23 may 2018
Indonesia has decided to open its markets for Palestinian products with zero import duty.
Indonesia's Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita has said that his country will receive all kinds of goods from Palestine without imposing an import duty.
During a meeting with the Palestinian ambassador to Indonesia Zuhair al-Shun at the Ministry of Trade in Jakarta, Lukita said that his country is also ready to export goods to the Palestinian markets based on their needs.
Head of the Fderation of Palestinian Chambers of Commerce Khalil Rezeq hailed Indonesia's decision, saying that it would strengthen the Palestinian economy by encouraging traders and factories to export their goods to Indonesia and creating new opportunities for investment.
Rezeq told Quds Press that the taxes imposed on Palestinian imports in other countries are a major obstacle to the export movement, in addition to the restrictions imposed by Israel to strangle the Palestinian economy.
He affirmed that Palestinian factories are able to export goods that can compete internationally, but the Israeli restrictions are the biggest challenge to the Palestinian trade and industry movement.
In another context, Indonesia on Tuesday decided to ban Israeli citizens from entering the country in response to the latest Israeli massacre in the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli occupation army on 14th May killed 65 Palestinians and injured 3,188 while they were peacefully protesting the US embassy transfer to Jerusalem near Gaza's eastern border fence.
Indonesia's Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita has said that his country will receive all kinds of goods from Palestine without imposing an import duty.
During a meeting with the Palestinian ambassador to Indonesia Zuhair al-Shun at the Ministry of Trade in Jakarta, Lukita said that his country is also ready to export goods to the Palestinian markets based on their needs.
Head of the Fderation of Palestinian Chambers of Commerce Khalil Rezeq hailed Indonesia's decision, saying that it would strengthen the Palestinian economy by encouraging traders and factories to export their goods to Indonesia and creating new opportunities for investment.
Rezeq told Quds Press that the taxes imposed on Palestinian imports in other countries are a major obstacle to the export movement, in addition to the restrictions imposed by Israel to strangle the Palestinian economy.
He affirmed that Palestinian factories are able to export goods that can compete internationally, but the Israeli restrictions are the biggest challenge to the Palestinian trade and industry movement.
In another context, Indonesia on Tuesday decided to ban Israeli citizens from entering the country in response to the latest Israeli massacre in the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli occupation army on 14th May killed 65 Palestinians and injured 3,188 while they were peacefully protesting the US embassy transfer to Jerusalem near Gaza's eastern border fence.
The International Criminal Court (ICC), on Tuesday, responded to a request by the Palestinian Foreign Ministry asking them to investigate Israeli settlement building and alleged war crimes.
“Since 16 January 2015, the situation in Palestine has been subject to a preliminary examination in order to ascertain whether the criteria for opening an investigation are met,” Fatou Bensuda, the Netherlands-based ICC’s chief prosecutor, said in a statement.
“This preliminary examination has seen important progress and will continue to follow its normal course,” she said.
Bensuda said, according to Andalou/Al Ray, that her office evaluates and analyzes all information received independently, regardless of who it was referred by.
“A referral or an article 12(3) declaration does not automatically lead to the opening of an investigation.
“There should be no doubt that, in this and any other situation before my Office, I will always take the decision warranted by my mandate under the Rome Statute.”
The Rome Statute allows the ICC to investigate whether genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes or crimes of aggression have been committed in a state which is either unable or unwilling to do so itself.
On May 14, at least 65 unarmed Palestinian demonstrators in Gaza were killed — and thousands more injured — by intense Israeli army gunfire.
The protests coincided with the 70th anniversary of Israel’s establishment in 1948 — an event Palestinians refer to as the “The Nakba (Catastrophe)” — and the relocation of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, which took place the same day.
“Since 16 January 2015, the situation in Palestine has been subject to a preliminary examination in order to ascertain whether the criteria for opening an investigation are met,” Fatou Bensuda, the Netherlands-based ICC’s chief prosecutor, said in a statement.
