Jewish Women Occupy Israeli Consulate in Toronto

[PhillyActivists]

Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2009 10:34:56 -0500
  
Subject: Jewish Women Occupy Israeli Consulate in Toronto
  
  
  
*Jewish Women Occupy Israeli Consulate in Toronto*
  
  
  
Toronto: Wednesday January 8, 2009 Time: 10:25 am
  
  
  
A diverse group of Jewish Canadian women are currently 
occupying the
  
Israeli consulate at 180 Bloor Street West in Toronto. 
This action is in
  
protest against the on-going Israeli assault on the people 
of Gaza.
  
  
  
The group is carrying out this occupation in solidarity 
with the 1.5
  
million people of Gaza and to ensure that Jewish voices 
against the
  
massacre in Gaza are being heard. They are demanding that 
Israel end its
  
military assault and lift the 18-month siege on the Gaza 
Strip to allow
  
humanitarian aid into the territory.
  
  
  
Israel has been carrying out a full-scale military assault 
on the Gaza
  
Strip since December 27, 2008. At least 660 people have 
been killed and
  
3000 injured in the air strikes and in the ground invasion 
that began on
  
January 3, 2009. Israel has ignored international calls 
for a ceasefire
  
and is refusing to allow food, adequate medical supplies 
and other
  
necessities of life into the Gaza Strip.
  
  
  
Protesters are outraged at Israel's latest assault on the 
Palestinian
  
people and by the Canadian government's refusal to condemn 
these
  
massacres. They are deeply concerned that Canadians are 
hearing the
  
views of pro-Israel groups who are being represented as 
the only voice
  
of Jewish Canadians. The protesters have occupied the 
consulate to send
  
a clear statement that many Jewish-Canadians do not 
support Israel's
  
violence and apartheid policies. They are joining with 
people of
  
conscience all across the world who are demanding an end 
to Israeli
  
aggression and justice for the Palestinian people.
  
  
  
The group includes: Judy Rebick, professor; Judith 
Deutsch,
  
psychoanalyst and president of Science for Peace; B.H. 
Yael,
  
filmmaker; Smadar Carmon, an Canadian Israeli peace 
activist and others.
  
  
  
Spokespersons for the group:
  
  
  
Judy Rebick: 647-388-1053
  
Mariam Garfinkle: 416-731-6605