Stop the JNF UK Protest, Plant-a-Tree-in-Palestine fundraiser & conference, May 2012

Plant a Tree posterFriday 11th May
Disarm the Zionists – Stop the JNF’s Scottish shoot (protest)

Venue: Cowan’s Law, nr Glasgow – email uk@stopthejnf.org for details
Every day brings news of more Israeli atrocities in Palestine: killings, house demolitions and Palestinian families thrown into the street. The racist JNF (Jewish National Fund) is at the heart of the grim action, either planting trees to cover up the ruins of ethnically cleansed villages or even taking part directly in evicting Palestinian families to make way for Jewish settlers.

Anger in the UK at the JNF’s crimes is rising.  Their fund-raising activities now take place in secret in London, while scores of Members of Parliament are calling for an investigation into JNF activities.

Provocatively, the JNF is now organising a fund-raising charity shoot at a venue called Cowan’s Law near Glasgow on May 11th.  This shooting event is intolerable considering that the JNF works with the murderous Israeli military and paramilitary forces to ethnically-cleanse unarmed Palestinians.  Stop the JNF UK calls on supporters of Palestinian rights from across the UK and all those disturbed by the Israeli policy of shooting unarmed Palestinians to come to Cowan’s Law on Friday May 11th to ensure this provocation does not take place.

When peaceful Palestinian demonstrators march on Israeli guns to oppose Israeli dispossession and colonisation, we can do no less here in the UK when those who would finance the crimes have a disgusting “charity shoot.”

Friday 11th May, from 6pm
Plant-a-Tree in Palestine Fundraiser

Augustine United Church Centre, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh

FEATURING: Rafeef Ziadah with Phil Monsour and Carlos Arredondo

Plant-a-Tree in Palestine is a new project established in 2011 with aim of raising awareness of the tree planting activities of the JNF, and providing an effective means of solidarity with Palestinians resisting the demolition of their homes and theft of their land.  It is a joint project of the Middle East Children’s Alliance, the Palestinian Grassroots Anti-Apartheid Wall Campaign (Stop the Wall), the Palestinian Farmers Union, and the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network.

The first planting action took place on January 2nd 2012, with all the partners joining forces alongside local residents and youth activists in Tulkarem, Occupied West Bank.  One hundred and eleven trees were planted, representing the 111 years of the JNF’s existence, with each tree being named after a different Palestinian village destroyed in 1948.

The action was a success, receiving positive news coverage within Palestine and abroad, and raising awareness of the JNF’s activities within the local communities.  It was therefore decided to build the project in 2012, culminating in 3 or 4 similar planting actions in late 2012 and early 2013.

We invite you to join us for a night of food and entertainment at the Augustine Church Sanctuary, Edinburgh, 6-10pm on Friday May 11th 2012 (the evening of the Stop the JNF protest).  Tickets cost £20.  Full details to be announced soon.  To find out more or to buy a ticket please contact Dave at daveblack85@gmail.com

Saturday 12 May
Stop the JNF Conference: No British funds for apartheid, colonisation and ethnic cleansing

Venue: Augustine United Church Centre, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh – £10 / £5 to register email uk@stopthejnf.org
Speakers on the role of the JNF in ethnic cleansing in Israel/Palestine, the struggle against the JNF in the UK, JNF greenwashing, the “Plant a Tree in Palestine” project, and more.  Full details will be announced on the website www.stopthejnf.org