Hastings and Rye Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Newsletter   7 March 2023
 
International Women's Day

Wednesday 8 March 11am - 3pm
Art in the Park, Alexandra Park

Wednesday is International Women's Day. Artinthepark has organised a day which will include: collecting stories of inspirational women, a picnic, 'art workshops celebrating women you admire' and more....

We will have a stall there - we will be featuring inspirational Palestinian women - there are lots of them! Come and say hello.
IWD at Artinthepark Facebook page.
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The folk at artinthepark helped us with Kids Corner at last year's Palestine on the Pier, and they helped make our banner for the pier. They are now raising funds to improve their facilities at the park. Check out their plans and contribute to their crowdfunder.
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Information stalls

Our stalls are every Saturday 12.00 noon until 2 pm (weather permitting) in the town centre. Please pay us a visit. Apart from a range of leaflets, pamphlets and stickers, we have keffiyehs from Hirbawi in Hebron, a range of T-shirts and Palestinian flag umbrellas. We also sell handicrafts from the Shu'fat Refugee Camp.
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Barclays - Don't Bank On Apartheid
Saturday 25 March 12 noon - 2pm
Barclays Bank, Queens Road, TN34 1QP


Demand the bank stop investing in arms companies supplying Israel with weapons used to assault and kill Palestinians.
Barclays has more than £1 billion invested in companies supplying weapons and military technology to Israel. This includes investments in Israeli drone manufacturer Elbit which makes the militarised drones that are used to target and kill civilians in Gaza. In addition to its investments, Barclays provides £3.9 billion in loans and underwriting to these companies.
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Israeli settlers carry out pogroms in occupied West Bank

Illegal Israeli settlers carried out pogroms starting in the Palestinian village of Huwara (Hawara), followed by attacks against Zatara, Burin, Yerza, Al-Mahleh and Deir Sharaf.

At Huwara, settlers set fire to homes, leaving at least 35 completely burned down and 40 others partially damaged. More than 100 cars were burnt or destroyed. They shot dead Sameh Aqtash, a 37-year-old blacksmith who had just returned from earthquake volunteering efforts in Turkey. He was shot in the stomach. Because the army would not clear the road for an ambulance to reach him, he bled to death. There is still some dispute as to whether it was settlers or the Israeli military that shot Sameh.

Throughout the night of destruction the Israeli military stood by and gave the settlers free rein to carry out their attacks.

Statement by the US organisation Jewish Voice for Peace: The Horrific Settler Attacks On Palestinian Villages Are The Inevitable Result Of Zionism. Statement here.

Article by Gideon Levy (Haaretz): Our Hearts Are With the Survivors of the Hawara Pogrom.
Article here.
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Chelsea and Westminster Hospital removes artwork made by children from schools in Gaza

After pressure from Israeli lobby group UKLFI, the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital has removed artwork made by children from two UNRWA schools in besieged Gaza. This has been regarded as an act as spineless as you can get. There has been a campaign to force the hospital to restore the artwork. The statement by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign includes information that shows how the UKLFI is notorious for its hosting of meetings with extremist speakers. Statement here.
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Dates: check the label

This is a useful guide from Friends of Al-Aqsa which shows how to avoid buying dates from apartheid Israel. #CheckTheLabel.
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Susan Abulhawa and Mohammed El-Kurd at Australia's writers' festival

For the first time, one of Australia's major literary festivals is programming a significant number of the world's most prominent Palestinian writers in conversation with Palestinian and Indigenous writers and poets in Australia

There is absolutely nothing surprising or original about the controversy that has since erupted over the two internationally renowned Palestinian writers: Susan Abulhawa and Mohammed El-Kurd. Statement by Susan Abulhawa: Mondoweiss website.
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BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) news

Could the African Union push Israel into international isolation?

There wasn't much interest throughout the western corporate media in last week's African Union conference. Though there was mention of the fact that it booted out the Israeli delegation!

The important draft declaration was ignored. It called on "the international community.....to dismantle and prohibit the Israeli system of colonialism and apartheid." It also urged member states to "end all direct and indirect trade, scientific and cultural exchanges with the State of Israel." If member states implement this call, this could be a major victory for the Palestinian cause. It "could be the start of a change in Israel's fortunes, not just on the continent, but across the globe."
Could the African Union push Israel into international isolation?

US court dismisses lawsuit against academics who endorsed BDS: Article here.

UC Berkeley Student Senate Votes Against IHRA: Article here.
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More news:

Israeli Troops Beat Up a Palestinian With Epilepsy, Jailed Him Outside Overnight: Article here.

Israeli calls for genocide met with shrugs in Washington and Brussels: Article here.

American Jews who bought 'Jewish democracy' label for apartheid need to wake up: Article here.

Fake Friends: Leak Reveals Israeli Firms Turning Social Media Into Spy Tech: Article here.

German City of Frankfurt Cancels Roger Waters Concert over His Solidarity with Palestine: Article here.

Christian Aid claims it was subject to act of 'lawfare' by pro-Israel group: Article here.

The murderous antisemitic hate that Starmer's Labour has not dealt with: Article here.

US anti-boycott laws could take a 'draconian' turn. But the fight is not over: 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:

23 February 2023
24 January 2023
20 January 2023

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