On Saturday, 3 October, the International League of Peoples’ Struggle launched its October 2020 Month of Solidarity with Palestine with an online program featuring Palestinian resistance icon Leila Khaled of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine as the keynote speaker. The ILPS is a global alliance of mass organizations and people’s movements confronting imperialism, and Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network is a member of the ILPS.
Watch the video of the event:
The event, watched by thousands live on Facebook and a full webinar room on Zoom, was particularly remarkable, coming as it did 10 days after the censorship of Leila Khaled and her fellow presenters, former political prisoners Sekou Odinga, Laura Whitehorn, Ronnie Kasrils and Rula Abu Duhou, as part of an Open Classroom organized by Dr. Rabab Abdulhadi and Dr. Tomomi Kinukawa at San Francisco State University on 23 September. Zoom, YouTube and Facebook were all involved in the suppression of the Open Classroom. Following on that occasion, today’s ILPS event demonstrated that Zionist attack campaigns would not be successful in silencing Palestinian resistance or the voices of the Palestinian people, on any and all platforms, despite the complicity of big tech corporations acting in accordance with U.S.-Israeli priorities.
Leila Khaled was joined at this event by several other speakers, including Heba al-Labadi, the former political prisoner and hunger striker; Len Cooper, the President of ILPS and a labor leader from Australia; and Jamal Juma’ of the Stop the Wall campaign in Palestine.
The event kicks off a month of planned activities, including a Palestine 101 program, cultural events and several days of action, including a call for online and offline activities on 27 October under the slogan, “Colors of Resistance.”
This month-long campaign will deal with issues such as the recently announced Imperialist/Zionist annexation plan, the history of Israeli colonialism and apartheid, the rejection of agreements of humiliation and “normalization” between Zionism and some Arab countries, the global campaign to return to Palestine, support for the Intifada, the liberation of the Palestinian people, the unified capital of Palestine, the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestine and other key points. .
Saturday, 3 October 6 am Pacific/9 am Eastern/3 pm central Europe-central Africa/4 pm Palestine/9 pm Manila/11 pm Melbourne Register online: https://bit.ly/ILPS_Palestine Organized by the International League of Peoples’ Struggle
This October, the ILPS, its member organizations, country chapters, and allied networks will be launching a month-long campaign of Global Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
As part of the Month of Solidarity, the ILPS will deal with issues such as the recently announced Imperialist/Zionist annexation plan, the history of Israeli colonialism and apartheid, the rejection of agreements of humiliation and “normalization” between Zionism and some Arab countries, the global campaign to return to Palestine, support for the Intifada, the liberation of the Palestinian people, the unified capital of Palestine, the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestine and so on.
We are inviting everyone to tune in to the launching of this campaign on OCTOBER 3, 11 PM Melbourne time. Our keynote speaker is no other than Palestinian woman activist Leila Khaled, from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
Nabiha Diab Mohammed upon her liberation from Ansar prison camp.
Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network extends its deepest condolences to our European coordinator, Mohammed Khatib, his entire family, and the broader community on the passing of his beloved aunt, Nabiha Diab Mohammed, on 28 September 2020, after a long struggle with serious illness as well as the ongoing health effects of injustice, oppression, imprisonment and exile.
She was known not only as a pillar of the family, but also as a committed struggler for the Palestinian people, especially in the Ain el-Helweh refugee camp in Lebanon, where she always cherished a future of return to Palestine and nourished that love and dedication to return among future generations.
We mourn her as a struggler for Palestine, a lover of justice and of her people, as well as a former political prisoner who was jailed with her fellow Palestinian and Lebanese revolutionaries in the notorious Ansar prison camp in occupied southern Lebanon by the Zionist occupation forces.
Her legacy in supporting, sustaining and bringing together her family, her deep adherence to Palestine and to a revolutionary future of return and liberation continues to inspire so many of those whose lives she touched. We treasure her memory and pledge to continue to honor that memory with struggle until her aspirations for liberation, for the entire Palestinian people, are achieved.
