This section includes online petitions from both MIFTAH as well as other organizations concerned with the Palestinian-Israeli and the Palestinian reality
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Petition Against the Israeli High Court of Justice’s Discriminatory Decision to Amend the Citizenship and Entry into Israel Law
On 14 May 2006, the Israeli High Court of Justice voted 6-5 in favor of an amendment to the Citizenship and Entry into Israel Law that bars family reunification for Israelis, particularly Palestinian-Israelis, married to Palestinians from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. This law affects tens of thousands of couples including Palestinian-Israelis inside the Green Line and in Jerusalem, who are also subject to Israeli law and who often marry Palestinians from inside the occupied territories. According to Amnesty International, the law violates the absolute prohibition on discrimination contained in international human rights law, notably several treaties which Israel has ratified and is obliged to uphold, including the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Israel is also violating the International Declaration of Human Rights. Article 16 of the Declaration states, “Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family,” and “The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.” In addition, The Convention on the Nationality of Married Women, to which Israel is party, requires signatory states to enable every foreign woman married to a citizen of the state to obtain the citizenship held by her husband, at her request, through special and preferred citizenship procedures. For Palestinian ID holders married to Israeli citizens or permanent residents of Jerusalem, this means they must either build their family outside of the country or choose to live “illegally” inside Israel, which subjects them to the constant threat of arrest, deportation and harassment. In addition, living illegally means they are not entitled to any rights of a resident/citizen and cannot therefore work, drive or conduct otherwise routine everyday actions. Hence, we the undersigned call on the relevant parties (the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process & Personal Representative of the Secretary General, the Middle East Quartet, the Israeli High Court of Justice, and the Office of the Israeli Prime Minister) to have this discriminatory law annulled, insomuch that it prohibits Palestinian families to live in peace and prosperity with their spouses inside Israel and Jerusalem and which contravenes all laws of humanity, which respect the sanctity of the family unit. This is especially true in regards to the right of children to be brought up in a stable home without the risk of deportation and harassment on the sole basis of nationality.
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Call to Repeal Israeli Discriminatory Citizenship Law
The following petition has been instituted by Mossawa, The Advocacy Center for Arab Citizens in Israel. Please consider signing the petition, and passint it on. To: All elected governments On July 31st, 2003, the Israeli Knesset passed the Nationality and Entry into Israel Law (Temporary Order) 2003 prohibiting citizenship, permanent residency and/or temporary residency status to West Bank/Gaza Palestinians married to Israeli citizens. Nearly all of the affected Israeli families are Arab. According to Israel's Ministry of Interior, the law, to be applied retroactively, will affect 21,298 families. The law also denies citizenship to children born of an Israeli citizen and resident of the Occupied Territories. Via special permission from Israel's Interior Minister children will be allowed to remain with their family in Israel until the age of 12, when the child will be uprooted and forced to leave the state. This law is considered a new level of human rights violations by the State of Israel, taking into consideration the 27 Arab citizens killed by Security Forces since October 2000 and the ongoing social, economic and political discrimination against Arab citizens. Israel's expressed security concerns related to a handful of cases, does not justify the collective punishment of over 100,000 innocent individuals. Civil rights attorneys point out that the law will not apply to settlers in the West Bank/Gaza. The Nationality and Entry into Israel Law (Temporary Order) 2003 violates Israel's commitment to the International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination's (ICERD) basic condemnation of racial discrimination described in articles 1, 2, and 3. The current law also relates to Article 5.d. (iv): "States Parties undertake to prohibit and to eliminate racial discrimination in all its forms and to guarantee the right of everyone, without distinction as to race, color, or national or ethnic origin, to equality before the law, notably in the enjoyment of the right to marriage and choice of spouse." The current law builds upon a series of attempts by the State to limit the number of Palestinians with Israeli citizenship. As of September 2000, the issuing of residence permits for Palestinian spouses has been effectively frozen. On May 12, 2002, the Israeli cabinet formalized and expanded this policy "in light of the security situation and because of the implications of the immigration and the establishment in Israel of foreigners of Palestinian descent" (Government Decision no. 1813). The bill highlights the "demographic debate" in Israeli society, characterized by questions of citizenship, immigration and fertility policy. Former Minister of Interior, Shas member Eli Yishai often presented his view that Arab families present "a demographic threat" to the maintenance of a Jewish majority in Israel. In 2002, Yishai reinstated the Demographic Council, a body charged with the goal of maintaining a demographic balance (i.e. a Jewish majority) in Israel. The Demographic Council recommended discouraging growth of families by cutting child-subsidies; at the same, it advocated the launching of programs encouraging Jewish births. Therefore, we the undersigned world citizens condemn the Israeli government's passage of the Nationality and Entry into Israel Law (Temporary Order) 2003 and the multiple human rights violations it represents. We call upon our elected leadership to continue expressing opposition to the law by taking steps towards suspension of economic relations with the State of Israel. Sincerely,
