Demonstrate against Israel's Occupation on June 4th

national | miscellaneous | event notice Saturday May 21, 2005 14:30 by Síun - Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign supportpalestine at ireland dot com PO Box 9124, Dublin 1 01 677 0253

Demand Justice for Palestine

National Demonstration for Justice for Palestine

on the occasion of the Ireland/Israel match in Lansdowne Road

Saturday 4th June

Assemble 3pm Central Bank, Dame St
followed by march to Israeli Embassy

On June 4th Israel plays Ireland at Lansdowne Road. The Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign believes we should use this major sporting occasion to call for justice for Palestine.

June 5th marks the 38th anniversary of Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, Gaza Strip & East Jerusalem. Since then, Palestinians have endured a brutal military occupation which has caused the deaths, in the past 4 years alone, of over 3,600 Palestinians.

We are asking you to show your support for justice and freedom on June 4th by:

joining the demonstration and march to the Israeli Embassy that day

bringing Palestinian flags & banners to the match if you are going

FACTS

In the past 4 years, 650 Palestinian children have been killed by Israeli soldiers, including 3 boys shot last month while playing football

Over 60,000 Palestinians have been made homeless as Israeli authorities have demolished their homes

87 Palestinians, including children and pregnant women, have died at checkpoints after being denied passage to hospitals. In the last 3 years, 52 women have given birth at checkpoints

8,814 Palestinians, including some 300 children, are currently imprisoned in Israeli jails & detention centres

75% of Palestinians in the Occupied Territories live on less than $2 per day

390,000 Israeli settlers live illegally on Palestinian land


APARTHEID ISRAEL

Despite Israel’s reputation as the Middle East’s only democracy, it continues to discriminate against its Palestinian citizens (known as Israeli-Arabs). Palestinians living in Israel are given lower child benefits than other Israeli citizens. They are prevented from living in 93% of Israel and are denied the right to bring their spouse or children from the West Bank or Gaza to live with them.


RACISM IN ISRAELI SOCCER

The Israeli Government counters charges of racism and ill-treatment of Palestinians by pointing to the inclusion of three Palestinian (Arab-Israeli) players in the national team. They do not say however, that these team members are subjected to vile racist taunting by sections of Israeli supporters. “Death to the Arabs” has been chanted at Israeli league matches.


RESTRICTIONS ON PALESTINIAN SOCCER TEAM

Israeli authorities regularly prevent Palestinian players from attending international games. In September 2004, 5 players were prevented from travelling to the World Cup Qualifier against Uzbekistan. Players are regularly detained at checkpoints and prevented from getting to training.


POLITICS & SPORT

Some people believe that politics and sport should never mix. We argue that the two are inseparable. The recent Israel/Ireland match in Tel Aviv was used by the Israeli Government to deflect attention from its illegal wall & programme of settlement expansion. We should use the upcoming game to show Israel that Irish people believe in justice and support freedom for Palestine.
During the 1970s and 80s, Irish sporting fans showed their opposition to Apartheid by boycotting sporting events with South Africa. We are asking you to show that same solidarity with Palestine today by joining us on June 4th and calling for an end to 38 years of occupation.


Join the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign
PO Box 9124, Dublin 1
01 677 0253
www.ipsc.ie
[email protected]

More info …
www.ipsc.ie
www.electronicintifada.net
www.btselem.org
www.alhaq.org
www.palestinemonitor.org