Category Archives: SJP events

Israeli Apartheid Week: Palestinian Youth Speak on Israeli Apartheid

Join us in Appleton Tower LT2, Edinburgh University, Wednesday 22nd February, 7pm
We are hosting a panel discussion with three young Palestinian activists:

Aghsan Barghouti

Aghsan is a coordinator with Stop the Wall, and active in the independent Palestinian youth movement, campaigning around BDS and against normalisation

Wassim Ghantous

Wassim is from Haifa and active with many Palestinian youth movements inside 1948 Palestine. He is currently living in Belgium, where he is active with a number of NGO’s and campaign groups working on BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions)

Murad Jadallah

Murad is a young Palestinian activist working with Addameer, the Palestinian Prisoner Human Rights and Support Association

BBC – Don’t Censor Palestine! – Saturday 21st May

When: 21 May · 06:00 - 23:30
Where: Your TV, Your Radio, Your Computer, Your Public Broadcasting!

Phone, e-mail, text, the BBC with ‘Free Palestine!’*

The BBC have messed up again.

They have rightly come under fire for censoring the word “Palestine” in a performance by rapper Mic Righteous on Charlie Sloth’s BBC 1Xtra hip hop show. The show was originally aired in December, but Mic Righteous’ set was re-aired at the end of April in a best-of episode, re-igniting controversy. A spokesperson from the BBC said the censorship wasnecessary to preserve the station’s “impartiality”. You can see the clip on the BBC website here (about 3 mins in). Read the article in the Guardian about the controversy here.

The BBC don’t have a great track record of being “impartial” when it comes to Palestine, given their controversial and indefensible decision not to air the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal for Gaza after Operation Cast Lead in January 2009. You can read the BBC’s statement on this matter here.

On the 21st of May, people from all over Britain will demand that the BBC air the word “Palestine”. We will not stand for this censorship. We will email, text and phone every contact for every show and we will get Palestine on air.

BBC – DON’T CENSOR PALESTINE!

What you can do:
1) Invite everyone you know to participate in this facebook event.
2) Gather a group of friends together on Saturday with phones, computers, a twitter account (#dontcensorpalestine), whatever, put on a pot of coffee and get going.
3) Check back here for more information on scheduled programmes and contact details – to be uploaded soon. Make a list of all your targets and call/email/text in.

Remember: we’re trying to get Palestine ON AIR.

Phone in to a gardening programme with a question about your roses – when you get on air tell them in Palestine very little will grow because you have no access to water supplies.
Phone in for cooking advice from James Martin and ask him to say “Free Palestine” on air.

If you’re only emailing or texting, you may not get on air. That’s OK! This is a huge statement in itself. We need to inundate the BBC with demands to use the word “Palestine” – and to make a public apology for this politically motivated censorship.

Most importantly, we can’t let this happen quietly.

Trip to Palestine – last chance to sign up! – 24th March

When: 24 March, 17:00 - 18:00
Where: Room 7.18, David Hume Tower

Edinburgh Uni SJP are holding a last meeting on the student trip to Palestine this summer for people to come along, find out more and sign up!

The trip will take place after May exams and involve a tour of the occupied West Bank & Jerusalem.

This is a fantastic opportunity to sample Palestinian culture, find out more about the situation on the ground, and makes loads of new friends!

See you on Thursday!

**If you have already confirmed your interest in the trip then you do not need to attend**

EUSA GM: Voting to Boycott Israeli Goods – 14st March

When: 14th March, 19:00 - 20:00
Where: George Square Lecture Theatre

Desmond Tutu: “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you take the side of the oppressor”

The full motion can be read here.

A motion is being proposed at the forthcoming EUSA GM to boycott Israeli goods in EUSA shops and supply chains. This is part of the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions movement which has its foundations firmly in international law and has three mains goals:

1. An end to the illegal occupation of the lands taken by Israel in 1967 (West Bank, Gaza Strip & Golan Heights)

2. Full equality for Palestinian citizens of Israel

3. Right of return for Palestinians refugees ethnically cleansed in 1948

Like South Africa was, Israel is an apartheid state and treats it’s citizens and the people it occupies differently on the basis of their ethnicity and religion. Since what the international community calls “constructive engagement” has failed utterly and Israel continues to build illegal settlements, practise apartheid, and ethnically cleanse Palestinians, it seems clear that it is time for international civil society to take action.

Since the call was made in 2005 by over 170 Palestinian civil society organisations, the BDS movement has grown rapidly and in the UK university unions such as Sussex, Manchester and SOAS have had BDS motions passed. The Trade Union Congress and the Scottish Trade Union Congress have also firmly adopted BDS against Israel.

In addition, cultural signatories to BDS include Ken Loach, Gil Scott Heron, Elvis Costello, and recently Pete Seeger and Roger Waters.

This motion is not about taking the lead – it’s about catching up. Come to the EUSA GM and Vote for the Boycott of Israeli goods in EUSA shops on Monday!