“This preliminary examination has seen important progress and will continue to follow its normal course,” she said.
Bensuda said, according to Andalou/Al Ray, that her office evaluates and analyzes all information received independently, regardless of who it was referred by.
“A referral or an article 12(3) declaration does not automatically lead to the opening of an investigation.
“There should be no doubt that, in this and any other situation before my Office, I will always take the decision warranted by my mandate under the Rome Statute.”
The Rome Statute allows the ICC to investigate whether genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes or crimes of aggression have been committed in a state which is either unable or unwilling to do so itself.
On May 14, at least 65 unarmed Palestinian demonstrators in Gaza were killed — and thousands more injured — by intense Israeli army gunfire.
The protests coincided with the 70th anniversary of Israel’s establishment in 1948 — an event Palestinians refer to as the “The Nakba (Catastrophe)” — and the relocation of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, which took place the same day.
Brazilian singer and songwriter Gilberto Gil has cancelled a performance that was scheduled in Israel this summer, citing “general sentiment of apprehension.”
The legendary Grammy and Latin Grammy Award winner, once Brazil’s Culture Minister and now considered one of Latin America’s most prominent and influential musicians, was supposed to perform in the city of Tel Aviv on July 4, but cancelled the performance, in what seems to be a response to Israel’s crimes against the Palestinian people, over the past few weeks.
According to WAFA, Gil sent a letter to the concert’s producers addressing the cancellation, and said: “The general sentiment of all is one of apprehension as Israel is going through this sensitive moment.”
Although he didn’t mention Gaza or Palestinians, the “sensitive moment” is thought, most likely, to be a reference to the recent Israeli army massacre in the Gaza Strip, which left 63 Palestinians dead, including children, during a protest on May 14.
Hind Awwad, from the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI), also a member of the Palestinian BDS National Committee, commented: “We warmly welcome Gilberto Gil’s cancellation of his concert in Tel Aviv, the center of Israel’s regime of occupation and apartheid. We thank Gil’s fans in Brazil and across Latin America whose outrage over Israel’s latest massacre in Gaza and support for Palestinian human rights seem to have played a decisive role in his decision.”
She added: “By cancelling this show, Gil is in the good company of many world-renowned artists who have refused to art-wash Israel’s regime of oppression, including Lorde, Lauryn Hill, Elvis Costello, Brian Eno, the late Gil Scott-Heron, Faithless, Roger Waters, among many others.
“We sincerely hope that Gil will never perform in Israel until Palestinians enjoy freedom, justice, and equality.”
Celebrities, elected officials and influencers turned to social media to express their outrage at Israel’s killing of Palestinians marching for their freedom and protesting US President Donald Trump’s move of the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
These included Chelsea Handler, Bette Midler, Rowan Blanchard, Judd Apatow, Ava DuVerney, Jeffrey Wright, Marc Lamont Hill, Morgan Freeman, rapper Vic Mensa, Senator Bernie Sanders, Rep. Marc Pocan, Rep. Betty McCollum, Rep. Barbara Lee, Reza Aslan, NFL player Oday Aboushi, WWE fighter Sami Zayn, journalist Rula Jebrael and more who have joined a growing chorus of high-profile influencers speaking out against Israel’s treatment of Palestinians.
(photo: bdsmovement.net)
The legendary Grammy and Latin Grammy Award winner, once Brazil’s Culture Minister and now considered one of Latin America’s most prominent and influential musicians, was supposed to perform in the city of Tel Aviv on July 4, but cancelled the performance, in what seems to be a response to Israel’s crimes against the Palestinian people, over the past few weeks.
According to WAFA, Gil sent a letter to the concert’s producers addressing the cancellation, and said: “The general sentiment of all is one of apprehension as Israel is going through this sensitive moment.”
