Day school examines apartheid in Israel

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Over 100 trade unionists, Labour Party members and Palestinian activists attended a day school entitled 'Labour and Apartheid in Israel' at Bradford University last weekend.

The school was organised by the Bradford Labour Movement Campaign for Palestinian Solidarity and cosponsored by the Trades Council, Students Union and the Bradford Moor Labour The school heard prominent anti-Zionist Dr. Uri Davis explain why the term apartheid applied to Israel, where 90% plus of the land in pre-1967 Israel is not available for purchase by Arabs.

Davis also explained the position of Arabs prevented from membership of the so-called "socialist" kibbutz ettlements, and spoke on he racist 'Law of Return' which gives automatic citizenship to foreign Jews but denies non-Jews that right.

Elfi Pallas, an anti-Zionist journalist gave a lengthy presentation cataloguing discrimination against Palestinian workers in employment, education, wages and benefits.

Outlawed

She explained how manifestations of Palestinian culture were outlawed, universities closed down, art exhib. itions and conferences cancelled and books which referred to Palestinian history banned.

The plight of workers forced to travel long distances for the most menial work as an alternative to starvation, and pass laws which regulate their travel, were explained and attacked by Palestinians in the conterence.

Simon Collings of the NUJ Executive, speaking in a personal capacity, spoke of the problems of building solidarity movements in the teeth of opposition by the Labour and trade union bureaucracy and drew out the lessons of the recent NUJ Media Conference on Samir Speitan, the official representative of the PLO explained the aggressive expansionist nature of the Israeli state typified by the present strikes into Lebanon against. Palestinian refugee camps.

Many Palestinians in the audience made clear the overwhelming support felt for the PLO as their recognised representatives.

Films shown highlighted the aggressive thrust of Zionism and showed the reality of a dispossessed the refugee camps.

The Day School welcomed the production of the pamphlet Palestine-Our Struggle" as a significant contribution to solidarity work and over 70 copies were sold during the day.

In concluding the day's discussion, Barry Turner, the Campaign chairperson drew the links between the Pales. tinian and Irish nationalist struggles and the necessity to challenge chauvinist ideology in the British labour movement which leads to calls for import controls and attempts to criminalise political struggle.

The day school marked a step forward for the campaign in Bradford as a movement which saw the Palestinian question as part of a fight for socialist policies in the Labour Party and the necessary removal of the Tory government. turbed by it"

Our comrade replied that there is a difference between a "threat" and a political message of a protest nature, and that furthermore if the Honourable Ambassador was SO disturbed by the telegramme he could express his 'disturbance' through the diplomatic channels at his disposal.

The officer said he agreed and repeated that the Ambassador "Was very disturbed " and warned us "not to do any nonsense" Our comrade was then sent home.

In English constitutional history "the right of petition for redress of grievances" played a prominent place. When employed on behalf of this famous "right peoples enslaved colonial petition" becomes a 'threat'!

On May 5 Bobby Sands died in the Maze prison. Immediately afterwards two demonstrations were held in Jerusalem outside the British Consulate.

We are proud to have taken our place, albeit limited, in this latest fight against Britain's bloody imperialist rule.

Lavie (WL)

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