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Wall Petition
The National Initiative to Resist the Wall Dear Sir/Madame, On June 23rd 2002, Israel started the construction of what it calls a “security fence,” but what the world overwhelmingly recognizes as a “separation or colonization wall.” This wall is to be built in three phases and by the time it is finished, 55% of the West Bank would be captured. The West Bank which includes east Jerusalem makes up 22% of historical Palestine and along with Gaza is intended to form a future viable and independent state for the Palestinians is accordance with President Bush’s June 2001 vision of two states living side by side in peace. The construction of the “colonization wall” is a grave violation of human rights, international law, especially the Fourth Geneva Convention, and most importantly the international will. The Wall will seize the wealthiest Palestinian agricultural land and will manage to increase the area available for the development of illegal settlements built on privately owned Palestinian land. The Wall is designed to grant Israel control over the water resources which exist on the western and eastern sides of the West Bank. The western and eastern sides will become “security zones” providing linkage between the Green Line and the Jordan Valley while dividing the Palestinian urban areas and neighborhoods into isolated communities, which are completely surrounded by Israel. The myth that this wall separates Palestinians form Israelis needs to be addressed. In the first phase alone, the route of the wall moved into Palestinian territories some 20 kilometers at some points in order to incorporate illegal Jewish settlements built near the Green Line, while leaving 23 settlements, home to 196,000 Israeli settlers on the Palestinian side of the wall and inside the Jerusalem envelope. The already constructed northern part of the Wall has resulted in the uprooting of 83,000 trees, the damaging of 35,000 meters of irrigation networks and the demolishing of 280 Palestinian homes. Frighteningly, these numbers are expected to at least triple by the time the wall is completed. This wall is a direct violation of Palestinian rights guaranteed by the UN Declaration of Human Rights. The right of movement has been severely impacted by the gates and electronic fences that are accompanied by remote controlled machine guns to assure that no one living close to the wall can move around. Concomitantly, the right to work and have an adequate standard of living has been gravely curtailed, as Palestinians are imprisoned behind concrete walls. Moreover, the right to property has all but disappeared as 55% of the land belonging to the Palestinians that forms a significant part of the West Bank will be confiscated by Israel. Last but not least, the right to enjoy the highest attainable standard of mental or physical health and education has been devastated by the inherent lack of resources brought on by the above restrictions. Israel has disclosed plans that it intends to annex the strategic Jordan River Valley to Israel. A senior Israeli official said the plan for the wall that would cut the Jordan River Valley off from the rest of West Bank has been approved. Nineteen small illegal Israeli settlements dot the Jordan River Valley, a parched, hot strip of barren land punctuated by two main oases — the Palestinian towns of Jericho and Jiftliq. Palestinians and the international community, including the US, fear the partition's route will harden into a de facto border and prejudice negotiations. It is clear to the international community that’s this wall encroaches beyond its ‘security’ purpose. It goes along with Sharon’s long-standing concept of a permanent arrangement with the Palestinians that would give them control over populated enclaves around the West Bank, while ensuring that Israel would maintain control over the entire periphery. President Bush was quoted as saying: “there is a difference between security and land acquisition.” It is that kind of leadership and stance we expect from the protector of human rights, international law and democratic values, which should apply to all. While the American administration has been vocal in its opposition of the wall, it has been weak in its actions, resulting in growing mistrust for the American role and evenhandedness in making Middle East peace. It is time to take a stance with justice and with human rights. It is time to think of the future and put an end to this land theft for the sake of true peace in the region. We call upon you, our world leaders and the Israeli Prime Minister to take a brave stance for justice and human rights. One can only lead through good will and equality for only then can one trust others’ intentions and cooperate accordingly. “With great powers come great responsibilities,” so we turn to you to save the Palestinian existence along with what is left of Palestinian land. Without justice there can never be peace, we simply turn to you and expect from you to uphold the values you preach and give peace a chance.
