Gerusalemme, 02 Maggio 2018
Israele : Grande Partenza del 101° Giro d’Italia
The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel provides below names and contacts for speakers available to comment on the Giro d’Italia stages in Jerusalem and Israel.
Please also find below updates on the campaign to relocate the race, including correspondence between Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and members of European Parliament as well as a leaked letter from the Palestinian Olympic Committee to UCI.
Given the Israeli government use of the Giro d’Italia to whitewash its ongoing assault on peaceful protesters in Gaza, its escalating efforts to claim the entirety of Jerusalem and drive-out Palestinian inhabitants, in contravention of UN mandates and the consensus of the international community, and its lack of accountability as the Trump administration increasingly gives it a carte blanche, we hope you will consider including the voices of Palestinians and those supporting Palestinian rights in your coverage of the race.
For any additional questions, please contact pacbi@pacbi.org
Available speakers:
Rana Nashashibi is a leading Jerusalem-based Palestinian psychologist, women’s rights activist and lecturer at Birzeit University in developmental psychology and counseling.
Email: <rana@pcc-jer.org>
Mobile Phone: +972-54-469-9620
Malak Hasan is a Palestinian boxer and cyclist. In March 2017, she helped organize a “Freedom Ride”, cycling for 500 kilometers from Palestine to Jordan to advocate for freedom of movement and women’s rights.
Email: <malak.hasan26@gmail.com>
Mobile Phone: +972-59-536-9358
Mariam Barghouti is a writer based in Ramallah. Her political commentary has appeared in various outlets including Newsweek, The New York Times, Al-Jazeera, Huffington Post amongst others.
Email: <barghoutimariam@gmail.com>
Mobile Phone: +972597446637
Najwan Berekdar is a Palestinian human rights defender from Nazareth who is active in the nonviolent BDS movement for Palestinian rights. A professional debate trainer, she was the “Love in the Time of Apartheid” campaign spokesperson.
Email: <najwanber@gmail.com>
Mobile Phone: +972-52-480-5903
Chris Rose is the director of Amos Trust, a small creative human rights organisation. Amos Trust is organising the “Giro della Palestina,” the latest in a number of innovative projects to promote a just peace for Palestine, and the call for full equal rights for all. He is also a keen road cyclist.
Email: <chris@amostrust.org>
Mobile: + 44 (0)7758 650512
RelocateTheRace campaign updates
– A leaked letter sent by the Palestinian Olympic Committee to UCI. It condemns Giro d’Italia for “reinforcing Israel’s illegal claim over the city of Jerusalem.” It also notes that UCI Pro Continental team and Giro wildcard Israel Cycling Academy will participate in a separate race on April 27 that goes through occupied East Jerusalem. This race is supported by two Israeli government ministries, the Mayor of Jerusalem and the Israel Cycling Federation (ICF).
– A letter signed by 29 members of the European Parliament raised similar concerns with UCI and UEC over the Giro start, noting also that the ICF is sponsoring yet another cycling event on occupied Palestinian land just prior to the Giro and calling for sanctions on the Israeli team and federation.
– UCI president David Lappartient responded to the MEPs letter stating that UCI and UEC will be “extremely attentive to ensure that the race is not used for political means” and that “in no circumstances should the Giro Big Start encroach on the territories of East Jerusalem,” as that could demonstrate that the Giro d’Italia “is being exploited for political gain.” This letter was provided to us and has not yet been published.
– Italian MEP Eleonora Forenza replied noting that despite Lappartient’s assurances, it’s clear that the entire race has been staged for “political gain.” Gilad Erdan, Israel’s Strategic Affairs Minister, called the Giro’s Israel start “a huge achievement in and of itself that strengthens Israel’s legitimacy.” Forenza also noted the 2018 Giro has been encroaching on occupied East Jerusalem and the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory since its inception, including by working with Israeli companies active in illegal settlements. Forenza also called for urgent action to move the race start as Israeli snipers carry out “unlawful” and “calculated” killings of unarmed Palestinians peacefully protesting in Gaza against Israel’s brutal blockade and for their UN-Sanctioned rights just a few kilometers from the Stage 3 route. Forenza reiterated calls for sanctions on the Israeli team and federation, noting Lappartient failed to address the issue.
– Just last week, Giro published tourist information for the stages. Most of the sights to visit listed for Jerusalem are in occupied East Jerusalem, including some of the most prominent Christian and Muslim religious sites such as the Dome of the Rock, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Al Aqsa Mosque.
– The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), together with member unions from Italy and Palestine have published a document alerting sports journalists covering the Giro d’Italia about Israel’s relentless attacks on their Palestinian colleagues.
– The National Union of Journalists (UK/Ireland) approved motions cautioning journalists from accepting Israeli government or pro-Israeli lobby group-sponsored trips, including for coverage of the Giro d’Italia, which could “expose journalists to a conflict of interest and undue pressure.” Journalists were also reminded to make it clear upon publication when such funding had been used, “especially when the money came from organisations involved in grave human rights abuses against fellow journalists.”
– The British NGO Amos Trust is organizing a “Tour of Palestine – Giro d’Italia protest ride” on the same dates as the Giro. This protest ride is intended for serious cyclists, with daily rides of more than 100 km.
– Stage 1, video shows Palestinian cyclists attempting to travel from Ramallah to Jerusalem
– Stage 2, an interactive map details some of the more than 500 Palestinian villages and towns ethnically cleansed during or after Israel’s establishment on the ruins of the Palestinian homeland.
– Stage 3, video uses satellite imagery to show a Palestinian Bedouin village in the Naqab (Negev) demolished by Israel over 120 times since 2010 as an exclusive Jewish-only settlement is developed from nothing over the same time period.
– Italian groups are organizing protests along the route in Sicily, Campania, Emilia Romagna, Friuli, Veneto, Piemonte, culminating with a week of mobilizations for the arrival in Rome.
– Protests have followed the Israeli cycling team, which is sponsored by Israel’s Ministry of Tourism, at races in Europe. In Spain, the political party Podemos stood alongside human rights groups to call for the Israeli team to be excluded from the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana as well as the Vuelta a Andalucía races. Demonstrators concerned with Palestinian human rights protested at stages in the Andalusian cities of Seville and Barbate, as well as at the Trofeo Laigueglia, the Milano Sanremo and the Coppi e Bartali in Italy. Similar protests are expected in other cities.
– An International Day of Action to pressure Giro d’Italia and UCI to #RelocateTheRace took place on March 10 in 20 cities across the world.
The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) was initiated in 2004 to contribute to the struggle for Palestinian freedom, justice and equality. PACBI advocates for the boycott of Israeli academic and cultural institutions, given their deep and persistent complicity in Israel’s denial of Palestinian rights as stipulated in international law. Visit PACBI at https://bdsmovement.net/pacbi and follow us on Twitter @PACBI
