Dublin - Event Notice
Thursday January 01 1970

Public Debate Israel: Is Boycott The Answer?

dublin | anti-war / imperialism | event notice

Saturday June 19, 2010 10:48

by Memet - Irish Antiwar Movement

info at irishantiwar dot org

087 6472737

PUBLIC DEBATE ISRAEL: Is Boycott the Answer?

Venue: Ballroom, Gresham Hotel
Tuesday. 22 June, 7.00PM
SPEAKERS

Billy Timmins, TD Fine Gael
Joe Costello. TD Labour Party
Senator Mark Dearey, Green Party
Cllr. Richard Boyd Barrett, Chair IAWM
Mags O'Brien, Chair Trade Union Friends of Palestine

Across the world there is a growing movement calling for international sanctions to be imposed against the State of Israel because of its treatment of the Palestinian people. This has intensified in recent weeks following the assault by the Israeli Navy on the peaceful flotilla of ships carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza– and especially because of the killing of ten peace activists on board the Mavi Marmara ship.

For decades Israel has illegally occupied Palestinian territory and denied Palestinians the most basic human rights or self-determination. The Israeli assault on Gaza at the beginning of 2009, which claimed the lives of almost 1,400 Palestinains, including over 300 children, horrified people across the globe.

The continuing Israeli siege of Gaza, where 1.5 million Palestinians are imprisoned in the most densely populated territory in the world and vital humanitarian supplies are systematically blocked by Israel is causing an ever-worsening humanitarian disaster. The situation is now so desperate that many charities and political leaders worldwide are calling for the siege to be lifted.

Across the Palestinian territories, Israel continues to systematically kill, detain and expel Palestinian civilians with impunity - daily expanding the illegal occupation of Palestinian lands. Women continue to give birth stranded at checkpoints, prisoners continue to be tortured, and adults and children alike continue to be killed. Those not expelled, imprisoned or killed live under a system of overt apartheid, discrimination and constant threat.

Few now dispute that Israel has oppressed the Palestinian people in many ways for decades. Yet, despite widespread condemnation of Israel’s policies by the UN and various international conventions, the international community of nations has failed to bring about Israel’s compliance with international law or a respect for basic human rights.
Against this background and even before the recent attack by Israel on the flotilla of aid, calls have grown louder for decisive action against Israel in the form of an international campaign of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) - similar to that applied to Apartheid South Africa in the past. However, there is disagreement on whether such a campaign is justified or would be effective in bringing a just solution to Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The Irish Anti-War Movement has organised a public debate to provide a forum for political and civil society groups here in Ireland to discuss the arguments for and against imposing a boycott and sanctions on Israel, if we are to help achieve justice for the Palestinians and peace in the region.

The debate will take place on Tuesday 22nd June in the Gresham Hotel, O’ Connell St in Dublin. Speakers will include: Billy Timmins TD (Fine Gael), Joe Costello TD (Labour), Senator Mark Dearey (Greens), Mags O Brien (Trade Union Friends of Palestine) and Richard Boyd Barrett (Chair, Steering Committee IAWM).
Come along to participate in this important debate.

For further information contact:
Richard Boyd Barrett, Chair Steering Committee IAWM, Tel: 086 7814520
Jim Roche, PRO Steering Committee IAWM, Tel: 087 6472737

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Comments (6 of 6)

The Economic Solution to Israel's illegitimate siege of GAZA

by AIPACISBADFORDEMOCRACY

Sat Jun 19, 2010 12:50

It is reported today, that Turkey has frozen a five billion dollar contract for 1000 Israeli-made tanks, giving a body blow to Israel’s burgeoning arms and munitions industry that is so vital to the state’s economy.

This means that each one of the victims of the Israeli naval commandos, who were killed on the Turkish aid ship trying to break the siege of Gaza, two weeks ago, has cost Israel a minimum of one half a billion dollars, that is US$500,000,000 for every life taken.

This is a lesson of which Europe and the world can well take heed. The only way to ensure that this Israeli government observes human and civil rights, in its own and in other countries, is by economic means. The simplest way to do that would be to follow Turkey’s example and to put an EU embargo on all bilateral arms trade. No military exports to, and no imports from, Israel by any EU state including the UK, Germany, France, Poland and all other members.

