Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign
التضامن الإيرلندي الفلسطيني

Settlements

EU governments must ban trade with illegal Israeli settlements say major European trade unions

34 European trade union organisations representing millions of workers have written to the European Commission and European governments demanding a ban on trade with illegal Israeli settlements in Palestine. The signatories include nine trade union groups based in Ireland: the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU); Fórsa; the Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance (NIPSA); Mandate; the Communications Workers Union (CWU), Unison NI, Unite the Union, and both Belfast and Derry Trade Union Councils. The EU considers Israeli settlements as illegal under international law, however it allows Israel to export large quantities of products produced or partly produced in illegal Israeli … Continue reading

Take Action: Tell AXA to Divest from Israeli Apartheid!

Earlier today, SumOfUs published the report “AXA: Financing War Crimes” which shows that the French insurance giant AXA invests over $91 million in Israel’s largest private security and military company, Elbit Systems, and Israel’s five main banks, which operate in and serve Israel’s illegal settlements. Elbit Systems, Bank Hapoalim, Bank Leumi, Mizrahi Tefahot, First International Bank of Israel and Israel Discount Bank all support Israel’s illegal settlements and associated infrastructure, in addition to the unlawful use of armed force against Palestinians. This makes AXA complicit in serious violations of international law. It also violates AXA’s own responsible investment policies. Send … Continue reading

#DeactivateAirbnb: Join to campaign the deactivate Airbnb accounts on Nakba Day, 15th May

Airbnb just did the worst thing. After announcing they’d ban vacation rentals in illegal Israeli settlements from their platform, Airbnb did a complete reversal and will continue to allow rental suites on the ruins of Palestinian lives and land. This is Palestinian land that Palestinians are not allowed to enter, but Airbnb has decided they’re ok helping everyone else going to this stolen land for their vacations. This is a despicable decision, and we’re going to show them what we think of this with a Deactivate Airbnb day of action. We’ll take action on May 15th, Nakba Day – a day … Continue reading

Irish Day of Action: Boycott Puma – Sponsor of Apartheid Israel (25-26 Oct)

Answering the Palestinian call for a global day of action, the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign and other groups will be holding a series of actions around Ireland on the 25th and 26th October 2019. We are calling for a boycott of Puma due to their continued sponsorship of the Football Association of Apartheid Israel. The Israeli FA allows teams based in Israel’s colonial settlements in occupied Palestine to be members, despite the illegality of these settlements. Puma claims to care about human rights, but its actions prove that it doesn’t. We need to send a message to Puma that their enabling … Continue reading

Eurovision: 7000-strong petition asks Sarah McTernan to boycott song contest in Apartheid Israel as Galway City Council passes motion

A petition signed by over 7,000 people which asks Ireland’s Eurovision entrant Sarah McTernan to pull out of the song contest in Apartheid Israel this week has been delivered to the singer ahead of her scheduled appearance in this Thursday’s semi-final. The signatures were collected online and on the streets over the past two months. The delivery comes a day after Galway City Council passed a motion supporting calls for a boycott of the controversial contest, noting that “it will be openly used for political and militaristic propaganda purposes”. Galway is the third local council to make such a call, … Continue reading

Eurovision: RTÉ to broadcast Israeli settlement propaganda while acts to perform for Israeli soldiers

The Irish Campaign to Boycott Eurovision 2019 in Israel has learned the shocking news that the Israeli state broadcaster KAN, which is hosting the Eurovision song contest in May, will reserve 500 rehearsal tickets for Israeli soldiers. This despite the competition being billed by the EBU and RTÉ as “a non-political music event”. Furthermore, in an example showing just how political and propagandistic Israel’s hosting of Eurovision is, it was revealed that the locations on the “visual postcards” which RTÉ will broadcast between acts will feature the occupied Golan Heights among other places, likely including the Old City in Palestinian … Continue reading

Watch: Palestinian Freedom Conference – Overcoming the Ongoing Nakba (Dublin, May 2018)

On 12th and 23th May 2018, to mark the 70th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba, the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Trade Union Friends of Palestine and BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights were honoured to host an inspiring and action-focused weekend of talks from important voices in the Palestinian struggle for Freedom, Justice and Equality. Speakers over the course of two days included Omar Barghouti, Haneen Zoabi, Ali Abunimah, John Reynolds, Sahar Francis, Lubnah Shomali, Shir Hever, Mona El Farra, Jamal Juma’, Eitan Bronstein Aparicio, Fatin Al Tamimi and Eamon McMahon. Now we are pleased to present the … Continue reading

NUJ Dublin Broadcasting Branch commits to supporting members refusing to cover Eurovision Song Contest in Israel

