Please act now! Contact your MP!

Following the news that Tipi Livni, who served as Foreign Minister in the Israeli government that planned and executed Israel’s brutal bombing and massacre in Gaza, faced arrest if she entered Britain, tell the government there must be no impunity for Israeli war criminals.

Please act URGENTLY – if possible e-mail your MP today, and come to the vigil on 27 December to show the government that we will not let them forget Gaza.

Ask your MP to do the following:

1. Sign Early Day Motion 502 tabled by Jeremy Corbyn MP defending the right to bring war criminals to justice: http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=40074&SESSION=903

2. Urgently contact the Foreign Office raising the following points:

·        The government has a duty under the Fourth Geneva Convention to ‘seek out and prosecute’ alleged war criminals. Under the Geneva Conventions Act 1957, the UK has universal jurisdiction to arrest and try suspected perpetrators of “grave breaches” of the Fourth Geneva Convention 1949 (IVCG). War criminals should be pursued – Britain must not become a ‘safe haven’.

·        The judicial system is meant to be independent and the government’s role is not to intervene. If a judge believes there is sufficient evidence for an arrest warrant to be granted, it is irrelevant whether this embarrasses or causes problems for the British government.

·        The Goldstone Report detailed war crimes and potential crimes against humanity committed by Israel in Gaza. It was shameful that the government abstained on the vote for the Report at the UN Human Rights Council and General Assembly.

·        Instead of responding to pressure from the Israeli government to end the right to charge and prosecute war criminals, the government should immediately change its position – it should support international law and justice, and act itself to uphold the Fourth Geneva Convention.

·        Britain cannot be a true and independent ‘partner’ for peace if its policies are one-sided, and it allows those responsible for war crimes against Palestinians to avoid justice.

·        Tzipi Livni is just the latest in a list of Israelis who have come under scrutiny over allegations of war crimes. Our government should reflect on this, and change its foreign policy, including ending its arms trade with Israel.

**********************

Betty Hunter, PSC General Secretary, letter in the Guardian today

‘Tzipi Livni's refusal to enter Britain because she fears arrest on war crimes charges increases the number of Israeli ministers and ex-ministers who fear legal action, and is to be welcomed (British court issued Gaza arrest warrant, 15 December). Richard Goldstone's report for the UN detailed serious war crimes and potential crimes against humanity carried out by the Israeli government in Gaza in December 2008 and January 2009. It urged international governments to take action to bring those responsible to justice. It is now almost a year since the Israeli government started its brutal and bloody Operation Cast Lead, killing over 1,400 Palestinians in Gaza. The British government has already acted shamefully by not voting for the Goldstone report at the UN.

We are shocked at reports that the Foreign Office is seeking to avoid its responsibility to uphold international law and bring war criminals to justice. The statement that Israeli leaders must be able to come to Britain and that the Foreign Office is "looking urgently at the implications of this case" implies meddling with due judicial process. The government should rectify this immediately, reaffirm the principles of international law and justice, and take action itself to ensure those responsible for war crimes are brought to justice. And if the government does not act, we are ready and willing to take action.

 http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/dec/16/gaza-israel-livni-legal-action

*************

Geoffrey Bindman: Livni has no immunity

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/sir-geoffrey-bindman-livni-has-no-right-to-claim-immunity-from-prosecution-1841992.html

Livni defends Israel's war on Gaza, saying she "would make the same decisions all over again". http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/12/2009121591430318635.html

Foreign Secretary David Miliband says Israel is a "close friend" and wanted to "avoid this sort of situation arising again",  and Foreign Office Minister Ivan Lewis MP said: ‘This can never happen again’: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/8415161.stm

‘Most ministers would face arrest in UK’ http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1260894118141&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

AND KEEP THE PRESSURE ON! We need to tell the government we haven’t forgotten Israel’s crimes in Gaza and it must lift the siege now!!

Sunday 27 December 3-5pm outside the Israeli Embassy in London

http://www.palestinecampaign.org/Index9b.asp?m_id=1&l1_id=3&l2_id=62&Content_ID=976

=====================================

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!

Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Box BM PSA
London
WC1N 3XX

Tel:   020 7700 6192
Fax:  020 7609 7779

Email: info@...

Web: www.palestinecampaign.org

[To unsubscribe please email info@... with unsubscribe in the subject line]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Steve Bonhan" <mail@...>
To: <Undisclosed-Recipient:;>
Sent: Sunday, November 01, 2009 8:51 PM
Subject: Fw: Bethlehem Student Needs Your HELP!


