From: Peace Movement Aotearoa Date: 27 November 2006
Gaza: Stop The Sige - Stop The War
This message is primarily about the international Gaza: Stop the Siege - Stop the War! campaign that has been running
through November and will culminate in demonstrations around the world on Saturday, 2 December. There are five sections
below:
1) background information on the campaign; 2) the international online petition, the text and how you can add your name;
3) related events, and some other protests, in Aotearoa New Zealand before and on 2 December; 4) contact details and
draft letters for NZ government and other politicians; and 5) links to more information including the new UNRWA report,
Gaza: Stop the Siege - Stop the War! campaign material, and a draft letter to send to the Israeli Prime Minister, Chief
of Staff, and Defense Minister, as well as contact details for them. This alert is available online at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/gaza06.htm
1) Background information on the campaign
The situation in Gaza has reached emergency levels – inadequate water, electricity, and medicine; widespread hunger,
poverty, and unemployment; schools and other services out of operation; and constant bombardments and attacks by the
Israeli military. Since the Palestinian elections, parts of the international community and the Israeli government are
holding sanctions against the Palestinian Authority. Israel has tightened its siege and military attacks on Gaza since
the soldier Gilad Shalit was taken hostage. If this siege continues, we will see spreading disease, malnutrition, and
anarchy. Turning Gaza into a prison is a cruel policy which endangers its residents and the residents of Israel,
especially the ones in the south.
The community of peace organizations in Israel has gathered together in a coordinated, major campaign calling on the
Israeli government and on the international community to end the siege on Gaza and to embark upon negotiations with the
elected Palestinian leadership.
The month of action will culminate in demonstrations around the world on 2 December. Please join us in this humanitarian
and political effort. The campaign was initiated by the Coalition of Women for Peace with its 9 member organizations
(Bat Shalom, The Fifth Mother, Machsom Watch, Noga, NELED, Women In Black, New Profile, TANDI - Movement of Democratic
Women for Israel, and the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom). Other active organizers are Anarchists
against the Wall, Gush Shalom, Hadash, High School Seniors Letter, Rabbis for Human Rights, University Student
Coalition, Yesh Gvul, Ta`ayush, Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions, and The Students Coalition – Tel Aviv. More
information about the month of action is at http://coalitionofwomen.org/home/english/articles/letter_1106 and in the 'links to more information' section below.
The month of action includes the UN International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, information about the
observance of the Day in previous years is at http://www.un.org/depts/dhl/palestinian/ an information note about this
year's Day is at
http://unispal.un.org/unispal.nsf/47d4e277b48d9d3685256ddc00612265/e7006fc8692bd19a8525720d006a1bc5!OpenDocument and the
UN Division for Palestinian Rights site is at http://www.un.org/Depts/dpa/qpalnew/overview.htm
2) The international online petition
Gaza: Stop the Siege! Stop the War! To Israeli Government and World Leaders - "The situation in Gaza has reached
emergency levels - inadequate water, electricity, and medicine; widespread hunger, poverty, and unemployment; schools
and other services rendered inoperative; constant bombardments and attacks by the Israeli military. This humanitarian
catastrophe is man-made: It was brought on by the ongoing siege of the Gaza Strip by Israel and the sanctions imposed by
the international community on Palestine, made worse by repeated IDF attacks. If this situation continues, we will see
spreading disease, malnutrition, and more violence. Under these conditions, negotiations - the only way to reach peace
between both peoples - also become an impossibility. We call upon Israeli leaders to end the siege of and war on Gaza.
