IRRT (International Relations Round Table)

Hi,

I am forwarding a request from the SRRT. 

------------------------------------------------------------

The ALA Social Responsibilities Round Table is distributing a resolution for endorsement to any and all ALA bodies to be forwarded to the ALA Council for discussion in January on the ongoing massacre in Gaza. Please forward to the executive committees of any groups in which you participate. Many thanks. Here is the text.

Resolution Calling for an Immediate Ceasefire in Gaza

WHEREAS, we value peace and the inherent worth of all human life;

WHEREAS, we condemn the terrorist attacks on Israeli civilians on October 7 where over 1400 lost their

lives and an additional 200-plus were taken hostage, the subsequent attacks by Israel on Palestinian civilians,

and all targeting of civilians whether Israeli or Palestinian;

WHEREAS, the bombing, blockading and forced displacement by the Netanyahu government and Israeli

military has unleashed a humanitarian catastrophe on 2.3 million Gazan Palestinians, depriving the people of

food, water, electricity, fuel, medical care and shelter, which constitutes the war crime of collective

punishment1;

WHEREAS, the attacks on Israel by Hamas and the bombing of Gaza by Israel have killed thousands of

civilians, including thousands of children, and continued war will kill thousands more Palestinians and

Israelis;

WHEREAS, the Israeli ground invasion of Gaza could lead to a wider war and the deaths of many thousands

more of Palestinians and Israelis, disproportionally affecting Palestinian civilians;

WHEREAS, an Israeli ground invasion will result in the crime of genocide, according to the Center for

Constitutional Rights and over 800 legal scholars from around the world2;

WHEREAS, the freedom of expression of people voicing opposition to the Israeli assault on Gaza is being

widely suppressed and many are being punished3;

WHEREAS, this conflict is occurring in the context of the decades-long history of dispossession, occupation

and apartheid imposed on Palestinian people4;

WHEREAS, antisemitic and Islamophobic hate crimes are on the rise in the U.S.5;

WHEREAS, we reject criticism of Israel and Zionism that lapses into antisemitism;

WHEREAS, we can criticize Israel and Zionism without resorting to antisemitism, and must be vigilant not

to ally with those who do;

1 "UN experts say Israel's strikes on Gaza amount to 'collective punishment'", Reuters, 12 October 2023,

https://www.reuters.com/world/un-experts-say-israels-strikes-gaza-amount-collective-punishment-2023-10-12/

2 Center for Constitutional Rights, "Israel's Unfolding Crime of Genocide of the Palestinian People & U.S. Failure to Prevent and

Complicity in Genocide", 18 October 2023, https://ccrjustice.org/israel-s-unfolding-crime-genocide-palestinian-people-us-failureprevent-

and-complicity-genocide/; "Public Statement: Scholars Warn of Potential Genocide in Gaza", 17 October 2023,

https://twailr.com/public-statement-scholars-warn-of-potential-genocide-in-gaza/

3 Alex Kane, "A 'McCarthyite Backlash' Against Pro-Palestine Speech", Jewish Currents, 20 October 2023,

https://jewishcurrents.org/a-mccarthyite-backlash-against-pro-palestine-speech/

4 United Nations, "Security Council Resolution 242: The Situation in the Middle East", accessed 30 October 2023,

https://peacemaker.un.org/middle-east-resolution242/; "Amnesty International: Israel's Apartheid Against Palestinians", accessed

30 October 2023, https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campaigns/2022/02/israels-system-of-apartheid/

5 Perry Stein and Devlin Barrett, "U.S. officials address rise in threats, hate crimes against Jews, Muslims", Washington Post, 30

October 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/10/30/fbi-threats-jewish-muslim-antisemitic/

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Social Responsibilities Round Table, in accordance with our

commitment to peace and humanity, condemns violence and advocates for the U.S. President and Congress

to:

1. Call for an immediate ceasefire and the release of all hostages held by Hamas.

2. Suspend military aid to the government of Israel until the occupation is ended and the long-term

security, well-being and dignity of both Israelis and Palestinians are achieved.

3. Demand the end of Israeli policies depriving Palestinians of food, water, electricity, fuel, medical

care and shelter.

4. Condemn the violence between Palestine and Israel and commit to working toward a peaceful

solution that recognizes equally the rights of both peoples to thrive in the land of Israel/Palestine.

Approved by the Social Responsibilities Round Table (SRRT) Action Council, 3 November 2023

------------------------------
Al Kagan
Retired
he, him

------------------------------
Rachel Packard
Librarian
she/they
------------------------------

Hi Rachel,

My apologies for the slow response. I just wanted to send an update and let you know that IRRT EC was forwarded the SRRT resolution as well as a couple other draft resolutions. While the International Relations Committee (IRC) is the group that is charged with the coordination of the international relations policy (in collaboration with the IRO) and the scope of IRRT is more focused on the practitioner aspects of international librarianship and many of the programmatic elements of conferences, the IRRT EC appreciated the opportunity to review the resolutions and provide input. After discussion at the recent January EC meeting, the IRRT EC voted to endorse the IRC draft ahead of the meeting of council at LLX. IRRT also will be represented at council by the IRRT councilor.