Although he didn’t mention Gaza or Palestinians, the “sensitive moment” is thought, most likely, to be a reference to the recent Israeli army massacre in the Gaza Strip, which left 63 Palestinians dead, including children, during a protest on May 14.
Hind Awwad, from the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI), also a member of the Palestinian BDS National Committee, commented: “We warmly welcome Gilberto Gil’s cancellation of his concert in Tel Aviv, the center of Israel’s regime of occupation and apartheid. We thank Gil’s fans in Brazil and across Latin America whose outrage over Israel’s latest massacre in Gaza and support for Palestinian human rights seem to have played a decisive role in his decision.”
She added: “By cancelling this show, Gil is in the good company of many world-renowned artists who have refused to art-wash Israel’s regime of oppression, including Lorde, Lauryn Hill, Elvis Costello, Brian Eno, the late Gil Scott-Heron, Faithless, Roger Waters, among many others.
“We sincerely hope that Gil will never perform in Israel until Palestinians enjoy freedom, justice, and equality.”
Celebrities, elected officials and influencers turned to social media to express their outrage at Israel’s killing of Palestinians marching for their freedom and protesting US President Donald Trump’s move of the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
These included Chelsea Handler, Bette Midler, Rowan Blanchard, Judd Apatow, Ava DuVerney, Jeffrey Wright, Marc Lamont Hill, Morgan Freeman, rapper Vic Mensa, Senator Bernie Sanders, Rep. Marc Pocan, Rep. Betty McCollum, Rep. Barbara Lee, Reza Aslan, NFL player Oday Aboushi, WWE fighter Sami Zayn, journalist Rula Jebrael and more who have joined a growing chorus of high-profile influencers speaking out against Israel’s treatment of Palestinians.
(photo: bdsmovement.net)
A group of Palestinian youths on Wednesday broke through the Gaza border fence and stormed an Israeli military position for the second time in less than 24 hours.
Four Palestinian youngsters broke into the Israeli post east of the Bureij refugee camp in the Gaza Strip before safely and easily withdrawing to the other side.
According to the PIC reporter, the youths set fire to a number of rooms used by Israeli soldiers.
Earlier Tuesday, a group of youths set fire to a tent used by Israeli snipers during the recent attack along the border.
Few hours later, Israeli warplanes bombed two boats at Gaza port and a resistance site in northern Gaza.
Four Palestinian youngsters broke into the Israeli post east of the Bureij refugee camp in the Gaza Strip before safely and easily withdrawing to the other side.
According to the PIC reporter, the youths set fire to a number of rooms used by Israeli soldiers.
Earlier Tuesday, a group of youths set fire to a tent used by Israeli snipers during the recent attack along the border.
Few hours later, Israeli warplanes bombed two boats at Gaza port and a resistance site in northern Gaza.
Turkey on Tuesday criticized the UN Security Council for failing to protect civilians during conflicts, particularly in Palestine and Syria.
This was voiced by Turkey's permanent ambassador to the UN Feridun Sinirlioğlu during an open discussion at the Security Council on the protection of civilians during armed conflicts.
Sinirlioğlu said that ensuring the safety of civilians in accordance with the international humanitarian law is one of the primary responsibilities of the Security Council. Unfortunately, he added, the Council's response is far from meeting expectations especially in Syria and Palestine.
He continued to say that the Security Council completely ignores the values the UN has been defending for over 70 years in a clear violation of the principles of international law.
He stressed that the targeting of innocent civilians cannot be justified, adding that decisive accountability mechanisms should be adopted.
According to official statistics, the Israeli occupation army on 14th May killed 62 Palestinians and injured 3,188 while they were peacefully protesting near Gaza's eastern border fence.
This was voiced by Turkey's permanent ambassador to the UN Feridun Sinirlioğlu during an open discussion at the Security Council on the protection of civilians during armed conflicts.
Sinirlioğlu said that ensuring the safety of civilians in accordance with the international humanitarian law is one of the primary responsibilities of the Security Council. Unfortunately, he added, the Council's response is far from meeting expectations especially in Syria and Palestine.
