notes 6-16-2006
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Another family down How many more massacres are necessary before the world wakes up to what Israel is doing to the Palestinians, asks Khaled Amayreh in the West Bank 15 - 21 June 2006
http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2006/799/re1.htm********************************************************
For an outsider, a few days in Palestine at present is a very depressing experience. But for expatriate nationals, there is no place like home. Keeping the international eyewitnesses out Rima Merriman, The Electronic Intifada, 15 June 2006 http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article4813.shtml*********************************************************
Any goal that is seen to emanate from Western capitals, no matter how good or appropriate (e.g., democracy, human rights, free press), is likely to generate stiff resistance in Arab societies that are fed up with being manipulated and reconfigured by Western armies.
Rule by militias, a chronic Arab problem by Rami G. Khouri June 16-17, 2006
http://jordantimes.com/fri/opinion/opinion2.htm*********************************************************
Time is Running Out Palestine on the Brink By RAMZY BAROUD June 15, 2006
http://www.counterpunch.org/baroud06152006.html ********************************************************
Hamas and Fatah leaders joined ranks in condemning the 9 June murder by the Israeli army of a Palestinian family...
Days of fire Israeli massacres have yet to overshadow Palestinian differences , reports Khaled Amayreh from Ramallah 15 - 21 June 2006
http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2006/799/fr1.htm********************************************************
The weakness of the Palestinian strategic position in the balance of force with Israel is unlikely to help Abbas reach an equitable solution. On the other hand, a unilateral Israeli withdrawal from parts of the West Bank will provide some short-term relief by having the checkpoints removed for internal travel, but unless it is done in direct cooperation with the Palestinians and with the possibility of free travel to Jordan, it will not produce any long-term relief.
2006 — breakthroughs, yes, but no peace by Daoud Kuttab June 16-17, 2006
http://jordantimes.com/fri/opinion/opinion3.htm*********************************************************
Keeping the pot boiling by George S. Hishmeh June 16-17, 2006
http://jordantimes.com/fri/opinion/opinion4.htm*********************************************************
The most obvious obstacles to achieving Palestinian freedom are the decades-long oppressive Israeli occupation, poor leadership, institutional corruption, and inconsistent support from Arab states. But these have been compounded by what has slowly developed into an almost complete identification with Israel in the United States. This is largely the result of determined work over many decades by the Jewish-American community and its allies. They have debated each other, developed effective messaging, and engaged elected officials and the media.... Their actions do not constitute a conspiracy. They are the fruit of the effective deployment of lawful political means to achieve a very precise political end: that Americans identify with Israelis as "us" while considering Palestinians "them." The undeniable success of this project has seriously diluted American sympathy for the Palestinian cause. Let's give Palestinian-Americans a voice By Raafat Dajani June 16, 2006 http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=5&article_id=73220*********************************************************
Two great letters found in pages abroad:
Signs from avocados
http://weekly.
ahram.org.eg/2006/799/letters.htm 15 - 21 June 2006
Sir -- Thank you for publishing Gabriela Becker's '
The essence of colonialism' (
Al-Ahram Weekly 8-14 June). There appears to me to be a fault-line in Israel's method, and it concerns an avocado. I am British (of Jewish origin) living in France. One day about three or four years ago I picked up an avocado in a French supermarket, saw that it was from Israel and put it back. Why? The reason was that the Israelis had just murdered an Armenian priest in Bethlehem -- shot in the back. My only thought was "not today -- no produce from Israel today." There did seem to be quite a few avocados remaining in the shop. Over the following months I noticed that avocados came from Mexico, South Africa, Kenya, all over the world, but not from Israel. Was the supermarket "anti- Semitic"? Hardly.
What Israel should fear is not a boycott -- it is that ordinary people simply do not want their produce out of a sense, not of political positions, but plain simple revulsion; and if one seeks to find a sure way of causing that revulsion it is the targeting of children and the innocent.
