Two letters: Hundreds of Israeli academics and citizens calling for boycotts, sanctions

(1) Stop the Israeli aggression: From Words to Deeds
(2) In support of the Palestinian Human Rights Community Call for International Action

Stop the Israeli aggression: From Words to Deeds

Sir, The leaders of the Western world are wringing their hands in despair at the sight of the horrors inflicted on Gaza. The UN General Secretary, the French President, and other dignitaries are holding intensive discussions with some of the leaders of the Middle-East in an attempt to put an end to the carnage in Gaza. Word, words, words. Meanwhile, hundreds of Palestinian civilians get killed, thousands are bleeding to death, tens of thousands are uprooted and wandering in vain in search of some shelter to protect them against the slaughtering machinery which haunts them. The Israeli army bombs hospitals and UNRWA relief centers, and, defying any international convention, it uses white phosphorous bombs against civilians. ³What else can we do?² these leaders keep asking. Well, here is what you can do: move from words to deeds. Only immediate, decisive, and strict sanctions against the state of Israel and its limitless aggression will make it realize that there¹s a limit.

We, the undersigned, Israeli citizens, raise our unflinching voice, calling
upon the EU leaders: Use sanctions against the brutal Israeli policies and
join the active protests of Bolivia and Venezuela. We appeal to the citizens
of Europe: Please attend to the Palestinian Human Rights Organizations' call
and to the call of more than 540 Israeli citizens who support it. Boycott
Israeli goods and Israeli institutions; follow operative resolutions such as
those of the cities of Athens, Birmingham, and Cambridge (US). This is the
only road left. Help us all, Please!

Gish Amit
Prof. Daphna Carmeli (Haifa University)
Prof. Yoram Carmeli (Haifa University)
Dr. Judith Druks (City University, London)
Rona Even
Prof. Rachel Giora (Tel Aviv University)
Dalia Hager
Ala Hlehel
Lana Khaskia
Prof. Vered Kraus (Haifa University)
Yael Lerer
Eilat Maoz
Dr. Anat Matar (Tel Aviv University)
Rela Mazali
Dorothy Naor
Dr. David Nir
Amit Perelson
Jonathan Pollak
Prof. Yehuda Shenhav (Tel Aviv University)
Dr. Kobi Snitz (Technion ­ Israel Institute of Technology)
Sergio Yahni
For details please contact:
Dr. Anat Matar
anatmatar@gmail.com
+972 72 2511135

In support of the Palestinian Human Rights Community Call for International Action

As if the occupation was not enough, the brutal ongoing repression of the
Palestinian population, the construction of settlements and the siege of
Gaza - now comes the bombardment of the civilian population: men, women, old
folks and children. Hundreds of dead, hundreds of injured, overwhelmed
hospitals, and the central medicine depot of Gaza bombed. The ship Dignity
of the Free Gaza movement which brought emergency medical supplies and a
number of physicians was also attacked. Israel has returned to openly
committing war crimes, worse than what we have seen in a long time.
Israeli media do not expose their viewers to the horrors and to the voices
of severe criticism of these crimes. The story told is uniform. Israeli
dissidents are denounced as traitors. Public opinion including that of the
Zionist left supports the Israeli policy uncritically and without
reservation.

Israel's destructive criminal policy will not cease without a massive
intervention by the international community. However, except for some rather
weak official condemnation, the international community is reluctant to
intervene,. The United States openly supports the Israeli violence and
Europe, although voicing some condemnation, is unwilling to seriously
consider withdrawing the "gift" it handed Israel by upgrading its relations
with the European Union.

In the past the world knew how to fight criminal policies. The boycott on
South Africa was effective, but Israel is handled with kid gloves: its trade
relations are flourishing, academic and cultural cooperation continue and
intensify with diplomatic support.

This international backing must stop. That is the only way to stop the
insatiable Israeli violence.

We are calling on the world to stop Israeli violence and not allow the
continuation of the brutal occupation. We call on the world to Condemn and
not become an accomplice in Israel's crimes.

In light of the above, we call on the world to implement the call by
Palestinian human rights organizations which urges:

€ "The UN Security Council to call an emergency session and adopt concrete
measures, including the imposition of sanctions, in order to ensure Israel's
fulfillment of its obligations under international humanitarian law.

€ The High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions to fulfil their
obligation under common Article 1 to ensure respect for the provisions of
the Conventions, taking appropriate measures to compel Israel to abide by
its obligations under international humanitarian law, in particular placing
pivotal importance on the respect and protection of civilians from the
effects of the hostilities.

€ The High Contracting Parties to fulfil their legal obligation under
Article 146 of the Fourth Geneva Convention to prosecute those responsible
for grave breaches of the Convention.

€ EU institutions and member states to make effective use of the European
Union Guidelines on promoting compliance with international humanitarian law
(2005/C 327/04) to ensure Israel complies with international humanitarian
law under paragraph 16 (b), (c) and (d) of these guidelines, including the
adoption of immediate restrictive measures and sanctions, as well as
cessation of all upgrade dialogue with Israel. "

To see the list of signatures by 540 Israeli citizens go to:
http://www.freegaza.org/en/home/658-a-call-from-within-signed-by-israeli-citizens