Palestine – Suzanne Berliner Weiss

LEILA KHALED TO SPEAK: FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE NOT WAR

Suzanne Berliner Weiss, activist, author of Holocaust to Resistance: My Journey:

I am proud to add my name to the supporters of Leila Khaled, a world-renowned leader of Palestinian resistance. It will be an honour for us all to hear her testimony at a forum in Australia on fighting climate change, not war.

I am a survivor of the Jewish Holocaust carried out by the German Nazis. I was saved by the solidarity of many individuals and a whole community who protected Jews and others marked down for death. The world’s peoples did not know of the mass murder being committed, although their governments knew, were silent, and thus, complicit.

Another crime was initiated in 1947 with the Nakba, the catastrophe, when the Israeli government with military might, expelled over 750,000 indigenous Palestinians from their homeland.

This crime continues to this day in the name of the Jewish people — without their consent.

The world’s peoples did not know the extent of the Palestinian misery but were rudely awakened in 1969 by the courageous Leila Khaled. She demanded freedom, dignity, equality, and peace for the oppressed Palestinians.

The world’s people were once again awakened on October 7 with the same demands to end the cruel occupation and daily bombardment of Gaza. Today, we all insist on an immediate enduring cease fire to the genocide.

Leila Khaled has dedicated her life to the resistance and for a free Palestine. It will be an honour to discuss with her and to work together on better ways to live in equality, dignity, and peace to save this planet.

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Nick Riemer, academic, refugee and union activist says Leila Khaled must not be prevented from speaking in Australia.

Wendy Bacon, journalist and researcher: “I am appalled that the Albanese government will not provide Leila Khaled with a visa”

Ecosocialism 2024

Canada Must Oppose Illegal Israeli Annexations

I represented Independent Jewish Voices (IJV) Toronto in the coalition against Israeli Annexations. A rally was also organized on Bloor and Yonge in Toronto, in front of the Israeli Consulate on Sat., June 27, 3 p.m.

Image may contain: text that says 'RALLY AGAINST ISRAEL'S ILLEGAL ANNEX ANNEXATION' — SIGN PETITION BELOW: **https://tinyurl.com/ya6hc748**

After 40 years of the illegal annexation of East Jerusalem and 53 years of illegal military occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced its intention to annex large portions of the West Bank starting in July, with full backing from the Trump administration.

Israeli control of Palestinian territories is illegal under international law, which is clear in its emphasis on the “inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force.” Despite numerous UN resolutions urging Israel to end its occupation, Israel has chosen to continue on the path of settler-colonialism, apartheid, land seizure and forcible displacement of Palestinians.

Indeed, annexing territory without granting full citizenship rights to the three million Palestinians in the West Bank constitutes apartheid; Palestinians would be left in nominally autonomous and disconnected enclaves under Israeli rule.

We call on the Trudeau government to condemn the annexation and take action against it.

Canada must abide by its stated commitment to international law and the rules-based order by pledging meaningful steps against Israel’s unilateral annexations. This must include the imposition of sanctions, such as suspending the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement and prohibiting all trade with illegal Israeli settlements.

If recent history is any indication, verbal rebukes are insufficient, and only concrete action can ensure that Israel is deterred from its imminent violations of international law.

We can no longer stand by and be complicit.

SIGN THIS PETITION: https://tinyurl.com/ya6hc748

Resource: Facts and Opinions on the Israeli Annexation

Canada must consider a forceful response, including revisiting the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement and other bilateral agreements and the imposition of economic sanctions against Israel.

Below is a list of articles and statements by organizations and individuals on the annexation, which represents the continuation and expansion of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land. Each resource can be reached by one click.

Assessing the Limits of Civil Society in the Palestine State ... — Civil Society in the Palestine State …belfercenter.org

This Will Be the Heavy Price of Annexation for the Israelis

Canada’s Unions call on the Canadian government to fight to stop the annexation of Palestinian lands

Palestinian civil society calls for effective measures against annexation

‘Annexation leads to massive expropriation’ (David Sfard)

Independent Jewish Voices Canada: ‘Sanctions on Israel: If not now, when?