Thanks for forwarding along and being a bridge between ALA groups!

Mark

------------------------------
Mark Mattson
Global Partnerships and Outreach Librarian
Penn State University
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: Dec 13, 2023 02:02 PM
From: Rachel Packard
Subject: Gaza Resolution

Hi,

I am forwarding a request from the SRRT. 

------------------------------------------------------------

The ALA Social Responsibilities Round Table is distributing a resolution for endorsement to any and all ALA bodies to be forwarded to the ALA Council for discussion in January on the ongoing massacre in Gaza. Please forward to the executive committees of any groups in which you participate. Many thanks. Here is the text.

Resolution Calling for an Immediate Ceasefire in Gaza

WHEREAS, we value peace and the inherent worth of all human life;

WHEREAS, we condemn the terrorist attacks on Israeli civilians on October 7 where over 1400 lost their

lives and an additional 200-plus were taken hostage, the subsequent attacks by Israel on Palestinian civilians,

and all targeting of civilians whether Israeli or Palestinian;

WHEREAS, the bombing, blockading and forced displacement by the Netanyahu government and Israeli

military has unleashed a humanitarian catastrophe on 2.3 million Gazan Palestinians, depriving the people of

food, water, electricity, fuel, medical care and shelter, which constitutes the war crime of collective

punishment1;

WHEREAS, the attacks on Israel by Hamas and the bombing of Gaza by Israel have killed thousands of

civilians, including thousands of children, and continued war will kill thousands more Palestinians and

Israelis;

WHEREAS, the Israeli ground invasion of Gaza could lead to a wider war and the deaths of many thousands

more of Palestinians and Israelis, disproportionally affecting Palestinian civilians;

WHEREAS, an Israeli ground invasion will result in the crime of genocide, according to the Center for

Constitutional Rights and over 800 legal scholars from around the world2;

WHEREAS, the freedom of expression of people voicing opposition to the Israeli assault on Gaza is being

widely suppressed and many are being punished3;

WHEREAS, this conflict is occurring in the context of the decades-long history of dispossession, occupation

and apartheid imposed on Palestinian people4;

WHEREAS, antisemitic and Islamophobic hate crimes are on the rise in the U.S.5;

WHEREAS, we reject criticism of Israel and Zionism that lapses into antisemitism;

WHEREAS, we can criticize Israel and Zionism without resorting to antisemitism, and must be vigilant not

to ally with those who do;

1 "UN experts say Israel's strikes on Gaza amount to 'collective punishment'", Reuters, 12 October 2023,

https://www.reuters.com/world/un-experts-say-israels-strikes-gaza-amount-collective-punishment-2023-10-12/

2 Center for Constitutional Rights, "Israel's Unfolding Crime of Genocide of the Palestinian People & U.S. Failure to Prevent and

Complicity in Genocide", 18 October 2023, https://ccrjustice.org/israel-s-unfolding-crime-genocide-palestinian-people-us-failureprevent-

and-complicity-genocide/; "Public Statement: Scholars Warn of Potential Genocide in Gaza", 17 October 2023,

https://twailr.com/public-statement-scholars-warn-of-potential-genocide-in-gaza/

3 Alex Kane, "A 'McCarthyite Backlash' Against Pro-Palestine Speech", Jewish Currents, 20 October 2023,

https://jewishcurrents.org/a-mccarthyite-backlash-against-pro-palestine-speech/

4 United Nations, "Security Council Resolution 242: The Situation in the Middle East", accessed 30 October 2023,

https://peacemaker.un.org/middle-east-resolution242/; "Amnesty International: Israel's Apartheid Against Palestinians", accessed

30 October 2023, https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campaigns/2022/02/israels-system-of-apartheid/

5 Perry Stein and Devlin Barrett, "U.S. officials address rise in threats, hate crimes against Jews, Muslims", Washington Post, 30

October 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/10/30/fbi-threats-jewish-muslim-antisemitic/

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Social Responsibilities Round Table, in accordance with our

commitment to peace and humanity, condemns violence and advocates for the U.S. President and Congress

to:

1. Call for an immediate ceasefire and the release of all hostages held by Hamas.

2. Suspend military aid to the government of Israel until the occupation is ended and the long-term

security, well-being and dignity of both Israelis and Palestinians are achieved.

3. Demand the end of Israeli policies depriving Palestinians of food, water, electricity, fuel, medical

care and shelter.

4. Condemn the violence between Palestine and Israel and commit to working toward a peaceful

solution that recognizes equally the rights of both peoples to thrive in the land of Israel/Palestine.

Approved by the Social Responsibilities Round Table (SRRT) Action Council, 3 November 2023

------------------------------
Al Kagan
Retired
he, him

------------------------------
Rachel Packard
Librarian
she/they
------------------------------