warm thank you to all those who responded. The answers are here (questions 49, 50 and 52 and 53: Questions From Members Of The Public.
While the answer is a clear (and expected) NO, we are quietly encouraged. In other campaigns to divest, we find the answer refers to investment returns being the sole consideration. But in this case, the council's response mentions "the Fund continues to have the right, should it wish, to disinvest or boycott on non financial grounds provided it meets the requirements of the Investment guidance." In addition to these letters, we have also written to individual councillors outlining our concens. The next full council meeting is on 13 October.
______________________________________________________________________
The JNF's sordid history: Tower and stockades, forests and Jim Crow vetting committees
Useful article about the JNF by Jonathan Cook: Tower and stockades, forests and Jim Crow vetting committees.
______________________________________________________________________
"Did Israelis come to a "land without a people?" Um, NO. They actually stole a fully furnished place."
Video from comedian Amer Zahr. Got to keep reminding ourselves of this crime against humanity. Palestine... Fully Furnished.
______________________________________________________________________
'That's the point of the checkpoint, to remind you they're always there'  Article by Mya Guarnieri Jaradat: "The scariest thing about 'The Container,' which divides Palestinian areas from each other, is not knowing when - or if - you will make it to the other side."
Article here.
______________________________________________________________________
 BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) news
GROWTH OF A MOVEMENT: Explore the actions that have shaped the Palestinian-led, global Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement for freedom, justice, and equality. Click on the dots for the detail.
Boycott Puma: Luton Town kicks out Israeli occupation sponsor Puma; Largest Malaysian University Drops Puma. Campaign latest.
The Launch of Palestine Action.
Another BDS victory: Manchester university divests from firms complicit in Israeli occupation.
Israel Set Up a Front Company to Boost Image and Fight BDS.This Is How It Failed.
Italian Regional and City Councils Call for Sanctions Against Israel's Annexation Plans and Violations of International Law: Article here.
Palestinian artists to Céline Dion: Cancel apartheid Tel Aviv concerts.
______________________________________________________________________
 News from and about the occupation:
Israel's global cybercrime racket.
How Israel's lobbyists occupied Mandela's legacy. Attempts by Israel's advocates to portray my grandfather as a liberal pacifist is a distortion of his legacy. Article by Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela.
ICAHD newsletter: JNF, Do Not Evict the Sumarin Family.
How Not to Fight Antisemitism: IHRA-WDA Report: Independent Jewish Voices Canada (IJV).
How Israel's archaeological excavations work to rewrite history in Jerusalem. Article here.
Seth Rogen says he was fed lies about the creation of Israel. Social media is divided.
Ramzy Baroud: Tel Aviv Fears the Worst in ICC Investigation of War Crimes. List of Israeli Targets Leaked.
Jeff Schuhrke: When Arab-American Detroit Auto Workers Struck for Palestinian Liberation.
Israel, destroyer of Lebanon, poses as its saviour.
Scientists For Palestine: A letter from prison from Prof. Imad Barghouthi.
Scottish "friend of Israel" faked anti-Semitism for years.
______________________________________________________________________
 Hastings and Rye PSC online membership and donations
Becoming a member of Hastings and Rye PSC is an important way of supporting our work.The annual subscription is £10 waged, £5 unwaged. We now have an online membership payment form. It can also be used to renew membership. The work of Hastings & Rye Palestine Solidarity could not continue without the generous donations from members of the public. If you would like to support our work without becoming a member please visit our shop page here and see the right hand column: Donate to Hastings & Rye PSC.
______________________________________________________________________
Recent Hastings and Rye PSC newsletters:
3 July 2020
17 June 2020
31 May 2020
Keep up to date with our website, Facebook and Twitter pages:
Hastings/Rye PSC website Hastings/Rye PSC Facebook Hastings/Rye PSC Twitter
|