Richard Haut , France
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Disputed events on Gaza beachhttp://www.
guardian.co.uk/letters/story/0,,1797649,00.html
Thursday June 15, 2006
The Guardian
My heart goes out to a child of any nationality such as 10-year-old Huda who lost her family on the beach in Gaza (Israel blames Hamas for beach deaths, June 14). Ehud Olmert, Israel's prime minister, expressed sorrow while standing next to Tony Blair, but a denial of responsibility followed, and a claim that the family had been killed by a Palestinian mine.
Speaking from personal experience, after the shooting of our son, Tom, such claims following Israeli defence forces "investigations" lack credibility because of the inadequate and untruthful manner in which they are carried out, if they are carried out at all.
The IDF findings are at odds with the conclusions of an expert from the New York-based Human Rights Watch, who found that the "crater size, the shrapnel, the types of injuries, their location on the bodies" show "there is little doubt that they were killed by a shell dropping from the sky, not explosives under the sand".
Whatever the facts of this tragic incident, there needs to be a transparent investigation in which the truth is sought by all and the IDF is seen to cooperate inclusively in the process.
Jocelyn Hurndall London
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The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy
Keeping It Quiet By Charley Reese &
Silence of the Poodles By Paul Findley
http://www.wrmea.com/archives/May-June_2006/0605018.html**********************************************************
Rep. Rahm Emanuel (Ill.), chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said: "This Republican Congress sat and watched the president make mistake after mistake after mistake. . . . You have adopted an approach of 'see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil' with abandon."
Parties Face Off Over Iraq War in 11-Hour Debate By Jonathan Weisman and Charles Babington
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/15/AR2006061501390_2.html
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Hamas: A Pale Image of the Jewish Irgun And Lehi Gangs By Donald Neff
http://www.wrmea.com/archives/May-June_2006/0605014.html**********************************************************
The (Anti-) Palestinian Authority The real rift in Palestinian society is between those fighting to preserve the class privileges of Oslo and their opponents who uphold the essentials of the Palestinian cause, writes Joseph Massad
http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2006/799/op11.htm**********************************************************
Huge rise in number of houses IDF is razing during arrest opsThe operation is as follows: If the fugitive refuses to exit, warning shots are fired around the house and then at points in the home that appear suspicious. If the fugitive continues to refuse to surrender, a bulldozer is brought in and begins to pound the walls of the house. The final stage is for the bulldozer to raze the home with everyone in it. Only then are troops sent in to search for survivors. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/726988.html**********************************************************
Caterpillar Pressured Over "Weaponised Bulldozers"The parents of a U.S. peace activist who was crushed to death by an Israeli bulldozer built by the global machinery giant Caterpillar confronted the company Wednesday for the first time and urged shareholders at its annual meeting to end sales of "weaponised bulldozers to Israel". Cindy and Craig Corrie, parents of the late Rachel Corrie, attended the meeting as proxy voters on behalf of Jewish and Christian institutional investors who have filed a resolution asking for greater corporate accountability from Caterpillar. http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=33619***********************************************************
Activists scold Caterpillar for Middle East salesAbout two dozen people with signs picketed outside the Northern Trust Bank in Chicago where the Peoria-based equipment maker conducted its annual shareholder meeting on Wednesday. Inside the meeting, several shareholders took turns urging Cat CEO and Chairman James Owens to cease equipment sales to the government of Israel.
