NGO Action News – 28 April 2017

This newsletter informs about recent and upcoming activities of Civil Society Organizations affiliated with the United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. The Committee and the Division for Palestinian Rights of the UN Secretariat provide the information “as is” without warranty of any kind, and do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, or reliability of the information contained in the websites linked in the newsletter.

NGO ACTION NEWS
28 April 2017

Global 

• On 19 April, ahead of FIFA’s annual congress on 10 and 11 May in Bahrain, over 100 individuals and civil society groups published a letter urging FIFA to insist that the Israel Football Association revoke the affiliation of seven football clubs located in West Bank settlements, or else face suspension from FIFA membership.

Middle East

• In the Gaza Strip, the ICRC is implementing a Mine Risk Education Programme to raise awareness and promote safe behaviour among students and teachers, particularly regarding Explosive Remnants of War.

• On 26 April, Ir Amim reported that Israeli authorities had resumed construction of the Wall around Al-Wallajeh in the Bethlehem Governorate, further isolating the village from its surroundings through the establishment of a national park and a visitor centre.

• In relation to the ongoing hunger strike by Palestinian prisoners, Addameer published on 25 April a Q&A sheet entitled “Get the Facts on Palestinian Hunger Strikes”.

• On 25 April, Gisha-Legal Centre for Freedom of Movement warned that the electricity crisis in Gaza had resulted in reduced water quality, additional untreated sewage pumped into the sea and hospitals being on the brink of stopping essential services.

• In the context of the cancellation of talks between Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and German Foreign Minister Gabriel on 25 April over the latter’s decision to meet with human rights groups, B’Tselem issued a press release and published an op-ed.

• On 21 April, over a dozen activists from Ta’ayush, a partnership of Israelis and Palestinians striving together to end the Israeli occupation and to achieve full civil equality through non-violent action, were reportedly attacked by settlers while accompanying Palestinian shepherds in the Jordan Valley. The incident reportedly left three activists wounded.

Europe

• On 25 April, the Palestine Return Centre hosted a discussion: “The Question of Jerusalem: Occupation, Discrimination and Displacement” in London. The event was chaired by Labour MP Mark Hendrick, and featured as speakers Professor Wendy Pullan, from the University of Cambridge, Professor Mary Green from Queen Mary University of London and Kammel Hawwash from the University of Birmingham.

North America 

• From 5 to 10 June, the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights will launch a Week of Action to demand an end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967.

• On 29 and 30 April, the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York will be screening “Ouroboros”, a film by Basma Alsharif about the Gaza Strip. The screening on the 30^th will be followed by a conversation with the director.

• On 25 April, the New Israel Fund of Canada held an event in Toronto entitled “Bans and Borders: An Evening with Israeli Author Dorit Rabinyan”. Rabinyan’s work seeks to overcome the divide between Israelis and Palestinians.

• On 23 April, Theatre Communications Group and Playwrights Canada Press celebrated the recent publication of “Double Exposure: Plays of the Jewish and Palestinian Diaspora” with a panel discussion followed by a book signing in New York.

• On 22 April, Actions4Palestine hosted in Toronto a discussion on “Criminalizing Resistance – A Panel Discussion on Joint Struggle” to mark Palestinian Prisoners’ Day.

• On 21 April, Americans for Peace Now announced that it would cancel its annual Israel Study Tour due to fear that its members might be denied entry under the country’s recent anti-BDS legislation. APN does not support boycotting Israel, but supports boycotting settlements.

• Churches for Middle East Peace has launched a campaign calling on citizens to tell the U.S. Congress: “Gaza Needs Electricity and Clean Water”.

United Nations

• In preparation for the 1 June deadline to apply for consultative status with ECOSOC, interested NGOs are invited to an informational webinar on 5 May, from 11:00 to 12:30 (New York time).

• A Q&A entitled “Gaza: 20 hours without electricity” is available from the UNRWA USA National Committee.

• The Palestinian Rights Committee will convene at UN headquarters in New York two events to mark 50 years of the Israeli occupation. A high-level event and panel discussion on 29 June “Ending the Occupation: The Path to Independence, Justice and Peace for Palestine” will be followed on 30 June by a Civil Society Forum under the theme: “Ending the Occupation: Creating the Space for Human Rights, Development and a Just Peace”.

Contact us: palestinianrights@un.org

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