Nabiha Diab Mohammed. Photo: Mohammed Khatib/Facebook
Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network has joined organizations from across the Americas and most of the world that have endorsed and plan to participate today—the 12th anniversary of the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM)’s launch—in the Black Alliance for Peace (BAP)’s International Day of Action on AFRICOM.
In an article published September 30 in Black Agenda Report, BAP’s Africa Team states: “The International Day of Action on AFRICOM aims to raise the public’s awareness about the U.S. military’s existence in Africa, and how the presence of U.S. forces exacerbates violence and instability throughout the continent.”
BAP National Organizer Ajamu Baraka says AFRICOM is a key global command structure the U.S. state has set up to coordinate its colonial project of continued global domination through military aggression. “Through its regional commands and more than 800 military bases, the United States is able to project offensive military actions in support of its objective of ‘Full Spectrum Dominance,’ a cornerstone of U.S. geopolitical strategy.”
BAP, along with the organizations and individuals who have signed on to support this day, sees AFRICOM as an instrument of U.S. military and political domination. Hence, it threatens peace.
Margaret Kimberley, a member of BAP’s Africa Team and BAP’s Coordinating Committee, says, “The U.S. never had a good reason to establish a formalized military presence in Africa. Today, it is clear the United States coordinated with European countries like France to militarily counter the growing influence of China to ensure Africa remained firmly tethered to Western economic interests.”
The International Day of Action on AFRICOM supports BAP’s campaign to shut down AFRICOM.
This campaign demands: 1) the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) oppose AFRICOM and conduct hearings on its impact on the African continent with the full participation of members of U.S. and African civil society, 2) a complete withdrawal of U.S. forces from Africa, 3) supporting calls for Africa to be demilitarized and established as a zone of peace, and 4) along with AFRICOM, all U.S. global command structures and bases be closed down.
We call on everyone who believes in peace and self-determination to join us in our campaign to shut down AFRICOM by supporting this International Day of Action on AFRICOM.
On Monday, 28 September – the anniversary of the Al-Aqsa Intifada – Samidoun Netherlands organized a symbolic action outside the British embassy in The Hague, the Netherlands. The action came in support of detained Palestinian doctor Issam Hijjawi Bassalat and his fellow Irish republican prisoners. Over 50 prisoners have joined Issam on a hunger strike to demand he be released from isolation and held with fellow Republican prisoners. We republish below the report from our comrades at Samidoun NL:
Solidarity and support for Issam Hijjawi Bassalat and the over 50 republican prisoners on hunger strike with him in the British occupation prisons in the north of Ireland!
Photo credit: Nwel Saturay
Today is the 12th day of hunger strike in protest to the prolonged isolation of Issam in the dilapidated Foyle House facility. Issam began his hunger strike on being returned to isolation following a hospital visit for an MRI scan (which was also delayed by the prison administration despite Issam’s deteriorating health. the administration are claiming the isolation to be in line with corona protocols however it is worth noting that non political prisoners have been brought to hospital appointments and returned to the main prison population without undergoing isolation. The misuse of corona protocol is further illustrated by the simple fact that they could have placed Issam in isolation in Roe House , the correct location for political prisoners. This has been reiterated by the republican prisoners in Roe House.
Photo credit: Nwel Saturay
The past week has seen more and more prisoners join the hunger strike in solidarity with Issam including some non affiliated prisoners. Solidarity fasts have also been held at the camp outside Maghaberry prison in Antrim and Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin camp held by Republican activists.
Photo credit: Nwel Saturay
We showed our solidarity this morning by holding a symbolic action outside the British Embassy in the Hague. We held signs carrying slogans in support of the hunger strike, for the liberation of Palestine and unification of Ireland. A representative of Samidoun read out a statement. It was a simple act of solidarity to uplift and show support for the ongoing struggle against colonialism and imperialism from Ireland to Palestine.
Photo credit: Nwel Saturay
This simple solidarity action was enough to trigger the police to attempt to harass the activists as they left the Embassy and made their way home.Two activists were stopped by police who reported they had been watching us on CCTV and demanded to see our signs and ID. They made threats to confiscate them and fine the activists for the action but backed down as we know they have no grounds to infringe our rights like that. At least we know our message was received by the colonisers inside the Embassy!
