Peaceful Blockade of the Israeli Embassy

Irish Antiwar Movement is calling for:

• End siege of Gaza
• Sanctions on Israel 
• Break diplomatic ties with Israel.

Please tell all your friends, and show your support for the people of Gaza.

 7:30 AM, Monday, 9th August

Israeli Embassy, Pembroke Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4

Today, Thursday 29th July 2010, at 1pm, the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) delivered a petition to Dunnes Stores signed by over 6,000 shoppers across Ireland. The petition demands that Dunnes Stores stop stocking Israeli products, until Israel respects Palestinian rights and international law. Present at the handing-in were Brendan Archbold, the trade union official at the centre of the 1980s Dunnes strike when workers refused to handle South African goods, Freda Hughes IPSC National Chairperson, Aengus O'Snodaigh of Sinn Fein along with supporters of the campaign and members of both the Palestinian and South African communities in Ireland.

Crowd assembled outside Dunnes Stores HQ

About 20 activists from the IAWM, supported by members of the IPSC and others, carried out a surprise peaceful blockade of the Israeli Embassy from 7.30am this morning. This is the sixth time that the Embassy has been blockaded since the nine Turkish peace activists were murdered by Israeli commandos on 31 May.

Activists arrived to find a solitary Garda who enquired what was going on. When activists told him of their intention to blockade the Embassy and prevent the Israeli Ambassador from entering he expressed surprise that a bulletin to that effect had not been issued!! He quickly called for Garda reinforcements.

The activists covered all the entrances to the Embassy with colourful banners, look-alike military watch towers, placards, and Palestinian flags. The main entrance was completely closed off by the activists who stood in front of it. There was huge solidarity from passing motorists who beeped their horns in support. A German tourist stopped to offer support and made a big donation to the movement. Some neighbours came to join the protest.

The  International  Women¹s Peace Service (IWPS) is a team of
international female human-rights volunteers in Palestine who provide
accompaniment to Palestinian civilians (including farmers during the
annual olive harvest), document and non-violently intervene in
human-rights abuses and support acts of non-violent resistance to end
the Israeli military occupation and construction of the barrier
throughout the West Bank.

IWPS is currently inviting applications from women who would like to
join our team of long-term volunteers.

Successful applicants will be invited to a 9 day training program and
meeting in Portugal (Sept 11th- 19th, 2010) and will serve a minimum
of one 3 month term in the West Bank, Palestine, as well as supporting
our work outside of Palestine.

Applicants should be able to commit to further terms in Palestine of
one to three months in their 2nd and 3rd year of commitment to IWPS.

Short term volunteers are also welcome to apply (applyiwps@gmail.com)
for minimum volunteer periods of 3 weeks

Love Football, Hate Apartheid: Protest at Shamrock Rovers v Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv

The IAWM are calling on their members to join with the IPSC, Eirigi and the PRI to protest outside the following event where an Israeli soccer team will play against Shamrock Rovers:

Date: Thursday 15 Jul 2010

Time: 7:00PM

Venue: outside Shamrock Rovers Football Ground, Tallaght, Dublin.

The IPSC, Eirigi, PRI &  IAWM will protest at the Shamrock Rovers vs Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv game in Tallaght Stadium (across from The Square, at junction of Whitetown Way and the N81) on Thursday July 15th, protest starts at 7pm, kick off at 8pm. 

Please contact Ronan on 086 4082535 of IPSC or Jim of IAWM SC on 087 6472737 if you are planning to attend and want to help out or if you have any queries.

How to get there.
The stadium is owned by the local authority, South Dublin County Council, with Shamrock Rovers as anchor tenants.
Located in the centre of Tallaght, on Whitestown Way, the stadium is easily accessible by public transport. The stadium is just a few minutes walk from the Red Luas line terminal at The Square Shopping Centre and numerous bus stops.

Access to clean water is a basic human right!

What: We are organising a National Day of Action to highlight the discriminatory water policies of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

When: SATURDAY 31ST JULY (However any Groups involved in festivals throughout the summer months can replicate the action below and highlight this important issue).

Where: We are hoping to replicate the action all around the country.

Why: Access to clean water is a basic human right, yet in the OPT:
- 180-200,000 West Bank Palestinians have no access to running water
- 90-95% of the only water resource in Gaza is unfit for human consumption
- 1/3 of available water lost through leakage
- 80% of groundwater is used by Israel

How: Action:

People: ‘Pairs’ working together

Time: Minimum 2 hours per ‘pair’

This weekend (July 9-11) is International Boycott Sanctions & Divestment (BDS) Weekend against Israel. Here in Ireland, to mark the occasion, the IPSC (Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign) are launching a nationwide petition calling on Dunnes Stores to cease stocking Israeli goods in their stores.