Earlier this year while many people in Australia celebrated Christmas and New Year, Israel was waging a brutal bombing campaign and invasion of the Gaza Strip. Israel committed war crimes with the use of weapons like white phosphorous, the indiscriminate bombing of civilian houses and the bombing of UN facilities. After Israel’s “cease-fire” even some of its own soldiers spoke out about the war crimes they had been told to commit. While Western governments either sided with Israel or turned a blind eye to the atrocities, hundreds of thousands rallied in support of the Palestinians.
Today, Israel still maintains the crippling economic blockade on the Gaza Strip. Only 40 commercial items are allowed to enter the impoverished area. Excluded are such things as wood, cement, candles, crayons, matches, blankets, tea, coffee, light bulbs, books and musical instruments.
There is a growing call around the world for boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israel, like those employed against the apartheid state of South Africa. However, the Rudd Labor Government has sought to increase ties with Israel, sending Julia Gillard there earlier this year to foster closer links. Join the protest on Friday 25th September at Town Hall to demand the siege of Gaza be lifted, Israel be prosecuted for war crimes and the Rudd government cut ties with Israel, not strengthen them!
Rally called by Students for Palestine. Endorsed by: the Gaza Defence Committee (GDC), the Coalition for Justice and Peace in Palestine (CJPP), Stop the War Coalition (Sydney), Australians for Palestine, the Sydney University Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies (CPACS), The Hive (UWS student association), Sydney University Postgraduate Representative Association (SUPRA), Sydney University Muslim Student Association (SUMSA), Socialist Alternative, the Revolutionary Socialist Party, Socialist Alliance.
If you would like to get involved in Students for Palestine, endorse the rally, and/or help us advertise the rally by putting up posters etc. then please get in contact with us!
For more info contact Kay: 0413957838 or visit the Students for Palestine site.