Photo credit: Nwel Saturay
We will continue to show our support and solidarity with the republican prisoners in the occupied six counties in Ireland and Issam Hijjawi Bassalat in their struggle for justice and liberation!
Photo credit: Nwel Saturay
From Ireland to Palestine!
Tiocfaidh ár lá
Photo credit: Nwel Saturay
Two days prior, on 26 September in Nijkerk, the Netherlands, Revolutionaire Eenheid also organized a symbolic action at the Israel Products Center in Nijkerk, calling on progressive youth to act to end Dutch support for the occupation of Palestine and to support the Palestinian people in their struggle against exploitation, oppression and Israeli apartheid.
Photo credit: Revolutionaire Eenheid
The action further expressed support for the hunger strike of Dr. Hijjawi Bassalat and his Irish comrades in the north of Ireland, calling for freedom for the hunger strikers. They urged: “Support the Palestinian Resistance, boycott Israel! Free Palestine, from the river to the sea!”
On Friday, 25 September, the Friends of Palestine Against Imperialism and Zionism (Emperyalizme ve Siyonizme Karşı Filistin Dostları) organized a demonstration outside the Israeli consulate to denounce the U.S.-backed UAE/Bahraini normalization with the Israeli state, mark the anniversary of the second Intifada and remember the Sabra and Shatila massacres. The event also came as part of #Action4Return, the week of action to defend the Palestinian right to return and confront normalization called for by Samidoun with many other organizations around the world.
We republish below the following article by the comrades at Friends of Palestine reporting on the demonstration:
We held a demonstration in the front of the Israeli Consulate in Istanbul / Turkey to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Second Intifada and the 38th anniversary of Sabra and Shatila massacres and to protest the attempts for the so-called “normalization” process initiated first by Trump’s “Deal of the Century” and then promoted by the treaties signed between Israel and some Arab states.
Our banner read “No to Trump’s imperialist plan and normalization with Israel! Long live Intifada!” in Turkish, Arabic and English. Some of our slogans were: “Free Palestine from the sea to the river!”, “Expel the Israeli ambassador!”, “Sever all relationships with Israel!”, “Israel will be defeated! Palestine will win!”
Below you’ll find a translation of the statement read there by Kutlu Dane, one of our spokespersons:
Dear reporters, and friends of Palestinian people,
Today we are here, in front of the Israel’s so-called consulate, once again to release a press statement about two Palestinian-question-related anniversaries alongside a string of recent political developments. The statement is intended both to reiterate our support to the right to return and to condemn the Zionist Israel and its imperialist collaborators.
The Zionist entity founded at the expense of expelling hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from their lands in 1948 has been touted, unfortunately successfully, by Zionists as a civilized and modern state. The Consulate building behind us is one of the places where that propaganda aimed at whitewashing Israel’s crimes is manufactured and disseminated.
38 years ago, Phalangists under Zionist auspices committed a massacre in the Sabra and Shatila Palestinian refugee camps in Israeli-besieged Beirut, with a death toll of 3.000. Israeli occupying forces helped their phalangist allies by launching flares to illuminate the camp area and blocking the gates to prevent refugees from surviving the attack.
Israel and its cohorts perpetrated that crime within a couple of days, before the international force deployed to protect the camps arrived and after the Palestinian resistance organizations had left Lebanon as stipulated in the international treaty. Hence that was a premeditated ignominious mass murder and an ethnic cleansing inspired undoubtedly by the methods of Nazis. If Anne Frank had been still alive, we are sure that she would have spitted on the faces of those barbarians and that she would have mourned for her Palestinian sisters and brothers killed in those camps.
Sabra and Shatila massacres were also assaults against the right to return.
But the Palestinian people have never kneeled down! Having experienced many massacres inflicted by Zionism almost since 1930s, the Palestinian people have embarked on a world-renowned and inspiring struggle, which reached its climax in the intifadas of 1987 and 2000. This week is the anniversary of the latter, which had begun on September 28th 2000. That great uprising during which 4.000 Palestinians, including 11 year old Muhammed Al-Durra who was shot dead hiding behind his father, have been martyred had shown the whole world how barbaric Zionism was.
