THE HANDSTAND
august 2005
Urgent Appeal to Artistic and Cultural World - Coordination of the Strasbourg Manifesto
www.eutopic.net/coordination
appel_sbg@yahoo.fr
CALL TO ALL THE SIGNATORIES OF THE
STRASBOURG MANIFESTO OF 12 JUNE 2004
In response to an appeal made in June 2004 by the collective Judaeo-Arabs and citizens for peace you (Jocelyn Braddell) signed the "Strasbourg Manifesto for a just and lasting peace between Palestinians and Israelis".Since then the "Coordination of the Strasbourg Manifesto" has been set up consisting of over 800 associations, NGOs, trade-unions, religious groups from 22 European Union countries plus some non-EU countries such as Switzerland.
Thanks to its size, diversity and international dimension of its members, the Coordination of the Strasbourg Manifesto operates as a pressure group important enough to weigh on national and international elected members during their mandates and help to ensure that, with regard to the Israeli-Palestine conflict, international law, the Geneva Convention, UN and Security Council Resolutions and opinions of the International Court of Justice are respected.
In the summer 2004, thanks to the groundwork undertaken by many signatories from different countries, several hundred national and European elected representatives were contacted and met. They were informed of the Strasbourg Manifesto and of the work of the Coordination group which, if required, could offer support from European civil society but which would also call for them to account if they took up positions which would eventually go against international law.
The active phase began. on September 2004
On 13-14 September 2004, 8 delegations (Germany, France, Netherlands, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg, Denmark, Spain) working within the framework of the Coordination were invited by the GUE/NGL (Confederate Group of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left) to the European Parliament during its new session. After three meetings with the representatives of all the parties in presence they came to a conclusion based on close and permanent contacts, particularly for information exchange, reflection and the setting up of joint activities. with the GIE/NGL, and with members of the parliamentary Palestinian. Delegation all the members of the Coordination, its partners, the European Parliament and the general public.
From October to December 2004 these exchanges intensified and led to the initiating of rapid responses allowing light to be shed on, and influence certain events such as the neighbour agreement which had to extend to 10 new countries, including Israel, the favoured status of European Union members without demanding any agreement in return with regard to respect of international law
At end December and early January 2005, the Coordination of the Strasbourg Manifesto sent a franco-british mission of observers of the Palestinian presidential elections. This very fruitful mission included, by the side of citizens from the two countries, a British parliamentarian, a delegate from the national trade union confederation and other leaders from associations. This mission allowed upon its return, thanks to these peoples' witnesses, to better inform their networks, both parliamentary and unions, on the reality in occupied Palestine.
Now that the press doesn't relay information, in an objective point of view, on the more and more dramatic situation in Palestine, as we wrote in our news feed on the web site http://eutopic.net/coordination, it's necessary to reinforce all activist strengths in European Union countries to create a citizen pressure oriented towards all national and international representatives. That will engage them to denounce in the most efficient manner, violations of international law, Geneva Conventions, UNO and Security Council Resolutions, on the territory of occupied Palestine.
That's why the project to call all artists to bring their expression and public communication strengths to this wide citizen movement developing in face of urgency was born.
European and woldwide artistic and popular campain for an insurgence of consciences
WE WILL NOT BETRAY YOU / I WILL NOT BETRAY YOU
The 12th of june 2005, one year after it’s initial Appeal, the Coordination of the Strasbourg Manifesto makes an urgent appeal to artistic and cultural world to contribute, in the name of humanity, to an insurrection of consciences.
The Coordination of “the Strasbourg Manifesto for a just and lasting peace between Palestinians and Israelis” is now consisting of over 800 associations, NGOs, trade-unions, religious groups from 22 European Union countries plus some non-EU countries such as Switzerland.
At the international level, the Coordination now calls upon all its members and supporters to transmit an “Urgent appeal to artists from Europe and the whole world” to contribute in the different forms their art and creativity can takes, to an international campaign on the theme:
“We will not betray you / I will not betray you”
“Ne soyons pas complices / Je ne serais pas complice”
This campaigns through different forms, visual, descriptive, musical, audio-visual, clothing (T-shirts, buttons etc.) is aim at awakening the consciences and also reinforce existing or future campaigns for the respect of peace and international laws. Individuals of any culture or condition will be the relays and amplifiers for campaigns against trades and labels of companies making profit from occupation, spoliation and also violation of international law and Human Rights in Palestine.
