PHA-Exchange> International Protection Force for Palestine

[David Legge]

Dear friends,

Would you add your voice to this call for an international protection force 
to be established and put in place in Palestine to protect the Palestinians 
and halt the present spiral of destruction.

david legge







> >From: "Debby Lerman" <debbyl at actcom.co.il>
> >To: <Undisclosed-Recipient:;>
> >Subject: Update 22/8/01  - Coalition of Women for Peace
> >Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 13:50:30 +0100
> >
> >Dear friends,
> >
> >     This is an update on some of the things we have been working on since
> >the last e-mail to you:
> >
> >
> >AD AGAINST THE WAR.
> >
> >Below is the translation  of an ad published by the Coalition on August 1st
> >in "Haaretz" (one of the major Israeli newspapers)  as a response to the
> >growing violence, repression and inhumane policies adopted by the
> >government of Israel  and the IDF against the Palestinians.
> >Our intention is to warn Israelis about the consequences of this war waged
> >by Israel against the Palestinian people and to call for a return to
> >negotiations at once:
> >
> >" Don't wait for the war to start talking -- Talk now, before the war
> >begins!
> >
> >Don't let them drag us into yet another war that could have been avoided:
> >* The Yom Kippur War broke out after Israel refused to negotiate with
> >the Arab states.
> >* The Israeli invasion of Lebanon was an attempt to impose a new
> >political order by military means.
> >* The first Intifada happened because of the ongoing occupation and
> >Israel's denial of Palestinian aspirations for an independent state.
> >* The current Intifada erupted after Barak failed to comply with the
> >Oslo agreements by withdrawing from any occupied territory, and instead
> >sought to force the Palestinians into an agreement that they could not
> >accept:  In exchange for ending the hostilities and renouncing all claims,
> >Israel offered the Palestinians a state in four disconnected enclaves, no
> >removal of settlements, and no agreed solution to the suffering of the
> >Palestinian refugees.
> >
> >This attempt at a coerced settlement led to the resumption of
> >fighting.
> >Sharon and his government, following in these footsteps, can only
> >bring upon us more war and bloodshed.
> >
> >Thousands more - on both sides - could be killed or maimed or have their
> >property destroyed, but at the end of the day we will still have to sit
> >down
> >and accept the Palestinian right to a sovereign state.
> >
> >Let us overcome our fears and suspicions, which perpetuate conflict,
> >and negotiate right now the agreement that would have followed war in any
> >case, to include dismantling the settlements, a return to the 1967 border,
> >and recognition of a Palestinian state.
> >
> >We propose that we end these decades of conflict by listening to the needs
> >of both sides, avoiding more superfluous war, and working toward
> >reconciliation.
> >
> >We call for the immediate lifting of the "closure" on the Palestinians, a
> >freeze on settlement expansion, and a return to negotiations at once.
> >
> >Coalition of Women for Peace
> >
> >JOINT PALESTINIAN- ISRAELI  APPEAL FOR INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION
> >
> >The situation of the Palestinian population in the occupied territories is
> >deteriorating daily. We must act immediately to try to stop further
> >attrocities, further deteriotation and the possibility of  full scale war.
> >Below is the text of  a joint Palestinian - Israeli appeal for the
> >immediate provision of International protection for the Palestinian people.
> >Please support this effort by signing the appeal and by forwarding it to
> >other potential supporters.
> >If you wish to sign, please do so at
> >http://www.miftah.org/AugAppeal/Appeal.htm .
> >
> >Appeal for an International Protection Force
> >
> >  We the undersigned, Palestinian and Israeli intellectuals and activists,
> >view with grave concern the unbearable and inhuman situation imposed on the
> >  Palestinian people in the West Bank and Gaza.  Such a situation has been
> >brought about by the repression, blockades, and daily humiliation exercised
> >  by the military occupation and by daily harassment of hundreds of
> >thousands  of settlers. We cannot remain unmoved while the suffering of
> >Palestinians  and the violation of their human and political rights
> >continues undeterred.
> >  The recent seizure of Palestinian institutions (including Orient House)
> >in  Jerusalem and environs can only exacerbate the situation and lead to
> >more  bloodshed and suffering of innocent people.  We feel it is our duty
> >to  support the call for the immediate provision of an international force
> >to  protect the Palestinian people in its struggle for the exercise of its
> >right to self-determination and freedom, and to put an end to the military
> >occupation of its land.
