From November 5 - 7 the Russell Tribunal on Palestine will be broadcast live on the internet. Live proceedings will be embedded on the Russell Tribunal on Palestine website. Here is the programme: Third International Session of the Russell Tribunal on Palestine Are Israel practices against the Palestinian People in breach of the prohibition on Apartheid under International Law? Cape Town, 5-7 November 2011 District Six Museum Jury Members: Stéphane Hessel, Gisèle Halimi, Ronnie Kasrils, Mairead Maguire, Michael Mansfield, Antonio Martin Pallin, Cynthia McKinney, Aminata Traoré, Yasmin Sooka and Alice Walker. Saturday 5 November – Day One
Setting the Legal Context: The Palestinian Right to Self-Determination
Apartheid Apartheid in South Africa, and the Prohibition of Apartheid in International Law
11.45 Coffee Break The Law and Practice of Apartheid in South Africa and Palestine
Elements of the Definition of Apartheid: Racial Groups under International Law
13.05 Lunch
Elements of the Definition of Apartheid: an institutionalized regime of systematic domination
Acts of apartheid
16.00 Coffee Break
Acts of apartheid: Exploitation of labour of members of a racial group or groups
End of Day One Sunday 6 November – Day Two
Acts of apartheid (continued)
11.30 Coffee Break Acts of apartheid: Measures designed to divide the population along racial lines
Acts of apartheid: Persecution of organizations and persons, by depriving them of fundamental rights and freedoms, because they oppose apartheid
13.15 Lunch Persecution
16.10 Coffee Break Presentation by Israeli Government
Third Party Responsibility and Remedies
End of Day Two Monday 7 November – Day Three Press Conference Cape Town The Homecoming Centre
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Sunday, 30 October 2011
RUSSELL TRIBUNAL on PALESTINE Livestreaming 5-6 November 2011
Thursday, 27 October 2011
Swingin’ Swingers on a Monday night......
Monday nights seem to be a popular time to start the week right, with cool jazz sounds to mellow into some unknowns of that week ahead.For almost 20 years now, one Monday night jazz jam has consistently thrilled the jazz freaks – both local and visiting – at a local club in the Wetton community of Cape Town. This unmarked building is called ‘Swingers’, operates other types of entertainment during the week and on weekends (i.e. DJs, karioki, other concerts), and could be hard to find if the person giving directions to some eager soul goofs up. Swingers is actually just off Wetton Road east of Wynberg and east of the M5 highway, tel 021-762-2443.
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| Errol Dyers (guitar); Buddy Wells (sax); Marcus Wyatt (trumpet) - 2011 |
Guitarist Alvin Dyers and his band start off these marvelous evenings with a 45 minutes set, from 10pm onwards, after which other musicians that turn up can come to the stage. Often, the mix of jammers are of different ages and abilities, many being university students and graduates of music. The mix is as rainbow as is the audience, composed of all racial groups of South Africa, with the occasional non-South African visiting musician or tourist or permanent resident rucking up for the festivities. One just never knows who’s going to show up, which is part of the evening’s fun. Holidays mean families and friends bring themselves to swell the floor stomping jazz enthusiast numbers to this 200 + seating venue. Swingers has the ground floor tables decorated with candles, usually attracting more of the avid listeners. Then for the noisier types, an open upstairs caters to other crowds. A room behind the stage is where the musicians prepare for their performance, deciding what songs to play and how they will present the two songs they are allowed to play collectively. The multi-instrumentalists get to play several times, especially when the virtuoso move between drums on one song to trumpet on another song!
By 1am, when many listeners have left because they have to get up at 6am to get ready for work, the young ones take over. This is their chance to jam, make a myriad of mistakes, even play awfully, without critics in their midst. Listeners are usually too inebriated or just plain tired to care! If you’re new to the venue, you will probably not leave the evening without having made a friend at your table, ‘cause that’s the way the ambiance is. People talk to each other, and share their enthusiasm for the various surprises they hear. You can even amble up to a musician and chat a bit, unassumably. They always love an appreciative audience.
Swinger’s cuisine isn’t bad, either. Several dishes on the menu provide either a substantial dinner or nibble, the curried lamb being a favourite among many.
So for 2-3 hours, depending on your listening and pocket budget, the Monday Night Jazz Jam offers something for everyone....even if you don’t like jazz. It’s the vibe and friendliness of the place that makes an evening worthy, over and over again.