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Support Sydney Peace Prize to Dr. Hanan Ashrawi
We strongly commend the Sydney Peace Foundation, under the auspice of the University of Sydney, for awarding the Sydney Peace Prize to Dr Hanan Ashrawi in recognition of “her commitment to human rights, to the peace process in the Middle East and for her courage in speaking against oppression, against corruption and for justice”. Hanan Ashrawi grew up in the West Bank town of Ramallah, just outside Jerusalem. She studied English Literature at the American University of Beirut in Lebanon, after which she was awarded her PhD in the USA. Dr Hanan Ashrawi became chair of the Department of English and then Dean of the Faculty of Arts at Bir Zeit University, becoming more actively involved in the Palestinian cause. She participated in speeches, performances and demonstrations, and founded and led the Bir Zeit University Legal Aid Committee and Human Rights Action Project. From 1991 through 1993 Dr Hanan Ashrawi served as the Official Spokesperson of the Palestinian Delegation to the Middle East Peace Process. Dr Ashrawi was Minister for Higher Education and Research in the Palestinian Authority. In 1998, she resigned to better pursue her human rights advocacy. Dr Ashrawi remains a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council Dr. Ashrawi is a member of the Independent International Commission on Kosovo and of numerous international advisory boards including the Council on Foreign Relations, the World Bank Middle East and North Africa Region (MENA), and the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD). Dr Hanan Ashrawi is presently Secretary General of MIFTAH, The Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy. She is a declared advocate of non-violence and a peaceful two state solution to the Palestine/ Israel conflict. Her own words speak most eloquently of her commitment to justice and peace: “The dynamics of violence, revenge and all other forms of dehumanization seem to have taken hold as both Palestinians and Israelis are locked in a fatal embrace that promises to plunge both peoples into the abyss… “How did we allow Sharon to formulate our agenda and dictate our timing by responding to his calculated provocations specifically designed to draw us within his cycle or retribution? Pain, grief and the impulse for revenge are negative motivations that give rise to mutually destructive acts of desperation. No relief and no remedy can be found in that course. “Why and when did we allow a few from our midst to interpret Israeli military attacks on innocent Palestinian lives as license to do the same to their civilians? [February, 2002: “The (US) Progressive’]” One cannot deny the commitment and resilience Dr Hanan Ashrawi has demonstrated over the years in advocating for peace and human rights and in building a healthy dialogue to resolve the long-term Israel/Palestine conflict. We kindly ask you to sign the petition: "Support Sydney Peace Prize to Dr Hanan Ashrawi" We are trying to reach 5000 signatures, and we need YOUR HELP! Please help by signing this petition. It takes 30 seconds and will really help. Please follow this link: www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/439042231 Once you have signed, we ask you to email this petition to your friends and family to sign as well. Thank you,
Darren Raeburn
Randa Kattan
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Arab Women's Declaration to Stop the War
We, the undersigned Arab women's organisations, call for a stop to the planned military aggression against Iraq and for peace in our region. We are convinced that a military attack against Iraq will destroy a whole nation, including its women and children, and will result in an appalling humanitarian tragedy. Women throughout the Arab world categorically condemn American-led attempts that target the integrity of the Arab world by undermining its sovereignty, and rupturing its national unity. The American administration is attempting to create any pretext to justify its onslaught on the Iraqi people and to occupy their land only to control their oil fields, whilst totally disregarding the destruction and annihilation which the Iraqi people will be exposed to. This, after the extreme suffering that the Iraqi population has had to endure for the past twelve years as a result of the suffocating economic sanctions. Infant and child mortality rates in Iraq are the highest in the world. The mortality rate for Iraqi children under five years old is 130 per 1,000, compared with 8 per 1,000 for American children. A military invasion would not stop at Iraq. Israel will seize this golden opportunity to continue its Zionist plans for the transfer of the Palestinian people from their lands. Moreover, Bush's plans will not stop at regime change in Iraq but will go beyond this to re-map the entire Arab region. Despite the fact that no evidence has been found to prove that Iraq possesses weapons of mass destruction, the United States insists on preparing for the invasion of Iraq. How can the American administration justify the estimated cost of 200 billion dollars of a war against Iraq? How can this be justified at a time when there are more than 1.2 billion people worldwide who live below the poverty line (i.e. with a daily income of less than one dollar); at a time when there are more than 149 million children in the developing countries suffering from malnutrition; over 1.1 billion people who do not have access to potable water, and over 2.4 billion people without sanitation? Arab women, like all women of the world, act as safety valves for the protection of humanity in general, and the children of the world in particular, against the degradation of the world's natural resources which God has created for all of us to safeguard, not to destroy. Women have always been in the front line of calls for peace and for the protection of the environment and natural resources. Thus, we, Arab women say NO to the war against Iraq because we are certain that when armies invade, only destruction will prevail. We appeal to all the women of the world to support us, Arab women, in our call to stop the planned American-led aggression against Iraq. We call on all women to voice their unequivocal condemnation of any military attack on Iraq and the resultant inevitable killing of more innocent civilians.