> >
> >  We urge all those concerned, everywhere, to join us in voicing their
> >strong  opposition to the continued occupation of the West Bank, including
> >East  Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, and to support our call for the
> >provision of  effective international protection for Palestinians from the
> >aggression and  repression of the Israeli occupation. Such an international
> >force, we  believe, would greatly facilitate the resumption of serious and
> >meaningful  negotiations between Palestinian and Israeli leaders and the
> >settlement of  the conflict on the basis of relevant United Nations
> >resolutions and a two  states solution.
> >  August 2001
> >
> >
> >DEMONSTRATION AGAINST THE OCCUPATION OF THE ORIENT HOUSE IN EAST JERUSALEM
> >:
> >
> >On Tuesday, August 15, the Coalition of Women for Peace together with Gush
> >Shalom and other organizations demonstrated against the occupation of the
> >Orient House:  300 demonstrators, Israelis, Palestinians and internationals
> >stood  together in protest of the occupation of Orient House and the other
> >Palestinian institutions  in and around Jerusalem. The demonstration was
> >coordinated with the Orient House people themselves  and was reported by
> >the national and international media.
> >
> >Joint Statement by the Orient House and MIFTAH, August 15th, 2001;
> >
> >The Orient House and the Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global
> >Dialogue and Democracy (MIFTAH) urge the international community to take a
> >firm stance against Israel's illegal occupation of the Orient House in east
> >Jerusalem. In particular, we call upon the governments and institutions of
> >European states (specifically the European Union) to take an active and
> >direct role in upholding the rights and freedoms of the Palestinian people,
> >in accordance with international legality and legitimacy.
> >
> >The Israeli occupation of the Orient House in the early hours of Friday
> >August 10th, 2001, constitutes a serious violation of international law and
> >a blatant disregard to the Palestinian-Israeli understandings reached
> >following the Madrid Peace Conference in 1991. Ariel Sharon's government
> >has directly violated the pledge made by Israel in October 1993, in which
> >Israel's Foreign Minister, Shimon Peres, declared, in a letter sent to the
> >late Johan Jorgen Holst, the Norwegian Foreign Minister at the time, that
> >Israel shall not hamper the activity of Palestinian institutions
> >functioning within the boundaries of east Jerusalem.
> >
> >Recent statements made by Israeli Foreign Minister, Shimon Peres, that the
> >Orient House shall only be closed for 6 months, and not permanently (as
> >stated by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in the wake of the incursion
> >on August 10th), are yet another example of the 'apologist' role assumed by
> >the Israeli left in dealing with the current crisis, and the conflict at
> >large. Mr. Peres has willfully adopted Sharon's policy of repression and
> >mentality of occupation, with all its anachronisms and misperceptions.
> >
> >The Orient House and MIFTAH strongly reject the position adopted by Shimon
> >Peres as a shortsighted attempt to defuse the situation and mislead the
> >international community by willfully undermining the urgency of an
> >immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Orient House, and the
> >immediate reopening of all Palestinian institutions recently shut down in
> >east Jerusalem.
> >
> >To that end, and in light of the urgency in taking firm steps against
> >Israel's illegal actions, we demand that the European Union and the
> >governments of European states:
> >
> >-Boycott their official meetings (particularly European dignitaries) with
> >the Israeli government until the Orient House and all institutions recently
> >closed down are reopened, taking into consideration that these institutions
> >are predominantly funded by the European Union and are an essential element
> >of Europe's political and economic investment in Middle East peace.
> >
> >-Provide immediate international protection in the occupied Palestinian
> >territories, including east Jerusalem, taking into consideration that
> >peaceful Palestinian and non-Palestinian demonstrators against the closure
> >of the Orient House are being met with excessive Israeli police brutality.
> >
> >-Take up their committed role as mediators in the Middle East Peace
> >Process, publicly underline the European position vis-?-vis the closure of
> >the Orient House, and act according to the Berlin Declaration of 1999.
> >
> >-Condemn Israel's illegal policies in east Jerusalem, through settlement
> >expansion, home demolition, and ID confiscation; the implications of which
> >only prove that Israel has not abided by signed agreements and has
> >blatantly violated the very letter and spirit of the peace process itself
> >since the Madrid Peace Conference of 1991.
> >
> >For further information, please contact:
> >Public Information Department
> >MIFTAH
> >Tel: 00972-2-585 1842
> >www.miftah.org
> >
> >
> >SUMMARY OF VARIOUS OTHER ANTI-OCCUPATION ACTIVITIES:
> >
> >
> >* Three women (an Israeli, a Palestinian, and an American Jew) have
> >organized an International Solidarity Movement into a "human shield"
> >around Beit Jalla -- living in Palestinian homes during times of shelling
> >by  the Israeli army.
> >
> >* Physicians for Human Rights are holding a medical clinic for the
> >Palestinian cave dwellers whose homes and cisterns were destroyed by  the
> >army.
