The BDS Call

Palestinian Civil Society Calls for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel Until it Complies with International Law and Universal Principles of Human Rights 9 July 2005

Click here for language versions: French 


English:

One year after the historic Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) which found Israel’s Wall built on occupied Palestinian territory to be illegal; Israel continues its construction of the colonial Wall with total disregard to the Court’s decision. Thirty eight years into Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian West Bank (including East Jerusalem), Gaza Strip and the Syrian Golan Heights, Israel continues to expand Jewish colonies. It has unilaterally annexed occupied East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights and is now de facto annexing large parts of the West Bank by means of the Wall. Israel is also preparing – in the shadow of its planned redeployment from the Gaza Strip – to build and expand colonies in the West Bank. Fifty seven years after the state of Israel was built mainly on land ethnically cleansed of its Palestinian owners, a majority of Palestinians are refugees, most of whom are stateless. Moreover, Israel’s entrenched system of racial discrimination against its own Arab-Palestinian citizens remains intact.

In light of Israel’s persistent violations of international law; and

Given that, since 1948, hundreds of UN resolutions have condemned Israel’s colonial and discriminatory policies as illegal and called for immediate, adequate and effective remedies; and

Given that all forms of international intervention and peace-making have until now failed to convince or force Israel to comply with humanitarian law, to respect fundamental human rights and to end its occupation and oppression of the people of Palestine; and

In view of the fact that people of conscience in the international community have historically shouldered the moral responsibility to fight injustice, as exemplified in the struggle to abolish apartheid in South Africa through diverse forms of boycott, divestment and sanctions; and Inspired by the struggle of South Africans against apartheid and in the spirit of international solidarity, moral consistency and resistance to injustice and oppression;

We, representatives of Palestinian civil society, call upon international civil society organizations and people of conscience all over the world to impose broad boycotts and implement divestment initiatives against Israel similar to those applied to South Africa in the apartheid era. We appeal to you to pressure your respective states to impose embargoes and sanctions against Israel. We also invite conscientious Israelis to support this Call, for the sake of justice and genuine peace.

These non-violent punitive measures should be maintained until Israel meets its obligation to recognize the Palestinian people’s inalienable right to self-determination and fully complies with the precepts of international law by:

1. Ending its occupation and colonization of all Arab lands and dismantling the Wall
2. Recognizing the fundamental rights of the Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel to full equality; and
3. Respecting, protecting and promoting the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties as stipulated in UN resolution 194.

Endorsed by:

The Palestinian political parties, unions, associations, coalitions and organizations below represent the three integral parts of the people of Palestine: Palestinian refugees, Palestinians under occupation and Palestinian citizens of Israel.

Unions, Associations, Campaigns

Council of National and Islamic Forces in Palestine (Coordinating body for the major political parties in the Occupied Palestinian Territory) • Palestinian Independent Commission for Citizen’s Rights (PICCR)

Union of Arab Community Based Associations (ITTIJAH), Haifa

Forum of Palestinian NGOs in Lebanon

Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU)

General Union of Palestinian Women (GUPW)

General Union of Palestinian Teachers (GUPT)

Federation of Unions of Palestinian Universities’ Professors and Employees

Consortium of Professional Associations

Union of Palestinian Medical Relief Committees (UPMRC)

Health Work Committees – West Bank

Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC)

Union of Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committees (PARC)

Union of Health Work Committees – Gaza (UHWC)

Union of Palestinian Farmers

Occupied Palestine and Syrian Golan Heights Advocacy Initiative (OPGAI)

General Union of Disabled Palestinians

Palestinian Federation of Women’s Action Committees (PFWAC)

Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI)

Palestinian Grassroots Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign

Union of Teachers of Private Schools

Union of Women’s Work Committees, Tulkarem (UWWC)

Dentists’ Association – Jerusalem Center

Palestinian Engineers Association

Lawyers’ Association

Network for the Eradication of Illiteracy and Adult Education, Ramallah

Coordinating Committee of Rehabilitation Centers – West Bank

Coalition of Lebanese Civil Society Organizations (150 organizations)

Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (SPHR), Network of Student-based Canadian University Associations

Refugee Rights Associations/Organizations

Al-Ard Committees for the Defense of the Right of Return, Syria

Al-Awda Charitable Society, Beit Jala

Al Awda – Palestine Right-to-Return Coalition, U.S.A

Al-Awda Toronto

Aidun Group – Lebanon

Aidun Group – Syria

Alrowwad Cultural and Theatre Training Center, Aida refugee camp

Association for the Defense of the Rights of the Internally Displaced (ADRID), Nazareth

BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights, Bethlehem

Committee for Definite Return, Syria

Committee for the Defense of Palestinian Refugee Rights, Nablus

Consortium of the Displaced Inhabitants of Destroyed Palestinian Villages and Towns

Filastinuna – Commission for the Defense of the Right of Return, Syria

Handala Center, ‘Azza (Beit Jibreen) refugee camp, Bethlehem

High Committee for the Defense of the Right of Return, Jordan

(including personal endorsement of 71 members of parliament, political parties and unions in Jordan)

High National Committee for the Defense of the Right of Return , Ramallah

International Right of Return Congress (RORC)

Jermana Youth Forum for the Defense of the Right of Return, Syria

Laji Center, Aida camp, Bethlehem

Local Committee for Rehabilitation, Qalandia refugee camp, Jerusalem

Local Committee for Rehabilitation of the Disabled, Deheishe refugee camp, Bethlehem

Palestinian National Committee for the Defense of the Right of Return, Syria

Palestinian Return Association, Syria

Palestinian Return Forum, Syria

Palestine Right-of-Return Coalition (Palestine, Arab host countries, Europe, North America)

Palestine Right-of-Return Confederation-Europe (Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden)

Palestinian Youth Forum for the Right of Return, Syria

PLO Popular Committees – West Bank refugee camps

PLO Popular Committees – Gaza Strip refugee camps

Popular Committee – al-‘Azza (Beit Jibreen) refugee camp, Bethlehem

Popular Committee – Deheishe refugee camp, Bethlehem

Shaml – Palestinian Diaspora and Refugee Center, Ramallah

Union of Women’s Activity Centers – West Bank Refugee Camps

Union of Youth Activity Centers – Palestine Refugee Camps, West Bank and Gaza

Women’s Activity Center – Deheishe refugee camp, Bethlehem

Yafa Cultural Center, Balata refugee camp, Nablus

Organizations

Abna’ al-Balad Society, Nablus

Addameer Center for Human Rights, Gaza

Addameer Prisoners’ Support and Human Rights Association, Ramallah

Alanqa’ Cultural Association, Hebron

Al-Awda Palestinian Folklore Society, Hebron

Al-Doha Children’s Cultural Center, Bethlehem

Al-Huda Islamic Center, Bethlehem

Al-Jeel al-Jadid Society, Haifa

Al-Karameh Cultural Society, Um al-Fahm

Al-Maghazi Cultural Center, Gaza

Al-Marsad Al-Arabi, occupied Syrian Golan Heights

Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights, Gaza

Al-Nahda Cultural Forum, Hebron

Al-Taghrid Society for Culture and Arts, Gaza

Alternative Tourism Group, Beit Sahour (ATG)

Al-Wafa’ Charitable Society, Gaza

Applied Research Institute Jerusalem (ARIJ)

Arab Association for Human Rights, Nazareth (HRA)

Arab Center for Agricultural Development (ACAD)

Arab Center for Agricultural Development-Gaza

Arab Educational Institute – Open Windows (affiliated with Pax Christie International)

Arab Orthodox Charitable Society – Beit Sahour

Arab Orthodox Charity – Beit Jala

Arab Orthodox Club – Beit Jala

Arab Orthodox Club – Beit Sahour

Arab Students’ Collective, University of Toronto

Arab Thought Forum, Jerusalem (AFT)