We call upon world leaders to end the political and economic sanctions of Palestine. The siege and sanctions are sowing
chaos and death in Gaza. They must come to an end." You can add your name to the petition at
http://www.petitiononline.com/SaveGaza/petition.html
3) Related events, and other protests, in Aotearoa New Zealand before and on 2 December
* Auckland
- Tuesday, 28 November: Protest Israeli War Criminal Moshe Ya'alon's Visit To Auckland! "The Palestine Human Rights
Campaign and Students for Justice in Palestine will be protesting the visit of Lieutenant General (Ret) Moshe Ya'alon,
former Chief of Staff Israeli ‘Defence’ Force 2002-2005, to Auckland. Ya’alon, otherwise known as the “Butcher of Qana”,
is responsible for a number of human rights violations and war crimes, including the IDF’s deliberate shelling of the
United Nations compound at Qana in southern Lebanon, on the 18th April 1996. At the time, Ya’alon was a Major General
and Head of Israeli Army Intelligence. Knowing that displaced civilians were sheltering at the compound, he planned,
directed and authorised the attack which killed over a hundred villagers who had taken refuge in the UN compound and
injured many others. Fijian soldiers assigned to the United Nations were also injured. Ya'alon is currently facing a
civil suit in US Federal Court on charges stemming from his involvement in the Qana attack. The class action lawsuit
charges Ya’alon with war crimes, extrajudicial killings, and crimes against humanity. Ya’alon is touring New Zealand
justifying the recent invasion and bombardment of Lebanon and Israel’s ongoing atrocities against Palestinians in the
Gaza Strip, West Bank and East Jerusalem. In 2002, in an interview with the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, he compared
Palestinians with cancer and commented "There are all kinds of solutions to cancerous manifestations. Some will say it
is necessary to amputate organs. But at the moment, I am applying chemotherapy". Support the protest, war criminals,
like Ya'alon are not welcome in Aotearoa-New Zealand". Picket starts at 6.45pm, AA (Alexander Astor) Hall, Kadimah
College, Greys Avenue, (opposite YMCA, near Pitt Street intersection), Auckland; for more information contact email
wakim.fam@xtra.co.nz
- Saturday, 2 December: Rally for Justice And Peace in Palestine and commemoration of UN International Day of Solidarity
with the Palestinian People (November 29th). Come and support justice and peace based on: an end to Israeli occupation
of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank (including East Jerusalem), the right of return for Palestinian refugees, and
stopping Israel's annexation / apartheid wall in occupied Palestine. Starts 2pm, QEII Square, Customs Street and Queen
Street intersection, outside Downtown Shopping Centre, Auckland. Organised by the Palestine Human Rights Campaign, for
more information contact email wakim.fam@xtra.co.nz
* Wellington
- Tuesday, 28 November: Vigil and Fast in Solidarity with the Palestinian People - "Please join us for a lunchtime fast
in solidarity with the people of Gaza who are being starved, isolated and bombed constantly. Gather for half an hour or
longer outside the US Embassy (as Israel’s main backer) for accounts of what is happening in Gaza and the occupied
territories, speakers, discussion, Palestinian poetry and music; a letter of protest will be presented to the US
Ambassador. Fasting has a long tradition as part of active non-violent resistance, and is meant to indicate the
commitment of the fasters, show willingness to commit for the cause and question those in power by the foregoing of
something ordinary and necessary. In this case it is aimed to link us with the deprivation being suffered by the
Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank." From 11.30am to 1.30pm, US Embassy, Wellington; organised by the
Wellington Palestine Group, for more information contact email wpgnz@hotmail.com
- Wednesday, 29 November: Wellington Palestine Group Information Stall to mark the UN International Day of Solidarity
with the Palestinian People, the United Nations adopted this day in recognition of the Palestinian's inalienable right
as a people to self determination. "On the 29th November 1947 the UN adopted Resolution 181 on the Partition of
Palestine, which laid out the division of Palestine into two states, one Arab and one Jewish. The Partition Plan was
accepted by the Jewish Agency but not by the Palestinians as they objected to the dissection, partition or segregation
of their country or the giving of special or preferential rights to a minority. After the establishment of the State of
Israel in 1948, most Palestinian people were expelled from their land to live, up until today, in refugee camps, in
Palestine and around the Middle East. Since 1967 Israel has occupied all of historic Palestine and subjected the
Palestinian Population to a brutal military occupation reminiscent of apartheid South Africa with the addition of
expulsion and ongoing land settlement." From 12 noon onwards at the bottom end of Cuba Mall, Wellington, please feel
free to come and help out at the stall during the day; organised by the Wellington Palestine Group, for more information
contact email wpgnz@hotmail.com
- Saturday, 2 December: Silent vigil and presentation of letter to the Honorary Consul of Israel, 11am at the Israeli
Consulate, 54 Central Terrace, Kelburn, Wellington. Organised by Kapiti Quakers, for more information contact c/o email
pma@xtra.co.nz - please put 'For Kapiti Quakers' in the subject line of your message.
