Global Response to Israeli Apartheid: A Call to the UNGA
Apartheid is a crime against humanity, giving rise to individual criminal responsibility and State responsibility to bring the illegal situation to an end. In May 2020, a large number of Palestinian civil society organisations called on all States to adopt “effective countermeasures, including sanctions, to end Israel’s unlawful acquisition of Palestinian territory through use of force, its regime of apartheid, and its denial of our inalienable right to self-determination.”
In June 2020, 47 independent human rights experts within the United Nations (UN) stated that the Israeli government plans to illegally annex large parts of the occupied West Bank would constitute “a vision of a 21st-century apartheid.” Also in June, 114 Palestinian, regional, and international civil society organisations sent a strong message to UN Member States that now is the time to recognise and confront Israel’s establishment and maintenance of an apartheid regime over the Palestinian people as a whole, including Palestinians on both sides of the Green Line and Palestinian refugees and exiles abroad.
We further recall that, in December 2019, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) urged Israel to give full effect to Article 3 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, which pertains to the prevention, prohibition, and eradication of all policies and practices of segregation and apartheid, on both sides of the Green Line. As recently highlighted by South Africa at the UN Human Rights Council, “The CERD found… that the strategic fragmentation of the Palestinian people formed part of a policy and practice of segregation and apartheid. Annexation would be yet another example of complete impunity that makes a mockery of this Council and would gravely breach international law.”
In light of the mounting recognition of Israel’s maintenance of an apartheid regime over the Palestinian people, which will only continue to be entrenched through annexation, we, the undersigned Palestinian, regional, and international civil society organisations, urge the UN General Assembly to take urgent and effective actions to address the root causes of Palestinian oppression and to end Israel’s occupation, illegal blockade of Gaza, unlawful acquisition of Palestinian territory by force, its regime of apartheid over the Palestinian people as a whole, and the prolonged denial of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including to self-determination and the right of Palestinian refugees and displaced persons to return to their homes, lands, and property.
In light of the above, we call on all Member States of the UN General Assembly to:
· Launch international investigations into Israel’s apartheid regime over the Palestinian people as a whole, as well as associated State and individual criminal responsibility, including by reconstituting the UN Special Committee against Apartheid and the UN Centre Against Apartheid to end apartheid in the 21st century.
· Ban arms trade and military-security cooperation with Israel.
· Prohibit all trade with illegal Israeli settlements and ensure that companies refrain from and terminate business activities with Israel’s illegal settlement enterprise.
List of signatories from Palestine
· Palestinian Human Rights Organization Council (PHROC), consisting of:
1. Al Haq Organization - Law in the Service of Mankind
2. Al Mezan Center for Human Rights
3. ADDAMEER Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association
4. Palestinian Centre for Human Rights
5. DCI - Defense for Children International - Palestine
6. Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Center
7. Aldameer Association for Human Rights
8. Ramallah Center for Human Rights Studies
9. Hurryyat - Center for Defense of Liberties and Civil Rights
10. The Independent Commission for Human Rights (Ombudsman Office) - Observer Member
11. Muwatin Institute for Democracy and Human Rights - Observer Member
· Palestinian NGO Network (PNGO), including:
12. Applied Research Institute-Jerusalem
13. Arab Center for Agricultural Development (ACAD)
14. The Ramallah Center for Human Rights Studies
15. Psycho-Social Counselling center for Women (Bethlehem)
16. Alrowwad Cultural and Arts Society
