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civil society reaffirms its support for Palestinian militants

http://www.rebelion.org/noticia.php?id=117525

BDS Department of Middle East Monitor translated for Rebelión by Loles Oliván

The Palestinian National Committee for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (CNB) urged the French government to immediately cease all anti-democratic and repressive measures against its own citizens of conscience promote or participate in non-violent campaigns of boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel until it complies with international law. The CNB also urges France to respect its own legal obligations under international law to end its role as the main supplier of military equipment to Israel in the EU, and take further measures, including sanctions, to end the illegal occupation regime, colonialism and apartheid in Israel on the Palestinian people.

The Campaign for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) is an effective, legally and morally nonviolent whose need has been confirmed not only by Palestinian civil society, but also by independent lawyers and human rights experts of the UN. The CNB reaffirms unwavering support for persecuted French militants and called on people of conscience and the BDS movement everywhere to redouble their support for those facing the shameful state repression. October 14, after a large demonstration outside the courtroom and a global display of solidarity with the accused supporters of BDS, a French court dismissed charges of "incitement to discrimination, hatred and violence "against Senator Alima Bumediene-Thiery and prominent activist Omar Slaouti, after participating in activities to promote the boycott of Israel [1]. However, the following week imposed a fine of one thousand euros against activist Sakina Arnaud to put a sticker of "Boycott Israel" on a carton of fruit juice

[2].

November 29, International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, no less than twelve French BDS activists will appear in court to face Mulshouse similar charges [3]. Other trials will be held in spring and summer of 2011. All charges against BDS activists have been brought by the State in response to complaints from pro-Israeli lobbies. The self

National Bureau of Vigilance Against Anti-Semitism . Stéphane Hessel, who survived a Nazi concentration camp and renowned diplomat who helped draft the Universal Declaration of Human Rights has also been sued by its explicit support for BDS [5] . The CNB has previously criticized French Prime Minister to make unfounded and inflammatory insinuations about the movement to boycott Israel

[6]
. According to activists, the police routinely asked the names and addresses of those who come to the manifestations of BDS.

Palestinian civil society, as widely represented on the CNB, shown astonished that the French state has let a senator to face criminal charges for exercising their basic democratic right to support, give voice and non-violent act in favor of Palestinian rights and freedoms repressed of its own citizens. This alarming state crackdown on a country's weight in France is a serious indication that, under pressure from Israel, some European governments are willing to suspend betraying democratic principles and civil rights when it comes to protecting crimes Israeli war and other violations of international law of censorship and accountability. This complicity in covering up of Israeli violations of international law is compounded by the cynical attempts by the French government to confuse the opposition to the policies of Israel, the occupying State and apartheid, to "hate" and "discrimination" against an ethnic or religious group . The global BDS campaign is based on the Palestinian Call for BDS 2005 that unequivocally opposes all forms of racism, including anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. BDS Palestinian movement has been campaigning with the highest moral integrity against the State of Israel because of its multifaceted system of oppression against the Palestinian people and its systematic violations International Law. In the BDS movement is no consideration whatsoever for the ethnicity, nationality, religion, sex or any other attribute of identity.

Following calls by activist groups and the CNB French, international BDS movement and civil society in general have given their full support and visible to the French movement of BDS. They have held demonstrations of solidarity with French embassies and major public areas in Scotland, Ireland, Italy and Sweden

[7] . Activists from throughout France and Belgium attended a demonstration outside the court in which Senator Alima Boumediene-Thiery and activist Omar Slauti were acquitted. Parliamentarians and activists from around the world sent messages of solidarity. The embassies of France received letters of complaint. French activists believe that this solidarity is an effective way of resistance against state repression.

why the CNB therefore calls upon people of conscience and the global movement for BDS:

• To organize the delivery of letters, petitions and demonstrations aimed at the French Embassy in your local area to protest against repression of basic civil rights.

• Include in their activities and videos to commemorate the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People visible forms of apoyo a los activistas franceses, por ejemplo, banderas y consignas utilizadas por la campaña francesa contra la represión estatal del BDS, tales como “Yo también boicoteo. Demándame” [8]. frenchsolidarity@bdsmovement. net felicitándoles por haberse comprometido a intensificar sus acciones.

• Enviar más mensajes de solidaridad y apoyo a los activistas franceses a través de

• Si ello es posible, intentar asistir a la manifestación de solidaridad ante el juzgado que verá la causa el 29 de noviembre en Mulhouse, al este de Francia [9].

El CNB exhorta asimismo al gobierno de Francia no sólo a que respete los derechos civiles y las obligaciones que le incumben en virtud del Derecho Internacional, sino a que aproveche el Día Internacional de Solidaridad con el Pueblo Palestino para condenar la violación sistemática por parte de Israel de los derechos inalienables del pueblo palestino, incluida la ejercida a través de su racismo institucionalizado contra los ciudadanos palestinos, la continua expansión de su empresa colonial, y la negación prolongada del derecho de los refugiados palestinos a regresar a sus hogares y propiedades. En este día, Francia debe cesar la cooperación militar con Israel y tomar nuevas medidas, incluidas sanciones, contra ese Estado, en lugar de perseguir a sus propios ciudadanos por defender universal principles of human rights.

BDS French militants, like their colleagues around the world, should be commended, not punished, for his defense of the slogans of the French Revolution freedom, equality

and fraternity, contributing to the struggle to end the Israeli occupation and legalized racial discrimination and firmly in fraternal solidarity with the Palestinian people in their struggle for self-determination, justice and equality for all. CNB Secretariat 1. Http://www.europalestine.com/

spip.php? Article5498

2. Please note that this case will be used to a higher court.

http://bdsfrance.org/index.

php? Option = com_content & view = article & id =

proces-bds-depart-groupe-pour-le-proces

& catid = 9: evenements - bds-france

Included in the twelve are the five members of "Boycott 68" that the statement of 9 September CNB meant to be brought before the court on 13 September. The case was adjourned.

4. Http://www.lepays.fr/fr/

article/3746719/Soutien-d- eurodeputes-a-des militants francais-oursuivis-pour-avoir- appele-au-boycott-d-Israel.

spip.php?article5418

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/

stephane-frederic-hessel/gaza- flotilla-global-citi_b_612865. html 6. http://bdsmovement.net/?q=
node/645
7.
http://www.scottishpsc.org.uk/

News/french-consulate-protest-

over-frances-political-show- trials-cases-spectacularly- thrown-out.html

http://www.indymedia.ie/

article/97868

http://www.europalestine.com/ spip.php?article5490 http://ism-sweden.org/page. php? Category = 0 & id = 654 8. See, eg http://bdsfrance.org/index.

php? Option = com_content & view = article & id =

188: videopetition- qmoi-aussi-je-boycott-q & catid = 1 9. Http://www.bdsfrance.org/ images / stories / pub / solidarité% 20bds% 2016% 202010.jpg 20nov%