[The following statement was originally published on 12 October 2012 in Electronic Intifada.]
We the undersigned, as Palestinians living in historic Palestine and the diaspora, in the spirit of past statements, and in light of recent controversies, write to reaffirm a key principle of our movement for freedom, justice, and equality: The struggle for our inalienable rights is one opposed to all forms of racism and bigotry, including, but not limited to, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, Zionism, and other forms of bigotry directed at anyone, and in particular people of color and indigenous peoples everywhere.
We oppose the cynical and baseless use of the term anti-Semitism as a tool for stifling criticism of Israel or opposition to Zionism, as this assumes simply because someone is Jewish, they support Zionism or the colonial and apartheid policies of the state of Israel - a false generalization.
Our struggle is anchored in universal human rights and international law in opposition to military occupation, settler-colonialism, and apartheid, something people of conscience of all ethnicities, races, and religions can support.
Finally, we call on people around the world to join us in a morally consistent stance that opposes racism and bigotry in all forms. An ethical struggle for justice and equal rights in any context entails zero tolerance for racial discrimination and racism anywhere.
Signed (in order of signature):
- Abir Kopty
- Danya Mustafa
- Nadia Hijab
- Shirien Damra
- Omar Barghouti
- Noura Erakat
- Remi Kanazi
- Andrew Kadi
- Dina Omar
- Sandra Tamari
- Maath Musleh
- Suleiman Hodali
- Dana Saifan
- Jess Ghannam
- Sami Kishawi
- Dalia Almarina
- Haidar Eid
- Samee Sulaiman
- Lubna Hammad
- Issa Mikel
- Dina Zbidat
- Esmat Elhalaby
- Linah Alsaafin
- Ramzi Jaber
- Randa May Wahbe
- Hilda Massoud
- Falastine Dwikat
- Jamil Sbitan
- Beesan Ramadan
- Alaa Milbes
- Tanya Keilani
- Adam Akkad
- Budour Hassan
- Ahmad Nimer
- Fajr Harb
- Susan Abulhawa
- Amira Dasouqi
- Lubna Alzaroo
- Samah Sabawi
- Ismail Khalidi
- Annemarie Jacir
- George E. Bisharat
- Sara Jawhari
- Amin Abbas
- Ali Abunimah
- Camillia Shoufani
- Dena Qaddumi
- Ramzi Kanazi
- Alaa Yousef
- Najwa Doughman
- Amal Atieh Jubran
- Mahdi Sabbagh
- Rania Jubran
- Amar Husain
- Omar H. Rahman
- Yazeed Ibrahim
- Zachariah Barghouti
- Nadine Darwish
- Rinad Abdulla
- Sana Ibrahim
- Rana Libdeh
- Huwaida Arraf
- Basil Farraj
- Riham Barghouti
- Jalal Abukhater
- Grace Said
- Wafai Dias
- Huda Asfour
- Musa Al-Hindi
- Halla Shoaibi
- Nada Elia
- Shafeka Hashash
- Linda Sarsour
- Nour Joudah
- Fadi Quran
- Rafeef Ziadah
- Muhammad Jabali
- Haneen Maikey
- Diana Alzeer
- Mouin Rabbani
- Zaid Shuaibi
- Sari Harb
- Suzy Salamy