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Gretta Duizenberg's Petition to End the Israeli Occupation
I am sending you a site for a group of people in the Netherlands headed by a lady, Gretta Duizenberg (This is the banker's wife who caused such a commotion in Holland by hanging a Palestinian flag out her balcony - she has a lot of courage) who is supporting the Palestinian cause. She raised the Palestinian flag on the balcony of her house in Amsterdam. As a consequence, she has received 5000 death and hate letters from pro-Israelis in the Netherlands. However, she received 60,000 supporting e-mails/letters, from Dutch and Arabs in the Netherlands. She wants to collect 6 million e-mail signature to go to the Dutch and European parliaments to request an end to the Israeli occupation. The Jewish lobby has been very active and filed a lawsuit against her. She needs our support to collect the 6 million signatures from all over the world to challenge them. Let's support someone who is helping us without any money and at great personal risk. She is invited by Yasser Arafat to visit Ghazza in late November 2002. She is looking forward to collecting the 6 million signatures before traveling to Gaza. Please forward to as many people as possible to sign. Website: www.stopdebezetting.nl (It means stop the occupation.) Click on the English version.
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United Nations Anti-War Petition
Mourn the Victims. Stand for Peace. Islam is not the Enemy. War is NOT the Answer. Today we are at a point of imbalance in the world and are moving toward what may be the beginning of a THIRD WORLD WAR. If you are against this possibility, the UN is gathering signatures in an effort to avoid a tragic world event. Please COPY (rather than Forward) this e-mail in a new message, sign at the end of the list, and send it to a colleague who is still not in this list. If you receive this list with more than 500 names signed, please send a copy of the message to: unicwash@unicwash.org Even if you decide not to sign, please consider forwarding the petition on instead of eliminating it.
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"Artists are getting shot at " Petition
To: World artists and peace activists We call upon all artists and peace activists all around the world to sign this petition denouncing the irrational use of violence by Israel towards Palestinian Arabs in Israel Aggressive shooting in the occupied territories has recently surmounted to a point where Israeli soldiers are taking the liberty to shoot people sporadically and in an unjustified manner. Shooting innocent people has escalated in Palestine to include women, children and peace activists. The taking of innocent lives became a usual act of acquisition for Israeli soldiers who seem to gain pride in killing and injuring the innocent. On April 9th the Palestinian theatre actress Valantina was shot by an irresponsible Israeli soldier. She was a member of a peaceful crowd trying to show their solidarity to the Palestinians in the occupied territories. The crowd had risked their lives to help carry food and medicines into Jenin area.Valantina , who is a mother of 2 boys, was driven by her good and kind nature to accompany her fellow Palestinian actors and artists to help women and children in need. However, an Israeli soldier interrupted the peaceful crowd by shooting negligently without reason no notice.Valantina was shot in her elbow and is now suffering the consequences of negligent of the violent act of an Israeli soldier. The injury of Valantina is considered an overstepping precedence to the Israeli’s continuous and escalating violence. Shooting unarmed civilians and peace activists is an act that should be denounced by all civilized societies. We call upon all artists and peace activists all around the world to sign this petition denouncing the irrational use of violence by Israel towards Palestinian Arabs in Israel. Sincerely,
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Urgent Appeal to Stop Suicide Bombings
We the undersigned feel that it is our national responsibility to issue this appeal in light of the dangerous situation engulfing the Palestinian people. We call upon the parties behind military operations targeting civilians in Israel to reconsider their policies and stop driving our young men to carry out these operations. Suicide bombings deepen the hatred and widen the gap between the Palestinian and Israeli people. Also, they destroy the possibilities of peaceful co-existence between them in two neighboring states. We see that these bombings do not contribute towards achieving our national project that calls for freedom and independence. On the contrary, they strengthen the enemies of peace on the Israeli side and give Israel’s aggressive government under Sharon the excuse to continue its harsh war against our people. This war targets our children, elderly, villages, cities, and our national hopes and achievements. Military action is viewed are not assessed as positive or negative exclusively out of the general context and situation. They assessed based on whether they fulfill political ends. Therefore, there is a need to re- evaluate these acts considering that pushing the area towards an existential war between the two people living on the holy land will lead to destruction for the whole region. We do not find any logical, humane, or political justification for this end result.
Signatories:
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To the US ambassador: A letter of protest and condemnation
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