> >
> >* Bustan Shalom together with Rabbis for Human Rights paid  condolence
> >calls to the families of the victims of the bomb in the Jerusalem pizzeria.
> >
> >* The Palestinian Center for Rapprochement organized two weeks of actions
> >with Palestinians and international delegations, including a demonstration
> >near Orient House where they were brutally beaten by the police.
> >
> >* Peace Now held a rally calling upon the government not to go to war, but
> >to negotiate.
> >
> >* In the face of signs in Jerusalem's market saying "Don't buy from Arabs",
> >three women brought photos from Nazi Germany showing "Don't buy from Jews"
> >posters (and were beaten up for their efforts).
> >
> >* Yesh Gvul and New Profile continue their work to discourage military
> >service in the territories and give solidarity to COs.
> >
> >* Many vigils and demonstrations against the occupation - Women in Black
> >and others - are held regularly all over Israel and in many places in the
> >world.
> >
> >
> >
> >PEACE VIGIL IN MELBOURNE
> >Based on a report by Taimor:
> >
> >Our protest on Sunday at the opening of Chabad House by Netanyahu was
> >excellent. We had according to the media approximately 200 people, though I
> >  think it was close to 130-150.
> >
> >Friends Of Palestine, turned out in full colours, and a special thanks to
> >these people for helping in the build up and putting in a great effort on
> >the day. We also had a large number of Palestinian who  showed enthusiasm
> >and restraint when needed. I'd also like to acknowledge  the presence of
> >all left  groups... usually I complain about this groups or that groups
> >turning up,  but this time we had the whole spectrum of left parties... a
> >great thing.
> >
> >  A very big mention to the Peace Marshall volunteers who were called at
> >the  last minute to form a buffer between us the extremist after we
> >received  many death threats and intimidating phone calls,,, some extremely
> >serious,  of which the marshals were informed and still volunteer to be in
> >the middle  of it all... Thank fully there was no violence,,, and we didn't
> >need their  disciplined pacificism. Thanks.
> >
> >  Last, but not least I would like to acknowledge and thank Women in Black
> >and all progressive Jews who were present on our side of the rally. It is
> >unfortunate, that the AJDS pulled out officially,,, but a lot of their
> >members were there in person. They deserve a big thanks, because like our
> >oganisers they received deaths threats, and intimidating phone calls, and
> >some serious pressure from the JCCV not to be there. They are in a
> >difficult position and we acknowledge that. Thanks.
> >  =================
> >  The Peace Vigil was great, we had a lot of media interviews, and lot of
> >symbolic gestures, eg. olive  branches in the path of cars of Beazely and
> >Bracks although Netanyahu was  smuggled in a backdoor, people holding
> >branches, slogans, banners,  placards, in Hebrew, Arabic and English,
> >Palestinian flags, and a  Palestinian and Israeli flag tied together.
> >
> >
> >VIGILS IN BERNE, SWITZERLAND
> >Dear Debby, dear friends,
> >
> >Thank you again for your latest news and your commitment to continue the
> >struggle!
> >I would like to inform you that here in Berne as well as in Zurich we
> >continue to hold our vigils regularly every second Friday each month from
> >12.30 to 13.00, as we do it since more than four years, by the way.
> >
> >All the best, yours
> >Matthias Hui
> >
> >APOLOGIES TO FIRE, COSTA RICA
> >
> >I would like to apologize to the Feminist International Radio Endeavour
> >(FIRE). In my previous e-mail I should have written that the live webcast
> >of the  June 8 vigils was by the courtesy of FIRE radio station in COSTA
> >RICA .  By mistake I wrote Puerto Rico. I would like to thank them again
> >for their support and express our admiration for their continuing work.
> >More from FIRE in the next item.
> >
> >FUTURE ACTIONS
> >
> >  LIVE WEBCASTS BY FIRE FROM UN CONFERENCE AGAINST RACISM IN DURBAN
> >
> >Live Webcasts by FIRE from UN Conference Against Racism Focus on Women's
> >Perspectives
> >
> >Broadcasting live via the Internet from the United Nations World Conference
> >Against Racism in Durban, South Africa, Feminist International Radio
> >Endeavour (FIRE) invites you to participate in the "FIRE-PLACE" August
> >28th-September 7th, 2001 through its webpage at: www.fire.or.cr. Featuring
> >women from around the world talking about racism, FIRE will broadcast daily
> >programs from the WomensNet CyberCafe in Spanish and English during the NGO
> >Forum and the Official Conference under the title, "Voices Without
> >Brackets," from the World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination,
> >Xenophobia and Related Intolerance. Listeners may also participate in a
> >"chat room" during the broadcasts, discussing these issues with guests and
> >producers of the FIRE-PLACE.
