Palestine Solidarity Movement
Encyclopedia
The Palestine Solidarity Movement (PSM) is a student organization in the United States which was established in 2000 after the start of the Al-Aqsa Intifada
in Israel
. The organization aims to use "divestment
as a tactic to non-violently influence a just resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
." Aside from divestment from Israel
, the group focuses on ending U.S. aid to Israel and a Right of return
. PSM tactics include: education; public demonstrations and rallies; and civil disobedience or direct action.
The PSM has not taken any policy stances for adoption by the Palestinian people, and therefore refuses to denounce terrorism by Palestinians, stating that "as a solidarity
movement, it is not our place to dictate the strategies or tactics adopted by the Palestinian people in their struggle for liberation."
The organization has been known to be controversial for its stance against Israel and its calls for divestment from Israel, and its refusal to comment (i.e., denounce or support) the use of terrorism by Palestinians.
The Anti-Defamation League
has held numerous protests against PSM activities. University presidents have received criticism for hosting the conferences, and have usually had to respond to the events through websites and statements.
. They have held their own separate conferences and events.
Inaugural Divestment Conference
University of California
, Berkeley, California – February 16–18, 2002
The first national PSM conference was initiated by Students for Justice in Palestine
, a student group from the University of California, Berkeley, in conjunction with the San Francisco chapter of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
. One of the resolutions adopted at the first PSM conference expressed an unreserved support for the Intifada: "We, the national student movement for solidarity with Palestine, declare our solidarity with the popular resistance to Israeli occupation, colonization, and apartheid."
Second Annual Divestment Conference
University of Michigan
, Ann Arbor, Michigan – October 12–14, 2002
The second national PSM conference, held at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, attracted over 400 people, included former University of South Florida
Professor Sami al-Arian
. The local host was UM undergrad Fadi Kiblawi. Representatives of Al-Awda sold T-shirts with the inscription "Intifada! Palestine will be free from the river to the sea." According to two protestors, participants in the conference chanted "Chrad al Yahud", which they claimed means "Death to the Jews" in Arabic. This was denied by the Dean of the University of Michigan, who was monitoring the event for any disturbances. Furthermore, "Chrad" is not a word, colloquially or formally, in Arabic. The conference included presentations by a number of American, Palestinian, Jewish, and Israeli academics and speakers supporting divestment from the state of Israel.
Third Annual Divestment Conference
The conference, originally announced for Rutgers University
, was actually held in a nearby motel after failing to get permission to use a university facility. October 10–12, 2003
http://www.divestmentconference.com/
Ohio State University
, Columbus, Ohio, – November 7–9, 2003
The OSU conference was hosted by the local Committee for Justice in Palestine and attracted over 200 people. Attendees reaffirmed their commitment to the movement's guiding principles. Resolutions adopted during the conference included a commitment to the divestment campaign and an affirmation of the movement's claim that "Zionism is racism." Conference attendees also reaffirmed the movement's goals: the right of return for Palestinians, a "full decolonization of all Palestinian land" and an end of the Israeli occupation.
Fourth Annual Divestment Conference
Duke University
, Oct. 15–17, 2004
http://www.dukenews.duke.edu/mmedia/features/psm/
Fifth Annual Divestment Conference
Georgetown University
, Washington, D.C.
– February 17–19
http://www.palestinesolidaritymovement.org/conference.htm
Al-Aqsa Intifada
The Second Intifada, also known as the Al-Aqsa Intifada and the Oslo War, was the second Palestinian uprising, a period of intensified Palestinian-Israeli violence, which began in late September 2000...
in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. The organization aims to use "divestment
Divestment
In finance and economics, divestment or divestiture is the reduction of some kind of asset for either financial or ethical objectives or sale of an existing business by a firm...
as a tactic to non-violently influence a just resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
The Israeli–Palestinian conflict is the ongoing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. The conflict is wide-ranging, and the term is also used in reference to the earlier phases of the same conflict, between Jewish and Zionist yishuv and the Arab population living in Palestine under Ottoman or...
." Aside from divestment from Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, the group focuses on ending U.S. aid to Israel and a Right of return
Right of return
The term right of return refers to a principle of international law, codified in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, giving any person the right to return to, and re-enter, his or her country of origin...
. PSM tactics include: education; public demonstrations and rallies; and civil disobedience or direct action.