NDP MP Charlie Angus calls for sanctions

Khaled Mouammar to Justin Trudeau: ‘Canada must take firm actions’

Former diplomats call for Canada to speak out

NDP calls for ‘strong opposition’ to annexations

Green MPs condemn Israeli plan

CJPME: ‘Canada will be compelled to reconsider agreements with Israel’

Electronic Intifada: ‘Canada offers empty words’

Israeli annexation, Canadian confusion (David Kattenberg)

Palestine politics after annexation (Abdul Sattar Kassem)

Leaked Memo Details Anti-Defamation League (ADL) Annexation Response

The Anti-Defamation League, a major U.S. Zionist organization, says (in effect) that there is no way they can defend Israel’s annexations but they should try to prevent legislated sanctions.

Solidarity with Kashmir

The following was given in a webinar to Socialist Action on May 24, 2020 in Canada, as part of a panel on India and Fascism.

This is the time of the Covid-19 pandemic, a threat to all humanity, and a time for solidarity and support.

In this spirit, we reach out to victims of apartheid Israel’s occupation of Gaza.

We must do the same for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, a disputed territory occupied by India. They are majority Muslims, who have suffered under complete lockdown and communications blackout.

It’s a question of land. India occupies Jammu and Kashmir and scrapped a constitutional ban on sale of Kashmiri land to non-residents. Now, all the land can be bought by anyone: Kashmir is up for grabs.

The Holocaust and Defense of the Palestinians

Reading a new book Israel, Palestine and the Politics of Race: Exploring Identity and Power in a Global Context, by Yasmeen Abu-Laban and Abigail B. Bakan (I.B. Tauris), I noticed a reference to an article I published online written in 2006. Regrettably the link is to a website that has since closed. I am taking this opportunity to republish the referenced article, The Holocaust and Defense of the Palestinians.

Today in 2020, the political situation has changed only in that Iran is not only again under threat by the United States and its satellites but also in greater danger as is the world’s people. — Suzanne Weiss

Forces responsible for slaughter of Jews now oppress the Palestinian people

By Suzanne Weiss

This article is based on a talk given to a meeting of Muslim Unity of Toronto on December 23, 2006.

Sixty years ago, a mass slaughter – a holocaust – was carried out against European Jews. Today its memory is being misused to build support for Zionism and to oppress and murder the Palestinians.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper says that Canada must not talk with Hezbollah or Hamas, organizations that defend the Palestinians, because they “advocate wiping Israel off the face of the Earth” — an objective that he says is “ultimately genocidal,” that is, another holocaust. (Globe & Mail, Dec. 21, 2006) He uses this excuse to justify punishing Palestinians for electing Hamas by cutting off aid to their government.

This is the Stephen Harper who on July 14, 2006, called Israel’s slaughter of the Lebanese a “measured response” to the abduction of two Israeli soldiers.

Palestinian Demands are Simple and Just’

‘For Freedom to Think and Freedom to Live’

by Rana Abdulla

Rana Abdulla’s introduction to my presentation in Winnipeg March 2 includes a powerful statement of the rights of Palestinian people. Her statement is reproduced here with Rana’s permission.

When I landed in Winnipeg with my partner John Riddell the previous day, we were met by Harold Shuster, a friend from Independent Jewish Voices. He took us for lunch at wonderful Palestinian restaurant, the Yafa Café. There, we met its dynamic driving spirit, Rana Abdulla, well known in Winnipeg as a strong voice for Palestinian rights.

Interview in: Sada Almashrek

by Hussein Hoballah

Suzanne Weiss, Jewish advocate for Palestinian human rights and author of “Holocaust to Resistance: My Journey” (Fernwood, 2019), contributed the following response to our questions in Sada Almashrek, an Arabic-English publication in Montreal.

Though the “anti-Semitism” narrative is today being made bait at large to hit back hard on any criticisers of Israel, outspoken Weiss says she, like many other Jews, refuses the Israeli authorities’ unjust treatment and supports, instead, al-Quds Day, as well as collaboration with Muslims to fight real anti-Semitism and any other form of racism.

Mrs Weiss says that her activism on behalf of Palestine is based on the principle of “universalism” found in both Jewish and Islamic faiths.