Thursday, 13 October 2011
South African Parliamentary Committee briefed on Palestine Statehood Bid
Held on Wednesday, 12 October 2011 in Cape Town
INTRODUCTION
The Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation, chaired by Mr. Tiseto Magama, MP, met on Wednesday, 12 October, for a briefing by the Palestinian Representative, the Israeli Ambassador to South Africa, and the Egyptian Community in South Africa on the issue of the Palestinian bid for full membership at the United Nations. The Committee member turnout was poor ; the representatives from the Palestinian Authority and the Israel Ambassador to South Africa did not pitch up. Other attendees prepared to give testimony were three local NGOs supporting the Palestinian cause: Open Shahada Street, ECOSA (Egyptian Community of South Africa) and COSATU’s Palestinian solidarity wing.
If anything was achieved, five former South African Ecumenical Accompaniers (EAs) in the West Bank attended. This group, led by Terry Crawford-Browne, briefed the Chairperson briefly about the EAPPI program, but more persuasively about the upcoming Russell Tribunal on Palestine (RToP) and the need for his Committee members from Parliament to attend this two-day Tribunal. Essentially, the EAPPI Cape Town has become a ‘stakeholder’ vis a vis future consultations with government on the Palestinian issue!
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| L-R: EAs Jeremy Routledge, Richard Cogill, Terry Crawford-Browne, Luleka Nyhila, Carol Martin |
Missing, but key invitees, were the representatives (Ambassador of Israel to RSA, and the Palestine Representative) who were necessary for presenting any informational debate of substance! So like talked to like, basically. The usual chimes of well-worn arguments of end the occupation, negotiate conditions for peace before peace is made, etc. were put forward by the stakeholders. The Israeli representative did not pitch because his invitation to attend was sent a day “before the Jewish holiday”, thereby arriving too “late” to his office to make a decision on attending. However, his office did say his Deputy Ambassador was “available”. Then a separate invitation was sent to the Deputy Ambassador who declined to attend because the invitation arrived only “two days” before the event. Therefore, another “too short notice”.
PROCEEDINGS
The Chair considered this a “breakdown of communication” and gave one conclusion: that Israel is not doing itself a favour as it has been given an opportunity to respond to a discussion. Other points raised:
1. How does the recent prison release swap of one Israeli for 1,027 Palestinian prisoners impact on the Palestinian State solution? A Palestinian State, which is a lasting solution, is more important to South Africa than a prisoner swap.
2. The Friends of Israel had sent a letter to COSATU, but did not come to this Committee meeting. However, the Chairperson replied that he never received any memorandum from the Friends about their attendance.
The COSATU representative gave perspectives beginning and ending with: “An injury to one is an injury to all”:
1. The PLO is looking to RSA for guidance
2. A number of South African reps have traveled to and through the Palestine ‘bantustans’ and feel Parliament must back Palestine’s self-development by advocating for the end of the Occupation.
3. Recognition at the UN for statehood is only part of the struggle: There are seven basic principles to uphold, which include ending the Occupation and dismantling the Wall; respect for the Palestinians’ right to return to their former homes; recognition of the rights of all Palestinians to full equality under a fair justice system; and ending the blockade on Gaza.
4. Suggestion that Parliament set up a task team to hammer out details of South Africa’s support, based on the above seven pre-conditions.
5. Intensify pressure to end the Occupation through the Boycott, Divestiture, and Sanctions (BDS) campaign which, in turn, must address the “US hypocracy and double-standards” in its voting and veto powers at the UN. There have been todate 41 vetoes by the US in support of Israel.
Mr. Mohamed Haed of the Egyptian Community of South Africa (ECOSA) gave an impassioned speech which quoted Mandela, Archbishop Tutu, and the 2007 HSRC Report, encouraging all to read the executive summary of this 300 page report, “Occupation, Colonialism, Apartheid?” Other points:
1. The ‘should’ in UN Resolution 242 (Nov 1967) was not recognized by Israel. Rather, the wording should have been ‘must’.
2. During Israel’s own admission to the UN, the Resolution governing that had asked nations to have a “sympathetic consideration” to such entry as a State.
3. 75% of the world’s population in 128 countries now recognize Palestine. “But it’s all a damn political game!” said Mohamed. Palestine had all the prerequisites for Statehood according to UN conditions and Mandate of 1933.
4. In April 2011, the IMF declared Palestine able to perform as a “well-functioning state”. Statehood of Palestine does not delegitimize the state of Israel.
Zackie Ackmat and his team represented the NGO, Open Shahada Street with these points:
1. OSS supports the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as the Capitol, is against all forms of violence and racism.
2. The Ahava campaign is part of the BDS, particularly against the Wellness Warehouse in Cape Town.
3. Calls for Parliament to consider the internationally recognized law that products from the Occupied territory must be labeled as such, and not as ‘products of Israel’.
4. Zackie is donating to the Committee parliamentarians the book, “The Unspoken Alliance” about the Israel Defense Force’s collaboration with the South African Defense Force during apartheid.