* Christchurch
- Saturday, 2 December: Vigil and petition signing - "the situation in Gaza has reached disaster levels with widespread
hunger and unemployment and the bombing of schools, hospitals and power stations. Israeli human rights groups, including
many women's groups have organised a month of protest and called for people throughout the world to join them. Come to
the cathedral for even a few minutes, light a candle for peace in Gaza, make a prayer or sign a petition to Israeli
leaders to stop the bombing and lift the siege of the tiny patch of land called the Gaza strip; "do not be like a
disciple watching from afar", Bishop Riah, Anglican Bishop of Jerusalem." From 1pm to 3pm, Christchurch Cathedral,
Square; organised by Christian World Service in conjunction with Christchurch churches, for more information contact
email mary.cavanagh@cws.org.nz A poster advertising this event is available at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/gaza06.pdf
* Dunedin
- Saturday, 2 December: Gathering to call for an end to the siege and the war in Gaza - "Speakers will include a
spokesperson for Amnesty International; Rev Peter Matheson; Rt Rev George Connor; Father Mark Chamberlain; Christina
Gibb, recently returned from the West Bank, and others. There will be letters to the NZ PM and other cabinet ministers
and MPs, and a petition to the Israeli PM, and others in authority there, for people to sign; these will also be outside
the Dunedin Farmers Market during the morning". Gathering from 12 noon to about 1pm, in the Queens Gardens, opposite the
Settlers Museum; for further details and wet weather venue contact email cgibb@ihug.co.nz
4) Contact details and draft letters for NZ government and other politicians
a) Contact details for politicians: Helen Clark, Prime Minister, email pm@ministers.govt.nz or fax (04) 473 3579;
Winston Peters, Minister of Foreign Affairs, email wpeters@ministers.govt.nz or fax: (04) 471 2042; letters to any MP
should be posted to [whoever], Freepost Parliament, PO Box 18-888, Wellington; contact details for all MPs are available
online at http://www.parliament.nz/NR/rdonlyres/5858C8A5-ACDF-4B35-8D7A-3ABB7B19ACDB/46008/listofmembers21112007.pdf or
by phoning Parliament tel (04) 471 9999.
b) Draft letter for individuals to send (draft letter for groups below)
Dear
I am writing to urge you to take immediate action in relation to the Israeli siege of and attacks on Gaza.
The situation in Gaza has reached emergency levels - very inadequate water, electricity, and medicine; widespread
hunger, poverty, and unemployment; schools and other services out of operation; and constant bombardments and attacks by
the Israeli military. The problem is the siege of the Gaza Strip by Israel and the sanctions imposed by the
international community, made worse by ongoing IDF attacks, continuing since 25 June. As this siege continues, we see
spreading disease, malnutrition, and anarchy, together with a growing total of deaths and injuries.
The community of peace organizations in Israel has joined together in a coordinated, major campaign to end the siege of
Gaza and call upon Israel to embark upon negotiations with the Palestinian legitimate representative. They invite all
people of goodwill worldwide, including Governments and other bodies with international responsibilities, to act
vigorously to end this desperate emergency.
In particular, I ask that the New Zealand Government:
- as a friend of Israel, urge the Israeli Government to end the current siege of and attacks on Gaza;
- renew action to bring the matter before the United Nations Security Council;
- renew relations with the democratically elected Palestinian Authority, abandoning the current financial and economic
sanctions, and urge other Governments to end these measures which inflict such suffering on the civilian population,
nearly half of whom are aged under 14.