Second Intifada was an upheaval for the Palestinian people to claim their right to return.
As thousands of Palestinians have been martyred for the cause, a section of the Palestinian leadership had already begun to act in cahoots with the illegitimate Israeli state. The cause was betrayed first by Anwar Sadat, and then by Arafat in 80s. The negotiations called Oslo Process have resulted eventually in the Palestinian Authority, which does dirty jobs in the West Bank for Israel! That imperialism and Zionism collude, overtly or covertly, with the reactionary Arab regimes unfortunately diminishes the hopes to return of the Palestinian people. Recognizing the Zionist entity, Arab countries which have turned into lackeys of the US imperialism pave the ways for more brutality against the Palestinian people. The so-called “normalization” process initiated by Trump’s “deal of the century”, which demands total surrender of the Palestinian people in return for a small land and a share from oil revenues, is now enhanced by the treaties signed between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. Oman and Saudi Arabia wait for their turn.
That so-called normalization is nothing but an attack on the right to return.
But we would like to make sure that Zionists’ flagrant moves will never make us fear. Neither the Palestinian people nor we give up fighting. Just look at the anti-Zionist protestors flocking to the streets of Manama, Cairo, Latin America, Europe and USA or at the unbreakable resistance of the gallant Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons.
Palestinian people’s fight for the right to return will last till Israel is destroyed!
On the other hand, Turkish governments’ criticism towards the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain is clear example of hypocrisy. Turkey has “normalized” its relationship with Israel long before those countries did! We forget neither the strong economic, intelligence and military collaborations between Turkey and Israel nor how you withdrew the Mavi Marmara case. Stop using Palestine as a bargaining chip for natural gas found in the Eastern Mediterranean! Expel the Israeli ambassador! Sever all relationships with Israel!
We would like to emphasize that we hold that demonstration on the call of Samidoun (Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network) and pro-Palestinian organizations. We will keep fighting against Zionism and acting in solidarity with the Palestinian people till the day Israel is destroyed!
We will do so till the last intifada, which will be the last nail in the coffin of Israel, and lead to a free, secular, democratic and socialist Palestine from the sea to the river!
Friends of Palestine Against Imperialism and Zionism
Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network is a member association of the International League of Peoples’ Struggle (ILPS). We join ILPS in calling for the international month of solidarity for Palestine in October 2020 and republish the ILPS call below:
FREE PALESTINE: October 2020 Month of Global Solidarity with the Palestinian People
The International League of Peoples’ Struggles (ILPS) stands in militant solidarity with the Palestinian people against the ongoing Israeli occupation of their land, illegal Israeli settlements, Israeli colonialism, and other crimes against the Palestinian people. We condemn U.S. Imperialism for its support and endorsement of the unlawful, inhumane, murderous Israeli programme aimed directly at the Palestinian people.
The ILPS has consistently supported the continuing, magnificent, and courageous struggles of the Palestinian people against Imperialism and Zionism and is organizing a stepped-up programme of solidarity with the Palestinian people throughout the month of October 2020.
As part of the Month of Solidarity, the ILPS will deal with issues such as the recently announced Imperialist/Zionist annexation plan, the history of Israeli colonialism and apartheid, the rejection of agreements of humiliation and “normalization” between Zionism and some Arab countries, the global campaign to return to Palestine, support for the Intifada, the liberation of the Palestinian people, the unified capital of Palestine, the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestine and so on.
The ILPS stands shoulder to shoulder with the valiant, inspiring people of Palestine whose persistence will deliver victory and in doing so will change the face of the Middle East and help the people in the region to win peace with justice.
Watch out for the launching of the Month of Global Solidarity with the Palestinian people on October 3, 11 PM Melbourne time through Zoom and Facebook Live. Additional details will be announced soon.
Long live the Palestinian peoples’ struggles against Imperialism and Zionism!
Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network international coordinator Charlotte Kates co-hosted the panel discussion along with Ted Kelly of the Workers World Prisoner Solidarity Committee. During the discussion, Abulhawa, who just released her latest novel, Against the Loveless World to rave reviews, noted: “History has shown us, time and time again, how quickly the powerful can fall..,I am not counting, but I am counting on the solidarity that we can foster among the masses, pushing for socialism, pushing for anti-colonial ideals, pushing for justice. On the international arena, the question of Palestine is at the heart of every social justice movement.”
Barakat emphasized, “As long as capitalism, as long as U.S. imperialism are ruling our world, there will be occupation, colonization, prisons and injustice. As long as Israel exists, Palestinians will suffer. There is an alternative, in Palestine as well as globally, based on equality, justice and freedom. These values should be at the core of our organizing. When we look at popular movements today, particularly the left has a responsibility to strengthen the building of an international popular front globally…History has shown us that we will be victorious at the end.”
The discussion addressed topics including the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Palestinians, especially those under siege in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails; the role of reactionary Arab regimes such as the UAE and Bahrain in complicity with U.S. imperialism and Zionist colonization; and the importance of joint struggle with liberation movements to confront common enemies and move toward a revolutionary future.
Watch the full video online:
The entire webinar can also be heard as a podcast, via Essential Dissent:
Palestinians: Sheikhs of the Gulf countries are on a collision course with their population
Palestinian writer Khaled Barakat does not consider that the Arab gulf countries, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, only recognized Israel officially last week. Instead, they have long been in the same camp with the United States and Israel – against us, the Palestinian people, he says in this interview.
When representatives of the Arab Gulf countries, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, shook hands with the Israeli Prime Minister in the White House in Washington last week, it caused international uproar. The three countries recognized each other diplomatically.
It was a knife in the back of the Palestinians, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) stated.
However, the 48-year-old Palestinian writer, organizer and activist Khaled Barakat is not surprised. It is not a violent blow to the Palestinians and their freedom struggle, he says via video link from Canada, where he is currently located.
“The United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and other reactionary Arab Gulf states have for a long time had security, political and economic relations with Israel, but never officially established diplomatic relations. In the last 10-15 years, relations with Israel have gradually become normalized with not only these two states, but also Saudi Arabia,” says Khaled Barakat to the Worker.
Embassies opened
The agreement in Washington encourages increased tourism and trade between the states, increases cultural and sports cooperation, and opens embassies. In addition, Israel’s arms industry is eyeing the chance to export arms to the United Arab Emirates, writes the American Forbes Magazine.
Most recently, it has emerged that Israel may have to produce the wings of the F-35 fighter jets that the United States plans to sell to the Gulf state.
“It does not come as a surprise. The autocratic reactionary Arab kingdoms in the Gulf have been planning this normalization for a long time, with the aim of having a completely open relationship with Israel. They are all part of the same camp of imperialism, directed by the United States. The two regimes have long been in the same enemy camp as the United States and Israel, confronting and suppressing Palestinian self-determination and freedom.”
“They are Israel’s allies in the region,” believes Khaled Barakat, who is a Marxist and is the coordinator of the campaign for the release of PFLP Secretary General Ahmad Sa’adat.
The PFLP, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, is on both the US and EU terror lists, although the organization is the third largest political force among all Palestinian groups after Fatah and Hamas.
Bahrain has long protected Israel
Khaled Barakat recalls that Bahrain’s autocratic king, Sheikh Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifah, has long cheered on Israel’s attacks on Arab countries in the region, defended Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and downplayed the Zionist state’s oppression of Palestinians. In 2017, the king condemned the Arab boycott of Israel and declared that Bahraini nationals will be allowed to visit Israel in the future.
Normalization of relations is seen by most Arabs in the region as a breach of Arab unity, a violation of the boycott of Israel and the abandonment of the Arab peace plan of 2002. The peace plan calls for a full Israeli withdrawal from the Arab territory, which was occupied in 1967 – in exchange for normalization of relations with the Arab world.
Arab League does not act
However, the Arab League, an organization of 22 Arab states, failed to agree on condemning the recognition of Israel by the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, although the league’s goal is “to meet the hopes and expectations of all Arab countries” as well as the “recognition of Palestine”. as an independent state “.
