REVISED Call to action July 21: contact info, letter templates
Israel has siezed the Dignité.
We Must Not Let Israel Control Palestinian or International Waters
It is imperative that we mobilize in order to ensure that Israeli and the Canadian governments know that the world is watching, and that we demand that the Dignité be released to continue its legal travel to Gaza. Supporters of the Flotilla and the Palestinians of Gaza need to press for the boat to be freed. There is no legal reason for Israel to stop the Dignité. The Dignité was in international waters when boarded in which Israel has no legal jurisdiction.
We are calling on supporters and all concerned people to hold public demonstrations and to contact Israeli and Canadian government representatives.
1. We ask people to write Canadian MPs, the Minister of FOreign Affairs and Opposition critics to demand that Canada condemn Israel's illegal actions. TEMPLATES for letters below.
2. Keep up local actions, which might include vigils, demonstrations at consulates or embassies or governement offices, or other creative actions aimed at drawing public attention to the situation.
3. Continue tweeting and using social networking to spread messages and images far and wide.
Here are some of the things that you can do to help:
We are calling on supporters and all concerned people to hold public demonstrations and to contact Israeli and Canadian government representatives.
1. We ask people to write Canadian MPs, the Minister of FOreign Affairs and Opposition critics to demand that Canada condemn Israel's illegal actions. TEMPLATES for letters below.
2. Keep up local actions, which might include vigils, demonstrations at consulates or embassies or governement offices, or other creative actions aimed at drawing public attention to the situation.
3. Continue tweeting and using social networking to spread messages and images far and wide.
Here are some of the things that you can do to help:
1. The Content of our Messages:
The Israeli government needs to know that we know what they are doing and we won’t be silent. We know and the world knows that their actions are illegal.
- The Canadian Government needs to know that we know they are complicit in these illegal acts. And that they have a responsibility by international convention, to protect Canadians involved in legal actions, such as the Flotilla and specifically the journey of the Dignité. Included in the letter is a note of disgust that Canadian government is giving in to pressure by the Israeli government. Below, there is a template letter to Canadian MPs and a link for their contact information.
2. Actions:
- Public rallies, vigils, etc: Please, do whatever and wherever you are able. We need this to be big. We need to be visible. Let us know about any solidarity events you organize.
- Letter to our Canadian MPs: We have a letter template for you to use to send to MPs.
TEMPLATE LETTERS AND CONTACT INFORMATION
1. Letter to Canadian MPs
[feel free to edit using your own words]
LINK to MP contact information : http://www.parl.gc.ca/MembersOfParliament/MainMPsCompleteList.aspx
[MP for your RIDING]
[DATE -- do it today!]
Dear [NAME of MP in your riding]:
I am writing to you as a concerned Canadian about the alarming news that vessel "The Dignité" bound for the Gaza Strip has been boarded in international waters and detained by the Israeli government.
The Dignité, along with the other boats, such as Canada's Tahrir, are part of the Freedom Flotilla, which is an international initiative with the goal of challenging the illegal blockade of Gaza, and bringing humanitarian aid to the civilian population of Gaza in the spirit of the U.N. Security Council Resolution 1860 (2009). The Dignité and the Flotilla in general, are not breaking the law but are actively upholding international law. Respected organizations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross have stated clearly that all states have an obligation to facilitate all humanitarian convoys to the Gaza Strip.
I am deeply concerned that the Canadian government is giving in to pressures from the Israeli government in preventing the Flotilla from sailing to Gaza by referring to this action as “provocative”. By doing so, the Canadian government is implying that the Israeli government is acting within its right when imposing an inhumane siege on 1.5 million Palestinians in Gaza and seeking to control international waters.
As the MP of my riding I urge you to speak out publicly and without delay for the legitimate right of Canadians on the Flotilla to actively express their solidarity with the Palestinians of Gaza, as well as
- to demand the Israeli government immediately release the Dignité and to allow it to continue, unhindered, its journey to Gaza;
- to condemn this act of illegal agression or state piracy by the Israeli military
- to demand the Israeli government to abide to international law by removing the illegal blockade of Gaza
I look forward to hearing from you what actions you have taken on the above.
Sincerely,
[name]
[contact information]
LINK to MP contact information : http://www.parl.gc.ca/MembersOfParliament/MainMPsCompleteList.asp
2. LETTER TO ISRAELI OFFICIALS IN CANADA AND IN ISRAEL
Sample letter addressed to Israeli authorities (consular and government)
[ADDRESS]
Date…….
Dear Sir/Madam:
I am writing to you as a concerned Canadian citizen who has just learned that the Dignité, one of the boats that is part of the Freedom Flotilla 2, has been illegally boarded and detained. in international waters. As you well know, Israel has no legal jurisdiction in international waters, and thus has committed what is understood in international law as an act of illegal agression or state piracy.
The Freedom Flotilla 2 is an international initiative with the goal of ending the illegal blockade of Gaza and to bring humanitarian aid to the civilian population of Gaza in the spirit of the U.N. Security Council Resolution 1860 (2009).
All participants in the Freedom Flotilla 2 are committed to peaceful and non-violent action. Their intention is to break your illegal blockade of Gaza. Their intention is not to break the law but to uphold international law, something which the Israeli government - as it purports to be a democracy - ought to be embracing.
I look forward to hearing what steps you will take to hold your government accountable for its illegal actions. I also expect to have impartial confirmation that the Dignité is being returned promptly to its rightful owners, as required by international law, treaties and conventions, to which your government is a signatory.
Sincerely,
[your contact information]
Some Israel contact emails & phone numbers:
| Canada | Montreal | 1.514.940.8500 | |
| Canada | Ottawa | info@ottawa.mfa.gov.il | 1.613.567.6450 |
| Canada | Toronto | 1.416.640.8500 |
Prime Minister’s Office: media@it.pmo.gov.il
Foreign Media Spokesman: Mark Regev mark.regev@it.pmo.gov.il
Foreign Press Coordinator: David Baker david.baker@it.pmo.gov.il
Ministry of Defense mediasar@mod.gov.il
Spokesperson for the Minister: Shlomo Dror dover@mod.gov.il
Ministry for Foreign Affairs:
Spokesman:YigalPalmor palmor@mfa.gov.il
Deputy: Shachar Arieli shachar.arieli@mfa.gov.il
Deputy: Andy David andy.david@mfa.gov.il
Foreign Press Dept: Sharon Goldhammer sharong@press.pmo.gov.il
Foreign Press visitors: Jason Pearlman jason@press.pmo.gov.il