Association for Cultural Exchange Hebron – France

Association Najdeh, Lebanon

Authority for Environmental Quality, Jenin

Bader Society for Development and Reconstruction, Gaza

Canadian Palestine Foundation of Quebec, Montreal

Center for the Defense of Freedoms, Ramallah

Center for Science and Culture, Gaza

Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ramallah- Al-Bireh District

Child Development and Entertainment Center, Tulkarem

Committee for Popular Participation, Tulkarem

Defense for Children International-Palestine Section, Ramallah (DCI/PS)

El-Funoun Palestinian Popular Dance Troupe

Ensan Center for Democracy and Human Rights, Bethlehem

Environmental Education Center, Bethlehem

FARAH – Palestinian Center for Children, Syria

Ghassan Kanafani Society for Development, Gaza

Ghassan Kanafani Forum, Syria

Gaza Community Mental Health Program, Gaza (GCMHP)

Golan for Development, occupied Syrian Golan Heights

Halhoul Cultural Forum, Hebron

Himayeh Society for Human Rights, Um al-Fahm

Holy Land Trust – Bethlehem

Home of Saint Nicholas for Old Ages – Beit Jala

Human Rights Protection Center, Lebanon

In’ash al-Usrah Society, Ramallah

International Center of Bethlehem (Dar An-Nadweh)

Islah Charitable Society-Bethlehem

Jafra Youth Center, Syria

Jander Center, al-Azza (Beit Jibreen) refugee camp, Bethlehem

Jerusalem Center for Women, Jerusalem (JCW)

Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Center (JLAC )

Khalil Al Sakakini Cultural Center, Ramallah

Land Research Center, Jerusalem (LRC)

Liberated Prisoners’ Society, Palestine

Local Committee for Social Development, Nablus

Local Committee for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled, Nablus

MA’AN TV Network, Bethlehem

Medical Aid for Palestine, Canada

MIFTAH-Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy, Ramallah

Muwatin-The Palestinian Institute for the Study of Democracy

National Forum of Martyr’s Families, Palestine

Near East Council of Churches Committee for Refugee Work – Gaza Area

Network of Christian Organizations – Bethlehem (NCOB)

Palestinian Council for Justice and Peace, Jerusalem

Palestinian Counseling Center, Jerusalem (PCC)

Palestinian Democratic Youth Union, Lebanon

Palestinian Farmers’ Society, Gaza

Palestinian Hydrology Group for Water and Environment Resources Development-Gaza

Palestinian Prisoners’ Society-West Bank

Palestinian Society for Consumer Protection, Gaza

Palestinian University Students’ Forum for Peace and Democracy, Hebron

Palestinian Women’s Struggle Committees

Palestinian Working Women Society for Development (PWWSD)

Popular Art Centre, Al-Bireh

Prisoner’s Friends Association – Ansar Al-Sajeen, Majd al-Krum

Public Aid Association, Gaza

Ramallah Center for Human Rights Studies

Saint Afram Association – Bethlehem

Saint Vincent De Paule – Beit Jala

Senior Citizen Society – Beit Jala

Social Development Center, Nablus

Society for Self-Development, Hebron

Society for Social Work, Tulkarem

Society for Voluntary Work and Culture, Um al-Fahm

Society of Friends of Prisoners and Detainees, Um al-Fahm

Sumoud-Political Prisoners Solidarity Group, Toronto

Tamer Institute for Community Education, Ramallah

TCC – Teacher’s Creativity Center, Ramallah

Wi’am Center, Bethlehem

Women’s Affairs Technical Committee, Ramallah and Gaza (WATC)

Women’s Studies Center, Jerusalem (WSC)

Women’s Center for Legal Aid and Counseling, Jerusalem (WCLAC)

Yafa for Education and Culture, Nablus

Yazour Charitable Society, Nablus

YMCA-East Jerusalem

Youth Cooperation Forum, Hebron

YWCA-Palestine

Zakat Committee-al-Khader, Bethlehen

Zakat Committee-Deheishe camp, Bethlehem

The Palestinian Center for Rapprochement between People (PCR)

Alternative Voice in the Galilee (AVIG)

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French:

9 juillet 2005 | Appel au Boycott, aux Désinvestissements et aux Sanctions contre Israël jusqu’à ce qu’il applique le droit international et les principes universels des droits humains.

