#Gaza: Ceasefire NOW and End the Blockade (#GazaUnderAttack #SupportGaza)

Originally posted by Gaza's Ark ~ Sailing from Palestine Against the Blockade at http://www.gazaark.org/2012/11/19/gaza-ceasefire-now-and-end-the-blockade/

Israel, one of the largest military powers in the world, is unleashing its military might on the captive Palestinian population in Gaza. Unable to escape from their open-air prison because of the Israeli blockade, 1.6 million Palestinians in Gaza are condemned to be sitting targets for Israel's bombing and shelling.

 The Gaza Strip is one of the most densely populated regions in the world. Over two thirds of the population are refugees who lost their homes to Israel in 1948 and 1967; over half of them are children. The weapons used to destroy their lives and communities are provided by American taxpayers with the active complicity and support of Canadian, Australian and European governments.

Contrary to what Israel would have the world believe, it was Israel and not Gaza that started this current escalation. Israeli soldiers shot and killed a Palestinian man in Gaza on November 5 and then invaded Gaza on Thursday November 8th, killing a twelve-year-old Palestinian boy by machine gun fire while he was playing football. Despite these provocations, and despite more attacks November 10-11, Palestinian forces in Gaza had accepted a negotiated truce last week when Israel killed the Hamas military leader who had negotiated that truce (must see: timelines from the Institute for Middle East Understanding http://imeu.net/news/article0023227.shtml).

This is the aggression that our governments in the West are backing as “Israeli self-defense”.  This is not a “war”, since the parties are completely unequal: one is a state with a powerful military, while the other is a people living under occupation and blockade. The aggressor has international legitimacy as a state, while the target population has been isolated from the world. The Israeli aggressor has responsibilities as a member state of the United Nations, something denied to Palestine and the Palestinians.
 
 Gaza's Ark condemns Israel's ruthless attacks on Gaza; and condemns the US government for providing Israel with $3 billion a year in military aid and the Canadian government for providing a moral shelter for Israel's immoral actions. We call for an immediate cease-fire, an end to political and financial support for Israeli aggression and a complete and unconditional end to the illegal blockade of Gaza.
 
 How can you help?  You can:

 ** In Canada, write:
Stephen Harper, Prime Minister: stephen.harper@parl.gc.ca
John Baird, Foreign Affairs Minister: john.baird@parl.gc.ca
 Paul Dewar, Foreign Affairs critic for the Official Opposition:  paul.dewar@parl.gc.ca
 Thomas Mulcair, Leader of the Official Opposition:  thomas.mulcair@parl.gc.ca
 Bob Rae, Leader of the Liberal Party: bob.rae@parl.gc.ca
 Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party:  Elizabeth.May@parl.gc.ca 

 Find your own MP's contact info here:  http://openparliament.ca/politicians/

 ** In the USA:
 1. Click here to send a letter to President Obama and elected officials to stop funding Israeli war crimes http://www2.answercoalition.org/site/R?i=iTzjY3jmphjVsmAT-RVdyw

 2. Make phone calls: Voice your outrage at Israel’s attacks on Gaza.
 Barak Obama          (202) 456-1111
 State Department  (202) 647-4000   or  (202)-647-6575

 If in California, USA, call:
SF Israeli Consulate  (415) 844-7500  fax: (415) 844-7555
Barbara Boxer        (202) 224-3553
Dianne Feinstein    (202) 224-3841

 If elsewhere in USA, find your congress members’ contact details here:
http://www.contactingthecongress.org/ 

 ** In Australia:
Call on Foreign Minister Carr http://foreignminister.gov.au/contacts.html  to exert diplomatic pressure on Israel to bring about an immediate cease-fire and to initiate an investigation of Israel's misuse of U.S. weapons against Palestinians in this and previous attacks.

 Anywhere in the world: attend a protest against the attacks on Gaza

 ** List of demos around the world:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Iq4XZx9Vj0BDIiWzlHi2mUS0VUOn_t-prgtGGCzatQw/edit?pli=1 
updated regularly. If you don't see an action near you, please consider starting one and let us know at events@gazaark.org.

 Thank you for your immediate action and ongoing support!

~ reposted by Sofia Smith