Posted by OPGAI on Tue, 02/10/2009 – 09:52

In Euskal Herria (Basque Country), as in other countries all over the world, there have been many demonstrations in solidarity with Palestine. In addition to the amount of people who have taken part in these demonstrations (there have been demonstrations in more than 30 cities and towns in Basque Country with more than 30.000 people in them), there are other remarkable aspects to this growing Palestine-solidarity movement:

-In most of the demonstrations denouncing the Israeli massacre of Palestinians in Gaza, the most repeated message has been that boycotting Israel is the best way to work in solidarity with Palestine.

-Several social movements, organizations and civil society institutions have worked together:

1.- Arabic and Muslim communities have been present in all the demonstrations. So, there has been an important link made between these communities and groups working for national and social liberation of Basque Country.

2.- Families and friends of Basque political prisoners have shown solidarity with Palestine in their annual demonstration in the beginning of January in Bilbao (38.000 people).

3.- More than 10 municipalities have approved statements in order to break all the links with Israel.
4.- All trade unions in Southern Basque Country took part in a demonstration in Bilbao demanding the boycott of Israel. They demanded that the Municipality of Bilbao break down the contract that enables Veolia to manage the bus service in the city. This company is building the Zionist tramway in Jerusalem. Recenlty, Veolia has lost a contract in Stockholm (Sweden).

5.- There have been many demonstrations in cities and towns all over the Basque Country. In Bilbao, for example, there have been eight demonstrations. Bayonne-Baiona, Irun, San Sebastian-Donostia, Orereta, Azpeitia, Azkotia, Zestoa, Zarautz, Lasarte, Andoain, Tolosa, Altsasu, Arbizu, Barañain, Antsoain, Tafalla, Pamplona-Iruñea, Tudela, Ermua, Bermeo, Gernika, Algorta, Elexalde, Bilbao, Barakaldo, Otxandio, Trapagaran, Vitoria-Gasteiz and Agurain are just some of the places where have been demonstrations.

And, what tomorrow?

In the following months Askapena is going to reinforce the boycott campaign in Basque Country. On February 25th and 26th we are going to denounce the concerts of Noa in Donostia-San Sebastian. By the way, we will launch and distribute a Cultural Boycott solidarity statement (based on the one issued by PACBI) among sportive, cultural and academic groups n Basque Country, more municipalities are going to give support to the boycott and we will boycott any Zionist normalization event (cultural, sportive, economical, institutional, …) in Basque Country.

ASKAPENA (INTERNATIONALIST ORGANIZATION OF BASQUE LEFTISTS AND INDEPENDENTISTS)