[GPCA Updates] GP RELEASE Greens join Global Day of Action on March 30 to end the Israeli occupation

[Green Party of California Updates]

GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
http://www.gp.org

For Immediate Release:
Thursday, March 26, 2009



Greens join Global Day of Action for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions
on March 30 to end the Israeli occupation

• Green Party Speakers Bureau: Green leaders available to speak on
foreign policy http://www.gp.org/speakers

• "The First 100 Days: What Would a Green Administration Look Like?"
(video and text) http://www.gp.org/first100


WASHINGTON, DC -- On Monday, March 30, the Green Party of the United
States will join other advocates for an end to the Israeli occupation,
for full human rights and equality for all in Israel-Palestine, and for
a nonviolent resolution to the Middle East conflict by observing the
Global Day of Action for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS).

The Green Party has endorsed BDS as a means to place international
pressure on Israel, with special emphasis on ending US military aid to
Israel (http://www.gp.org/position/st_2005_11_21.shtml).  Greens have
strongly criticized the Bush and Obama administrations and Democrats and
Republicans in Congress for unconditionally supporting the occuption,
Israel's military actions (including the recent invasion of Gaza),
expulsion of Palestinians from their homes, and the Israeli apartheid
system.

The Green Party has also signed on to a petition, sponsored by Peace
Cycle, to suspend the Association Agreement between the European Union
and Israel until Israel respects human rights and International Law
(http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/Suspend-EU-Israel-Trade-Agreement).

"The withdrawal of Charles Freeman from his appointment to a top
intelligence post, after he came under fire for criticizing Israel, laid
to rest any doubt about the influence of pro-Israel lobbies over US
policy in the Middle East," said Hajja Romi Elnagar, Louisiana Green and
member of the Green Party's International Committee
(http://www.gp.org/committees/intl).  "The attacks on Mr. Freeman were
led by Stephen J. Rosen, who is currently under federal indictment for
alleged violations of the Espionage Act based on his actions on behalf
of Israel as an AIPAC official."

Organizers of the Global Day of Action, which was launched at the World
Social Forum 2009 in Belém, Brazil, are encouraging several actions:
boycotts and divestment from Israeli corporations and international
corporations that sustain Israeli apartheid and occupation; legal action
to end Israel's impunity and prosecute Israeli war criminals; blocking
free trade and other preferential agreements with Israel and imposing an
arms embargo (http://www.bdsmovement.net/?q=node/314).  The Global Day
of Action coincides with Land Day, which marks an Israeli military
attack on Palestinians protesting peacefully in Israel in 1976,
resulting in six Palestinians killed and about 100 injured.

In January, the Green Party's 2008 presidential candidate Cynthia
McKinney participated in an effort to deliver medical supplies to
besieged Palestinians in Gaza until the delivery boat she was traveling
on was surrounded by Israeli gunboats and rammed by one of them
(http://www.gp.org/cynthia/index.shtml).

"The Gaza invasion should end illusions about Israeli democracy.  During
the assault, Palestinian-Israelis were banned from nonviolently
protesting their government's actions.  In over 200 demonstrations, some
800 protestors, including nearly 300 children, were arrested while
others were interrogated by the authorities, placed under house arrest,
and prohibited from traveling to certain Israeli cities," said Justine
McCabe, co-chair of the Green Party's International Committee (Speakers
Bureau page: http://www.gp.org/speakers/detail.php?ID=35).

The Green Party supports an immediate UN-sponsored, multinational
peacekeeping force to protect civilians and to oversee implementation of
all relevant UN resolutions and the dismantling of the occupation.  The
party endorses full human rights, democracy, equality under the law, and
security for Palestinians and Israelis; efforts to achieve a peaceful
resolution to the conflict; dismantling of the separation wall; and the
Palestinian right of return
(http://www.gp.org/platform/2004/democracy.html#307394).


MORE INFORMATION

Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
Fax 202-319-7193
• Tally of Green election victories
http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/election-results.html
• Green candidate news http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/candidate-news.php
• Green candidate database for 2008 and other campaign information:
http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml
• Green Party News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml
• Green Party Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers
• Green Party ballot access page http://www.gp.org/2008-elections

International Committee of the Green Party http://www.gp.org/committees/intl

"Green Party: Israel-Palestine truce must include end of Israeli
occupation and observance of international law or violence is likely to
resume"
Green Party press release, January 19, 2009
http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=169

US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation
http://www.endtheoccupation.org/article.php?list=type&type=264

Green Pages, Vol. 13, No. 1
The official publication of record of the Green Party of the United States
http://gp.org/greenpages-blog


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