The PSM has not taken any policy stances for adoption by the Palestinian people, and therefore refuses to denounce terrorism by Palestinians, stating that "as a solidarity
Solidarity
Solidarity is a Polish trade union federation that emerged on August 31, 1980 at the Gdańsk Shipyard under the leadership of Lech Wałęsa. It was the first non-communist party-controlled trade union in a Warsaw Pact country. Solidarity reached 9.5 million members before its September 1981 congress...
movement, it is not our place to dictate the strategies or tactics adopted by the Palestinian people in their struggle for liberation."
The organization has been known to be controversial for its stance against Israel and its calls for divestment from Israel, and its refusal to comment (i.e., denounce or support) the use of terrorism by Palestinians.
The Anti-Defamation League
Anti-Defamation League
The Anti-Defamation League is an international non-governmental organization based in the United States. Describing itself as "the nation's premier civil rights/human relations agency", the ADL states that it "fights anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry, defends democratic ideals and protects...
has held numerous protests against PSM activities. University presidents have received criticism for hosting the conferences, and have usually had to respond to the events through websites and statements.
Divisions
There have been some divisions in the PSM and there have been some other groups that have been formed. The largest of these is the New Jersey Solidarity group, which is centered at Rutgers UniversityRutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
. They have held their own separate conferences and events.
Conferences
PSM holds annual conferences at universities throughout America.Inaugural Divestment Conference
University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
, Berkeley, California – February 16–18, 2002
The first national PSM conference was initiated by Students for Justice in Palestine
Students for Justice in Palestine
Students for Justice in Palestine is a student organization which was first established at the University of California, Berkeley in 2001...
, a student group from the University of California, Berkeley, in conjunction with the San Francisco chapter of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee states that it is the largest Arab American grassroots civil rights organization in the United States. According to its web page it is open to people of all backgrounds, faiths and ethnicities and has over 40 chapters in 24 states and members in all...
. One of the resolutions adopted at the first PSM conference expressed an unreserved support for the Intifada: "We, the national student movement for solidarity with Palestine, declare our solidarity with the popular resistance to Israeli occupation, colonization, and apartheid."
Second Annual Divestment Conference
University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, Ann Arbor, Michigan – October 12–14, 2002
The second national PSM conference, held at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, attracted over 400 people, included former University of South Florida
University of South Florida
The University of South Florida, also known as USF, is a member institution of the State University System of Florida, one of the state's three flagship universities for public research, and is located in Tampa, Florida, USA...
Professor Sami al-Arian
Sami Al-Arian
Dr. Sami Amin Al-Arian , is a former resident of Temple Terrace, Florida, now living in Northern Virginia, who is a Muslim activist, and former University of South Florida professor of computer engineering...
. The local host was UM undergrad Fadi Kiblawi. Representatives of Al-Awda sold T-shirts with the inscription "Intifada! Palestine will be free from the river to the sea." According to two protestors, participants in the conference chanted "Chrad al Yahud", which they claimed means "Death to the Jews" in Arabic. This was denied by the Dean of the University of Michigan, who was monitoring the event for any disturbances. Furthermore, "Chrad" is not a word, colloquially or formally, in Arabic. The conference included presentations by a number of American, Palestinian, Jewish, and Israeli academics and speakers supporting divestment from the state of Israel.
Third Annual Divestment Conference
The conference, originally announced for Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
, was actually held in a nearby motel after failing to get permission to use a university facility. October 10–12, 2003
http://www.divestmentconference.com/
Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
, Columbus, Ohio, – November 7–9, 2003
The OSU conference was hosted by the local Committee for Justice in Palestine and attracted over 200 people. Attendees reaffirmed their commitment to the movement's guiding principles. Resolutions adopted during the conference included a commitment to the divestment campaign and an affirmation of the movement's claim that "Zionism is racism." Conference attendees also reaffirmed the movement's goals: the right of return for Palestinians, a "full decolonization of all Palestinian land" and an end of the Israeli occupation.
Fourth Annual Divestment Conference
Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
, Oct. 15–17, 2004
http://www.dukenews.duke.edu/mmedia/features/psm/
Fifth Annual Divestment Conference
Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
, Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
– February 17–19
http://www.palestinesolidaritymovement.org/conference.htm