The Palestine Human Rights Campaign joins with the worldwide movement calling for an economic and cultural boycott of Israel.

This call goes out especially to trade organisations, faith-based and cultural groups, as well as the peace movement in Aotearoa/New Zealand. People will be asked to cancel any planned contacts with Israel, or face the possibilities of pickets and demonstrations - as did the Jerusalem Quartet earlier this year on their New Zealand tour.

Recently the NZ Herald printed articles by Fran O'Sullivan on her visit to Israel with members of the New Zealand/Israel trade delegation. These articles have highlighted the need to question the whole subject of trade with Israel.

Since the beginning of the second Palestinian Intifada in September 2000, organisations and interest groups worldwide have been mobilising support for divestment in Israel and isolation of that country in all forms of trade.

Israel has for decades been able to ignore a plethora of UN resolutions and in its occupation of Palestine the State of Israel defies International Law and the Geneva Conventions.

It is time that Israel experienced the same world opprobrium that helped to reform Apartheid South Africa. Zionism, as practised by the Israeli government, is a racist ideology based on political repression.

Recently, the Presbyterian and Anglican communities overseas have called for countries to divest in Israel and have urged their members to refuse to purchase any products or services originating either from Israel itself, or the illegal Jewish settlements established by Israel on occupied Palestinian territory, until Israel is seen to conform with the norms of civilised states.

Contacts: Palestine Human Rights Campaign Tuma Hazou Ph. 09.4738677 David Wakim Ph. 09.5200201

For interviews and additional information, contact our webmaster via the web at: http://www.palestine.org.nz/cgi-bin/borg.cgi?mode=312

The Palestine Human Rights Campaign was formed in 1982 with the aim of informing all New Zealanders about the cruel and unusual injustices inflicted daily on the Palestinian People by successive Israeli Governments. Our policy is to use peaceful demonstration, education and an intensive media protest campaign to bring about changes in the attitude of the NZ Government and people toward the Palestinian crisis.

Palestine Human Rights Campaign P.O. Box 56-150 Auckland