The ever-worsening dramatic situation - which is reported less and less objectively by the media - requires an urgent intervention of all the grassroots forces in EU countries in order to exert pressure on national and European elected representatives requiring them to denounce firmly and effectively the violations taking place in Occupied Palestine of international law, the Geneva Conventions, the Resolutions of the UN and the Security Council. This campaign calls on artists to join with grassroots organizations already active and add their artistic contribution and their forms of expression and communication to this vast citizens’ movement which is developing to respond to this urgent and exceptional situation.
Artists will offer a new and diverse approach and an improved visibility whilst working side-by-side with NGOs, trade unions and religious movements already actively involved in the struggle for the respect of international law.
The theme of the campaign “We will not betray you / I will not betray you” encourages a personal involvement even greater than what has been done up to now and it is precisely the message behind this proposal which calls upon the personal responsibility and activity of each one of us.
The works created within this campaign will be disseminated freely by using copyleft or another Open Source license type, or a license allowing reproduction rights for any non-commercial use, and then will be freely reproduced in all formats and mediums, either by individuals or by organizations or companies, under the condition that the campaign visuals are not linked with any identifiable brand or logo present on the same medium. Commercial companies that wish to acquire the same rights may do so: the benefits will then be used to reinforce campaigns for peace and justice and also to thank the artists for their work.
Obviously the numerous existing campaigns run by different associations (against the Wall, against the settlements, for the liberation of prisoners, Caravan for international law etc.) will also benefit from the creativity and diversification of the artists who will respond to this call.
The Coordination of the Strasbourg Manifesto will be responsible, at least at first, for bringing together and disseminating the objects received (visuals, soundtracks, music scores etc.) and will ensure the ethical quality of the artistic objects based on the campaign criteria of copyleft.
The ethical hallmarks of the campaign and the shared digitalized artworks sent by the artists will be available from http://eutopic.net/coordination
Artists may send their contribution to : appel_sbg(at)yahoo.fr
Organizations or individuals who will endorse the ethical hallmarks of the campaign (still in process) will be called to relay the appeal in their country or region, to freely create their own relays, tools, websites, etc. to contribute to the translation work and to joint the "scattered comitee" of the campaigh appel_sbg(at)yahoo.fr tel. (-33) (0)8 74 57 67 10.
Source : Comitee of the Coordination of the Strasbourg Manifesto
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This campaign will have more impact as it's going to be
at the same time when three critical events are scheduled
for the year. The first two events have a national
dimension and concern the Palestinian legislative
elections and the forthcoming retreatment of colonies
settled in the Gaza area, announced by the Israeli
government which might face its more uncompromising
party. The third event is carried by international events
of civil right, by the "Caravan for Palestine and
Right" In July, the holding of Palestinian
legislative elections at the same time as the tearing
apart of Israeli society during the retreat of
settlements in Gaza, risks setting off events which, it
could be feared, will lead to the worst of consequences
for the Palestinians and indeed for the Israelis. It is
during this period that the Caravan for international
rights, which includes elected European representatives,
which will leave European Parliament in Strasbourg on 5th
July 2005 including European elected representatives. It
will arrive at the side of the Jordan river with the hope
to reach Jerusalem.
This campaign really supports and
unifies the action of the numerous networks engaged in
the defense of international law and human right. Today
to support such a cause, insurrection and mobilisation of
consciences is more and more necessary. This way, civil
campaigns, political and economical decisions taken in
order for international law and human right to get
respected, benefit from our unconditional support.
Therefore the fair resolution of the Israeli conflict in
this context mobilises us at all worldwide actors' side,
in Europe or everywhere else, acting for peace and
justice. Consequently, if the Coordination of Strasbourg
Manifesto kicks this movement off through its Caravan for
Peace, it will also coordinate and unify the deployment
of all energies engaged in the Middle-East's situation,
thanks to your help and every available willpower that
will relay and emphasize its action. Already Palestinians
themselves will relay our artistic and cultural campaign,
given that their strong and eternal attachment to the
culture is a whole part of their daily civilian
resistance to confront the occupation and the unfairness
of which they are victims.
This campaign will also be relayed in Israel itself in
order to support all the forces for peace and justice
which need unflinching, visible and clear support from as
many people and international organizations as possible
from worldwide opinion in front of hostile extremisms to
any fair solution.