He continued to say that the Security Council completely ignores the values the UN has been defending for over 70 years in a clear violation of the principles of international law.
He stressed that the targeting of innocent civilians cannot be justified, adding that decisive accountability mechanisms should be adopted.
According to official statistics, the Israeli occupation army on 14th May killed 62 Palestinians and injured 3,188 while they were peacefully protesting near Gaza's eastern border fence.
Israel’s parliament (Knesset) will debate recognizing the alleged Armenian genocide, amid a diplomatic spat with Turkey over the murder of dozens of Palestinian protesters by Israeli troops on the Gaza border last week.
It is the first time in years that the Israeli foreign ministry has not objected to a debate on the alleged Ottoman Empire’s massacre of some 1.5 million Armenians in 1915 during World War One.
The debate is expected to be held in Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, on Wednesday, public broadcaster Kann reported Tuesday reported.
Israel has refrained from formally recognizing the genocide due to its diplomatic ties with Turkey and Azerbaijan.
The row escalated on Wednesday when Turkish authorities subjected the departing Israeli Ambassador Eitan Na'eh to a rigorous security check at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport and invited local TV crews to film it.
Both the country's envoys and consuls in Jerusalem and Istanbul respectively were also withdrawn back to their respective capitals.
Israeli lawmakers had said last week that they would put forth bills proposing officially recognizing the Armenian genocide as the crisis escalated.
Intelligence Minister Israel Katz, Education Minister Naftali Bennett, and senior Zionist Union MK Tzipi Livni all expressed their support for such initiatives.
Turkey -- the Ottoman Empire's successor state -- argues that the massacre was a collective tragedy in which equal numbers of Turks and Armenians died.
Another resolution to suspend cement imports from Turkey is also slated to be debated by the Knesset.
The fragile Israel-Turkey relationship was thrown into disrepair last week as Ankara condemned the killing of 60 Palestinians on Gaza border protests as a massacre, withdrawing its ambassador from Israel and kicking out Israel’s envoy a day later.
It is the first time in years that the Israeli foreign ministry has not objected to a debate on the alleged Ottoman Empire’s massacre of some 1.5 million Armenians in 1915 during World War One.
The debate is expected to be held in Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, on Wednesday, public broadcaster Kann reported Tuesday reported.
Israel has refrained from formally recognizing the genocide due to its diplomatic ties with Turkey and Azerbaijan.
The row escalated on Wednesday when Turkish authorities subjected the departing Israeli Ambassador Eitan Na'eh to a rigorous security check at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport and invited local TV crews to film it.
Both the country's envoys and consuls in Jerusalem and Istanbul respectively were also withdrawn back to their respective capitals.
Israeli lawmakers had said last week that they would put forth bills proposing officially recognizing the Armenian genocide as the crisis escalated.
Intelligence Minister Israel Katz, Education Minister Naftali Bennett, and senior Zionist Union MK Tzipi Livni all expressed their support for such initiatives.
Turkey -- the Ottoman Empire's successor state -- argues that the massacre was a collective tragedy in which equal numbers of Turks and Armenians died.
Another resolution to suspend cement imports from Turkey is also slated to be debated by the Knesset.
The fragile Israel-Turkey relationship was thrown into disrepair last week as Ankara condemned the killing of 60 Palestinians on Gaza border protests as a massacre, withdrawing its ambassador from Israel and kicking out Israel’s envoy a day later.
Indonesia has cancelled visas issued to Israeli citizens and decided to ban Israelis from entering the country in response to Gaza incidents, spokesman for Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Emmanuel Nahshon said.
According to Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, the ban came into effect last week. Indonesia has also strongly condemned Israel's brutal actions against Palestinians during recent border events in Gaza.
Nahshon said in press statements that Israel is currently trying to reverse Indonesia's decision.