Without its trade in arms, the current right-wing, Israeli coalition government would soon capitulate and the international community would see an end to state-sponsored killings, and an adherence to Human Rights law, international agreements and democratic practice.

Then, and only then, could the world and the Middle East hope for a just settlement for the indigenous people of what was previously Palestine, and peace in the region after over sixty years.

aipacisbadfordemocracy@gmail.com

.

Blockade over

by newshound

Mon Jun 21, 2010 08:43

worlds media is reporting that the blockade of Gaza has ended. All goods except weapons will be alllowed in

blockade over?

by opus diablos - the regressive hypocrite party

Mon Jun 21, 2010 12:43

The 'worlds media' tell us a lot of things that require salt. An improvement in food supplies and medicines entering the concentration camp does not mean the repression is abating. Tel Aviv is just realising they overstepped the tolerable and have to regroup, make cosmetic amends, look contrite so they dont further embarrass Obama and then put the bulldozer back in low drive. They may have backed up two yards and be idling the engines, but the program is:- Clear 'our' land of alien interlopers who squatted in our brief 2 thousands years awandering. A.k.a. ethnic cleansing in a manner that does not raise too much outrage from the sensitivities of US and Euro supporters.

It is all lies - There is no real 'easing' of the blockade

by Anti-Semanticism

Tue Jun 22, 2010 22:46

worlds media is reporting that the blockade of Gaza has ended. All goods except weapons will be alllowed in

The above statement is utter nonsense - no such commitment has been made by the Israelis.

'Easing' the blockade? - was all lies, as usual

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/israel-an...96809

[Israeli] Prime Minister's office issues two statements, one in English announcing plan to ease blockade, one in Hebrew omitting to mention the decision.

The Prime Minister's Office announced on Thursday that the security cabinet had agreed to relax Israel's blockade on the Gaza Strip, but as it turns out, no binding decision was ever made during the cabinet meeting.

DO try and remember that the Israelis often SAY they are doing something when in fact they then go and do the exact opposite - so announcing the 'easing of restrictions' is what they SAY they will do - but in reality I doubt they will take any meaningful action in that regard - such as announcing 'Settlement freeze' (i.e.: stop stealing more land and building colonies upon it) and then they just continue building as if they had never said any such thing

For example they said a while back that they were going to remove some of the many many road-blocks they use to make life even more miserable for Palestinians - instead what they actually did was increase the the number of roadblocks - they lie all the time - never trust a Zionist

As expected, the announcement that Israel would 'ease' the blockade turns out to have been just one more lie in a looooooong list of Israeli lies- The Prime Minister's Office announced on Thursday that the security cabinet had agreed to relax Israel's blockade on the Gaza Strip, but as it turns out, no binding decision was ever made during the cabinet meeting.

And the announcement was only made IN THE ENGLISH version of the press release regarding the meeting.

Therefore you'd have to be an idiot to believe them

Maybe I should have some faith in their 'good intentions', but I doubt they have any 'good intentions' the announcement is merely just to appease others - they have NO intention of doing anything meaningful ,

And personally I've long lost any faith in Zionist/Israeli public promises - it's like a tap - they can switch it on and off at will -as soon as the eyes of the world get turned elsewhere they will find a reason to roll-back any changes they make now - pure PR - never EVER trust a Zionist -

Seems even me n anti can agree on something

Mon Jun 28, 2010 16:02

Though no doubt he will deny it.Boycott and blockade the besiegers.Rumour has it even Obama is going to give Netanyahu the news that his banditry is non-kosher when they meet up in early July. Expect plenty of cosmetic shapes
.But ease up on the overkill anti.If 'you would have to be an idiot to believe them', please grant us the benefit a little post-idiotic judgement.

meantime...

Mon Jun 28, 2010 17:06

back at indymedia DC, over in the global right hand column, Israel seems to be gathering its next phase for Iran.Maybe someone a bit moe net-savvy than me can get a link into our side.

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Public Debate Israel: Is Boycott The Answer?

Comments (6 of 6)