Our friend and fellow human rights campaigner Omar Barghouti, co-founder of the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment and Sanction movement (BDS) has been issued a travel ban by the Israeli government. Despite having lived in Israel for 22 years and having no criminal record, Omar will now no longer be able to travel around the world advocating his position. This comes after months of disturbing public threats directed at Omar by Israeli government officials which Amnesty International heavily condemned.
Omar’s right to move freely out of the country in which he lives has been withdrawn by the Israeli government purely because he campaigns for justice and equality for Palestinians. When members and leaders of our movement are attacked like this we know we need to step up our campaigns and stand in solidarity. We know, we are stronger when we stand together, so if you aren’t already a member, join us today.
Disturbing threats to Omar included Israel’s minister of transport, intelligence and atomic energy, Yisrael Katz, calling on Israelis to engage in “targeted civil eliminations ” of BDS leaders – naming Omar – with the help of the Israeli intelligence services.
Determined to carry on his activism, in this video, Omar told us why BDS matters, why it is working, why international solidarity is essential to achieving equality and freedom for Palestinians.
PSC National Day of Action on Hewlett Packard
Join the PSC National Day of Action on Hewlett Packard (HP) next Saturday 4th June, a day of activities across the UK to highlight HP’s complicity in Israel’s occupation and system of discrimination.
HP is the technology behind the Israeli occupation and oppression . Their systems are used in biometric ID cards which restrict and control Palestinians’ movement. They provide technology and equipment to the Israeli Navy which maintains the blockade of Gaza. Their technology supports the Israeli military checkpoint system.
HP profits from the discrimination and oppression of Palestinians in the West Bank and within Israel. So together with our partners in the US and the Netherlands we are campaigning to end HP’s involvement in Israel’s oppression.
Details of the day will be available on HP campaign page soon.
G4S are still a key boycott target
Today PSC joined other solidarity organisations protesting at the G4S AGM in Surrey and outside the G4S offices in Manchester to demand the company ends its role in human rights abuses in Palestine and across the world.
G4S helps Israel run prisons where Palestinian political prisoners, including children, are illegally held, often without trial and some are subject to torture. It also provides equipment and services to Israeli checkpoints, police training centres and military bases.
Despite a recent announcement that G4S intended to sell its Israeli subsidiary, we know G4S has a shameful track record of not following through on it’s promises: it’s statements claiming it will end its participation in Israel’s occupation cannot be trusted. So we need to keep putting pressure on them until they follow through.
PSC will continue to support a boycott of G4S until there is evidence they have ended all contracts with Israel. Please support this campaign and all the work of PSC by signing up as a member if you have not already done so.