The Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign has just found out about an event being hosted by the Israeli Embassy this Friday 18th December (see the official invitation pasted below). It appears they have invited many women's rights, migrant and refugee groups to attend in what they call a lecture on "Migrant Women: Sharing the Israeli experience in Migrant absorption". This is a disgusting attempt to peddle soft-Zionism to progressive movements and organisations in Irish society. The reality is of course, very different; Israeli State racism against its own non-Jewish citizens and Palestinians in the occupied territories and the Palestinian Diaspora are well documented facts. In addition, the same Israeli State that is hosting this event regularly abuses Palestinian women's rights - for example, the UN noted in a report in February 2009:
"Palestinian women’s access to adequate prenatal, natal and post-natal medical care remains a matter of serious concern, impairing the fulfilment of the right of everyone to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. It should also be noted that Israeli policies on closure may, in certain instances, amount to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment under article 16 of the Convention against Torture. Finally it is reiterated that the issue of pregnant Palestinian women giving birth at Israeli checkpoints must be understood within the context of the broader regime of the Israeli occupation and associated restrictions on movement, impacting as they do on all aspects of life in the occupied territories."
The title of this lecture would almost be laughable were it not so serious an issue. Therefore, the IPSC have called for a protest outside the D4 Berkely Hotel, 146 Pembroke Road, Dublin 4 (map - http://tinyurl.com/ye9bh9l) at 12.30pm on Friday 18th December. We ask you to come along and protest this spurious and entirely hypocritical lecture with us. Please bring Palestinian flags and placards if you have them - the IPSC will also be providing some on the day.Also, if you are a member of any of the groups invited to attend this lecture, we would ask that you use your influence to get your organisation to refuse to attend the event, thank you.
In solidarity,Freda Hughes
National Events Coordinator
Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign
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