>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <jane@...>
> To: <info@...>
> Sent: Friday, October 30, 2009 11:01 AM
> Subject: Bethlehem Student Needs Your HELP!
>
>
>> Dear Friends
>>
>> We have had a request to circulate this widely so that action can be
>> taken.
>> Please pass this email to anyone else you know that is in sympathy with
>> this
>> issue.
>> Many thanks.
>>
>> Best wishes
>>
>> Jane Hathway
>> Administrator
>>
>> Friends of Sabeel UK
>> 8 Silver Street
>> Dursley
>> GL11 4ND
>> TEL 01453 544655
>> Charity No 1116817
>>
>> If you no longer wish to receive regular updates from us please reply to
>> this email with your instruction.
>>
>> ____________________________________________________________________________
>> _
>> Forwarded message
>> Dear Friends of Bethlehem University,
>>
>> I have some upsetting news to share with you tonight.
>>
>> Earlier today, one of our 4th year students, Ms. Berlanty Azzam, was
>> arrested by the Israeli military.
>>
>> She is being detained and the Isreali authorities are threatening to
>> 'deport
>> her' from Bethlehem to Gaza.
>>
>> She needs your help -- NOW!!!
>>
>> What can you do to help?
>>
>> Read her background information on the attached document and then send an
>> email or a FAX to the Israeli authorities to demand that they release
>> Berlanty to allow her to return to Bethlehem University to complete the
>> bachelors degree in business administration which she began in September
>> 2005.
>>
>> The email is: cogatspokesman@...
>> The fax is: +972 3 697 6306.
>>
>> Read more about Berlanty on the attched document.
>>
>> God Bless You!!!
>>
>> brother jack
>> --------------------------------------
>> Brother Jack Curran, FSC, PhD     www.bethlehem.edu
>> Vice President for Development     Tel: 972-2-274-1241
>> Bethlehem University                      Fax: 972-2-274-4440
>> Location Address:    Rue des Freres, Bethlehem, Palestine
>> Temporary Mailing Address: PO Box 11407, 92248 Jerusalem USA Office  Br.
>> Dominic Smith, FSC, 3025 Fourth St, NE - Suite 330, Washington, DC 20017-
>> 1102
>> Email: dsmith@...
>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>
>> -------------------------------------------------------
>> This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by
>> MailScanner,and is believed to be clean.
>>
>> Bethlehem University
>>
>> The following section of this message contains a file attachment prepared
>> for transmission using the Internet MIME message format.
>> If you are using Pegasus Mail, or any other MIME-compliant system, you
>> should be able to save it or view it from within your mailer.
>> If you cannot, please ask your system administrator for assistance.
>>
>>   ---- File information -----------
>>     File:  2009-10-28 Berlanty Azzam-sb.doc
>>     Date:  28 Oct 2009, 20:12
>>     Size:  299008 bytes.
>>     Type:  Unknown
>>
>> ------ End of Forwarded Message
>>
>>
>>
>> ------ End of Forwarded Message
>>
>>
>


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 8.5.423 / Virus Database: 270.14.44/2475 - Release Date: 11/01/09
19:39:00

Dear PSC Supporter

By now you will be only too well aware that a campaign has been launched to have
Tony Blair appointed as the first President of the EU Council of Ministers once
the Lisbon Treaty is ratified next week.

You know his record.  He has long been a member of the Zionist leaning Labour
Friends of Israel.  While Prime Minister of the UK he appointed his chief
fundraiser, the Zionist Harold Levy, as his personal adviser on the Middle East.
The position of the British Government on the Middle East during his tenure was
invariably sympathetic to Israel, failing to condemn the invasion of Lebanon or
even calling for a ceasefire as Israel launched attack after attack onto
virtually defenceless civilians.

Since stepping down he has been acting as the special envoy to the Middle East
of the Quartet, ostensibly to create the conditions for progress in the peace
process, but once again favouring Israel in all his dealings.

If appointed as the EU President he would be a disaster for the Palestinian
cause.

You can register your opposition to his possible appointment by signing two
petitions:

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/notoBlair/?signed=f4f3646.aeb2a9

and

http://stopblair.eu/

Thanks

Harry Perry

Dear Branch Organisers,

We are due to send out an information pack to universities for their upcoming freshers' events, containing information material including fact sheets, newsletters and leaflets for our Student Conference in October. If you have any student contacts at your branch, who will run a stall at their university and can distribute this material, please forward relevant contact details to psc.admin@...

With thanks

Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Box BM PSA
London
WC1N 3XX

Tel:   020 7700 6192
Fax:  020 7609 7779
Web: www.palestinecampaign.org

If you are not already a member of PSC, please join us now

The Gaza Humanitarian Crisis Revealed

Thursday 17^th September 2009, 7.30pm

Hosted by Amnesty International Leicester Group

at Leicester YMCA, 7 East Street, Leicester, LE1 6EY

Join Palestinian journalist Fida Qishta and human rights activist Jenny Linnell as they recount their experiences of life on the ground in Gaza.

Fida Qishta, is a freelance journalist, camerawoman and blogger from Rafah in the south of the Gaza strip. Fida also founded the Lifemakers Centre in Rafah, providing educational support for traumatised children. She has previously worked with the Michigan Peace Team, but has been a co-ordinator for the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) since last September.

