Hastings and Rye Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Newsletter   24 February 2021
 
LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER FOR TONIGHT'S ZOOM MEETING
Why can't we talk about Palestine?
Propaganda, Censorship and the Israel Lobby
with Jonathan Cook and Asa Winstanley
Wednesday, 24 February 2021 at 7pm / 19:00 London time.

To gain access to the meeting, registration is necessary:

REGISTER HERE

Articles about the meeting in the Hastings Online Times and in the Hastings Independent Press.

Censoring our meeting on censorship!

There was originally an article about our meeting in the online version of the Hastings Observer. But it disappeared after 'complaints' were received by the paper. It seems that our meeting about censorship was - - - censored! Jonathan Cook's take on his Facebook page.

More information about the meeting: WHY CAN'T WE TALK ABOUT PALESTINE?

If you have any problems registering for the meeting: email us.
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The International Criminal Court rules it has jurisdiction to probe into war crimes committed in the Occupied Palestinian territories

The ICC has cleared the way for its chief prosecutor to open a probe into possible war crimes committed in the Palestinian Territories.

This has been a long running case, where ICC Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda (pictured left) has already stated, in 2019, "there is a reason to believe that war crimes were committed," highlighting Israel's 2014 offensive in Gaza, settlement construction in the West Bank, and the gunning down of Palestinian protesters on the Gaza border during the Great March of Return protests of 2018.

The court's jurisdiction will also encompass potential crimes committed by armed Palestinian factions in Gaza. A full ICC probe may lead to charges against individuals, but states cannot be charged.

Israeli leaders have been working tirelessly to discredit the court and reject the decision. The Israeli newspaper Haaretz has reported that the government is to brief hundreds of decision makers and senior military and security officials, fearing they may be arrested after the ICC ruling. Officials say several member states have agreed to warn Israel of any plan to arrest Israelis.
ICC clears way for probe into war crimes committed in the Palestinian territories: Article here.
Latest Ruling on Israeli War Crimes: Article here.
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Video available: January's meeting with Ilan Pappé and Ghada Karmi: Expulsion without Return? The Palestinian Experience

We received an incredible response to this meeting which outlined events from the 1948 Nakba until today - the 'ongoing ethnic cleansing.' as Ilan described it. We've been inundated with requests to make the video of it available. Highly recommended! YouTube video.
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East Sussex Pension Fund Drops Israeli Armaments Firm Elbit and Other Companies Complicit in Israeli's Violations of International Law

The council's pensions committee has conceded that Elbit had been excluded by its new investment manager, Storebrand, "due to human rights and international law reasons." Useful article by Asa Winstanley detailing the background to the campaign: article here. A list of some of the companies complicit in Israel's violations of international law that remain in the pension fund.
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Israel's Vaccine Apartheid

While Israel rolls out Covid vaccines at world-beating speed, Palestinians are forced to wait. This is not an aberration - but the reality of parallel worlds enforced by a decades-long occupation. Article here.
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"As a Rabbi Raised in South Africa, I Can't Ignore Israel Is an Apartheid State"

Here Rabbi Brian Walt compares his life in Apartheid South Africa with the realities of life in Israel. Article here.
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"We must resist Israel's war on British universities"

The campaign to silence Palestine solidarity activists in UK universities now directed at Professor David Miller. "But the lobby's tactics are only so effective because they are rarely challenged. It is time for those who are concerned about Islamophobia, racism and academic freedom to make their voices heard." Article by David Miller.
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Guardian US columnist fired after he joked about U.S. military aid to Israel on social media

"The Guardian revealed its true face in sacking a columnist for criticising US military aid to Israel." Article by Jonathan Cook.
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UK Labour Party hires former Israeli spy

Assaf Kaplan - an Israeli military intelligence for nearly five years, an officer in Unit 8200, its cyberwarfare branch - is to work in the office of Labour leader Keir Starmer. Article here.
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Christian Zionism

The largest Zionist organisation in the US is composed of Christian Zionists. Recent BBC4 film about this movement: 'Til Kingdom Come: Trump, Faith and Money. iPlayer video.
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Elbit Awarded Multi-million pound UK Contracts

Elbit Systems' UK Subsidiary Awarded $137 Million Contract to Supply the Future Target Acquisition Solution for Soldiers of the British Armed Forces: Article here.
Detect and destroy system for British Army: £102-million investment.
Future Naval Training Program: $166 Million Contract.
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News from and about the occupation:

Palestinian dies after Israeli teargas attack on workers in Tulkarem: Article here..

British recruit involved in killing of Palestinian teen: Article here.

Israel's rejection of Ugandan Jews highlights bigger problem of ethnic supremacy: Article here.

The US Money Tree: The Untold Story of American Aid to Israel: Article here.

Fearing the Palestinian narrative: why Israel banned 'Jenin, Jenin:'Article here.

Spain legal victory exposes EU lie about BDS: Article here.

UK turns to "counterterror" law to repress Palestine Action: Article here.

Masafer Yatta: A Palestinian community under pressure: Article here.

How an Israeli smear campaign is ripping away funds from Palestinian farmers: Article here.

Chinese martial arts are gaining popularity among Palestinian girls in the West Bank: Article here.
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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.
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Recent Hastings and Rye PSC newsletters:
19 January 2021
23 December 2020
11 December 2020

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