PROJECTS & CAMPAIGNS

Palestinian, Jewish, and Other Local Activists Shut Down Israeli Consulate

unity

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 15, 2009

Palestinian, Jewish, and OtherLocal Activists Shut Down Israeli Consulate

SAN FRANCISCO – A group of nine activists – Palestinian, anti-ZionistJewish, and immigrant rights activists – blocked the entrance of theIsraeli Consulate beginning at 8:30am today, in nonviolent protest ofIsraeli apartheid and its current attacks on Gaza. The activistschained themselves together using handcuffs and locks, locked the doorsto the building, and were joined by a diverse rally of over 40supporters. The action was organized jointly by local Palestinians andJews in support of: an immediate ceasefire; the opening of land, sea,and air borders to allow in emergency supplies; and an end to USfinancial and political support for Israel.

“For the past sixty years, Israel has tried to eliminate thePalestinian people by forcing them out of their homes and off theirlands, starving them, and killing them,” said Maria Poblet, animmigrants’ rights organizer. “The recent blockades and attacks inGaza are not an exception, but a brutal reminder that killing civiliansis a regular part of Israeli strategy.”

Linked arm in arm, Bay Area Jews, Palestinians and social-justiceactivists aim to increase pressure on Israel and its supporters in theface of the 21-day siege on Gaza and the growing humanitarian crisis. All nine activists were arrested after about two hours, charged withtrespassing, and allowed to leave. This action is one in a series thathas moved from Toronto, to New York, to Los Angeles.

Organizers assert that the current situation in Gaza is not a conflictbetween two peoples of equivalent capacities, nor is Israel’s motiveself-defense. “For the past year and a half, Israel has enactedstrangling sanctions under the guise of targeting Hamas, collectivelystarving the entire population of food, water, medicine, and othervital resources,” stated Monadel Herzallah of the United StatesPalestinian Community Network. “The recent air and ground strikes areanother brutal blow to Gazans who are already trapped in aconcentration camp of despair and growing poverty.”

Activists also spoke out against the US pledge of more than $3 billioneach year in unrestricted aid to Israel. “Israel’s use of US aid andmilitary equipment violates our own laws. We can choose to uphold USand international laws, or ignore them as we are now doing at the perilof our conscience and our place among all of humanity,” said NadeenElshorafa of the General Union of Palestinian Students.

Organizer Sara Kershnar of the International Jewish anti-ZionistNetwork summed up the sentiment: “Today, as Palestinians, Jews, and ourunited allies, we make our position clear: we are on one side, the sideof justice; Israel, an apartheid state, is on the other.”

Press Coverage (so far):

San Francisco Chronicle
ABC 7 / KGO-TV (video)
KCBS (audio)
KTVU
KCBS
CBS 5 / KPIX-TV (raw video)
CBS 5
IndyMedia (and here) (and here) (and here)
MondoWeiss
Democracy Now! Headlines
KPFA Living Room
3Arabawy
Jews Sans Frontieres
Monthly Review
Community Labor News
The Muslim News (UK)
SFist
Dream Not of Today
Media Mouse
Pirate Cat Radio

Supporters

Nadeen
arrests
More photos available here.

Stay tuned for media coverage and video.

For more information about IJAN in the bay area, contact bay.ijsn@gmail.com.

Jews Shut Down Israeli Consulate for 3 Hours

Earlythis morning, Jewish activists in a historic first in Los Angeles,chained themselves to the entrance of the Israeli Consulate and blockedthe driveway to the parking structure, blocking all traffic in and outof the building. "We sent a clear message to the world that LA Jews are part of the global majority in opposition to the Israeli siege of Gaza," said Lenny Potash a 72-year old protester who was cuffed to eight other activists, blocking the driveway to the consulate. The activists were joined by 50 other supporters and who chanted "LA Jews say, End the Siege of Gaza" and "Not in Our Name! We will Not be Silent!" Protesters also held up signs reading "Israeli Consulate: Closed for War Crimes."

"Wesucceeded today in letting Jews and other Americans of conscience knowthat it is safe to speak out against the policies of the Israeligovernment and that the Israeli lobby does not speak for everyone,"said Robin Ellis, a Registered Nurse who also risked arrest to blockthe consulate entrance. "We are committed to escalating non-violentactivities in the future to end the siege and win justice forPalestinians," Ellis said.

The group of activists were an ad-hoc,multi-generational group of LA Jewish residents, including members ofthe recently founded International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network. They shared a commitment to ending the Israelisiege on Gaza and an end to Israeli apartheid. The demonstration willkick off a wave of demonstrations across the United States unitingPalestinians, Jewish people, and other Americans outraged by the siege.

"Weare shocked and outraged at Israeli's latest act of violent aggressionagainst the Palestinian people. Killing over 950 people, including 250women and children, bombing schools and mosques and then calling itself-defense—that is the worst kind of hypocrisy. It also amounts towar crimes," said Hannah Howard, a local member of the InternationalJewish Anti-Zionist Network. "We shut down the Israeli consulate todaybecause as Jewish people we cannot allow business as usual whileviolence is being done in our name."

Action participants alsospoke out against the US government's unconditional support forIsrael's siege and its ongoing war against the Palestinian people."While US-funded F16's rain down bombs on the people of Gaza, ourelected officials locally and nationally offer unqualified support."said Marsha Steinberg, a retired union representative. "Our governmentmust stop sending billions of dollars in military and economic aid tothe Israeli war machine," Goldberg said. In the coming week, concernedAmericans from all backgrounds will call on the new Presidentialadministration to make a 180 degree change in policy.

A short video produced by members of IJAN:

Click here for raw and edited video footage and photographs.

Press Coverage so far:

For background information on the situation in Gaza, click here:

US Activists Take Action in Solidarity with People of Gaza

On Sunday, December 28,2008, at 7:00 P.M. we held a vigil in solidarity with the people of Gaza. Over 200 people, Muslims, Jews & Christians attended. This vigil, called on short notice, earlier today, was organized by the St. Louis Instead of War Coalition & St. Louis Women in Black.