A very successful meeting was hosted by the Palestine Foundation of Pakistan, where various Asian nations, who are part of the Asian People’s Solidarity for Palestine (APSP), were represented. Senior representatives of Pakistani organizations were also present in the deliberations held at the Ramada on the 2nd & 3rd of February 2012.
The international delegates included Feroze Mithiborwala, International Executive & Central Committee-GMJ (India), Salim Ghafouri, International Central Committee-GMJ (Iran), Moinudeen Khan Badal (Bangladesh, Member of Parliament), Muhammad Mahruf, member Asian Committee (Indonesia), Ekin Sakaguchi, member Asian Committee (Japan) & Sabir Karbalai International Central Committee-Observer (Pakistan). Also representatives from Palestinian organizations led by Dr. Muhammad al Zhaza were present.
The Global March to Jerusalem has now emerged as an international initiative that was first initiated by the Asian nations, who had together organized the First Asian Convoy to Gaza (Dec 2010 – Jan 2011). The GMJ seeks to get back the critical issue of Jerusalem, back to the centre of the international debate. Jerusalem is being Judaized by the Israeli Zionist occupation & the Settlements & the Apartheid Wall have cut-off Jerusalem from the West Bank of Palestine. Israel has declared Jerusalem as its eternal capital & this also has the support of the US. There is also a threat to destroy the Masjid I Aqsa & the Qubattus Sakhra & rebuild the Third Temple at that very site. Also it is clear that the Israelis are not committed to peace & are committed to the total ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians from all of historic Palestine.
Jerusalem is the common heritage of all of humanity & it is sacred for three monotheistic faiths of Judaism, Christianity & Islam & thus Jerusalem needs to be liberated from the Zionist occupation.
We have thus decided to march to Jerusalem on the 30th of March 2012 (Palestine Land Day), where we will be assembling in the hundreds of thousands on the borders of Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon & Syria. Within Palestine itself, hundreds of thousands will be marching to Jerusalem, from all across historic occupied Palestine.
The Asian convoy will begin from India on the 9th of March & will proceed finally to Jordan.
In each country the GMJ Asian Convoy will be passing through the various cities & towns where public meetings & press conferences will be organized. Thus along with the Continental convoys & the fact that hundreds of thousands of people will be gathering on the borders of historic Palestine, will ensure that once again Jerusalem will become an international issue of popular mass mobilization & debate.
We are committed to the liberation of Palestine with Jerusalem as its capital. We also support the Right of Return of the Refugees & call an end to the illegal Settlements & the Apartheid Wall & demand the end of the Siege of Gaza.
A new dynamic movement is emerging from Asia, that seeks to unite the People & Nations of Asia in their common struggle against Imperialism, Zionism & Neo-liberal Capitalism.
We are thus committed to the liberation of Palestine & call upon the people of Pakistan & all of Asia & the larger world to support & participate in the Global March to Jerusalem.
Source: www.plfpakistan.com