International relations with the Palestinian Authority have been distorted by the labelling of Hamas as a "terrorist
organisation", rather than as a nationalist resistance body which has suspended suicide bombings for the last year in
favour of political involvement. Hamas has stated its willingness to enter into a long-term truce with Israel - a de
facto recognition.
Please take urgent action.
Yours sincerely,
c) Draft letter for groups to send (draft letter for individuals above)
Dear
In urgent concern for the people of Israel and Palestine, we urge you to take every action within your power to relieve
the current desperate situation in Gaza.
The situation in Gaza has reached emergency levels - very inadequate water, electricity, and medicine; widespread
hunger, poverty, and unemployment; schools and other services out of operation; and constant bombardments and attacks by
the Israeli military. The problem is the siege of the Gaza Strip by Israel and the sanctions imposed by the
international community, made worse by ongoing IDF attacks, continuing since 25 June. As this siege continues, we see
spreading disease, malnutrition, and anarchy, together with a growing total of deaths and injuries.
The community of peace organizations in Israel has joined together in a coordinated, major campaign to end the siege of
Gaza and call upon Israel to embark upon negotiations with the Palestinian legitimate representative. They invite all
people of goodwill worldwide, including Governments and other bodies with international responsibilities, to act
vigorously to end this desperate emergency.
In particular, we request that the New Zealand Government:
- as a friend of Israel, urge the Israeli Government to end the current siege of and attacks on Gaza;
- renew action to bring the matter before the United Nations Security Council;
- renew relations with the democratically elected Palestinian Authority, abandoning the current financial and economic
sanctions, and urge other Governments to end these measures which inflict such suffering on the civilian population,
nearly half of whom are aged under 14.
International relations with the Palestinian Authority have been distorted by the labelling of Hamas as a "terrorist
organisation", rather than as a nationalist resistance body which has suspended suicide bombings for the last year in
favour of political involvement. Hamas has stated its willingness to enter into a long-term truce with Israel - a de
facto recognition.
Please give this matter your most urgent attention. We are writing similarly to the Prime Minister.
Yours sincerely,
5) Links to more information
* 'Financial boycott sends Palestinian poverty numbers soaring, finds UN report', 24 November 2006: "More than 1 million
Palestinians, or one in four inhabitants of the occupied territories, are now mired in deep poverty as living standards
deteriorate dramatically following the economic boycott of the Palestinian Authority this year, according to a United
Nations report released today." - UN news report at http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=20725=Palestin= The full UNRWA report is at http://www.un.org/unrwa/news/SocioEconomicImpacts_Nov06.pdf
* 'Civilians in Israel, Palestine bear brunt of abuses, UN rights chief says', 23 November 2006: "Wrapping up a visit to
the Middle East, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour said today that Palestinian and Israeli
civilians were the primary victims of the alarming deprivation of human rights in the region." - UN news report at
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=20709=Palestin=
* A Joint Statement by Israel's leading human rights organizations on the Gaza humanitarian crisis -
http://coalitionofwomen.org/home/english/articles/letter_1106/statements/israel_human_rights_orga
* Question and answer sheet about the current situation in the Gaza Strip -
http://coalitionofwomen.org/home/english/articles/letter_1106/questions_answers
* Statement by the European Jews for a Just Peace -
http://coalitionofwomen.org/home/english/articles/letter_1106/statements/ejppc_gazastmt
* Sample letter addressed to Israeli decision makers -
http://coalitionofwomen.org/home/english/articles/letter_1106/sample_petition
* Email addresses, fax numbers and other contact info for Israel's PM, Defense Minister and Chief of Staff -
http://coalitionofwomen.org/home/english/articles/letter_1106/contact
* Coalition against the Siege on Gaza web page - http://gazasiege.net/Campaign_info_eng.htm
Ends