5. The West Bank village of Nabisaleh (?) of 500 people has a nearby settlement of 1000 people who have taken over a well used by the village. During the Palestinians’ protest, 78 people (out of 500) were arrested by the IDF, who had raided homes and photographed every male child.
6. The Oslo accords allowed the IDF to control 80% of the West Bank lands.
7. Personal view is that Palestinian children have the right to remain silent when arrested and that Palestinians must be taught aspects of self-defense, like this.
8. The OSS makes these requests to the Committee:
8.1 call the European Union to not vote against Palestine statehood in the UN.
8.2 call the African Union to vote as a group, and not for instance as separate countries, i.e. Nigeria and Gabon which are not yet committed to a ‘yes’ vote.
8.3 Parliament MUST debate questions about the BDS, i.e. ask the Ministry of Trade and Industry to demand that proper labeling of goods from illegally occupied territories, like the West Bank, be adhered to. This notice must become law in RSA.
8.4 ask the South African Ambassador to Israel and the South African Representative to the Palestine Authority to show solidarity for arrested Palestinians by making visits to them.
8.5 organize solidarity visits with Palestinians with such groups as Breaking the Silence and other Israeli peace groups working in the West Bank (like Bt’selem NGO).
8.6 Regarding the Russell Tribunal on Palestine in November, OSS encourages Committee attendance, including the Chairperson.
A Palestinian (from Jenin, currently finishing his Ph.D. at UCT) representing the statehood cause made the following points:
1. It is necessary to highlight the Jewish terrorists who harass, maim, and kill innocent Palestinians in the West Bank, as well as in Gaza in 2008 for 22 days war by the IDF.
2. The education sector is very important, siting his own example of being able to study in South African institutions. South Africa is requested to facilitate more Palestinians to come for study in RSA.
Various Committee MPs gave responses:
Smuts N.: RSA’s position on the Palestinian question is based on our own struggle. According to our Constitution, our government cannot waiver on matters of violence; we must call on the stop of all killings. The Committee should also make time to reflect on the stakeholders’ evidence and consider “assisting the players at the ground level”. Also, the government “has to listen to the other side (Israeli) in order to move forward”.
Another MP: RSA supports a 2-state solution, but criticizes the Quartet for delaying negotiations. Also, he decries the Palestinian’s lack of unity, and that this disunity (between the PA and Hamas) is being used by others to move way from negotiations.
The MP spokesperson for the ACDP: a “unilateral approach to statehood (i.e. via the UN) violates a solution”; Israel and Palestine, rather, must be called back to the table of negotiations. The UN Resolutions have consistently refused “unilateral action”. [Later, someone made the correction that the UN is not a ‘unilateral’ body, but a ‘multilateral’ one, and that the term ‘unilateral’ is being misused by the MP!] The ACDP supports a 2-state solution, and says that Israel has offered its concessions. Yet, Hamas continues to support violence towards Israel.
Ms. September, MP, says: Even South Africa had to apply several times to the UN for membership! She recommended that there should be a public debate to which ALL parties are invited, including Israeli reps. This Portfolio Committee should bring the debate to the wider Parliament, and go to the IPU for votes. Also, the BDS campaign should approach the Intellectual Property committee, rather than just pressure the Trade and Industry groups.
CHAIR CONCLUSIONS
The Chairperson Mr. Magama made the following conclusions:
1. This Palestinian issue has been a protracted moral issue for so long! Strategic concessions are needed:
2. He is convinced that Parliament needs more debate, particularly WITH both Palestinian and Israeli representatives.
3. He will submit a report of this briefing to the House for action.
The meeting opened at 14.25 and closed at 16.15.
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The three EAs then briefed the Chairperson about the RToP, as mentioned above in the Introduction.
Monday, 10 October 2011
Getting the Truth out re Settlements in West Bank........
My Comment published in Sunday Independent, Page 18, on 9 October 2011, to Marthie's article, reads:
I applaud Sunday Independent for publishing Marthie Momberg’s article
“Settlements in the West Bank: Peace, or piece by piece?” in the 2 October
2011 issue. I, too, just served three months as an EA in the West Bank
village of Jayyus. We internationals walk and talk with Palestinians at the
grassroots level. I personally stalked and watched Israel Defence Force
(IDF) army jeeps with their 20 soldiers visit homes in Jayyus as they
interrogate particularly young men, sometimes children below age 18. I sat
with those families afterwards, as they weeped bloody anger at such soldier
incursions, often occurring between 1-4am in the morning . If a young man
was ‘taken away’, families rarely were told where their children were taken.