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=20992***********************************************************
Israeli Soldiers Refuse to Prevent Attacks Against Palestinians in Hebron Two settlers began throwing large rocks at the HRWs. The HRWs pleaded with the soldier to make the settlers stop, but he said, “No, I can't!” The HRWs said that it was his job and he replied, “I don't give a fuck about my job…Go back to England!” The settlers continued to throw many rocks at close range, attempting to steal the camera, and hitting one HRW with his fists. All of this happened as the solider watched, doing nothing. One of the HRWs was bleeding on her leg and arm.http://www.palsolidarity.org/main/2006/06/15/iof-ignore-attacks/************************************************************
Army arrests one resident and turns two houses to military posts in Biet Al Rish village near Hebronarmy jeeps stormed the village and searched the house of Hussen Al Herbawi, arrested him and took him to an unknown location, eyewitnesses reported. Also soldiers stormed the houses of Talal and Mohamed Khalil, forced the two families to leave, trashed the two homes, and turned these houses into military posts, local sources added.http://www.imemc.org/content/view/19384/1/
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Arms transferred to Abbas with Israeli blessing: officialAccording to the Yediot Aharonot daily, three trucks carrying 950 American M-16 automatic rifles crossed into the West Bank and Gaza from Jordan under Israeli military escort overnight Wednesday and early Thursday. http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060615/wl_mideast_afp/mideastisraelpalestiniansarms_060615070857
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Court orders Israel to tear down West Bank barrier segment Israeli rights group B'Tselem said the court had "essentially ruled that the state lied" over claims that the route of the 670-kilometre (415-mile) barrier "is based solely on security considerations". The court gave the state six months to dismantle the section of the barrier and build an alternative route which does not siphon off village land. http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060615/wl_mideast_afp/mideastisraelbarrierjustice_060615113750
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weekly report of Israeli war crimes, 14 June 2006http://www.pchrgaza.org/files/W_report/English/2006/15-06-2006.htm***********************************************************
US seen as a bigger threat to peace than Iran, worldwide poll suggests But even in the UK, Washington's closest ally, favourable ratings have slumped from 83% in 1999 to 56% this year. The pattern is similar in France, down from 62% to 39%, Germany 78% to 37%, and Spain 50% to 23%. In Muslim countries with which the US has traditionally enjoyed a good relationship, such as Turkey - a member of Nato - and Indonesia, there have also been slumps. In Indonesia favourable ratings for the US have dropped from 75% to 30%, and in Turkey from 52% to 12%. http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,1797771,00.html
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While the Israelis fire missiles at Palestinian picnickers and homes in Gaza and the West Bank, the two governments are to starve them. The victims will be mostly children.
In Palestine, a War on Children by John Pilger June 15, 2006
http://www.antiwar.com/orig/pilger.php?articleid=9144 (
http://www.newstatesman.com/200606190029 )********************************************************
our mainstream pundits seemed more obsessed with Israel's excuses than with her continued attacks on Gaza's civilians, which brought that day's death toll to nine. Waiting to Exhale Zachary Wales, The Electronic Intifada, 14 June 2006 http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article4804.shtml*************************************************************
How Israel's Jewish terrorist became a victim As bystanders in the street outside look on in horror, our gunman then reloads his weapon and sprays the bus with yet more fire, injuring 20 people. He approaches a woman huddled beneath a seat, trying to hide from him, lowers the gun to her head and pulls the trigger. The magazine is empty. As he tries to load a third clip, she grabs the burning barrel of the gun while other passengers rush him.
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article4805.shtml*********************************************************
Prophets in Their Own Land How to go from respected academic to anti-Semite—in one simple step By Michael C. Desch June 19, 2006 The American Conservative http://amconmag.com/2006/2006_06_19/article1.html***********************************************************
As the daily death toll of Palestinian men, women and children at the hands of the Israelis clearly indicates, Israel’s policy towards the Palestinians is driven solely by violence and aggression. No other avenues (the non-violent kind) are open.
'No immediate answer or solution’ by Rima Merriman
http://jordantimes.com/thu/opinion/opinion4.htm**********************************************************
Ministry plans ‘universal’ immigration law to ban Arabs from residency rights in Israel Report, I'lam, 14 June 2006
I'lam, the only media centre for the Arab minority in Israel, http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article4809.shtml
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We hope and pray that you will continue to disavow Christian Zionism, to condemn Israel's continuing effort to extend and consolidate its hold on Palestinian land and water in the Occupied West Bank, and to begin selective divestment of holdings in multinational corporations enabling those efforts. Open Letter to the Presbyterian Church , JATO, 14 June 2006 http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article4806.shtml******************************************************************************
An Urgent Question for Presbyterians--and All Americans But if Presbyterians--and all Americans--regard the conflict with honest eyes, they will see the moral imperative clearly, and they will see the parallels to other injustices they have confronted before.
