PEOPLE Before Profit’s Shaun Harkin that Amnesty International’s ‘apartheid state’ report has vindicated the “tireless efforts” of Derry Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Said Councillor Harkin: “Amnesty International’s newly published report is a damning documentation of the reality of Israeli apartheid.
“The report describes Israel as an ‘apartheid state’ and concludes that Palestinians, both within Israel and the Occupied Territories, face systemic and institutionalised segregation through laws, policies and practices.
“This is a damning indictment of the support for imperialism by European Union leaders, the British and US government, and others complicit in economically and militarily propping up and legitimising apartheid violence.
“Republicans and Democrats in the US, Israeli apartheid’s biggest supporter, have fulminated against the report.
“Despite the strength of the Palestine solidarity movement across Ireland, none of the Executive parties, including Sinn Féin and the SDLP, have challenged Stormont’s endorsement of PSNI collaboration with Israeli security forces.
“The response to the growing strength of the anti-apartheid Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign by Israel and its supporters has been to promote legislation with the aim of criminalising criticism of Israeli apartheid.
“For example, last year the SDLP backed a DUP motion in Stormont on the definition of antisemitisim that’s been utilised internationally by apartheid supporters to shutdown criticism of Israeli apartheid and threaten Palestine solidarity campaigners with prosecution.
“Despite the complicity of the political establishment, the movement supporting complete economic, political and military isolation of the Israeli regime, just as occurred with apartheid South Africa, is gaining strength.
“The Amnesty international report underscores this.
“This report is a further vindication of Palestine solidarity movement support for BDS and opposition to efforts to ‘normalise’ relations with apartheid Israel. We want to particularly commend the tireless efforts of the Derry Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign.
“The Amnesty International report must be a call to action for everyone who supports decency and human rights.”
