Palestinian women hold pictures of imprisoned relatives at a protest supporting the hunger strikers, in Gaza City. Photograph: Mohammed Abed/AFP/Getty Images

Palestinian prisoners to end hunger strike
- Sydney Morning Herald, 15 May 2012

Israel has signed an agreement with Palestinian militant groups ending a hunger strike by 1550 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. The group had been refusing food since April 17. The deal was reached through Egyptian mediation, the Palestinian militant groups and a prisoners’ support group said on Monday. An Israeli statement said simply: “In response to the request of Palestinian President Abbas, Israel has agreed to steps that have brought about the end of the hunger strike.”
Read full article on Sydney Morning Herald website here >>>

See also Haaretz – Palestinian prisoners end hunger strike as agreement reached with Israeli officials
Guardian UK – Palestinian prisoners end hunger strike

Palestinian hunger strikes: Media missing in action

Santa Barbara, CA - Can anyone doubt that if there were more than 1,500 prisoners engaged in a hunger strike in any country in the world other than Palestine, the media in the West would be obsessed with the story? Such an obsession would, of course, be greatest if such a phenomenon were to occur in an adversary state, such as Iran or China, but almost anywhere it would be featured news, that is, anywhere but Palestine. It would be highlighted day after day, and reported on from all angles, including the severe medical risks associated with such a lengthy refusal to take food, with respected doctors and human rights experts sharing their opinions.
Read full article on Al-Jazeera here >>>

The mass hunger strikes by Palestinians in Israeli custody are likely to result in deaths in coming days, and Australia’s failure to press Israel to abolish administrative detention is part of the problem, says Palestinian Advocacy Group, APAN.

“Israel promotes itself as a democracy, but uses administrative detention processes where people can be held without charge for years. This is contrary to accepted standards of human rights under international law,” says APAN President, Rev Jim Barr. “Australia opposes arbitrary detention around the world, and should be challenging Israel vigorously on this matter.”
Read full Press Release on APAN website here >>>

Musically, the CD is a unique collection of anthem rock song and folk ballads combined to capture both the alarm and optimism of current times. A video clip for Ghosts of Deir Yassin was filmed in January 2012 and can be viewed on Phil’s YouTube channel.

20% of CD sales are donated to Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA’s projects in the Middle East, such as the Gaza Emergency Appeal, Food Security Projects in the OPT and the Palestinian Camps Support Campaigjn. APHEDA is the international development agency of the Australian Council of Trade Unions.

Phil Monsour is a singer/songwriter of Arab descent who lives in Australia. He is a founding member of Artists Against Apartheid-Australia, a Trade Union activist and organiser in the Boycott Divestment Sanctions campaign.
Phil Monsour transcends Palestine’s tragedy on rousing new rock album – Samah Sabawi, Electronic Intifada, 7 May 2012

CJPP will support this by encouraging participants and passers-by to sign a postcard to a Palestinian political prisoner. We encourage everyone to join Students for Justice in Palestine for a silent gathering in solidarity with Palestinian political prisoners.
More event details here >>>

The principled decision by VITA not to buy products from Israeli settlements in the West Bank is based on a position of not wanting to contribute to violations of international law. This is also the position of Norgesgruppen, a company holding 49% of the shares in VITA. BAMA, another Norgesgruppen company has implemented the same policy regarding Israeli fruit and vegetables for several years already.

The VITA decision comes after a period of active lobbying from Norwegian People’s Aid and the Norwegian Union of Municipal and General Employees (Fagforbundet), providing VITA and VITA’s owners with information about Ahava and their production in the Mitzpe Shalem settlement. Activists in Norway have also focused on Ahava and will now launch a new campaign to have other stores follow VITA’s example.
View article at Norwegian People’s Aid here >>>
See also the CJPP AHAVA COSMETICS CAMPAIGN PAGE >>>

Wednesday, 28th March 2012
6.15 pm for 6.45 pm
“Parliament House Theatrette, Macquarie St, Sydney
Cost: $10, $5 (concession)
Presented by Coalition for Justice and Peace in Palestine and hosted by
NSW Parliamentary Friends of Palestine.