http://www.counterpunch.org/obenzinger06132006.html
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Israel Spinning Out of Control By: Sam Bahour June 14, 2006
http://www.amin.org/eng/uncat/2006/june/june14-0.html*****************************************************************************
Gaza Physician, British Journalist Refute Reported Israeli Military Investigation that Clears IDF, Blames Hamas for Deadly Beach Attack
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/06/13/140204*******************************************************************
Revealed: the shrapnel evidence that points to Israel's guiltIsrael has dismissed continuing calls for an independent international inquiry into the beachfront explosion which killed seven members of a Palestinian family in Gaza last Friday after its own internal military investigation decided it was not responsible for the blast. 14 June 2006
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/article994070.ece*******************************************************************
"It is my contention that the most likely scenario is that the blast was the result of Israeli shells coming down on the beach," said Garlasco, whose military experience includes seven years with U.S. military intelligence. Israeli Airstrike Kills 10 Palestinians Eight Civilians Among Dead; Israel Denies Role in Last Week's Fatal Beach Explosion *******************************************************************
Of the several Palestinians who I saw shot dead at these 30 clashes, not a single one of them was killed within any range that they could have hit an Israeli soldier with a stone. In the single clash where I witnessed an Israeli soldier grazed by a stone, the killing that took place happened much later. At no time was there any life-threatening situation that required these soldiers to behave any differently than riot police would behave in a more civilized country. Does Israel have a policy of killing Palestinian civilians? Nigel Parry, The Electronic Intifada, 13 June 2006 http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article4802.shtml********************************************************************
Emergency Protest For Palestine
Friday, June 16 6:00 PM Union Square South - 14th St. at Broadway, NYC PROTEST ISRAELI MURDER OF PALESTINIANS!
END THE SIEGE ON PALESTINE!
RESPOND TO HODA GHALIA'S CRIES FOR JUSTICE!Join Al-Awda NY, as we join Chicago, Toronto, Montreal, San Francisco, Boston, and other cities in North America, calling for a Day of Action in solidarity with the people of Palestine in their struggle against the Genocidal Apartheid Zionist State.
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Protest Racist Celebration of "Israel" in Boston Sunday, June 18, 11:00 AM, Boston Government Center.
Under this year's title "Talk, Rock and Walk with Israel", Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Boston has announced its annual event celebrating more than half a century of colonialism and genocide against the people of Palestine....For the fifth year in a row The New England Committee to Defend Palestine calls for a protest. When Zionists "Talk, Rock and Walk with Israel," what will they be celebrating? *The mass expulsion of 780,000 Palestinians in 1948 *Military massacres, from Deir Yassin in 1948 to Jenin in 2002 to the attacks on Jericho and Gaza in 2006 *The use of U.S. fighter jets, attack helicopters, tanks, bulldozers, and assault rifles to attack Palestinians *Soldiers shooting children *The razing of Palestinian villages and home demolitions *The imprisonment of more than 9,000 Palestinians for political reasons *Assassination of Palestinian political leaders *5 million refugees kept by force from returning to their homes in Palestine *Economic strangulation of Palestinian communities *The stealing of land by a state-sponsored settlement program *The theft of water, the uprooting of olive trees, and the building of 450 miles of 24-foot-high concrete walls to imprison Palestinian cities and villages.
