Monday February 23rd 2015, International Solidarity Movement Benefit, Volkseten Vegazulu, 7pm.
The International Solidarity Movement (ISM) is a Palestinian-coordinated movement committed to resisting the long-entrenched and systematic oppression and dispossession of the Palestinian population, using non-violent, direct-action methods and principles. Founded in August 2001, ISM aims to support and strengthen the Palestinian popular resistance by being immediately alongside Palestinians in olive groves, on school runs, at demonstrations, within villages being attacked, by houses being demolished or where Palestinians are subject to consistent harassment or attacks from soldiers and settlers as well as numerous other situations.
Israeli apartheid is not going to be defeated by words alone; ethnic cleansing, segregation, oppression and domination are going to be dismantled the same way they were erected — through people’s action. The Israeli army and apartheid in Palestine can be defeated by strategic (non-violent) resistance, utilizing the effective resources Palestinians can mobilize — including international participation.
Currently, ISM supports weekly Palestinian-led, non-violent demonstrations against land confiscation in several villages, including Nabi Saleh, Kafr Qaddum, Deir Jarir, Ni’lin and Bil’in. Previously, ISM supported demonstrations in the villages of Budrus and Biddu, where peaceful community marches have succeeded in altering the Annexation Wall’s path.
International participation in Palestinian-led non-violent resistance is important for a number of reasons:
Message to the global mainstream media – the Palestinian struggle is far from accurately reported by the mainstream, corporate-dominated media. Israelis and Palestinians are portrayed as two equal sides which cannot live together, fighting over land. In reality, Israel’s apartheid regime challenges Palestine’s right to exist and is met with a Palestinian struggle for freedom, self-determination and human rights. It is the responsibility of the international community to demand accurate reporting.
Personal witness and transmitting information – international presence alone can offer relief of day-to-day harassment and violence, especially when documenting with cameras. International civilians joining Palestinians can bear witness and return home to talk to their communities about what is happening.
Break isolation and offer hope – the apartheid isolates Palestinians and cuts them off from the rest of the world and from each other. The presence of international citizens sends a message to the Palestinian community — “we see, we hear and we are with you”. The belief that non-violent direct action can successfully challenge the apartheid is a cornerstone of our philosophy and message.
Internationals with the ISM are not in Palestine to teach non-violent resistance. Palestinians resist non-violently every day. The ISM lends support to the Palestinian resistance to the apartheid and their demand for freedom through the following activities:
Direct action — participating in non-violent demonstrations, creatively disrupting activity by the Israeli occupation forces, accompanying farmers to their fields and residing with or near families whose homes are threatened with eviction, demolition or harassment by settlers.
Documentation — documenting and reporting to local and international media about the daily life under apartheid and countless human rights and international law violations by the Israeli military. The need for documentation is not just to show that there are illegal and unjust actions going on, but also to provide a real means of evidence for accountability to the police and courts, case by case.
In a time of an increased need for international presence in Gaza and what looks to be a upsurge of violence in the West Bank, we call on international activists to join the ISM on the streets of Palestine. Volunteers of the ISM are requested to make a minimum of a two week commitment, long term volunteers are always needed.
We as ISM-Netherlands are looking to motivate activists to go to Palestine, and join the ISM there. We offer a pre-training in the Netherlands, provide information about going to Palestine, and in general are looking for ways to counter dominant narratives that often portray “the conflict” as “Palestinian versus Israeli”. Our experience learns that Palestinians, Israelis, and internationals can work together to fight the same racist and oppressive system that supports the military occupation of Palestine.
AFTER THE BENEFIT DINNER ITSELF WE WILL EXPLAIN ABOUT OUR WORK AND ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ISM AND DIRECT ACTION IN PALESTINE.
MORE INFO : SEE https://ismnl.wordpress.com and http://palsolidarity.org/
Volkseten Vegazulu is a people’s kitchen, every monday and thursday, 7pm, vegan food for 4€ or donation. All benefits go for social & political struggles. No reservation.
We’re always looking for cooks. Any help is welcome in the kitchen. Experience not required. Enjoying it is a must. If you want to know which days are still available in the schedule, send an email to joe[at]squat.net and book yourself the night. You can, of course, also participate by rolling up your sleeves and doing the dishes.