Israel has no formal diplomatic relations with Indonesia, but the two countries maintain economic ties, so Israelis can visit Indonesia using temporary tourist and business visas.
The Israeli occupation army on 14th May killed 65 Palestinians and injured 3,244 while they were protesting peacefully near Gaza's border fence with the 1948 occupied Palestinian territories.
According to Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, the ban came into effect last week. Indonesia has also strongly condemned Israel's brutal actions against Palestinians during recent border events in Gaza.
Nahshon said in press statements that Israel is currently trying to reverse Indonesia's decision.
Israel has no formal diplomatic relations with Indonesia, but the two countries maintain economic ties, so Israelis can visit Indonesia using temporary tourist and business visas.
The Israeli occupation army on 14th May killed 65 Palestinians and injured 3,244 while they were protesting peacefully near Gaza's border fence with the 1948 occupied Palestinian territories.
Artists have withdrawn from the line-up of Berlin festival Pop-Kultur after the international Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement (BDS) called on all participating artists to withdraw from the event due to its acceptance of sponsorship from the Israeli embassy.
BDS said in a statement that Israel seeks associations with international festivals, such as Pop-Kultur Berlin, to art-wash its image abroad in the explicit attempt to distract attention from its crimes against Palestinians.
For a supposedly progressive festival to accept sponsorship from a decades-old regime of oppression and apartheid like Israel’s is unethical and hypocritical, to say the least, the statement read.
BDS added that most recently, Israel has implemented a shoot-to-kill-or-maim policy -- announced in advance -- against thousands of peaceful protesters in the besieged and occupied Gaza Strip who are struggling to achieve freedom. The dozens killed and thousands injured were not shot by accident: an Israeli forces spokesperson even said, “nothing was carried out uncontrolled; everything was accurate and measured. We know where every bullet landed.”
The International Criminal Court has warned Israel that its killings in Gaza may amount to war crimes.
In light of Israel's continued violation of Palestinian human rights, accepting Israeli government propaganda money amounts to intentional complicity in art-washing Israel’s egregious violations of international law, BDS further stated.
A few months ago, the New Zealand sensation, Lorde, announced the cancellation of a scheduled gig in Tel Aviv. When faced with an ugly intimidation and smear campaign by Israel lobby figures, dozens of world renowned artists, including Oscar-winning Hollywood stars, stood squarely in support of Lorde.
Quoted by BDS, one Israeli official summarized the overt policy of cultural whitewashing in the following terms: “We will send well-known novelists and writers overseas, theater companies, exhibits. This way you show Israel’s prettier face, so we are not thought of purely in the context of war.”
Pop-Kultur festival’s insistence on accepting Israel’s sponsorship, no matter how it spins it this year, leaves us with no choice but to appeal to all participating artists to withdraw, unless the festival rescinds Israel’s sponsorship, said BDS.
It added that an event sponsored by apartheid South Africa would have triggered the same calls for boycott by human rights defenders and progressives in South Africa, Germany and elsewhere. Similarly, refraining from normalizing Israel’s system of injustice is the least that Palestinians expect from progressive artists and cultural organizations in order not to undermine our nonviolent struggle for freedom, justice and equality.
Newcastle singer-songwriter Richard Dawson has followed UK band Shopping in issuing a statement announcing they are now boycotting the event.
“In response to the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel's call for artists to boycott the upcoming Pop-Kultur festival in Berlin… I regret to inform we've decided to cancel our performance,” ran Dawson’s statement on 17 May.
“The killing on Monday of protesters in Gaza by Israeli government forces is the latest in a long string of atrocities acted upon the Palestinian people,” he said. “Even if performing at Pop-Kultur meant I was endorsing such a government in only the very slightest of ways, I cannot in good conscience lend my music or my name to this.”
BDS said in a statement that Israel seeks associations with international festivals, such as Pop-Kultur Berlin, to art-wash its image abroad in the explicit attempt to distract attention from its crimes against Palestinians.