Question: Are the Palestinians not hopelessly left alone, if even the Arab League cannot back them up?
Answer: “Saudi Arabia and its followers among the reactionary Gulf countries have taken the Arab League hostage – especially after Syria was suspended from the assembly in 2011. The League has changed structurally. The member countries do not have equal rights. For example, Lebanon has nothing to say, while Saudi Arabia dictates everything.”
“Raw power determines the direction of the League. It is an instrument of submission and division, not unity. This is not the same League that was inspired by Jamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt in the 1960s.”
“In addition, the United Arab Emirates has pressured a number of countries in the Arab League to do its bidding. It is well known that the United Arab Emirates has invested financially in many Arab countries. We know how the game goes,” says Khaled Barakat.
Increasing internal contradictions
Question: Many international media predict that the next countries to recognize Israel are Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Oman, Kuwait and even Mauritania …
Answer: “If you follow the Arab polls in countries like Bahrain or the United Arab Emirates, you will see that the people there do not support the normalization of relations with Israel. The people get nothing out of this recognition. There is no question of a peace agreement as the countries were not at war.”
A 2017 poll by the Washington Institute showed that only about 15 percent of Bahrain’s people supported diplomatic relations with Israel.
“Bahrain has also undergone a peaceful uprising over the past 10 years, and its suppression has created great hatred for the monarchy. It is clear that the agreement in Washington does not express the will of the people, but only the ruling class,” says Khaled Barakat.
Barakat believes that the great resistance of the population in both Gulf states will accelerate the internal protests against repression.
“It will increase the internal contradiction between the masses and the authorities, and it will accelerate the fall of the reactionary Arab dictatorships,” Khaled Barakat believes.
He believes it was a far tougher blow when Egypt signed a peace agreement with Israel at Camp David in 1979. Or when Jordan – which has the longest border with Palestine – in 1994 signed a so-called peace agreement with Israel.
“The two agreements affected us a lot, and we felt the repercussions,” says Barakat.
Israeli annexation still on the table
Question: What do you think about the United Arab Emirates claiming that the agreement with Israel includes a promise that Israel will suspend its annexation of large parts of the West Bank?
Answer: “Yes, they justify with all their might their attempts to sell Palestinian rights to their own people and the people of the region. But that’s a hoax. They have not asked the Palestinians. They’re trying to throw us under the bus. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu himself has said the annexation is still on the table. There was only respite when the pressure on Israel became too strong this summer.”
Barakat refers to Netanyahu’s own words in August – after the news of the peace agreement with the United Arab Emirates was published. Here he said the annexation “was still on the table” and that he was still “committed” to the project, middleeasteye.net quoted. .
Question: What is the role of the United States in the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain agreement with Israel?
Answer: “The United States is trying to form an alliance of reactionary Arab regimes and Israel to flex its muscles in the region and confront China, Iran and other forces. Trump wants to be re-elected, he blindly trusts Israel, and he does not in the least respect other countries in the region – his administration does not even adhere to basic diplomatic courtesies.”
Khaled Barakat hesitates for a few seconds, looks down, then fixes his gaze on the video screen.
Historical task for the people
Question: But what then is the role of the EU in the game in the Middle East. The Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod (S) – who follows the EU’s policy for the Middle East to the letter – says that the agreement between Israel and the Gulf states is good because it can finally start negotiations with the Palestinians on peace?
Answer: “That position supports the occupation and colonization of Palestine. It is not in line with international law. If the Danish foreign minister respects international law, he must demand that Israel comply with it, that the country end its occupation and implement the Palestinian refugees’ right to return.”
“Either you support Israel or the Palestinian people. After all, your foreign minister does not hesitate to demand from other countries, such as Syria, that they comply with international law. He also does not hesitate to demand international law be upheld by force and is willing to allow massacres to take place in Iraq and Syria under the pretext of defending international law. Why is there a taboo on Israel, when it commits ethnic cleansing and pursues a consistent apartheid policy?”
Khaled Barakat turns his attention to European countries that are also approaching Israel, such as Serbia, which is a candidate country to join the EU. Most recently, the country’s government has signaled that it will move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem like the United States.