Jenny Linnell arrived in Gaza on 23rd August last year, on the first voyage of the Free Gaza Movement, then stayed on to work with the ISM until her return to the UK in July, following her attempts to exit the strip being hampered by the Egyptian authorities. Her role with ISM Gaza Strip has involved documentation and reportage of human rights violations, whilst also supporting Palestinian non-violent resistance and engaging in accompaniment work. She also spent several months in Gaza in 2003, again as an ISM volunteer.

Fida and Jenny will speak about their experiences during Israel 's massive assault on the Gaza strip in December and January. This will be contextualised by describing the lead-up to the offensive and the humanitarian crisis which followed in its wake, including the ongoing siege and how it is severely hampering reconstruction efforts. Israeli atrocities continue in Gaza despite the supposed 'ceasefire' and the shifting of the media spotlight. They will also explain the ISM’s accompaniment work with Palestinian civilians routinely facing Israeli military aggression.

For more information:

www.palsolidarity.org

www.fishingunderfire.blogspot.com

www.farmingunderfire.blogspot.com

www.defendtherescuers.wordpress.com

www.freegaza.org

Join the event on Facebook at:

http://www.facebook.com/share.php?appid=2344061033&src=box&tid=155580803824&u=www.freegaza.org#/event.php?eid=155580803824

Future Amnesty Events

Amnesty International is made up of 2.2 million ordinary people in more than 150 countries. Our purpose is to campaign for individuals wherever justice, fairness, freedom and truth are denied.

The Leicester group meets on the 3rd Thursday of every month (except December) to plan events, campaigns, raise awareness of human rights and write letters. Everyone is welcome.

CAMPAIGN SKILLS WORKSHOP: Writing for Rights

Thursday 15th October, 7.30pm, Leicester YMCA

Letters can save lives! Letters can also result in improvements in human rights conditions, the release of individuals, changes in policy and new human rights standards.  Develop a strategy to maximise the impact of your letter-writing and involve others in your work.

Amnesty Trainer: Dave Cordingley

Greetings Card Campaign

Thursday 19th November, 7.30pm, Leicester YMCA

Once a year, between November and January, Amnesty supporters send cards with messages of hope and solidarity to victims of human rights violations and those who defend them. 

Find out more from 07970 976210, emmackn@... or www.amnesty.org.uk/leicester

Or http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=31852710229,

PSC NEWS RELEASE

Wednesday 19 August 2009

PALESTINE SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN WELCOMES AMNESTY’S DECISION OVER LEONARD COHEN CONCERT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign welcomes Amnesty International (USA)’s decision to withdraw its plans to administer funds from a concert to be performed in Tel Aviv by Leonard Cohen.

Singer/songwriter Leonard Cohen has been asked to heed the Palestinian call for a cultural boycott of Israel and avoid complicity with Israel's violations of international law by cancelling his planned September concert in Israel. Pressure has grown internationally on performers, particularly following Israel’s war crimes in Gaza, to refuse to perform in Israel whilst it is violating international law and continuing its illegal occupation.

Betty Hunter, General Secretary of PSC, said: ‘The Palestinians have need of principled international friends and Amnesty has often filled that role.

The PSC were therefore shocked to hear about the proposed involvement of Amnesty in disbursing the profits of Leonard Cohen's concert to organisations such as the Peres Center for Peace whose function is to normalise the illegal occupation.

 ‘The Palestinians have asked us internationally to put pressure on Israel to abide by international law. We are therefore very pleased that Amnesty has taken this principled decision.’

PSC would like to thank our members, and supporters of Palestinian rights worldwide, who have written and emailed Amnesty to raise their concerns.

............................................................................

An open letter to Amnesty signed by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), the Palestinian Campaign for an Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel, (PACBI), Adalah-NY: The Coalition for Justice in the Middle East, American Jews for a Just Peace (US), Boycott from Within (Israel), British Committee for the Universities of Palestine (BRICUP), International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network, Jews Against the Occupation-NYC, New York Campaign for the Boycott of Israel (NYCBI), Palestine Solidarity Campaign (UK), US Campaign for the Academic & Cultural Boycott of Israel. Organizations pointed out, ‘Amnesty International USA will serve as sponsor of a new fund that will whitewash the money raised at Cohen's concert in Israel by using it to finance programs for "peace."’

Amnesty’s press release: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/MDE15/025/2009/en/d8c1fa4a-6e62-4ef4-bda1-327d9dba5f23/mde150252009en.html

For more information please contact the PSC.

=====================================

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.

Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Box BM PSA
London
WC1N 3XX

Tel:   020 7700 6192
Fax:  020 7609 7779

Email: info@...

Web: www.palestinecampaign.org

• 200 Melbourne Rd (Sisters only)
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