Don't let them hold this racist march in Boston. Join all those for justice in Palestine at 11:00 AM Sunday, June 18
at Government Center!
http://www.onepalestine.org**********************************************************************
Tuesday 6/20 BART ALERT to Stop the Killing of Palestinian Children Israel has already fired 7,000 shells on the people of Gaza this year Palestinian families are starving because of US and EU sanctions Hospitals face a critical shortage of medicine and supplies Join ADC-SF and MECA and hundreds of people to say “NO!” to killing children by violence and deprivation. When: Tuesday, June 20, 2006, 5pm...... Where: Downtown Berkeley BART Station, Center and Shattuck ... What: Rally and March to Protest the Killing of Children in Gaza ....Who: You, your friends and family—Bring your children For info contact meca@mecaforpeace.org **********************************************************************
Free Palestine from the hateful colonists who have made Palestinians irrelevant in their own land. And Free the United States from Israel's hateful shills who sully our newspapers and airwaves with their vilification of a people who remain steadfast on their land. Free our Congress from its cowardice so that it will stand up to the lobby that puts the interests of a foreign entity above our own. Summer at the Seashore in Palestine http://www.thepeoplesvoice.org/cgi-bin/blogs/voices.php/2006/06/10/p8694#more8694***********************************************************************
PCHR Calls for Opening of Serious Investigation into Israeli Crimes against Palestinian Peoplehttp://english.wafa.ps/body.asp?id=6531******************************************************************************
"Birthright Israel" program refuses admission to Jewish American who planned visit to Palestine Since 2000, Birthright Israel has sent 100,000 Jewish people, ages 18-26, on free trips to Israel. Participants are encouraged to extend their tickets beyond the dates of their Birthright Israel trip, which is exactly what Sierra intended to do. "Apparently, any desire to meet Palestinians living under occupation is reason to disqualify one from Birthright Israel’s trip", added Mermelstein.
http://www.imemc.org/content/view/19267/1/******************************************************************************
Under Olmert's plan, Israel aims to keep the two main Palestinian West Bank aquifers: the lower Jordan River basin in the east, and the eastern mountain aquifer, trapped behind Israel's wall in the west. This will force Palestinians to depend on Israel for water, preserving the status quo, a dramatically unjust division of water resources. A Thirst for West Bank Water Fareed Taamallah http://www.thenation.com/doc/20060626/taamallah
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Israel, with a population of roughly 6.3 million, receives more U.S. aid each year than any other country, and has held that distinction since 1976. Between 1949 and 1996, Israel received $62.5 billion in foreign aid. http://imeu.net/news/article001446.shtml
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Official US Military & Economic Assistance 1949-2004 Total : $100 Billion
http://israel.usembassy.gov/publish/mission/amb/assistance.html***************************************************************************
US approves annual aid to Israel The House of Representatives has approved the allocation of USD 21.3 billion in foreign assistance during 2007, including USD 2.46 billion to Israel, the largest sum received by any country. The annual assistance package to Israel is comprised of USD 2.34 billion in military aid, in addition to USD 120 million in standard economic aid.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3260989,00.html***************************************************************************
Congressional Action Punishes Palestinians We are quite disappointed that despite the clear wishes of his constituents, Congressman Simmons co-sponsored a resolution favored by the American-Israeli Public Affairs Committee that would deprive the people of Palestine of life's necessities. House Resolution 4681 is inhumane. 6-15-6 letter The Day by Alice Depret & Wanda Castner
http://www.theday.com/re.aspx?re=7257f0fe-63b2-4614-b357-d9d451e6ec6a****************************************************************************
" Do not let our boys die in vain for Israel's fanatical Zionists!" We fight because Israel hijacked U.S. policy letter by Scott Wolfe http://www.projo.com/opinion/letters/content/projo_20060615_lewolf.94d78.html****************************************************************************
Kudos for taking a stand against Palestinian aid cutoff letter by
Abbas Hamideh June 10, 2006 http://www.cleveland.com/letters/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/opinion/1149928557191950.xml&coll=2************************************************************************************
Instead of putting Israel as the terror state, as the state which has a record in defying the international laws, the oppressed Palestinians are labeled as terrorists. Redefining the content of the Palestinian discourse By Salim Nazzal Al-Jazeerah, June 9, 2006
http://www.aljazeerah.info/Opinion%20editorials/2006%20Opinion%20Editorials/June/9%20o/Redefining%20the%20content%20of%20the%20Palestinian%20discourse%20By%20Salim%20Nazzal.htm*************************************************************************************
My Palestinian Wife (one of my favorites) *******************************************************************************
The Palestinians, and most of the world with them, are determined to pursue justice, eradicate racism and Apartheid. Just as South Africa did. They have no intention of disappearing.