17. Women`s Center for Legal aid and Counseling (WCLAC)
18. Women Study Center (WSC PAL)
19. Union of Palestinian Women`s Committees
20. Nawa for Culture and Arts Association
21. Al Karmel Association
22. Aisha Association for Women and Child Protection
23. The National Society for Rehabilitation
24. Baitona Association for Community and Development
25. Civic Coalition for the Defense of Palestinian Rights in Jerusalem
List of international signatories
Argentina
26. Liga Argentina por los Derechos Humanos
27. Jóvenes con Palestina
Austria
28. Women in Black (Vienna)
Bangladesh
29. La Via Campesina – South Asia
Belgium
30. La Centrale Generale-FGTB
31. European Trade Union Network for Justice in Palestine (ETUN)
32. De-Colonizer
33. Association belgo-palestinienne WB
34. Viva Salud
35. CNCD-11.11.11
36. Vrede vzw
37. FOS vzw
38. Broederlijk Denle
39. Belgian Campaign for Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (BACBI)
40. ECCP (European Coordination of Committees and Associations for Palestine)
Brazil
41. Coletivo Feminista Classista ANA MONTENEGRO
42. ESPPUSP - Estudantes em Solidariedade ao Povo Palestino (Students in Solidarity with the Palestinian People - USP)
Canada
43. Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network
44. Just Peace Advocates
Colombia
45. BDS Colombia
Egypt
46. Habitat International Coalition - Housing and Land Rights Network
Finland
47. Finnish-Arab Friendship Society
48. ICAHD Finland
France
49. Collectif Judéo Arabe et Citoyen pour la Palestine
50. Union syndicale Solidaires
51. Mouvement International de la Réconciliation (IFOR)
52. Forum Palestine Citoyenneté
53. CPPI SAINT-DENIS [Collectif Paix Palestine Israël]
54. La Cimade
55. Union Juive Française pour la Paix (UJFP)
56. Association des Universitaires pour le Respect du Droit International en Palestine (AURDIP)
57. Association France Palestine Solidarité (AFPS)
58. MRAP
59. Association Pour Jérusalem
60. One Justice
61. Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM)
62. Plateforme des ONG françaises pour la Palestine
63. ritimo
64. CAPJPO-EuroPalestine
Germany
65. German- Palestinian Society (DPG e.V.)
66. ICAHD (Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions) Germany
67. BDS Berlin
68. AK Nahost Berlin
69. Juedische Stimme für gerechten Frieden in Nahost e.V
70. Versöhnungsbund Germany (International Fellowship of Reconciliation, German Branch)
71. Attac Germany Federal Working Group Globalization and War
72. Salam Shalom e. V.
73. German-Palestinian Society
Greece
74. BDS Greece
75. KEERFA – Movement United Against Racism and Fascist Threat
76. Network for Political and Social Rights
77. Encounter for an Anti-capitalist Internationalist Left
India
78. Delhi Queerfest
79. NDCW-National Dalit Christian Watch
80. INDO-PALESTINE SOLIDARITY NETWORK
81. National Alliance for People`s Movement
82. Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society
Ireland
83. Gaza Action Ireland
84. Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign
85. Irish Football Fans Against Israeli Apartheid
86. Students for Justice in Palestine - Trinity College Dublin
87. People Before Profit
88. United Against Racism – Ireland
89. Peoples Movement - Gluaiseacht an Phobail
90. Centre for Global Education
91. Galway Anti-Racism Network
92. Industrial Workers of the World (Ireland)
93. Black Lives Matters Kerry
94. Anti-Deportation Ireland
95. Academics for Palestine
96. Kairos Ireland
97. Irish Congress of Trade Unions
98. Independent Workers Union
99. CorkCouncil of Trade unions
100. Sligo/Leitrim Council of Trade Unions
101. Galway Council of Trade Unions
102. Workers Solidarity Movement
103. Trade Union Friends of Palestine
104. Sadaka - The Ireland Palestine Alliance
105. Trócaire
106. Brazilian Left Front
107. Peace and Neutrality Alliance
108. MASI
109. Irish Nurses and Midwives Organization (INMO)
110. Queer Action Ireland
111. Abolish Direct Provision Ireland
112. Union of Students in Ireland
113. Comhlámh Justice for Palestine
114. Irish Anti-War Movement
115. Jewish Voice for a Just Peace – Ireland
116. Shannonwatch
117. Fingal Communities Against Racism
118. SARF - Solidarity Against Racism and Fascism
119. Mandate Trade Union
120. Irish Muslim Peace & Integration Council
