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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Palestine
Solidarity Movement?
A: The Palestine Solidarity Movement (PSM) is an umbrella group of Palestine-related
groups, primarily on campuses, across North America. The first conference
of the movement took place at UC-Berkeley in February 2002.
Q: What campaigns and tactics does the
PSM endorse?
A: The PSM endorses divestment from Israel, ending U.S. aid to Israel,
and the Right of Return of Palestinian refugees in accordance with U.N.
resolutions and international law as its campaigns. Divestment itself
and ending economic relations with Israel are the PSM’s tools of choice.
We also endorse education, public demonstrations and rallies, and non-violent
direct action for the purpose of encouraging awareness of Palestine
issues and of the above campaigns. PSM supports Israeli and Palestinian
efforts for justice and peace.
Q: What is Divestment?
A: Divestment is a peaceful political tool developed during the anti-apartheid
student movement to exert pressure on the apartheid South African government.
Students found out that their universities had investments in companies
that had a business and military relationship with the apartheid regime
and helped fund its oppression of the native population. The movement
was successful as it significantly contributed to the fall of the apartheid
regime.
Q: Why has the PSM decided to use divestment
as a strategy?
A: The PSM is committed to taking a proactive role in ending the suffering
of the Palestinian people. We chose divestment because of its peaceful
and non-violent nature. Recognizing the similarities between Israel
and the apartheid South African government, and recognizing the success
and effectiveness divestment had as a tool of the anti-apartheid movement,
we decide to employ divestment as a tool once again.
Q: What are the goals of the PSM conference?
A: The primary goal of the conference is for the members of the Palestine
Solidarity Movement to come together to communicate, strategize, learn,
and speak to each other. The conference is traditionally where new campaigns
are adopted, and new tactics and methods are endorsed. It is an opportunity
for students, activists, and their organizations from across North America
to learn from each others' experience.
Q: Who makes decisions regarding the conference?
A: There is a national organizing structure made up of representatives
of the member student and activist organizations who make all required
decisions regarding the conference. Decisions are made in a democratic,
egalitarian manner, and membership is open to all groups that agree
to abide by the voting guidelines of the Palestine Solidarity Movement.
Q: Who is the conference open to?
A: Any person who completes the registration form. The conference is
open to anyone who abides and conforms to the conference’s regulations
and code of conduct.
Q: Who should media inquiries be referred to?
A: All media inquiries should be directed to the media committee. Only
conference spokespersons listed on the conference website are empowered
to make statements on behalf of the conference. Media personnel wishing
to attend the conference should register on the website.
Q: Was “Kill the Jews” chanted at a PSM
conference?
A: No, this is a fabrication. This claim is also contradicted in a letter
to the Michigan Daily Newspaper by Ed Willis, the Dean of Students at
the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. “I also heard an extraordinary
depth of understanding about international issues. I heard people debating
strongly held beliefs with civility and respect. What I did not hear
- nor did any of my colleagues who were in attendance at all the activities
of the weekend - were any outbursts of hate speech or threats of violence.”
Mr. Willis wrote.
Q: Is the PSM part of the ISM?
A: The PSM is a completely separate organization from the International
Solidarity Movement (ISM). The ISM consists of international volunteers
who travel to the West Bank and Gaza to conduct non-violent, direct
action to help the Palestinians go about their daily life. The website
of the ISM is http://www.palsolidarity.org.
Q: Does the PSM support terrorism?
A: The PSM does not support or endorse terrorism. We employ peaceful,
non-violent tactics to bring to an end the violence and organized terror
inflicted on the Palestinian people by the Israeli government, as it
is being funded by US tax money.
Q. Did Rutgers University administration
cancel the third conference of the PSM?
A: Before Rutgers University decided to cancel the conference by over
a month, the organizing committee took a logistical decision to change
the venue of the conference to Ohio State University. The Rutgers administration
canceled the conference on logistical grounds after the organizing committee
of the PSM stopped planning at Rutgers and coordinating with its administration.
Q: Is the PSM anti-Semitic?
A: No. Many organizers of the PSM are Jewish and/or Israeli, and proudly
identify as such. Judaism is a religious and cultural identity that
cannot and should not be conflated with Zionism, a modern political
ideology that argues for a Jewish state in Palestine. Zionism does not
represent the political outlook of all Jews in the world, nor does it
represent the predominant viewpoint of all Jews throughout history.
Criticism of the state of Israel and its policies or questioning the
concept of a "Jewish state" is not in and of itself anti-Jewish
or anti-Semitic. Because Israel's illegal occupation and oppression
of the Palestinian people has proven to be damaging to both Palestinian
and Israeli societies, our work is of a crucial import to both peoples.
Those who allege that we are anti-Semitic do so in order to stifle debate
around the very issues that Jews and Palestinians most need to be discussing.
The PSM rejects any form of hatred, discrimination, or bigotry against
any group or individual based upon race, ethnicity, religion, gender,
or sexual orientation.
Q: Why do we believe that Zionism is a
racist ideology?
A: Zionism is a political ideology that is built on ethnic discrimination
and is dependent on the dispossession of another group. Much in the
same way the apartheid regime in South Africa diverted resources based
on race and prevented access of the native population to their own country’s
resources and free movement, Zionism calls for the appropriation of
the Palestinian lands to Jewish immigrants wishing to attain a new residence
in Palestine. Palestinians are being denied access to their land and
its resources, such as water, and their daily life is being systematically
disrupted.
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