IPSC Protest at Israeli Embassy hosted lecture on 'Migrant Women'

dublin | rights, freedoms and repression | event notice Wednesday December 16, 2009 22:02 by Kev - IPSC (pers cap)

Date: 18 Dec 2009

Time: 12:30PM

Area: Dublin

Venue: D4 Berkely Hotel, 146 Pembroke Road, Dublin 4

A Palestinian being humiliated at an Israeli checkpoint

The IPSC has just found out about an event being hosted by the Israeli Embassy this Friday 18th December (see the official invitation pasted below). It appears they have invited many women's rights, migrant and refugee groups to attend in what they call a lecture on "Migrant Women: Sharing the Israeli experience in Migrant absorption". This is a disgusting attempt to peddle soft-Zionism to progressive movements and organisations in Irish society. The reality is of course, very different; Israeli State racism against its own non-Jewish citizens and Palestinians in the occupied territories and the Palestinian Diaspora are well documented facts. In addition, the same Israeli State that is hosting this event regularly abuses Palestinian women's rights - for example, the UN noted in a report in February 2009:

"Palestinian women’s access to adequate prenatal, natal and post-natal medical care remains a matter of serious concern, impairing the fulfilment of the right of everyone to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. It should also be noted that Israeli policies on closure may, in certain instances, amount to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment under article 16 of the Convention against Torture. Finally it is reiterated that the issue of pregnant Palestinian women giving birth at Israeli checkpoints must be understood within the context of the broader regime of the Israeli occupation and associated restrictions on movement, impacting as they do on all aspects of life in the occupied territories." - Link:

The title of this lecture would almost be laughable were it not so serious an issue.

Therefore, the IPSC have called for a protest outside the D4 Berkely Hotel, 146 Pembroke Road, Dublin 4 (map - http://tinyurl.com/ye9bh9l) at 12.30pm on Friday 18th December. We ask you to come along and protest this spurious and entirely hypocritical lecture with us. Please bring Palestinian flags and placards if you have them - the IPSC will also be providing some on the day.

Also, if you are a member of any of the groups invited to attend this lecture, we would ask that you use your influence to get your organisation to refuse to attend the event, thank you.

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THIS IS THE OFFICIAL INVITATION FROM THE ISRAELI EMBASSY
==================================================

From: Ambsec - Embassy of Israel [mailto:ambsec@dublin.mfa.gov.il]
Sent: 15 December 2009 14:40
Subject: Re: Lecture on Migrant Women - 18th December 2009
Importance: High

INVITATION

The Embassy of Israel, Dublin

Invite you to:

“Migrant Women: Sharing the Israeli experience in Migrant absorption”

Lecture by:

• Ms. Joanna Tuffy T.D.

Labour Spokesperson on Environment and Heritage

• Ms. Sylvia Katete Gavigan

Honorary Consul, Republic of Uganda

• Ms. Salome Mbugua

AkiDwA Director

Date: Friday 18th December 2009

Venue: D4 Berkeley Hotel

Donnelly Suite 1, 2nd Floor

Ballsbridge

Dublin 4

Time: 13:00-14:30

Tea & coffee will be served

Please RSVP by Friday 11th December 2009,

by email to: dcmsec@dublin.mfa.gov.il

Please present this invitation with Photo ID at the entrance

Carrisbrook House, 122 Pembroke Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4

Tel: 01 230 9400 Fax: 01 230 9446