saturday, january 10: rally for gaza

From Canadian Peace Alliance and the Toronto Coalition to Stop the War:

Rally for Gaza on Saturday!

Stop the war on Gaza NOW!
Stop the bombing. End the siege. Freedom for Palestine.

RALLY
Saturday, January 10, 11:00 a.m.
Israeli Consulate, 180 Bloor Street West (TTC: St George)

Followed by:

FREE GAZA: A TEACH-IN
Saturday, January 10, 1:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Steelworkers' Hall, 25 Cecil Street (south of College, east of Spadina)
Full program below

The Canadian Peace Alliance and the Toronto Coalition to Stop the War have called on all members and supporters to support existing demonstrations, or to organize their own, this Saturday, January 10 to demand that the Canadian government call for an immediate end to the massacre in Gaza.

The Toronto Coalition to Stop the War has joined with Palestine House, the Canadian Arab Federation, the Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid, and others for this Saturday's rally in Toronto.

We know that almost 600 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed and thousands more maimed and wounded since the Israeli assault began, and many more will be killed as the humanitarian disaster worsens.

The Government of Canada has so far rejected calls for a ceasefire and is supporting the war crimes being committed by Israel in Gaza. As with the wars in Iraq, Lebanon and Afghanistan, Stephen Harper has proven himself to be firmly in the camp of the war mongers of the outgoing Bush administration. This does not reflect the will of the majority of Canadians who want to see our country as an arbiter of peace rather than a country that supports the bombing of civilians.

Canadian Foreign Minister, Lawrence Cannon has blamed Hamas for starting this conflict by sending rockets into southern Israel, yet the facts contradict this assertion. According to Richard Falk, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Palestinian Territories:

"There was no substantial rocket fire from Gaza during the ceasefire until Israel launched an attack last November 4 directed at what it claimed were Palestinian militants in Gaza, killing several Palestinians. Also, it was Hamas that on numerous public occasions called for extending the truce, with its calls never acknowledged, much less acted upon, by Israeli officialdom."

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has been worsening since the Israeli blockade began two years ago. International agencies, including the United Nations, have condemned the blockade which has severely limited necessities such as medical supplies and food. The Harper government has been one of the most vociferous supporters of this collective punishment and was the first government to end humanitarian aid to the Palestinians after the election of Hamas.

Since the Israeli bombing began, the crisis has worsened. More than 80 per cent of Palestinians are without needed food aid, and hospitals are operating on the thousands of wounded without anaesthetics or even basic pain killers. Electricity and communications have also been targeted resulting in isolation and deprivation for the 1.5 million people of Gaza.

The current assault on Gaza is an aggressive war that violates international humanitarian law and the Geneva Convention. Our government is now complicit in these war crimes. Canadians will not stand by while the Conservative government supports the unilateral massacre of innocent people.

Demonstrations will be held throughout Canada this week. For a full listing of events, see this website or this Facebook page.

The Toronto rally is organized and endorsed by the following organizations:

Palestine House, Canadian Arab Federation, Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid, Canadian Union of Public Employees Ontario Division, Canadian Union of Postal Workers, Steelworkers Toronto Area Council, Canadian Peace Alliance, Toronto Coalition to Stop the War, Not in Our Name – Jewish Voices Opposing Zionism, International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network Toronto, Independent Jewish Voices, Yosher – Jewish Social Justice Network, Women In Solidarity with Palestine, Muslim Unity Educators for Peace and Justice, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East, Near East Cultural and Educational Foundation, Canadian Forum for Justice and Peace in Sri Lanka, Muslim Association of Hamilton, Canadian Druze Society, Canadian Syrian Cultural Club, Al Huda Canadian Shia Muslims Organization, Worker to Worker Canada Cuba Solidarity Network, Somali Canadian Diaspora Alliance, Science for Peace, Bayan – Canada, Bengali Student Association, McMaster Muslims for Peace and Justice, Arab Students Association at Ryerson University, and more. To endorse, please e-mail info@palestinehouse.com.

More information:

FREE GAZA: A TEACH-IN
Saturday, January 10, 1:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Steelworkers' Hall, 25 Cecil Street (south of College, east of Spadina)

PROGRAM

1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.: Workshops
The crisis in Gaza: History and context
- Israel, Gaza and the "war on terror"
- Gaza, Israeli Apartheid and the political economy of the Middle East
- Canada's complicity, Zionism and Islamophobia
- Media mythology: "Rebranding" Israel and covering the war

3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.: Panel
Gaza: The humanitarian crisis

4:15 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.: Panel
Building solidarity: Next steps

To register: E-mail your name, with subject "Free Gaza Teach-in", to faculty@caiaweb.org. Pay what you can at the door: $5 to $50 (sliding scale).