Hyderabad: A broad front formed named as ‘Solidarity Committee for Palestine in Telangana & Andhra Pradesh has given a call for to sever ties with Israel as it once again shows what it is — a rogue state outside the pale of civilized behavior among nations. Condemning genocide of Palestinians in Gaza, the front said the world should stop all collaboration and business deals with apartheid regime of Israel.
In a statement on Wednesday, it said, “Since the first week of July, Israeli forces have launched a brutal attack on Gaza in which hundreds have died and thousands wounded- a very large number of whom are women and children. Most of Gaza, including hospitals, is now without electricity and water, while the bombs rain down on a helpless population. This latest attack has to be seen in the context of Israel’s inhuman seven-year blockade that has cut off the life-line of goods and people coming in and out of Gaza, resulting in the severe medical and food shortages. After thousands of homes were destroyed by Israeli attacks, Palestinians were banned from buying cement to rebuild their homes. The sick and injured are still not being allowed to travel outside Gaza for urgent medical treatment.
Israel is able to carry on with impunity despite world- wide condemnation only because of the support and sustenance from the US administration backed and blackmailed by the powerful Jewish business lobby. The US has continually provided deadly weapons, veto and other support in the United Nations. Their friends in the region, primarily Saudi Arabia is also playing a traitorous role against their neighbours, and shamelessly supporting US-Israeli activities in the region.
On 12th July organizations in Palestine gave a call with the appeal and demands that:
“We Palestinians trapped inside the bloodied and besieged Gaza Strip call on conscientious people all over the world to act, protest and intensify the boycotts, divestments and sanctions against Israel until it ends this murderous attack on our people and is held to account.
We call for a final end to the crimes and oppression against us. We call for:
-Arms embargos on Israel, sanctions that would cut off the supply of weapons and military aid from Europe and the United States on which Israel depends to commit such war crimes;
-Suspension of all free trade and bilateral agreements with Israel such as the EU-Israel Association agreement;
-Boycott, divestment and sanctions, as called for by the overwhelming majority of Palestinian civil society in 2005
-Severance of diplomatic ties with Israel
-Trials for war crimes
-Immediate international protection of the civilians of Gaza
We call on you to join the growing international boycott, divestment and sanction campaign to hold this rogue state to account that is proving once again to be so violent and yet so unchallenged.
ACT NOW, before it is too late!”
In India the erstwhile Narasimha Rao government had started the process of turning its back on the cause of the Palestinians whose land has been occupied, a cause which India as part of the non aligned world had earlier always supported. The current government is unwilling to criticize Israel with whom India and some states in the union have many business dealings. India is Israel’s biggest weapons buyer. Telangana government also has an ongoing business relationship with Israel.
No citizen in the world can turn his /her back when there is genocide against an unarmed people by a heavily armed army. We as Indians and as citizens of Telangana cannot be silent spectators. Palestinians need our support. Hence, the formation of Solidarity Committee for Palestine in Telangana & Andhra Pradesh. It demanded that India must end the arms trade with Israel, stop any trade agreements and investment involving Israel, sever all diplomatic ties with Israel until they stop the genocide and the siege of Gaza and protest US support to Israeli aggression. It further demanded that to extend humanitarian aid to the besieged Palestinian citizens of Gaza, to stand firmly with the International community which opposes Israeli occupation and its policy of apartheid and to support the demand for Israel to be tried for war crimes
It called upon all people’s organizations in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, including political parties, trade unions, students, social, cultural organizations and concerned citizens to become signatories to support these demands of the Palestinian people.
It announced a protest rally to be held from Sundarayya Vigyan Kendram to Indira Park, Hyderabad on July 26 and representations will be made to the UN Secretary General, President of USA, President, Prime Minister and Minister for External Affairs, Government of India and the Governor and Chief Minister of Telangana, Chief Minister of AP and other authorities demanding sanctions against and boycott of Israel and Israeli business, exchange programs and diplomatic relations.
Announcing other protest programmes, it said on Aug 10 Cultural Protest against Genocide in Gaza will be organized at Indira Park, Hyderabad from 10 am to 5 pm. There will be exhibitions, display of different art forms, painting by artists, children’s art forms, plays, poetry reading, to express solidarity and also to bring awareness among the people of Hyderabad about the genesis of the conflict and the atrocities being committed against the people of Palestine by Israel for decades. Mass emails and communications of all kinds will be directed to the White House, to the President of the USA, protesting US support to Israeli war crimes and a Human Chain around necklace road in Hyderabad is being planned, the date for which will be announced shortly.
Statement was signed by M. Laxmaiah – TVVV, Srinivas – CPM,Dr. Sudhakar – CPI , B. Rama Krishna Raju – AAP , Venkat Reddy – AAP, Prof. Rama Melkote – HFT, Mazher Hussain – COVA, Meena Rukmini – CRIC, Prof. Kodand Ram , V.Sandhya – POW, K. Sajaya – CCC ,J.L.Goutham Prasad – PDSU, Muneer Mujahid – TKU ,A.Narender – IFTU and several others.