For a supposedly progressive festival to accept sponsorship from a decades-old regime of oppression and apartheid like Israel’s is unethical and hypocritical, to say the least, the statement read.
BDS added that most recently, Israel has implemented a shoot-to-kill-or-maim policy -- announced in advance -- against thousands of peaceful protesters in the besieged and occupied Gaza Strip who are struggling to achieve freedom. The dozens killed and thousands injured were not shot by accident: an Israeli forces spokesperson even said, “nothing was carried out uncontrolled; everything was accurate and measured. We know where every bullet landed.”
The International Criminal Court has warned Israel that its killings in Gaza may amount to war crimes.
In light of Israel's continued violation of Palestinian human rights, accepting Israeli government propaganda money amounts to intentional complicity in art-washing Israel’s egregious violations of international law, BDS further stated.
A few months ago, the New Zealand sensation, Lorde, announced the cancellation of a scheduled gig in Tel Aviv. When faced with an ugly intimidation and smear campaign by Israel lobby figures, dozens of world renowned artists, including Oscar-winning Hollywood stars, stood squarely in support of Lorde.
Quoted by BDS, one Israeli official summarized the overt policy of cultural whitewashing in the following terms: “We will send well-known novelists and writers overseas, theater companies, exhibits. This way you show Israel’s prettier face, so we are not thought of purely in the context of war.”
Pop-Kultur festival’s insistence on accepting Israel’s sponsorship, no matter how it spins it this year, leaves us with no choice but to appeal to all participating artists to withdraw, unless the festival rescinds Israel’s sponsorship, said BDS.
It added that an event sponsored by apartheid South Africa would have triggered the same calls for boycott by human rights defenders and progressives in South Africa, Germany and elsewhere. Similarly, refraining from normalizing Israel’s system of injustice is the least that Palestinians expect from progressive artists and cultural organizations in order not to undermine our nonviolent struggle for freedom, justice and equality.
Newcastle singer-songwriter Richard Dawson has followed UK band Shopping in issuing a statement announcing they are now boycotting the event.
“In response to the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel's call for artists to boycott the upcoming Pop-Kultur festival in Berlin… I regret to inform we've decided to cancel our performance,” ran Dawson’s statement on 17 May.
“The killing on Monday of protesters in Gaza by Israeli government forces is the latest in a long string of atrocities acted upon the Palestinian people,” he said. “Even if performing at Pop-Kultur meant I was endorsing such a government in only the very slightest of ways, I cannot in good conscience lend my music or my name to this.”
Muslim Awareness International (MAI), a Nigerian Muslim group, has called for the boycott of Israel after its forces killed over 100 Palestinian protesters in the last month.
Speaking at a press conference in Lagos on Tuesday, MAI spokesperson, Yusuf Jimoh Aweda, called on the international community to pressure the US and Israel to stop atrocities against Palestinians. He also called on all Nigerians – regardless of religion – to speak out against these violations of human rights.
“We understand that some Christians are indifferent while many more support Israel in recognition of the Jews in the scriptures. Unfortunately, the Zionist government of Israel does not identify with Christianity and all Palestinian Christians and Muslims remain victims of persecution by the occupying Israeli forces.”
Aweda said it was “disheartening” that many Nigerians did not show much concern for the people of Palestine. “We must remember that it is a moral duty to speak out against oppression and violations of human rights,” Aweda said.
MAI head, Abdul Waheed Atoyebi, said the relocation of the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem was “provocative” and proved that Washington was “a biased party that could no longer serve the cause of justice or fairness on the Palestinian issue. The Israeli government as usual continues to be defiant, using deception, lies and false narratives to defend their indefensible crimes against humanity.”
He also commended South Africa for withdrawing its ambassador to Israel, and called on the Arab League to stop ignoring Israel’s assault on Palestinian rights. “Arab nations should stop burying their heads in the sand while Palestine and Islam’s third holiest site are under constant attacks,” Atoyebi said.
