Palestine
Palestine Campaign - Time for Sanctions
"Israel’s defiance of international law poses a threat not only to the international legal order but to the international order itself. This is no time for appeasement on the part of the international community."
John Dugard, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories
John Dugard, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories
Palestine is facing a humanitarian catastrophe. 70% of Palestinians are now living in acute poverty, a figure which has tripled in just four years, and over 50% are dependent on food aid.
This poverty has resulted from over 35 years of Israeli Occupation. Israel has confiscated thousands of acres of fertile Palestinian land in order to build its illegal Wall. Palestinian homes, farms and water systems have been purposefully destroyed. Restrictions on movement have devastated the Palestinian economy and created a series of impoverished ghettos.
Today, the Separation Wall nears completion, human rights are violated on a daily basis and tensions in Jerusalem threaten peace across the region. In 2005, as 8,500 settlers were evicted from Occupied land in Gaza, an additional 14,000 settlers moved into equally illegal settlements on the West Bank. Prime Minister Sharon has been clear that disengagement from Gaza is actually a step towards strengthening the Occupation.
As Israel’s principal trading partner, many in the international community have called on the European Union to suspend the trading preferences which Israel enjoys as a result of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. The Agreement is based upon respect for human rights which United Nations representatives have made clear are regularly violated by Israel. So although in breach of the Agreement, the EU has failed to stop rewarding Israel with trading opportunities.
It is time countries like the UK gave the Palestinians hope, through action which, ultimately, could prevent frustration and desperation turning to yet more violence.
 |  | Take Action. Send an email to your MEP: Call for the suspension of the EU-Israel association agreement. |
| Latest News: Read about the latest news and events on War on Want's sanctions campaign |
 | | Sanctions against Israel Briefing [pdf]: Download the briefing here calling for the suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement which gives Israel trading preferences with the EU. |
 | | Download Palestine Sanctions Petition [pdf]: Take action NOW! Download and print out the petition, and ask friends, colleagues and family to do the same. |
 | | Take Urgent Action on Palestine: Send Margaret Beckett a candle to forward to the people of Gaza, join the olive harvest in Palestine and stop Caterpillar. Act now. |
| Profiting from the Occupation: Download the report, read about our conference and hear Dr Mustafa Barghouthi speak online. |
 | | We Don't Need No Thought Control: War on Want took rock legend Roger Waters and band Belle and Sebastian to the Occupied Territories. See pictures and reports here. |
 | | The Separation Wall: Find out about the illegal 450-mile separation Wall Israel is constructing. |
 | | Background Information: Look at previous reports, briefings, analysis and the root causes of poverty in Palestine. |
 | | Go to Palestine Homepage: Find out what else you can do, take action and get involved now. |
