Europe in the Global March to Jerusalem

15/01/2012
Invitation to European participation and support
European preparatory committee for the Global March to Jerusalem
We say no to Zionism; and to an exclusive Jewish colonial state, which reacts to the legitimate struggle of the indigenous Palestinian people with the expansion of its Apartheid rule.
Gretta Duisenberg: "Occupation and slow genozide by Israel are crimes"

Jerusalem has been a centre of the three monotheistic world religions for more than 1,000 years. This plurality has been threatened since the creation of the state of Israel and more so with the occupation of east Jerusalem and its annexation, in violation of international law. Jerusalem’s Palestinian inhabitants are subjected to a continuous process of expulsion from the city.

85% of its territory has been robbed by foreign settlers, while the Israeli state systematically destroys the livelihood of Palestinians. Every day, the Apartheid state of Israel demolishes Palestinian homes. Armed Israeli gangs, supported by the state, terrorise the old city’s inhabitants demanding, “Arabs out, Jerusalem is Jewish!” Jewish religious fanatics even attack Jewish women if they don’t abide by the rules emanating from their extremist interpretation of religion. All this is happening while the people of the Arab world are clamouring for democracy and self-determination.

After decades of submission to a world order dominated by NATO and Israel, the Arab masses have begun to rid themselves of their dependent and dictatorial regimes. People have taken to the streets in unprecedented numbers; demanding democracy and an end to the squander of their countries’ resources. For decades, these corrupt dictatorships have collaborated with Israel to safeguard Western interests in the region. The clearest testimony of this is the comprehensive blockade that has been imposed on the Gaza Strip; destroying the future of 1.5 million Palestinians.

The sole reaction of the last settler colony in the world to the growing protest is increased brutality. The Apartheid state of Israel is hastening to create more facts on the ground, particularly in Jerusalem, before the balance of forces in the region turns completely against them. Once again, Israel’s claim to be the only democracy in the Middle East is exposed to be a racist fallacy – as only Jewish citizens are entitled to it.

Today, the Arab spring continues to fuel the Palestinian national movement. This initiative for the Global March to Jerusalem (GMJ) is a vital expression of this fact. Various forces from across the entire region, as well as all political, cultural and religious divisions, have come together – extending even to Europe.

It is, therefore, high time for each and every one of us to struggle similarly for democracy, equal rights and self-determination for occupied Palestine. This is an special duty for the European opposition forces because Zionism is not only a product of European colonialism and racism; it still enjoys the support of our ruling elite.

The Global March to Jerusalem adopted the city of the three monotheistic world religions as a symbol of emancipation. Despite the on-going expulsion of Palestinians and the Judaisation of the city, it remains the common cultural heritage of humanity, which can never be erased.

We join this pluralistic initiative transcending cultural and religious borders on a simple political platform; carrying further ahead past initiatives. Our intention is to build a bridge for peace between the Arab region, Europe and other parts of the world.

We will meet before Land Day on March 30, 2012, in Cairo, Amman, Beirut and Damascus to start our common march to Jerusalem. In all these capitals, we would be joined by local preparatory committees.

Concomitantly, there will be mobilisations throughout historic Palestine: in the West Bank, in the Gaza Strip, in Israel (by Muslims, Christians and Jews) and first and foremost, in Jerusalem also.

We call on you to:

a) sign the appeal issued by the international GMJ committee

b) build local organisational committees

c) register for participation in the march.

We say no to Zionism; and to an exclusive Jewish colonial state, which reacts to the legitimate struggle of the indigenous Palestinian people with the expansion of its Apartheid rule.

European preparatory committee for the Global March to Jerusalem
Rome, January 14, 2012

Zaher Birawi, leading Palestine activist, Britain
Gretta Duisenberg, Chair Foundation “Stop the Occupation”, Board member Free Gaza Movement, Netherlands
Leo Gabriel, Journalist and Anthropologist, Member of the IC of the World Social Forum, Austria
Dr. Hafiz al Karmi, Chairman Palestinian Forum in Britain
Mohammad Kozber, British Muslim Initiative
Wilhelm Langthaler, Anti-imperialist Camp, Gaza must live coalition, Austria
Mikalis Lukianos, Ship to Gaza, Greece
Daniela di Marco, Chair of Sumud – Anti-imperialist Voluntary Association, Italy
Moreno Pasquinelli, Anti-imperialist Camp, Italy
Ismael Patel, Chairman Friends of Al Qqsa, Britain
Attia and Verena Rajab, Palestine Committee Stuttgart, Germany
Elsa Rassbach, Film maker, journalist and peace activist, Berlin, Germany
Massimo de Santi, President of the International Committee for Education for Peace, Italy

To endorse the GMJ send an email to camp@antiimperialista.org

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