From: Mazin Qumsiyeh
We did not have to show our 1500 visitors Israeli racism, arrogance, and
human rights violations; the Israeli government showed them and also showed
the whole world. Calling itself a democracy, this outlaw state denied the
right of people from around the world to come visit us and see for
themselves the reality of life under occupation.
We the Palestinian people are 11 million normal human beings, 7 million are
refugees or displaced people simply because they are natives to a land that
was wanted for a Jewish state. Five million of us are living in
increasingly shrinking ghettos on a tiny fraction of our land. We remain
here despite an illegal and brutal occupation that includes land
confiscation, movement restrictions, home demolitions, illegal imprisonment
of thousands (many now on hunger strike), and countless other inhuman
conditions. We did not expect from this occupation that daily violates
human rights to also allow us as prisoners under its boot to openly and
honestly receive visitors. These visitors who wanted to come and see what
reality is like here certainly were shocked at the Israeli behavior. And
those who wanted to welcome our visitors and were brutally assaulted will
remember how the same Israeli police let right wing fanatics sing and
disrupt at the airport. The whole world is now seeing Israel for what it
is: a police state that fulfills all the requirements of being an apartheid
pariah state per the International Convention on the Suppression and
Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid (1973).
Countries that once supported Apartheid in South Africa had people who
mobilized against it. Now people of conscience mobilize to challenge this
apartheid that is now so explicitly expressed.
Those airlines and governments that acted as subcontractors for the Israeli
apartheid regime are being challenged by their own people. In denying
boarding to a passenger by Air France, the airline documented that she
cannot board because she is neither Jewish or Israeli! (see in french
http://wtp2france.palestinejn.org, English:
http://palestinianspring.palestinejn.org)
In claiming in writing that we called for disruptions and for challenging
"security" of Israel, the Israeli government was exposed as lying. In
forcing a Swedish passenger (unrelated to our campaign) to sign that he was
not going to meet with any "pro-Palestinian" individuals or groups, the
Israeli government was shown to be racist. Imagine if a similar
requirement was posted to visitors to any other country about visiting or
meeting with "pro-black" individuals or organizations. In sending a letter
to that claims activists should worry about Iran and Syria before worrying
about this system of apartheid, the Israeli government showed the
bankruptcy of its arguments. In denying us the right to visit, the Israeli
government showed the world that it has a lot to hide.
For examples of participant profiles of those denied their right to visit
us in Palestine, visit
http://www.welcometopalestine.info/index.php/participant-profiles-uk-us
At the end of our press conference in Bethlehem, we passed out Easter
colored eggs. We Palestinian Christian and Muslims are grateful to all who
act on their conscience, Internationals, Israelis, and Palestinian
volunteers. Thousands of us say loud and clear: we will not be silenced,
we will continue to organize campaigns until we have freedom and until
Israel complies with all relevant International and Humanitarian laws.
Contact email: media@palestinejn.org
Contact phone numbers in languages: Arabic, English. French, Spanish, Hebrew
0599255573 (A, E, F)
0568347074 (A, E, S)
0598939532 ((A, E)
0505633044 (A, E, H)
Welcome to Palestine 2012 Campaign websites
http://bienvenuepalestine.com
http://palestinianspring.palestinejn.org
http://www.righttoenter.ps
http://welcometopalestine.info
http://bienvenidosapalestina.jimdo.com/
http://bienvenuepalestine.ca/
English: http://palestinianspring.palestinejn.org
Arabic: http://wtp2arabic.palestinejn.org
Spanish: http://wtp2spain.palestinejn.org
French: http://wtp2spain.palestinejn.org
Swedish: http://wtp2sweden.palestinejn.org
Norwegian: http://wtp2norway.palestinejn.org
No comments:
Post a Comment