“The United States and its President Donald Trump have dictated what Serbia is doing,” says Barakat, who himself hails from Jerusalem.
EU complicit with occupation
Khaled Barakat believes that the people of Europe have a great responsibility to counter Israel’s “Zionist plans”.
European governments are complicit in the occupation. The German government, for example, supports Israel by selling nuclear submarines to the country. The EU is not playing a responsible role.
“The peoples of Europe are facing a historic task, to change the political course of the EU – it starts with the trade union movement, the women’s movement, the student movement. We trust that the positions of their governments do not reflect them. The majority understand the Palestinians’ thirst for freedom.
Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network supports the call of the Global Campaign to Return to Palestine for a week of action commemorating the Second Intifada and the ongoing Intifada of the Palestinian people between 22 and 28 September, alongside the call for the Week of Action for Palestinian Refugees’ Return and Confronting Normalization, #Action4Return. There are many activities and online actions that are part of this call, and we encourage you to share the photos, images and maps below on your own social media pages, post them in your community or take a selfie or a video expressing your support for the Palestinian people and their resistance and your stand against normalization.
Action Call: An Intifada that Breaks Normalization
“Intifada” is a term that expresses the free Palestinian popular position towards the occupation and its incessant crimes against children, women, youth and the elderly, and in the face of the torrent of grave violations of human rights and dignity committed by the occupation against the Palestinian people.
The Intifada is an expression of the people’s aspiration for self-determination, independence, the restoration of rights, returning home to Palestine and building a just peace.
The Intifada is a practical response to the plans to liquidate the Palestinian cause, including the “deal of the century,” the agreements of humiliation and disgrace, and the processes of normalization with the usurping enemy, which constitute an outright betrayal of the sacrifices of the Palestinian people.
The first modern Palestinian uprising began in 1920, the Jerusalem revolt of Nabi Musa. With the 1987 uprising of the stones, the name “Intifada” entered the dictionaries of international languages.
This march of struggle continued with the Al-Aqsa Intifada of 2000 and the 2015 Al-Quds uprising, through the uprising in response to occupation plans to impose electronic gates on Al-Aqsa Mosque in 2017 and the Great March of Return in 2018.
The Intifada Week
This annual call was launched by the Global Campaign to Return to Palestine in 2017, with the aim of commemorating the ongoing uprisings of the Palestinian people.
It is marked between 22 September, the anniversary of the 2015 Al-Quds uprising, and 28 September, the anniversary of the 2000 Al-Aqsa Intifada.
Durin this week, the progressive and democraatic forces of the world express their position on the Palestinian cause, underlining the necessity of unified efforts and the importance of solidarity with the people on whom some of the greatest injustices of the modern era have fallen, and whose cause constitutes a landmark of justice on which the future of peace and security in the world depends.
This year, the Intifada week focuses on multiple goals:
1- Rejecting the agreements of humiliation and normalization that are taking place between some Arab countries and the Zionist entity,
2- Underlining that liberation is the only solution to the Palestinian issue.
3- Emphasizing the name of Palestine along with its borders that include its entire land.
4- Spreading the map of Palestine and transforming it into an icon and a symbol associated with the presence of the Palestinians, wherever they exist, and with the spread of those who love Palestine and express their solidarity with its cause all over the world.
5- Commemorating the memory of the Palestinian uprisings’ martyrs in addition to appreciating the Palestinians’ sacrifices in those intifadas.
6- Emphasizing adherence to the Palestinian people’s rights, foremost of which being the right of return, and the status of Al-Quds as the unified capital of Palestine.
Take action: Sign this map of Palestine and affirm your commitment to the liberation of the entire land of Palestine. Post your selfie or video with the hashtag #NormalizationIsTreason:
Take action: Post and distribute these images of support for Palestine on your social media and in your community!
Dear reporters, and friends of Palestinian people,
Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network supports the call of the
“Intifada” is a term that expresses the free Palestinian popular position towards the occupation and its incessant crimes against children, women, youth and the elderly, and in the face of the torrent of grave violations of human rights and dignity committed by the occupation against the Palestinian people.
