Ad-Hoc Coalition for Justice in the Middle East

August 2006

Background

The Ad-Hoc Coalition for Justice in the Middle East (Justice M.E.) began organizing actions in response to the escalation of Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip at the end of June and subsequent Israeli attacks and incursions into Lebanon in July 2006. Justice M.E. has organized and participated in several demonstrations at the Israeli consulate and the United Nations, has drafted a petition to the UN Secretary General, which was signed by over 1,000 organizations and individuals, has organized a march across the Brooklyn Bridge on July 29, has organized an emergency demonstration from the United Nations to Times Square on July 31 in protest of Israeli massacre in Qana, Lebanon, and has organized a march and rally in Astoria Queens on August 26, 2006. Justice M.E. also participated in the national march on Washington held on August 12, 2006.

Statement

Adalah-NY: The Coalition for Justice in the Middle East is a grassroots strategic alliance of concerned organizations and individuals in New York, formed to demand an immediate, unconditional, and permanent end to U.S. and U.S.-sponsored Israeli aggression in the Middle East. In response to the continuing injustices committed by the U.S. and Israel, which constitute gross violations of international law, Adalah-NY stands with the people of the Middle East in their demands for justice, equality, democracy, and respect for human rights.

In particular, we support the call by Palestinian civil society organizations for non-violent punitive measures including boycotts, divestment, and sanctions to be maintained until Israel meets its obligation to recognize the Palestinian people's inalienable right to self-determination and fully complies with the precepts of international law by:

Ending its occupation and colonization of all Arab lands and dismantling the Wall;

Recognizing the fundamental rights of the Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel to full equality; and

Respecting, protecting and promoting the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties as stipulated in UN resolution 194.

We also call for: an end to all occupation in the region; the immediate release of all Arab political prisoners held in Israeli jails; an end to all policies of apartheid and ethnic cleansing; an end to all forms of collective punishment; and an end to US military and financial aid to Israel. We also affirm the right of all people to resist occupation and oppression.

We maintain these demands and rights as they are upheld by basic principles of morality and justice as well as international law. And we recognize that Israeli aggression is supported by the United States and is inseparably tied to the United States' illegal occupation of Iraq and larger U.S. strategies for hegemony in the region.