Reversing ethnic cleansing: The Right to Return Home by Salman Abu Sitta June 5, 2006 Salman Abu Sitta is a Palestinian author and researcher on refugees. http://www.amin.org/eng/uncat/2006/june/june5-0.html**********************************
TUNE IN ....The 58th anniversary of the dispossession of the Palestinian people by the State of Israel (Al-Nakba), and the current dire situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Arab Voices Radio -
Wednesday, May 17, 2006 
Dr. Zahi Damuni ( Dr. Damuni's actual interview well worth listening to is about 20 minutes into the show) http://www.arabvoices.net/**********************************************************************************
The humanitarian aid and assistance that UNRWA provides to the Palestine refugees can never be enough. But it will be required as long as the issues of statelessness, prolonged military occupation, economic marginalization and vulnerability characteristic of the Palestinian refugee crisis are not addressed. http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/publ/opendoc.htm?tbl=PUBL&id=4444d3c92f**********************************************************************************
• Since 1967, Israel has demolished more than 34,000 Palestinian homes and refugee shelters. The demolitions are often carried out without warning, leaving Palestinians little or no time to gather their belongings.A nation occupied IMEU, Jun 5, 2006 http://imeu.net/news/article001605.shtml************************************************************************************
The number of the farmers who sustained loses because of the Israeli aggressions reached 61195 http://www.umkahlil.blogspot.com/*************************************************************************************
"Already harsh conditions in the occupied territories have deteriorated since the start of the year. According to the United Nations, four of every 10 Palestinians live below the poverty line, earning less than $2.10 per day, and the jobless rate is now 40.7 percent." Palestinians: U.S. ban halts aid to relatives Banks in Gaza, West Bank won't cash checks for loved ones, Metro families say. by Gregg Krupa / The Detroit News June 2, 2006
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060602/METRO/606020427***************************************************************************************
CALL FOR ACADEMIC AND CULTURAL BOYCOTT OF ISRAEL http://www.pacbi.org/***************************************************************************************
Black Eyed Peas: Celebrating South African freedom while normalizing Israeli apartheid by Maureen Clare Murphy and Nigel Parry, The Electronic Intifada, 12 June 2006 http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article4797.shtml**********************************************************************
To end the violence, Presbyterians must back divestment by Hilton Obenzinger, The Birmingham News, Jun 12, 2006
http://imeu.net/news/article001718.shtml***************************************************************************
Where were the Nobel laureates when schools were routinely closed by the occupiers during the seven years of the first Intifada? Where are the eloquent voices of the Nobel laureates for the 1389 Palestinian school and university students prisoners? Where are the voices for the impriosoned 214 Ministry of Higher Education employees? Nobel Laureates Laud Oppressor 5-27-6 http://www.umkahlil.blogspot.com/*******************************************************************
Spinning the British Academic Boycott Against Israel June 11, 2006
http://www.pacbi.org/press_releases_more.php?id=233_0_4_0_C*********************************************************************
The Boycott of Palestinian Education: Can the Anti-Boycotters Please Stand Up? Report, Right to Education Campaignr 7 June 2006 http://www.counterpunch.org/ribeiro06072006.html
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Why the Boycott of Israel is Justified by Gabriel Ash
http://www.dissidentvoice.org/June06/Ash06.htm<>
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PLEASE SUPPORT CUPE'S CALL TO BOYCOTT ISRAELI APARTHEIDCanadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) approved Resolution 50 supporting a growing global campaign initiated on July 9, 2005 by over 170 Palestinian organizations, including the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions, for boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) against Israeli apartheid.
http://coalitionagainstisraeliapartheid.tyo.ca/2006/06/05/please-support-cupes-call-to-boycott-israeli-apartheid/***************************************************************************
