NATIONAL LAWYERS' GUILD - NOVEMBER 7, 2005

         
          

EMERGENCY RESOLUTION CONDEMNING ZIONISM AS A FORM OF RACISM



WHEREAS, the National Lawyers Guild has a long and proud history of fighting racism.



WHEREAS, the National Lawyers Guild has passed numerous resolutions in support of the
inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including the Resolution to Divest, in
Principle and Practice, from Israel (2004); the Resolution to Stop and Dismantle the
(Apartheid) Wall (2003); and the Resolution Affirming the Individual and Collective
Palestinian Right of Return (2003).



WHEREAS, from 1975 to 1991 United Nations Resolution 3379 determined "Zionism is a form
of racism and racial discrimination," citing several resolutions by various states,
including resolution 77 (XII) adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of
the Organization of African Unity at its twelfth ordinary session, 28 July to 1 August
1975, which noted "that the racist regime in occupied Palestine and the racist regime in
Zimbabwe and South Africa have a common imperialist origin, forming a whole and having
the same racist structure and being organically linked in their policy aimed at
repression of the dignity and integrity of the human being."



WHEREAS, a review by the United Nations of the performance of Israel under the
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) in May of 2003
raises serious concerns regarding continuing institutionalized and systematic racism
directed by Israel against Palestinians:

"The Committee is deeply concerned about the continuing difference in treatment between
Jews and non-Jews
.and "reiterate[d] its concern that the excessive emphasis upon the
state as a 'Jewish state' encourages discrimination and accords a second-class status to
its non-Jewish citizens."



WHEREAS, the United Nations recognizes that such institutionalized and systematic racism
is intimately connected to Israel and its persistent denial of the right of Palestinian
refugees to return, stating:

"The Committee is particularly concerned about the status of 'Jewish Nationality' which
is a ground for exclusive preferential treatment for persons of Jewish nationality under
the Israeli Law of Return, granting them automatic citizenship and financial government
benefits, thus resulting in practice in discriminatory treatment against non-Jews, in
particular Palestinian refugees."



WHEREAS , the very establishment of Israel in 1948 was based on racist violence aimed at
expelling the Palestinian presence from the land, when Zionist occupation forces razed
over 450 Palestinian villages, expelled at least 800,000 Palestinians from their cities
and villages, and massacred countless other Palestinians.



WHEREAS, the ongoing war crimes of Israel against the Palestinian people are a
continuation of this institutionalized and systematic violence.



THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the National Lawyers Guild:



Reaffirms United Nations Resolution 3379 declaring, "Zionism is a form of racism and
racial discrimination."



Condemns all manifestations of this institutionalized and systematic racism by Israel
stemming from 1948 through today's present denial of the right to return and perpetuation
of ongoing war crimes against Palestinians.



Resolves to integrate its policy against Zionist racism in practice by partnering with
Palestinian communities and prioritizing the voice of Palestinians in their struggle to
challenge occupation, oppression, and racism.



IMPLEMENTATION: By the Guild's anti-racism committee and the NEC.



Submitted by:

Merrilyn Onisko , Co-Chair Middle East Subcommittee*

Nancy Hormachea, Co-Chair Middle East Subcommittee*

Michael Shahin, NLG Member, LA Chapter*

James Lafferty , Executive Director, NLG/LA*

Ranya Ghuma, Co-Chair , The United People of Color Caucus (TUPOCC)*

Renee Q. Sanchez , Co-Chair, The United People of Color Caucus (TUPOCC)*

Lynne Stewart , Lynne Stewart Defense Committee*

Ralph Poynter , New Abolitionist Movement*

Mara Verheyden-Hilliard , Co-Chair, NLG Mass Defense Committee*

Maunica Sthanki , Co-National Student Vice President

Paul Wright , Co-Jailhouse Lawyer Vice President*

Ian Thompson, Executive Board, NLG-LA*

Carol Smith , Member, NLG Mid-East Committee*

Michael Smith , NLG/NYC Board Member*
Bernhard Rohrbacher, NLG/LA Board Member*
Leon Goldin, CA State Bar Commissioner (Ret.), NLG/LA Board Member*
Richard L. Solomon, NLG/LA Board Member*

Ban Al-Wardi , NLG Member, LA Chapter; Executive Board Member Palestinian American
Women's Association*

Saja Raoof , NLG Member, NLG-MI*

Sammar Hasan Miqbel, NLG Member*

John Wheat Gibson , Immigration Lawyer, past president Baylor University Law School NLG
Student Chapter; past co-chair Texas-Oklahoma Chapter, NLG; vice president, Texas United
for Peace and Justice; Admiral for Yellow Submarine Warfare, Peace Movement Army,
1968-72

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This resolution was passed 100-47, 10 abstentions, at the National Lawyer's Guild
meeting, which met the requirements for a 2/3 vote in favor to pass.  The issue of
whether abstentions are counted as votes is forcing a re-vote over the entire membership
by mail.  Here's hoping!  -- Miriam (an anti-Zionist Jewish activist)