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has been set up to press for an end to the occupation of
Palestinian territory
and further the cause of a just peace for Israelis and Palestinians
alike.
2007 marks the 40-year anniversary of the Six Day War, in which
the Israeli army took military control of the Gaza Strip and West Bank, including
East Jerusalem. Since that time the government of Israel has built 'settlements'
in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and assisted its citizens in setting
up homes and businesses using land and resources stolen from the Palestinian
people. This situation has continued to the current day despite Israel being
in violation of international humanitarian law and over 60 UN resolutions.
The Occupation has created serious poverty for the Palestinians, as well as
severe human rights violations. But Palestinian suffering dates back further
to 1948, when the state of Israel was created and 750,000 Palestinians were
driven or fled from their homes. The United Nations asserted the refugees'
right to return home in 1948, but Israel has refused to allow this. Meanwhile
the refugee population has grown to over four million, one of the largest in
the world, many of whom live in camps waiting for international law to be upheld.
Britain bears a particular responsibility for this suffering. From 1917 to
1948 Britain controlled Palestine. Along with the US and many EU countries,
the UK government is today involved in a close military, economic and political
relationship with Israel, and fails to stand up for the rights of the Palestinian
people.
We say Enough! We are a group of charities, trade
unions, faith and other campaign groups. We have come together because we want
peace for Israelis and Palestinians alike. This can only be built on justice,
equality and freedom. In order to achieve this goal governments like the British
government must stand up for international law and human rights.
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JfJfP statement
JfJfP is one of over 30 British groups so far which
have come together in the Enough! coalition to press
for an end to the occupation of Palestinian territory and further the cause
of a just peace for Israelis and Palestinians alike.
Some of the supporters of Enough! espouse opinions
we profoundly disagree with. We have joined the coalition on the basis that
members have all agreed to oppose racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia and Holocaust
denial and have agreed to work within the terms of the following code:
1. Enough! members must sign up to, and be fully
supportive of, the mission statement and agree that Enough! End the Israeli
Occupation: Justice for the Palestinians, is the descriptive objective of our
joint work.
2. Enough! members agree to work in the spirit of
the mission statement, respectful of the tradition and character of each member
group of the coalition and opposing all forms of racism, including anti-Semitism,
Islamophobia, Holocaust denial or Nakba denial, in forwarding the work of the
coalition.
3. Enough! members reject the use of violence in
their single or joint actions and uphold the principle of non-violent campaigning.
page last updated 4 March, 2007