Un an après l’avis consultatif historique de la Cour Internationale de Justice (CIJ), qui a jugé illégal le mur qu’Israël construit sur le territoire palestinien occupé, Israël continue la construction du mur colonial, au mépris total de la décision de la Cour. Après trente huit ans d’occupation par Israël de la Cisjordanie palestinienne (y compris Jérusalem-Est), de la bande de Gaza et des Hauteurs du Golan syrien, Israël continue d’accroître les colonies juives. Il a unilatéralement annexé Jérusalem-Est Occupé et les Hauteurs du Golan et annexe maintenant de facto de grandes parties de la Cisjordanie à l’aide du mur. Israël se prépare également – à l’ombre de son retrait prévu de la Bande de Gaza – à construire et étendre les colonies en Cisjordanie. Cinquante sept ans après que l’État d’Israël ait été établi principalement sur la terre ethniquement nettoyée de ses propriétaires palestiniens, une majorité de Palestiniens sont des réfugiés, dont la plupart sont apatrides. D’ailleurs, le système bien établi de discrimination raciale contre ses propres citoyens Arabes-Palestiniens demeure intact.

À la lumière des violations persistantes du droit international par Israël et,

Étant donné que, depuis 1948, des centaines de résolutions de l’ONU ont qualifié d’illégales et condamné les politiques coloniales et discriminatoires d’Israël et ont appelé à des solutions immédiates, proportionnées et efficaces,

Étant donné que toutes les formes d’intervention internationale et de processus de paix ont échoué à convaincre ou à forcer Israël à se conformer au droit humanitaire, à respecter les Droits humains fondamentaux et à mettre fin à son occupation et à son oppression du peuple de la Palestine,

En raison du fait que les gens de conscience au sein la communauté internationale ont historiquement souscrit à la responsabilité morale de combattre l’injustice, comme la lutte pour abolir l’Apartheid en Afrique du Sud par diverses formes de boycott, de retrait d’investissement et de sanctions l’a illustré et,

Inspirés par la lutte des Sud-Africains contre l’Apartheid et dans l’esprit de la solidarité internationale, de la cohérence morale et de la résistance à l’injustice et à l’oppression.

Nous, représentants de la société civile palestinienne, invitons les organisations des sociétés civiles internationales et les gens de conscience du monde entier à imposer de larges boycotts et à mettre en application des initiatives de retrait d’investissement contre Israël semblables à ceux appliqués à l’Afrique du Sud à l’époque de l’Apartheid. Nous vous appelons à faire pression sur vos États respectifs afin qu’ils appliquent des embargos et des sanctions contre Israël. Nous invitons également les Israéliens scrupuleux à soutenir cet appel dans l’intérêt de la justice et d’une véritable paix.

Ces mesures punitives non-violentes devraient être maintenues jusqu’à ce qu’Israël honore ses obligations de reconnaître le droit inaliénable du peuple palestinien à l’autodétermination et se conforme entièrement aux préceptes du droit international, en :

1. Mettant fin à son occupation et à sa colonisation de tous les terres arabes et en démantelant le Mur
2. Reconnaissant les droits fondamentaux des citoyens arabo-palestiniens d’Israël à une complète égalité; et
3. Respectant, protégeant et favorisant les droits des réfugiés palestiniens à recouvrer leurs maisons et leurs biens comme le stipule la résolution 194 de l’ONU.

Approuvé par : Les partis politiques, les syndicats, les associations, les coalitions et les organisations palestiniennes ci-dessous représentent les trois parties intégrales du peuple de la Palestine : réfugiés palestiniens, Palestiniens sous occupation et citoyens palestiniens d’Israël.

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