Day 18 – Gaza Update from Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Box BM PSA
London
WC1N 3XX
Tel: 020 7700 6192
Fax: 020 7609 7779
Email: info@palestinecampaign.org
Web: www.palestinecampaign.org
~~~~~~~~~ 917 dead – 3056 injured ~~~~~~~~~~
News from the Front Line
PSC has obtained detailed evidence of the war crimes being committed by the Israeli Defence force. The graphic details of the death and destruction of the lives of almost a thousand people in Gaza is utterly chilling and every supporter of the PSC should take the time to read the document that has been supplied to us by Al Mezan in Gaza.
To read the full report click on this link
http://www.palestinecampaign.org/index7b.asp?m_id=1&l1_id=4&l2_id=25&Content_ID=401
The momentum for an official investigation into Israel’s war crimes is building. Senior UN officials have described the shelling of Palestinian homes in the Gaza as ‘Reckless and indiscriminate.’ They have also attacked the grotesque use of Gazan families as human shields by the IDF.
At a meeting of the UN’s most powerful human rights committee yesterday, they passed a motion describing Israel’s actions in Gaza as a ‘Massive violation of human rights.’
The UN, the International Red Cross and the highly respected independent NGO Human Rights Watch have accused the Israeli Government of committing the following atrocities over the last 17 days.
• Using powerful shells in civilian areas which the army knew would cause large numbers of innocent casualties;
• Using banned weapons such as phosphorus bombs;
• Holding Palestinian families as human shields;
• Attacking medical facilities, including the killing of 12 ambulance men in marked vehicles;
• Killing large numbers of police who had no military role.
PSC is supporting all those who are working towards bringing those who have committed war crimes in the military campaign in Gaza.
For more stories about Israel’s war crimes click on the following links
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/13/gaza-israel-war-crimes
http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2009/01/12/israel-end-gaza-s-humanitarian-crisis-once
http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2009/01/12/deprived-and-endangered-humanitarian-crisis-gaza-strip
No Home and Now No Voice
The Israeli Election Court has just ruled that the two Arab political parties in Israel will not be allowed to put up candidates in the forthcoming General Election in Israel. The decision is in complete violation of the UNs Universal Declaration on Human Rights and the UN’s International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Only one other regime has ever been as explicit in their decisions to disenfranchise voters on the basis of their race, and that was the appalling apartheid regime of South Africa. The only way the Israeli Government can avoid being held in the same contempt as the racist government of South Africa is to allow all its citizens the right to vote.
You can find out more on the campaign for voting rights in Israel by clicking this link
Write to your MP
The questioning of David Miliband in the House of Commons on Monday was extensive, centring on war crimes and the arms trade. Jeremy Corbyn has obtained a debate on Thursday so keep the letters coming.
Over 1000 of our members and supporters have sent letters to their MP by using our simple to use online template demanding the British government takes action against Israeli Government. If you’ve not yet sent a letter please click on the link below – It’s really simple to use and takes just a couple of minutes to complete. And please pass the link on to your friends and family.
http://www.palestinecampaign.org/Index7b.asp?m_id=1&l1_id=6&l2_id=57&Content_ID=346
Help Needed
PSC is growing faster now than at any time in its history – Our membership has increased by over 10% in the last two weeks alone. To maintain our high levels of activity we need your help.
With over a thousand emails and phone calls to manage a day, leaflets, posters and campaign material to distribute, inputting data into our systems and our annual conference to organise in just two weeks we are in desperate need for volunteers to help us in the office.
There are a wide variety of tasks that we need fulfilling and we will always find the most suitable one that reflects your skills and knowledge. So please, if you have as little as a few hours a week to spare, please contact the office.
What Can You Do
The daily carnage unfolding in Gaza has to be stopped and you can make a difference.
· Join our protests – taking place across the country – check our website for details of the closest protest to you. These include:
· We need your financial support – Over the last 17 days PSC has mobilised over 200,000 people to oppose the slaughter in Gaza, with 100,000 alone coming to our national demonstration last weekend.
Building for these demonstrations costs a great deal of money – leaflets, posters and placards are all vital ways for us to get our message across – but cost large amounts of money.
So if you are able to make a donation that will help us maintain the national and international pressure on the Israeli and British Governments, and support the Palestinians, then please contribute via the website www.palestinecampaign.org; call the PSC office on 020 7700 6192 or send cheques to PSC at 162 Holloway Road, London
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The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) aims to raise public awareness about the occupation of Palestine and the struggle of the Palestinian people. PSC seek to bring pressure on both the British and Israeli government to bring their policies in line with international law. PSC is an independent, non-governmental and non-party political organisation with members from communities across the UK. Join PSC today!