Why boycott Israel? -10th March

When: Thursday 10th March, 18:00 - 19:00
Where: Faculty Room South, David Hume Tower

The recent leak of the Palestine papers has made clear just how non-existant any peace process is. In this stalemate, as Israel continues the military occupation of Palestinian territory, expropriate land, enforce a brutal siege on Gaza, and lock up political leaders, what direction should the movement for a just peace take? Come along and hear three Edinburgh University students present the case for Boycotting Apartheid Israel.

A motion is being proposed at the EUSA GM on Monday 14th of March which seeks to ban the sale of Israeli goods from EUSA shops, until Israeli abides by international law. Come to our meeting on Thursday to hear the reasons why this motion is important and why it is even more important that you vote YES to boycotting Israeli goods in EUSA.

Women of Resistance – 8th March

When: Tuesday 08 March, 19:00 - 20:30
Where: Appleton Tower, Lecture Theatre 4

As part of International Women’s day and Israeli Apartheid Week, SJP & SPSC will be co-hosting Rafeef Ziadah and Terri McLaughlin.

Rafeef Ziadah is a Palestinian refugee, spoken word artist and activist. She is on the committee of International Israeli Apartheid Week and has spoken at international conferences on behalf of the Palestinian Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) National Committee.

Palestine solidarity activist Terri McLaughlin will talk about the women who took part in a successful direct action which contributed to the eventual closure of the Derry offices of US missile manufacturer Raytheon.

This is sure to be an exciting event and we look forward to seeing you all there!

See the Facebook event here.

Trip to Palestine meeting – 8th March

When: Tuesday 08 March, 17:00 – 18:30
Where: Room G.10, William Robertson Building

SJP are having another meeting regarding the trip to Palestine at the end of May. If you are interested in coming on the trip it is really important that you come to this meeting! All your questions will be answered and we will start to put plans in place for the trip itself.

This trip is open to all students, and will be an amazing experience for everyone that goes.

If you are interested but for some reason can’t make the meeting or if you have any further questions, please get in touch with edinburghsjp@gmail.com

Israeli Shir Hever talks on: The Political Economy of Israel’s occupation – 24th Feb

When: Thursday 24th of February. 13:00-16:00
Where: 11.01 David Hume Tower

In the same week as the ambassador for Israeli apartheid, Ron Prosor, visited Edinburgh University, Students for Justice in Palestine are delighted to host Shir Hever, an Israeli economic researcher for joint Palestinian-Israeli organisation The Alternative Information Centre and author of ‘The Political Economy of Israel’s Occupation’.

As part of a tour organised by the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Capaign, Shir will be talking on the need for using boycott tactics against Israel to force it to abide by international law.

Come along for what is sure to be an engaging discussion and if you want to find out what Israelis who want fight the occupation think we should be doing.

As he says:
“Israeli society is a decadent society in an unstoppable decline, resistant to internal calls for reform and politically paralysed from within.”
“Only external pressure can truly bring change to this society, and allow democracy to take hold in the region, not only for the benefit of Palestinians, but for the benefit of Israelis too. External pressure, by using political and economic tools such as sanctions and boycott, returns the issues of civil rights and democracy to the fore, and deprives Israel of the option to use its military might to make the problem go away.”

Visit Palestine with SJP!

Edinburgh University Students for Justice in Palestine are planning their third annual trip to Palestine!

Are you interested in visiting the Middle East? Learning more about the situation on the ground, Palestinian culture and meeting students from Palestine? This could be for you! This trip is open to all Edinburgh University students and takes place after May exams.

Come along to an open meeting on Wednesday the 16th of February at 13.00 in room 7.01, David Hume Tower.

We’ll explain how the last trip went and what we’re planning this year. If you have any questions, just email edinburghsjp@gmail.com .

We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday!

Mike Prysner talk: Palestine, Imperialism and the Crisis in the Middle East – 2nd February

When: Wednesday 02 February. 13:00 – 14:30
Where: Faculty Room North, David Hume Tower

Mike Prysner, US Army veteran and founding member of March Forward, will speak at Edinburgh University on Wednesday as part of a UK wide speaking tour.

With the dramatic events in Egypt taking place, Mike will speak about his journey from US soldier in Iraq to anti-imperialist activist and consider what the implications of the Arab uprisings are.

Watch Mike’s inspirational speech, viewed by over 1 million people, here.

The ethnic cleansing of Palestine proceeds to the roar of bulldozers and tanks and the support of the US and the EU. Nuclear-armed Israel dispossesses the Palestinian people and wages wars across the region.

The devastation of Iraq by foreign armies continues. The Afghan adventure produces a rising death toll and intensified resistance. Israel threatens a further invasion of Lebanon and an attack on Iran.

- Why does the US arm Israel to the tune of $3b per year?

- Why does the EU violate its own human rights regulations to extend virtual membership to Israel?

- Why is Israel a de facto member of NATO?

How can we stop the UK Government’s invasions of other countries alongside the US and support Palestinian resistance to ethnic cleansing, colonisation and apartheid?

See the Facebook event.