Italy
121. W.I.L.P.F. – ITALIA
122. Rete Radié Resch gruppo di Milano
123. Centro Studi Sereno Regis
124. Pax Christi Italia - Campagna Ponti e non Muri
125. Rete Radié Resch - gruppo di Udine
126. Rete-ECO (the Italian Network of Jews against the Occupation)
127. Nwrg-onlus
128. Centro di Salute Internazionale e Interculturale (CSI) – APS
129. Italian Forum of Water Movements
130. Fondazione Basso
131. Amici della mezzaluna rossa palestinese
132. Donne in nero Italy
133. Rete Romana Palestina
134. AssoPacePalestina
Luxembourg
135. Comité pour une Paix Juste au Proche-Orien
Malaysia
136. BDS Malaysia
137. Malaysian women coalition for al Quds and Palestine
138. Muslimah Interest Zone & Networking Association (MIZAN)
139. Pertubuhan Mawaddah Malaysia
140. Muslim Care Malaysia
141. National Union of Malaysian Muslim Students (PKPIM)
142. Citizens International
Mexico
143. Coordinadora de Solidaridad con Palestina
Mozambique
144. Justiça Ambiental / Friends of the Earth Mozambique
Norway
145. The Palestine Committee of Norway
146. Association of Norwegian NGOs for Palestine
Philippines
147. Karapatan Alliance Philippines
South Africa
148. #Africa4Palestine
149. Workers` World Media Productions
150. World Beyond War -- South Africa
151. Lawyers For Human Rights
152. SA BDS Coalition
Spanish State
153. ASPA (Asociación Andaluza por la Solidaridad y la Paz)
154. Rumbo a Gaza
155. Mujeres de Negro contra la Guerra – Madrid
156. Plataforma por la Desobediencia Civil
157. Asamblea Antimilitarista de Madrid
158. SUDS - Assoc. Internacional de Solidaridad y Cooperación
159. Red Cántabra contra laTrata y la Explotación Sexual
160. ICID (Iniciativas de Cooperación Internaciona para el Desarrollo)
161. Desarma Madrid
162. Ecologistas en Acción
163. Human Rights Institute of Catalonia (Institut de Drets Humans de Catalunya)
164. Associació Hèlia, de suport a les dones que pateixen violència de gènere
165. Servei Civil Internacional de Catalunya
166. Fundación Mundubat
167. Coordinadora de ONGD de Euskadi
168. Confederacion General del Trabajo.
169. International Jewish Antizionist Netwoek (IJAN)
170. ELA
171. Penedès amb Palestina
172. La Recolectiva
173. Institut de Drets Humans de Catalunya
Sri Lanka
174. Sri Lanka Journalists for Global Justice
Switzerland
175. Collectif Action Palestine
176. Gesellschaft Schweiz Palästina (Association Swiss Palestine)
177. Gerechtikgiet und Frieden in Palästina GFP
178. Collectif Urgence Palestine-Vd
179. BDS Switzerland
180. BDS Zürich
The Netherlands
181. St. Groningen-Jabalya
182. WILPF Netherlands
183. Palestina Werkgroep Enschede (NL)
184. Black Queer & Trans Resistance NL
185. EMCEMO
186. CTID
187. Breed Platform Palestina Haarlem
188. docP - BDS Netherlands
189. Stop Wapenhandel
190. Transnational Institute
191. Palestina Komitee Rotterdam
192. Palestine Link
193. Christian Peacemaker Teams – Nederland
194. Soul Rebel Movement Foundation
195. The Rights Forum
196. Nederlands Palestina Komitee
Timor-Leste
197. Comite Esperansa / Committee of Hope
198. Organização Popular Juventude Timor (OPJT)
Tunisia
199. Tunisian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (TACBI)
United Kingdom
200. Architects and Planners for Justice in Palestine
201. Jewish Network for Palestine
202. UK-Palestine Mental Health Network
203. War on Want
204. Palestine Solidarity Campaign UK
205. Campaign Against Arms Trade
206. Jews for Justice for Palestinians
207. ICAHD UK
208. Al-MUTTAQIIN
209. Scottish Jews Against Zionism
210. Cambridge Palestine Solidarity Campaign
211. Craigavon Council of Trade Unions
212. Sabeel-Kairos UK
213. End Deportations Belfast
214. NUS-USI
215. UNISON Northern Ireland
216. Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign
217. Scottish Palestinian Forum
218. San Ghanny Choir
219. Scottish Friends of Palestine
United States
220. Berkeley Women in Black
221. USACBI: US Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel
222. Labor for Standing rock
223. United Methodists for Kairos Response
224. Stand with Kashmir
225. Grassroots Global Justice Alliance
226. Jewish Voice for Peace
227. Labor for Palestine
228. Jews for Palestinian Right of Return
229. Jewish Voice For Peace Central Ohio
230. Minnesota Break the Bonds Campaign
Yemen
231. Mwatana for Human Rights
