June 7 2010 Tadamon! letter to Fédération des Femmes du Québec (FFQ)

Photo: Alaa Badarneh Palestinian woman clashing with Israeli soldier in 2004 during a demonstration against the controversial security barrier near the West Bank village of Al-Zawiya, north west of Qalqilya city.

Dear Ms. Conradi, Montreal Middle East solidarity collective Tadamon would like to extend its warm congratulations to the members of the Fédération des Femmes du Québec (FFQ) (Québec Federation of Women). At its most recent convention on May 29 and 30, 2010 in Québec City, the Federation’s members voted unanimously in favour of a historic resolution in support of the global campaign of Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) against Israeli apartheid.

This is a great achievement by the members of the members of the FFQ, which represents more than 644 individual members and 184 women’s organisations in Québec. This courageous stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people living under Israeli apartheid, occupation and siege sends a clear message that Israel’s persistent violations of international law, which began in 1948, will no longer be tolerated by the international community. Following the Israeli army’s criminal attacks on the Gaza humanitarian aid convoy this past Sunday, the citizens of the world are ready, now more than ever, to take concrete steps to demonstrate their solidarity with the Palestinian people. BDS is an important example of such a step.

In recent years, the FFQ has demonstrated its solidarity with Palestine and has taken a strong position in favour of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. In January 2010, the FFQ supported demonstrations which took place in Montréal calling for the end of the siege of Gaza and joined other organizations in calling for an end to the occupation and colonisation of Palestinian lands, the right of return for Palestinian refugees, and the respect for the right of self-determination of the Palestinian people. Furthermore, at the most recent convention of the FFQ, members adopted a resolution in support of demonstrations against the visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Ottawa on May 31 2010.

Tadamon congratulates FFQ on its vital show of support for Palestinians and in paticular Palestinian women and their families at a time when the suffering of the Palestinian people is only increasing. This suffering ranges from but is not limited to Israel’s illegal settlement expansions and expulsions of Palestinians in East Jerusalem, the forced displacement of Palestinians by the construction of the illegal apartheid wall in the West Bank, and the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, where over 1 million Palestinians are now trapped by Israel’s ongoing siege and are denied the basic necessities of life including food and medication.

By joining the campaign for BDS against Israeli apartheid, the FFQ joins several other important organisations in Québec. Just one week ago, the 297 delegates of the Conseil central du Montréal métropolitain of the Confédération des syndicats nationaux (CCMM-CSN) adopted a resolution in support of the BDS campaign. In 2010, the Ligue des droits et libertés declared its support for the BDS campaign; in June 2009, the Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ), a major trade union federation, joined the campaign; and in 2008, the Association pour une Solidarité Syndicale Étudiante (ASSÉ), one of Québec’s student unions, endorsed BDS; and the list goes on…

The FFQ’s adoption of the BDS resolution is a major step towards ending illegal occupation and apartheid in Palestine, and will no doubt inspire other feminist groups and organisations in Québec to take similar steps. Congratulations!

We call on supporters of the BDS campaign around the world to take the following action in support of the Fédération des Femmes du Québec (FFQ)’s historic move:

1) Immediately email the FFQ to congratulate them on their stand against Israeli apartheid. A sample letter is included below for your convenience.

please email your letter of support to:

info@ffq.qc.ca

and cc info@tadamon.ca

2) If you are a member of a feminist, community, or other organization, get involved in the BDS campaign! Please contact Tadamon at info@tadamon.ca or (514) 664-1036 for ideas and ways to get involved in Palestinian solidarity work within your organisation or community.

Fight the power, turn the tide, end Israeli apartheid!

In Solidarity,
The Tadamon Collective, Montreal
www.tadamon.ca

—

sample letter

Dear Ms. Conradi,

I would like to congratulate the FFQ adopting a resolution in support of the global campaign of Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) against Israeli apartheid.

Like South Africa, Israel will have to be subjected to intense international pressure before it recognizes Palestinians as a people with the right to self-determination and equality. Your organization plays an important role in the fight for women’s rights here in Québec – it is impressive to see you taking a leadership role in demonstrating solidarity with the fight of Palestinian women against Israeli apartheid.

No doubt you will come under intense pressure from pro-Israeli, pro-apartheid organizations to reverse this courageous decision. Rest assured that the overwhelming majority of people in the world are not fooled by right-wing, racist rhetoric and the mainstream media bias surrounding this issue.

Thank you again!

Boycott Apartheid! Free Palestine!

Sincerely,

Your Name
Your Organisation