Now nearing eighty, Suzanne Weiss still enjoys a strong memory of major global incidents that have shaped today’s injustices and is therefore determined to make a difference.

1) Mrs Weiss, it is amazing to read your book Holocaust to Resistance: My Journey, and learn about your personal journey, so would you please briefly share some background info on it?

When I was an infant child, a Jew in France under Fascist occupation, the Nazis targeted me to be killed. After the Nazi defeat, I wondered how I had survived. Over the decades, I pieced the story together: my survival was the work of a broad movement of solidarity that saved many thousands of other Jewish children.

‘Holocaust survivor condemns McGill’s handling of anti-Semitism allegations’

By Kevin Vogel, published in the McGill Tribune, February 25, 2020

Photo by Kevin Vogel, The McGill Tribune – Suzanne (in the middle) is being given a kefiyyah.

During her visit to promote her memoir, Holocaust to Resistance: My Journey, Suzanne Berliner Weiss led a rally on Feb. 17 condemning Deputy Provost of Student Life and Learning Fabrice Labeau’s handling of anti-Semitism allegations regarding last semester’s controversial Face to Face trip. Weiss, a lifelong activist and Holocaust survivor, heard about these allegations from media coverage last December. Co-organized by Independent Jewish Voices (IJV) and Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (SPHR) McGill, the rally outside of the James Administration Building featured Weiss delivering a letter to Deputy Provost Labeau detailing her perspective on the issue. Weiss read the letter aloud before delivering it to Labeau’s office.

In solidarity with Tlaib and Omar

Dear Rashida and Ilhan,

As a survivor of the Jewish Holocaust, I hail your personal sacrifices, dedication, and courageous actions for the Palestinian people, as they strive for homeland, equality, and freedom.

As a young child under Nazi occupation, like countless other Jewish children, I was saved from Hitler by the warm embrace of solidarity.
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Today, you bring this same spirit to the aid of Palestinians, who seek to tear down the racist apartheid walls and to build a foundation for peace, justice, and reconciliation.

Thank you, Rashida and Ilhan, for breaking the silence over inhuman apartheid and raising the Palestinians’ unifying demand for boycott, divestment, and sanctions.

Suzanne Weiss, Toronto
Aug. 19, 2019

Celebrating the Palestinians and Freedom of Speech

Today, June 1, was a great success for the Al Quds rally which gathered more than 1,000 people in support of Palestinian freedom and free speech. I was honoured to be one of the speakers. Here is what I said:

My name is Suzanne Weiss. I am a Holocaust survivor. As a Jewish infant, I was marked down by the Nazis for death. All my life I have worked to prevent another Holocaust through pursuit of social justice and free speech. We meet today in the cause of human rights for the Palestinian peoples. Their lands are seized, their homes destroyed; they are confined by walls and checkpoints; they are arbitrarily jailed. In Gaza – they suffer a brutal and murderous blockade without the medications, water, and food needed to enjoy life.

How can we help put an end to these evils?
Through the global campaign to end Israeli apartheid. A campaign of boycott, divestment, and sanctions against the Israeli government! To end apartheid, we have three demands:
** End the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land.
** Let the exiled Palestinians return to their homeland.
** Grant equal rights to all in Israel- including the Palestinians.

Some tell us that to speak of Israeli apartheid is hateful. Some want to make it a crime even to say the words “Israeli apartheid.”
But we must speak the truth. It is Israeli apartheid that is the crime. The call to end Israeli apartheid is a non-violent effort to achieve justice and reconciliation. The call to end Israeli apartheid affirms our hope and trust that the Israeli people, like the Palestinians, will come to embrace an agenda of equality. Our goal is for Palestinians to be free to pursue their dreams in their homeland, in equality and reconciliation with their Jewish sisters and brothers.

I welcome the efforts of the Al-Quds organizers, our Muslim and Palestinian friends, to achieve this goal. Al Quds explains the difference between Judaism and Zionism. Al Quds seeks to overcome anti-Jewish and anti-Palestinian prejudice. They say “Judaism yes, Zionism no!” These efforts deserve constructive engagement, dialogue, and respect for free speech.

In this spirit, we say: “Free — Free Palestine!”