The precise terms of the Campaign will be available
shortly and will be sent to you by email.
We are pleased to inform you of this initiative and hope
that you approve the diverse actions led by the
Coordination of the Strasbourg Manifesto since 12 June
2004 when you, amongst others, were at the origin of this
founding event with us.
Strasbourg, 10th June 2005
Further information and news from the Coordination of the
Strasbourg
Manifesto can be found on the web site: http://eutopic.net/coordination
For more details on the Caravan for Palestine - Caravan
for Right,
please consult the web site http://caravane.palestine.free.fr
Statement by the Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations’ Network (PNGO) regarding Israel’s unilateral disengagement from Gaza
Thursday 23rd June 2005.
In the same section
In the same section
June 2005
This summer, the Israeli government intends to redeploy the Israeli occupation forces based in the Gaza Strip as well as to evacuate the 8,500 Israeli settlers who live in 23 illegal colonies which, along with settler-only roads and military installations, take up an estimated 30% of the Gaza Strip’s territory to the detriment of the 1.4 million Palestinian inhabitants of Gaza.
PNGO views the disengagement plan as a trade-off meant to legitimize the Israeli settlements in the West Bank, including in and around Jerusalem, which are currently under expansion, as well as the Separation and Annexation Wall, which is being erected in violation of international law (see ICJ Advisory Opinion of 9th July 2004). As a combined result of continued settlement expansion and the construction of the Separation and Annexation Wall in the West Bank, including in and around Jerusalem, there will be no contiguity between Gaza, the West Bank and Jerusalem rendering the creation of a viable independent Palestinian state impossible. After implementation of the disengagement plan, the Israeli army will remain in control of all border crossings and Palestinians will have no control over airports, seaports or natural resources, such as water or gas. Palestinian society will be split into separate political, social and economic entities and Jerusalem will be turned into an isolated island. The Gaza Strip will continue to be one big prison and, along with the West Bank and Jerusalem, it will remain occupied territory under international law.
PNGO strongly believes that the Israeli government’s disengagement plan constitutes an impediment to peace and an exit strategy from the Road Map, which has been completely pushed to the sidelines. PNGO would like to stress the fact that the planned Israeli disengagement from the Gaza Strip constitutes a unilateral measure taken by the government of Israel as if it was an internal Israeli affair.
PNGO would like to emphasize the fact that, after disengagement is completed, Israel will remain in effective control of the Gaza Strip and will therefore still be an occupying power under international law.
PNGO urges the international community to insist that Israeli disengagement from Gaza does not negate the need for an overall peace process.
PNGO calls upon the international community to exert pressure on the government of Israel to live up to its obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law before, during and after its disengagement from the Gaza Strip.
Palestinian NGO Network PNGO
The Palestine Monitor
A PNGO Information Clearinghouse
UPDATE
120 Supporters in the Caravan for Justice in Palestine
have been Forcefully Deported from the Allenby Bridge and
sent back to Jordan
July 20, 2005
http://www.palestinemonitor.org/nueva_web/updates_news/updates/caravan_4_jus
tice.htm
After two days of negotiations and detention today from
8:00 a.m. to 8:00
p.m. at the Allenby Bridge border crossing terminal,
Israeli soldiers
deported 120 members of the Caravan for Justice in
Palestine and forced them
to return to Jordan. The delegation included
members from 18 countries
including France, Canada, Spain, Switzerland, Mexico, and
Germany, three of
whom are children.
According to Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi, General Secretary of
the Palestinian
National Initiative, the soldiers prevented them from
entering Israel,
stamped their passports with a mark that will prohibit
them from entering
Israel or the Palestinian Territories for the rest of
their lives, and
forcefully dragged them onto busses that sent them back
to Jordan. Soldiers
beat, dragged, and pushed many of the Caravaners and
confiscated one of
their cameras as they were forcing them onto the
busses. Israel brought
extra security forces onto the scene to carry out the
forced evacuation.
The Caravaners have been on the road for over two weeks
on the way from
Strasbourg, France, to their destination in Jerusalem to
show solidarity
with the Palestinian people and to demand that Israel
comply with
international law, UN resolutions, and the International
Court of Justice
decision last summer that declared the Apartheid Wall
unlawful and ruled
that all states parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention
do all in their
power to see that Israel complies with the ruling and
tears down the Wall
and compensates all victims.