> >
> >Programs will focus on a variety of topics including, among others: gender
> >& sexuality; media and racism; intersections of globalization with gender,
> >race & class; "Foreign Occupation and Tibetan Women;" "Caribbean women &
> >500 years of racism;" "Strengthening Women's Rights in a Multicultural
> >Europe;" Filipina migrant women's issues in Japan; and young ethnic
> >Australian women on using art to explore racism & xenophobia. (Check the
> >FIRE webpage at: www.fire.or.cr later in August for a specific program
> >schedule.)
> >
> >Starting August 28th through September 7th, FIRE-PLACE programs in Spanish
> >will be broadcast 6-7 pm (South African time, 10 am Costa Rica/MST time);
> >and in English 7:30-8:30 pm (11:30 am Costa Rica/MST time); 7-7:30 music
> >and/or impromptu information or interviews. The second half hour of each
> >program will also include a chat room (6:30-7 pm Spanish; 8:-8:30 English).
> >
> >The FIRE-PLACE in South Africa is being sponsored by HIVOS, ASTRAEA,
> >ILGAHR, the University of Denver and the permanent support of Genevienve
> >Vaughan.
> >
> >Activists and others who wish to receive further press releases and reports
> >from FIRE during the conference may ask to be put on the e-mail
> >distribution list at: femintra at hotmail.com. Radio producers who wish to
> >receive live feeds or do phone interviews may contact FIRE to arrange to
> >call the producers at a specified time.
> >
> >For more information, write to FIRE at: femintra at hotmail.com or check the
> >webpage at: www.fire.or.cr
> >
> >IN NEW YORK
> >There will be two demonstrations in NYC on Sunday September 23, the first
> >at 1pm and the second starting at 4pm.  the 1pm protest will be a counter
> >demonstration in response to a large, right wing "support Israel" rally
> >outside the UN.  There is not yet an exact place for this, but the rally we
> >are opposing will be on 2nd ave between 47 and 42 streets.  The organizers
> >of the right wing rally are claiming that high level Israeli and American
> >gov't officials will be present, including perhaps Sharon or Peres.  I
> >don't (yet) have a contact person for this action.
> >
> >At 4pm there will be a march on the upper west side of Manhattan, starting
> >in Riverside Park near 83rd street.  this march has been planned for a
> >while by a group of Jewish anti-occupation activists, and we decided to
> >continue with it in spite of the events now scheduled for earlier that day.
> >  the focus of this action will be to educate NYCers about the occupation
> >and escalating human rights violations.  an announcement of that action is
> >pasted in below, please forward to appropriate individuals and/or lists.
> >
> >Naomi Braine
> >
> >During the Days of Awe, between Rosh Hashonah and Yom Kippur, there will be
> >a mass gathering in NYC of Jews from the Northeast to protest the
> >continuing Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza.
> >Join us on Sunday, Sept 23 2001, at 4pm at the Hudson River promenade of
> >Riverside Park, near 83 st. We will begin with a communal Tashlich ceremony
> >focused on the crimes of the Israeli occupation, and then march up Broadway
> >with street theater, music, and leafletting.  We will end with a slide
> >show, educational update, and memorial for the Israelis and Palestinians
> >killed in the past year.
> >
> >JOIN US!
> >
> >Reported by Naomi Braine
> >
> >For more information:     hhwg2001 at hotmail.com
> >                                     212-358-5004
> >
> >
> >IN ISRAEL
> >
> >*A solidarity convoy to the southern west bank will be held on Saturday,
> >September 1st. The convoy will be organized by the Jerusalem group of
> >Ta'ayush to express solidarity with the Palestinians by breaking the
> >barriers and delivering essential supplies to people who are deprived from
> >their basic liberties and harrassed daily and nightly by the Israeli army.
> >This action will open a month of solidarity actions & events, organized by
> >a coalition of left & peace organizations, marking the culmination of a
> >whole year of Intifada and with it a whole year of Seger, Keter, bombing,
> >executions and other atrocities inflicted by Israel.
> >
> >*On Monday, September 10,  MachsomWatch will hold an all-day series of
> >observations at the Bethlehem Checkpoint.
> >Women in the Central and Northern regions will also be conducting
> >observations on an expanded basis.  The action serves both to  observe
> >checkpoints during all hours of  one day and also to demonstrate our
> >presence as a protest group.
> >
> >
> >Warm regards,
> >Debby Lerman
> >Coalition of Women for Peace
> >
>
>
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