Press Release: ‘We Are All Palestine’ campaign calls for International Volunteers

15.08.11 - 13:18

West Bank-PNN- The High Follow-up Committee of the Palestine Popular Resistance Committees calls for international support and activists for the 'We Are All Palestine' campaign, a 17-day program of resistance from 16th September to 3rd of October 2011. The call is being issued by a number of Popular Committees (full list below) from all over the Occupied West Bank and we are inviting our internationals comrades to join us for a series of events in Palestine next month as we continue to challenge the Israeli policy of occupation, apartheid and colonization.  The events will take place at locations all over the West Bank and include demonstrations, sit-ins, workshops and meetings. The campaign has been launched following a three-day conference on the future of popular resistance, and is organized around the dates stated in order to focus on three main events: •    The build up to, and UN vote, on Palestinian statehood •    The 29th anniversary of the Sabra and Shatila massacre (17th September) •    The annual olive harvest We will take part in popular resistance in the build up to, and United Nations vote, on Palestinian statehood. Popular resistance is sure to increase across the West Bank as we seek official recognition and we invite international solidarity activists to march alongside us as we demonstrate against the illegal occupation. After decades of failed negotiation we support this move by our leaders, which will bring Palestinian rights to the forefront of the international agenda. It is important to note though, that the PLO remains the sole legitimate representative of all Palestinians and the status of it must be protected until all Palestinians exercise our right to self-determination. We will take part in events to remember and commemorate the massacre of over 3,500 Palestinians in the refugee camps of Sabra and Shatila in 1982. This is hugely important for Palestinians as the massacre symbolizes all of the massacres committed by the Zionist occupation against our people in the homeland and in exile in order to make them give-up their historical rights in Palestine, foremost the right of refugees to return to their homes and land. We will take part in the beginning of the olive harvest season. Olives and olive oil have an economic and cultural importance within Palestinian society. For rural Palestinians, the olive harvest season is one of the most important events of the year. However, due to the Israeli occupation, the resulting settler violence, and its ongoing policies of land confiscation, restriction of movements and olive trees uprooting, the olive harvest is made difficult for Palestinians. We therefore ask for international activists to join us to help Palestinians access their land and pick olives. The 'We are all Palestine' campaign is an initiative from grass-roots activists from towns and villages all over the West Bank. We believe that the popular struggle is key to ending the occupation and gaining our liberation, and that it goes hand-in-hand with international efforts to isolate Israel through campaigns of Boycott Divestment and Sanctions. So join us in September when we loudly shout “We are all Palestine!” as we march for an end to apartheid, injustice and occupation! The popular committees supporting this initiative are as follows: Beit Ommar, Budrus, Gaza, Nilin, Deir Qaddis, Nabi Saleh, Iraq Burin, Burin, Awarta, Jerusalem (Silwan and Ras Al-Amud)Al Maasara, AlWalaja, , Beit Ula, Sourif, Hebron, Yatta (Susya and Tuwane), Shuhada street, Shoqba, Ramadin, Wadi Rahal.  Initiative Coordinators: Younes Arar, Mousa Abo Mariya, Ayed Murar, Ibrahim Amira, Bashir Tamimi, Azmi Shyoukhi, Bajes Tel, Quasem Hih, Issa Amla, Khawla Abo Mrir, Jawad Syam, Rateb Jboor, Nash'at Lewhaidi, Mohamad Braijeya, Ramadan Abo Samih, Anwar Qatousa. More information can be found through contacting: center4freedom@gmail.com http://english.pnn.ps/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=10599&Itemid=66