The Irish Campaign to Boycott the Eurovision in 2019 in Israel welcomes the motion passed by the Dublin Broadcasting Branch of the NUJ on 29th January whereby it states it “will support any member, working in RTÉ or elsewhere, who chooses to exercise a conscientious objection towards involvement in coverage of the song contest.” The motion was passed by a large majority and represents a recognition that the Eurovision contest in Israel presents serious ethical issues for anyone who cares about human rights. We welcome this support for workers choosing not to participate in coverage of the contest, either in … Continue reading

Taoiseach’s double standards and Ireland’s human rights obligations re: Palestine and Israel

The following letter was sent to the Office of the Taoiseach in December 2018. Subject: Double Standards and Ireland’s human rights obligations re: Palestine and Israel On 13th November 2018 Richard Boyd Barrett TD asked Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to condemn Israeli acts of aggression in Gaza. These acts led to the deaths of 14 people – 12 of them at the hands of Israeli forces.  Amongst widespread Israeli bombing, a TV station was destroyed, a university building and  human rights centre damaged.  Clear attacks on civilian infrastructure against the laws of war. Unfortunately, instead of condemning these acts, the Taoiseach … Continue reading

RTÉ asked to support call for ban on Eurovision broadcast in illegal Israeli settlements

On Thursday 6th December, to coincide with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU)’s General Assembly, the Irish Campaign to Boycott the Eurovision in Apartheid Israel 2019 wrote to the Director General of RTÉ, Dee Forbes, Rory Coveney, Strategic Advisor to the Director General, and Michael Kealy, Head of RTÉ’s delegation for Eurovision, asking them to call on the EBU not to broadcast any Eurovision events into Israel’s illegal settlements in occupied Palestine. The international campaign, acting in solidarity with Palestinian civil society, has widespread support with over 30,000 people signing a European-wide petition demanding the Eurovision not be held in Israel. … Continue reading

Frances Black Speaking Tour: Ireland Must Act on Palestine (Nov 5 – 19)

Independent Senator Frances Black is touring around Ireland in November to speak about her recent visit to Palestine, the people she met, and the concrete steps Ireland can take against the ongoing injustice – including her Occupied Territories Bill 2018. DATES & VENUES: NAAS: Monday 5th November – Details Here GALWAY: Tuesday 6th November – Details Here NENAGH: Monday 12th November – Details Here CORK: Thursday 15th November – Details Here LIMERICK: (With Niall Collins TD) Monday 19th November – Details Here The bill would end trade between Ireland & Israel’s illegal settlements, and passed a historic first vote in … Continue reading

Palestinian Great Return March organisers thank Irish Seanad for historic vote for justice

Besieged Gaza—Occupied Palestine—20.7.2018: The Legal affairs and International Communication Committee of the Great March of Return and Breaking the Siege highly appreciates and values the step taken by Seanad Éireann for voting positively on the bill to ban products from illegal Israeli settlements. The committee would like to express sincere appreciation and thanks to Senator Frances Black for proposing and working so tirelessly on this bill; and also to Fianna Fáil, Sinn Fein, the Labour Party, the Green Party and the Independents in Seanad Éireann and would clearly state that their support and solidarity shall not be forgotten. The committee … Continue reading

YOU DID IT! Irish Seanad votes in favour of Occupied Territories Bill!

The Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign welcomed today’s Seanad vote (25 in favour, 20 against) in support of Frances Black’s ‘Control of Economic Activities (Occupied Territories) Bill. All parties and most independents in Seanad Eireann, with the exception of the governing party Fine Gael, voted to refer the Bill to the committee stage, the next stage in the process of making a Bill into law. The Bill, if it becomes law, will would prohibit the importation of goods or services from illegal settlements in occupied territories, including Israel’s settlements in Palestine which violate the Geneva Conventions. (Note: If you haven’t yet thanked … Continue reading

Take action to thank politicians supporting the Occupied Territories Bill

We received some absolutely huge news this week as Fianna Fail announced its intention to support Sen. Frances Black’s bill to ban trade with Israel’s illegal settlements in Palestine. This shift of position is a result of the lobbying carried out by all of you – a real victory for people power! – so we would like to sincerely thank you. With Fianna Fail’s support, this bill will pass in the Seanad, moving on to the committee stage – this will be an historic first step in outlawing the profiteering from the proceeds of illegally colonised land. Those who have … Continue reading

Take one important action: urge Fianna Fail to support Frances Black’s bill banning Israeli settlement goods

On July 11th, the Irish Seanad will be presented with a unique opportunity for Ireland to be at the forefront of ensuring international law is respected and states, including Israel, do not profit from the occupation of other countries. Sen. Frances Black’s Control of Economic Activities (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018 seeks to prohibit the import and sale of goods, services and natural resources originating in illegal settlements in occupied territories. It is imperative that people use this rare opportunity to lobby Senators and local TDs, especially Fianna Fail representatives. Fianna Fail hold the key – let’s get them to use it to … Continue reading

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