Weeks later, they were granted a ‘permit’ to visit the prison, usually near
the largest West Bank city of Nablus. But part of the psychological
harrassment included the military taking away the father’s work permit to
work in Israel!
I wrote another article about other Palestinian woes, like their land
confiscated in the ‘military zone’ of Area C whereby the Israeli government
maintains total control [in order to protect its immigrant settlers from
angry Arabs wanting their land back!]. This was just another unfortunate
result of the apartheid-styled ‘land for peace’ swaps of the relatively
defunct Oslo Accords of the mid-1990’s.
I applaud Sunday Independent for publishing Marthie Momberg’s article
“Settlements in the West Bank: Peace, or piece by piece?” in the 2 October
2011 issue. I, too, just served three months as an EA in the West Bank
village of Jayyus. We internationals walk and talk with Palestinians at the
grassroots level. I personally stalked and watched Israel Defence Force
(IDF) army jeeps with their 20 soldiers visit homes in Jayyus as they
interrogate particularly young men, sometimes children below age 18. I sat
with those families afterwards, as they weeped bloody anger at such soldier
incursions, often occurring between 1-4am in the morning . If a young man
was ‘taken away’, families rarely were told where their children were taken.
Weeks later, they were granted a ‘permit’ to visit the prison, usually near
the largest West Bank city of Nablus. But part of the psychological
harrassment included the military taking away the father’s work permit to
work in Israel!
I wrote another article about other Palestinian woes, like their land
confiscated in the ‘military zone’ of Area C whereby the Israeli government
maintains total control [in order to protect its immigrant settlers from
angry Arabs wanting their land back!]. This was just another unfortunate
result of the apartheid-styled ‘land for peace’ swaps of the relatively
defunct Oslo Accords of the mid-1990’s.
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Wednesday, 5 October 2011
La Palestine Lutta Continua........
Well……I’m back home after three months as an ‘Ecumenical Accompanier’ in the Qalqiliya District of the West Bank/Palestine. This program of the World Council of Churches, supporting South African EAs to serve in Palestine since 2002 [through the South African Council of Churches], as well as some other 14-15 country participants, has experienced a welcomed attention from Muslim and Christian Palestinian communities where EAs live and work. My village of Jayyus, with some 4000 souls trying to eek out a living through olive and fruit tree farming, offered me and my three other EAs an unending hospitality.
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| Me at my Jayyus house sign about EAPPI - courtesy of Municipality |
I monitored ‘agriculture gates’ through which farmers must pass, with permits shown to Israeli Defense Force (IDF) soldiers….because farmers’ lands are on the other side of a barrier fence built to ‘protect’ expanding Jewish settlements! I also stalked IDF army vehicles as they entered villages to interrogate young men suspected of ‘terrorist’ acts, such as stone throwing. Often, families suffered night time arrests of their younger males by these incursions. Human rights violations? Yes. No charges given. No ‘warrants of arrest’. No information exchanged with families as to the whereabouts of their incarcerated members. Children under age 18 years taken away from their homes, violating child rights and parental rights to protection. The list is looonnnng.
Now, I’m roped in as a volunteer with the upcoming Russell Tribunal on Palestine (RToP), taking place at Cape Town’s infamous District Six Museum on 5-6 November 2011. This will be controversial: to consider Israeli apartheid as a crime against humanity. OR…..the official title:
TO HELP TO DETERMINE IF TREATMENT OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE BY ISRAEL MEETS CRITERIA OF THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION AGAINST THE CRIME OF APARTHEID
What are the consequences for Israel-Palestine and the international community?
The RT held a session in Barcelona in March 2010 – its ‘people’s jury’ made decisions on the complicity of the European Union and its member states in not holding Israel accountable to the UN Charter, Geneva Conventions and other instruments of international law. Then in London in November 2010 another Tribunal session ruled on international corporate complicity in profiteering from Israel’s illegal Occupation in the West bank, pointing fingers at such conglomerates as Caterpillar, Veolia, the bank industry, etc. The fourth Tribunal will be in the United States next year on the complicity of the US and UN in not holding Israel accountable to UN decisions and resolutions on Palestine.
So, the purpose of the Cape Town session in November is not only to make the apartheid connections, but also to get the Palestine story into the mainstream international media – eg. the New York Times and Washington Post - ahead of next year's US session.
The jury of the Russell Tribunal on Palestine is composed of international personalities known for their actions and moral integrity, and include:
Ronnie Kasrils, former South African government minister, writer and activist; Michael Mansfield, British barrister; Jose Antonio Martin Pallin, emeritus judge of the Spanish Supreme Court; Cynthia McKinney former member of the US Congress.
Stay tuned on my blog, as well at www.russelltribunalonpalestine.com
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