Independent Jewish Voices Joins Call for Global Protest

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Independent Jewish Voices Joins Call for Global Protest

Calls for women of the world to unite behind the popular resistance of Palestinian women in defence of their land, rights and dignity

February 10, 2011

Independent Jewish Voices, a Canadian group of Jewish human rights activists, joins the call for a Global Day of Protest against the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land on Thursday, February 10. This marks the 40th day since the passing of Jawaher Abu Rahmah.

While the world was celebrating a new year, 34-year-old Jawaher died in a Ramallah hospital from the effects of having inhaled tear gas released by the Israeli army. On Friday, December 31, Jawaher participated in a peaceful protest against Israel's apartheid wall, which runs through her West Bank village, Bil'in, separating residents from their land and making it impossible for them to earn a livelihood. Jawaher had earlier witnessed her brother, Bassem, killed while participating in a similar protest two years ago, when Israeli military fatally shot him in the chest with a tear gas grenade. This experience didn't deter her from joining the protests. Rather, it served to intensify her determination to resist. When the clouds of Israeli tear gas reached her December 31, she was overcome and later died in hospital from its effects.

Every Friday for the past six years, residents of Bil'in and many other West Bank villages have demonstrated against the illegal confiscation of their lands and the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements. Jawaher is the latest victim of the escalating Israeli aggression that is attempting to suppress the popular resistance against the apartheid wall it has built across the West Bank.

Palestinian women are at the forefront of this resistance: in protests, at checkpoints, in meeting rooms, in homes and in Israeli jails. Generations of Palestinian women have led, joined and supported the Palestinian struggle, yet their contributions, sacrifices and efforts often go unacknowledged. Like Jawaher, they are beaten, harassed, humiliated, tortured and even killed by Israeli occupation forces.

Independent Jewish Voices affirms its solidarity with the people who are resisting the occupation by building the campaign for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS). The BDS campaign, which was launched in 2005 by more than 170 Palestinian organizations, is organizing to put pressure on Israel to end its human rights violations.

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Independent Jewish Voices - Canada is a national organization that promotes a just resolution to the conflict in Israel and Palestine through the application of international law and respect for the human rights of all parties. IJV has chapters in Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Hamilton, Winnipeg, Saskatoon and Vancouver.

For more information contact:
Miriam Garfinkle (Toronto)
Independent Jewish Voices
Phone: 416-897-0008
Website: www.independentjewishvoices.ca

Fabienne Presentey (Montreal)
Independent Jewish Voices
Phone: 514-825-4610
Website: www.independentjewishvoices.ca

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