Dear
ICC / IEC members,
We
hope this letter reaches you in the best state of health and spirit.
Upon
completion of all the events related to this year’s Global March to Jerusalem
culminating on Friday, 7 June, we wish to congratulate you all for once again making
this movement for Jerusalem and Palestine a success.
Given
the many challenges that we faced this year, especially the short time frame to
organize the march, we are extremely pleased with the outcome.
This
year’s GMJ included peaceful marches and sit-ins in around 40 countries across
the world. Mass demonstrations took place in Gaza, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia,
Mauritania, Morocco, Yemen, Malaysia, and Turkey. In addition, there were large
demonstrations in capitals and cities across the world including Europe and
North America, some gatherings took place in front of Israeli embassies.
Therefore,
we would like to express our deepest thanks and appreciation to everybody who
made an effort towards the achievements of this year’s march.
While
we may not have had as many countries mobilizing this year for the GMJ as we had
last year, we do wish to stress the following:
(1)
This year the size of the demonstrations in several key countries was much larger
than last year
(2)
We received more extensive news coverage of this year’s march than last year,
particularly in the Arabic language media
(3)
With every march we organize, we are increasing global awareness about the
continuing crimes against Palestinians in Jerusalem and the violations against the
holy city’s religious sites, both Muslim and Christian
These
three achievements send a strong message to the Zionist Occupation, as well as
to the world, that we are determined to become a force to be reckoned with. As
long as the international community remains passive in the face of the
Occupation’s increasing violations against Jerusalem and its people, we refuse
to remain silent and will insist that our voices be heard.
Of
course we must also acknowledge the shortcomings of this year’s march and
of our global movement in its current form. We are especially aware that the political environment in the
Middle East is having a negative impact on our movement, and all of these
issues will have to be addressed in our coming meetings. However our problems
should not stop our progress. We must build on what we have already achieved to
make our movement even stronger. And for that we need your heightened participation
and support. Only by working together will we overcome our difficulties as we restructure
our movement and devise new plans for organizing even more successful
activities in the coming year.
Going
forward, we must always remember that we do this for Jerusalem, for Palestine.
Thank
you again for all of your efforts. We are looking forward to continuing our
march together towards Jerusalem. Indeed, it is our pledge to you that we will
not stop marching until our holy city is liberated.
Sincerely,
GMJ
International Media Committee
Selected English language media coverage of GMJ 2013:
- “Global March to Jerusalem to
start on June 7,”
Levant Post, 2 June 2013.
- “Khatib: The Global March to
Jerusalem, a step on the road to Liberation,” Palestine News Network, 6 June
2013.
- “Abu Halabiya: Global March to
Jerusalem is the beginning for the liberation of Palestine,” Alresalah Press, 6 June 2013.
- “Pro-Palestinian activists set to
hold ‘Global March to al-Quds’,” Press TV, 7 June 2013.
- “Thousands march for ‘free
Jerusalem’,”
Agence France Presse, 7 June
2013.
- “Gaza joins Global March to
Jerusalem,”
Ma’an News Agency, 7 June 2013.
- “Cairo demonstrators join 'Global
March to Jerusalem',” Agence France
Presse, 7 June 2013.
- Noor Harazeen, “Global March to Jerusalem rally
in Gaza,”
Al-Etejah, 7 June 2013.
- “Egypt’s Brotherhood and Islamists
'march to Jerusalem' in Cairo,” Ahram Online, 7 June 2013.
- “Clashes across West Bank as
Palestinians mark war anniversary,” Ma’an News Agency, 7 June 2013.
- “World Muslims march to Al-Quds,” Onislam.net, 7 June 2013.
- “Gazans participate in Global
March to Jerusalem al-Quds,” Press TV, 8 June 2013.
- “Newspapers review: Dailies
highlight weekly Protests,” Palestine News and Information Agency, 8 June 2013.
- “Thousands march in global
protests against Israeli occupation,” Turkish Weekly, 8 June 2013.
- "Egypt Cabinet Ministers
participate in the Global March to Jerusalem," Mi'raj News Agency, 8 June 2013
- “Palestinian villagers confront
Israeli occupation forces,” Press TV, 8 June 2013.
- “Protestors march for Jerusalem's
liberation,”
eNews Channel Africa, 9 June
2013.
- “GMJ: The world's peoples made a
step towards the liberation of Jerusalem,” Ahlul Bayt News
Agency, 10 June 2013.
- Jessica Chasmar, “Muslim Brotherhood, Islamists in
Cairo ‘march to Jerusalem’,” Washington Times, 10 June 2013.
- Protest greets JNF fundraiser for
Israeli apartheid in Vancouver,” Media Co-op, 10 June 2013.
- Joe Catron and Patrick
Strickland, “Mass protest aims to focus
attention on Jerusalem,” The
Electronic Intifada, 11 June 2013.
- Sarah Marusek, “Marching for dignity: Thousands
take action against the occupation of Palestine,” Middle East Monitor, 12 June 2013.
Selected Arabic language media coverage of GMJ 2013:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qabo2Dsgw9I