Atoyebi called on the UN to go beyond the symbolic criticism of Israeli atrocities and impose appropriate sanctions to force Israel to comply with international law.
In December, Atoyebi led a march of over 3,000 people in Lagos in protest at Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. At that event, the President of the Muslim Congress, Lukman Abdur- Raheem, said it is rather unfortunate that many educated Nigerians such as Reno Omokri and Femi Fani-Kayode are misleading the Nigerian Christian community into believing that the Palestinian liberation struggle was a religious battle – rather than an anti-colonial struggle.
Nigerian civil society calls for solidarity with Palestinians
On Monday, Issa Aremu, an executive member of the Nigeria Labor Congress, called on all Africans to stand up in solidarity with the Palestinian people, stressing that the Palestinian question is about land occupation, domination and oppression.
“The Middle East crisis is comparable to slavery, colonialism in Africa and apartheid in South Africa. As Africans who once reaped from global solidarity for liberation and independence we cannot by any stretch of imagination be indifferent until Palestinians also get justice, liberation and a fair deal in terms of a state and security.”
On Friday, the former General Secretary of the Nigeria Labor Congress, Owei Lakemfa, blasted African countries for attending the opening of the United States embassy in Jerusalem last week.
Source: Afro-Palestine News Wire Service
Speaking at a press conference in Lagos on Tuesday, MAI spokesperson, Yusuf Jimoh Aweda, called on the international community to pressure the US and Israel to stop atrocities against Palestinians. He also called on all Nigerians – regardless of religion – to speak out against these violations of human rights.
“We understand that some Christians are indifferent while many more support Israel in recognition of the Jews in the scriptures. Unfortunately, the Zionist government of Israel does not identify with Christianity and all Palestinian Christians and Muslims remain victims of persecution by the occupying Israeli forces.”
Aweda said it was “disheartening” that many Nigerians did not show much concern for the people of Palestine. “We must remember that it is a moral duty to speak out against oppression and violations of human rights,” Aweda said.
MAI head, Abdul Waheed Atoyebi, said the relocation of the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem was “provocative” and proved that Washington was “a biased party that could no longer serve the cause of justice or fairness on the Palestinian issue. The Israeli government as usual continues to be defiant, using deception, lies and false narratives to defend their indefensible crimes against humanity.”
He also commended South Africa for withdrawing its ambassador to Israel, and called on the Arab League to stop ignoring Israel’s assault on Palestinian rights. “Arab nations should stop burying their heads in the sand while Palestine and Islam’s third holiest site are under constant attacks,” Atoyebi said.
Atoyebi called on the UN to go beyond the symbolic criticism of Israeli atrocities and impose appropriate sanctions to force Israel to comply with international law.
In December, Atoyebi led a march of over 3,000 people in Lagos in protest at Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. At that event, the President of the Muslim Congress, Lukman Abdur- Raheem, said it is rather unfortunate that many educated Nigerians such as Reno Omokri and Femi Fani-Kayode are misleading the Nigerian Christian community into believing that the Palestinian liberation struggle was a religious battle – rather than an anti-colonial struggle.
Nigerian civil society calls for solidarity with Palestinians
On Monday, Issa Aremu, an executive member of the Nigeria Labor Congress, called on all Africans to stand up in solidarity with the Palestinian people, stressing that the Palestinian question is about land occupation, domination and oppression.
“The Middle East crisis is comparable to slavery, colonialism in Africa and apartheid in South Africa. As Africans who once reaped from global solidarity for liberation and independence we cannot by any stretch of imagination be indifferent until Palestinians also get justice, liberation and a fair deal in terms of a state and security.”
On Friday, the former General Secretary of the Nigeria Labor Congress, Owei Lakemfa, blasted African countries for attending the opening of the United States embassy in Jerusalem last week.
Source: Afro-Palestine News Wire Service
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