We appeal to all sections of Scottish civil society to heed the call from occupied and besieged Gaza to take to the streets and to support the campaign of boycott, divestment and sanctions against the state of Israel (BDS)*.
In particular, we wish to highlight the three demands of the BDS campaign, a campaign which should be maintained until Israel meets its obligation to recognise the Palestinian people’s inalienable right to self-determination and fully complies with the precepts of international law by:
1. Ending its occupation and colonisation of all Arab lands and dismantling the Wall
2. Recognising the fundamental rights of the Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel to full equality; and
3. Respecting, protecting and promoting the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties as stipulated in UN resolution 194.
The united demand from Gaza is for sanctions on Israel. We welcome the Scottish Government statement (August 2014) calling for an immediate arms embargo on Israel and an investigation into whether UK arms have been used in any violations of international law during the conflict. This call builds on existing Scottish civil society support – from environmental justice and faith groups, trade unions and city councils – for the BDS campaign.
There is growing consensus across Scotland that BDS is necessary and urgent, a sentiment demonstrated by the thousands who took to the streets – from the north of Scotland in the Highlands and Islands to the southern Borders, and around the world – over the past month, horrified, angry and in mourning for the Palestinians killed.
“From Gaza under invasion, bombardment, and continuing siege, the horror is beyond words. Medical supplies are exhausted. The death toll has reached 1813 killed (398 children, 207 women, 74 elderly) and 9370 injured (2744 children, 1750 women, 343 elderly). Our hospitals, ambulances, and medical staff are all under attack while on duty. Doctors and paramedics are being killed while evacuating the dead. Our dead are not numbers and statistics to be recounted; they are loved ones, family and friends.” **
There is much more that we, the institutions of Scottish civil society and the Scottish Government, have a duty to do:
“We are not asking for charity. We are demanding solidarity, because we know that until Israel is isolated and sanctioned, these horrors will be repeated.**
We appeal to:
- the Scottish Parliament to fly the Palestinian flag until the siege on Gaza is lifted and to Alex Salmond to lead a delegation of Scottish MSPs and Councillors to Gaza
- the Scottish Government to support the Palestinian call for BDS, in support of Palestinian rights under international law
- Scottish Councils to fly the Palestinian flag until the siege on Gaza is lifted and to follow the lead of West Dunbartonshire, Clackmannanshire, Stirling and Midlothian and adopt a policy in support of the Palestinian call for BDS
- cultural workers to sign this pledge to isolate the state of Israel: http://bit.ly/1rNHLuS
- environmental justice groups to follow the lead of the Scottish Green Party and Friends of the Earth Scotland to support BDS and highlight Israel’s attempts to ‘greenwash’ occupation, apartheid and colonisation (more here)
- the STUC, trade unions and their members to implement their existing policies in support of BDS
- faith groups to follow the Iona Community in support of Kairos Palestine
- students to support the NUS BDS resolution, to adopt and implement similar positions at universities and colleges around Scotland
- LGBT groups and organisations to expose efforts by Israel and its supporters to pinkwash Israeli crimes; to promote BDS against Israel; and to create a solid, connected community of queer and social justice activists working towards justice in Palestine (more here)
Ask your organisation to formally support this statement by email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Signatories:
Midlothian TUC
Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign
The Unity Centre Glasgow
Scotland Against Criminalising Communities
Stop the War Coalition Scotland
Gaza Emergency Co-ordinating Committee - Glasgow
Edinburgh Stop the War
Fateh UK
Join the demonstration:
Saturday 9th August
Assemble top of The Mound, Mound Place, Edinburgh, 2pm
* Palestinian Civil Society Call for BDS: http://www.bdsmovement.net/call
** Gaza Calling: All out on Saturday 9 August Day of Rage,
http://www.bdsmovement.net/2014/gaza-calling-all-out-on-saturday-9-august-day-of-rage-12423
Signed by:
Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions
General Union of Palestinian Women
University Teachers’ Association in Palestine
Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network (Umbrella for 133 orgs)
Medical Democratic Assembly
General Union of Palestine Workers
General Union for Health Services Workers
General Union for Public Services Workers
General Union for Petrochemical and Gas Workers
General Union for Agricultural Workers
Union of Women’s Work Committees
Pal-Cinema (Palestine Cinema Forum)
Youth Herak Movement
Union of Women’s Struggle Committees
Union of Synergies—Women Unit
Union of Palestinian Women Committees
Women’s Studies Society
Working Woman’s Society
Palestinian Students’ Campaign for the Academic Boycott of Israel
Gaza BDS Working Group
One Democratic State Group
Palestinian Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions National Committee (BNC)
BNC includes: Council of National and Islamic Forces in Palestine, Palestinian NGO Network (PNGO), Palestinian National Institute for NGOs, Global Palestine Right of Return Coalition, Palestinian Trade Union Coalition for BDS (PTUC-BDS), Federation of Independent Trade Unions, General Union of Palestinian Workers, Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions, General Union of Palestinian Women, Union of Palestinian Farmers, General Union of Palestinian Teachers, General Union of Palestinian Writers, Palestinian Federation of Unions of University Professors and Employees (PFUUPE), Union of Professional Associations, General Union of Palestinian Peasants, Union of Public Employees in Palestine-Civil Sector, Grassroots Palestinian Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign (STW), National Committee for Grassroots Resistance, Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI), National Committee to Commemorate the Nakba, Civic Coalition for the Defense of Palestinian Rights in Jerusalem, Coalition for Jerusalem, Union of Palestinian Charitable Organizations, Palestinian Economic Monitor, Union of Youth Activity Centers-Palestine Refugee Camps, Occupied Palestine and Syrian Golan Heights Initiative
