New Video: Leila Khaled urges freedom for Georges Abdallah

New Video: Leila Khaled urges freedom for Georges Abdallah

Text of Leila Khaled’s greeting, in English:

Comrades and friends, sisters and brothers, on behalf of my people, on behalf of my party, the Popular Front for the Liberation (PFLP), and myself, I extend warm greetings to all of you in this event. I am privileged to speak to you and through you, to Georges Abdallah, who is a symbol of freedom fighters against oppression, occupation against imperialists, Zionists and reaction. While I am speaking to you, my people are facing the apartheid state of Israel that launches a brutal fascist attack against our people in Palestine.

Israel is trying to suppress our voices by one policy: killing, killing, and killing Palestinians – women, children and elders. Arresting more and more of the activists. Demolishing more houses. Confiscating more land. Building more settlements on our land and the new brutal means by burning people alive, as they did to the child Mohammed Abu Khdeir last year in Jerusalem, and lately, to the child Ali Dawabsheh and his family near Nablus, and his family. 

Our people face and are still facing the Israeli army and the settlers to deal with them. It is our legal right and way to face the abuse artists of the 21st century. Comrades and friends in this occasion let me address my comrade Georges Abdallah through you. Comrade Georges, to us, to all progressive forces, you represent us all in your prison. You are a part of the prisoners movement against occupation and oppression everywhere in this world. Your comrades in the Zionist prisons look forward to your freedom as well to theirs. Comrade Ahmad Sa’adat sends you his warm greetings, with all prisoners. They look upon you as a great symbol for revolutionaries in this world. As we denounce the brutality of the Israeli policies against the prisoners, we also denounce the French government for its continuous attitude toward you being in jail. Yet, we are sure that you are more free than the French government and the judicial system in France. 

This event and other events in Lebanon, Palestine and in different places show that you are not alone. We are with you, since 30 years. Comrades and friends, let’s all raise our voices for the freedom of Georges Abdallah and all political prisoners everywhere, in all jails in the world. 

I am thankful to every one of you who gave me this opportunity to address you. The price of freedom is very expensive, yet Georges Abdallah chose to pay it. With our support and exposing those who put freedom fighters in prisons, irrespective of their reasons, we can free them at the end of the day. Let us learn from their patience and attitude. Let us all raise our call: Free Georges Abdallah! Free Ahmad Sa’adat! Free all political freedom fighters from imperialist and Zionist and reaction prisons. We shall overcome. Merci, shukran, thank you.

Video: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x39on5r_leila-khaled-solidaire-de-georges-abdallah_webcam

Five Years Later: Last Target Of FBI Witchhunt Faces Jail, Deportation

Five Years Later: Last Target Of FBI Witchhunt Faces Jail, Deportation

Five years ago today the FBI raided the homes of anti-war activists across the Mid-West, as well as the offices of the Minneapolis based Antiwar Committee. The FBI deployed SWAT teams and even sent medics—no hostage negotiators were present, but they were on call. As they hauled away the personal belongings of activists, FBI agents asked them about their membership in political organizations, including socialist ones, and if they could provide them names of other members.

The use of the FBI to raid the homes of antiwar activists hunting for socialists is eerily reminiscent of the Palmer Raids. The questions about membership in First Amendment protected associations and the demand that people “name names” of others with similar political affiliations is reminiscent of the era of the House Un-American Activity Committee. Yet, these events did not occur in a distant era. They happened in Barack Obama’s America.

Related: Peace, Solitary and Union Activists Raided

Other than playing the role of America’s political police what was the FBI doing sending swat teams, medics, and having hostage negotiators on call in order to the raid the homes of political activists? Officially, the FBI was investigating “material support for” the designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and FARC.

The FBI plot began when an undercover agent going by the name of Karen Sullivan became involved in organizing protests against the Republican National Convention. After the convention was over, the FBI agent continued to immerse herself in the local activist scene—participating in nearly every local demonstration on a range of causes. Eventually, she ended up becoming a member of the “Freedom Road Socialist Organization.”

During her time in the Freedom Road Socialist Organization Sullivan and the FBI concocted a story that her father had died and left her $1,000 in cash that he really wanted to go to the PFLP. According to the affidavit supplied by the FBI to get a warrant for the raid, she than approached various people about getting this $1,000 to the PFLP. At one point she finally gave the money to an unidentified man. If the money really was going to support terrorism—as the FBI would want us to believe—it is unclear why the FBI was apparently unconcerned that its undercover operative had given $1,000 to the PFLP.

Related: Solidarity Spoils the FBI’s Material Support Habit

To date no one has been charged with material support for terrorism. Twenty-eight individuals were subpoenaed to appear before a grand jury. They all refused to do so. The FBI’s attempt to snag activists on material support for terrorism failed, however they did succeed in bringing charges for two others on seemingly unrelated charges.

The first charges stemming from the FBI’s raid were brought against Carlos Montes. While the FBI was investigating Carlos it discovered two things—that he had a registered firearm and was convicted in 1969 of throwing a soda can at police officer during a civil rights protest. Carlos was than charged with illegal possession of a firearm and arrested by the local police. The FBI and local police conducted yet another SWAT team raid and arrested Carlos, but they were not there to discuss soda cans. Instead, they repeatedly asked Carlos about the Freedom Road Socialist Organization. Carlos eventually agreed to plead “no contest” to perjury in exchange for the serious felony charges (which carried lengthy prison sentences) being dropped.

The second set of charges were brought against Rasmea Odeh. Rasmea was not caught up in the original raid, but it is believed that her prosecution was related to the initial investigation. Rasmea is a Palestinian-American who was highly active in her local community with the Arab American Action Network. She is also a torture survivor. In 1969, the Israeli military arrested, tortured (including sexual assault) Rasmea for 41 days before she was coerced into confessing to a fatal bombing. As part of her confession, her captors took her to the supermarket where one of the bombings took place and asked her to show them where she placed the explosives. She had no idea, as she had nothing to do with the bombing. She asked her interrogators where she put the explosives, they told her where, and she then pointed to the place as part of her “confession.” She was sentenced to life in prison both for the bombings and for belonging to an illegal organization (the PFLP).

Rasmea spent ten years in jail before she was released as part of an Israeli prisoner swap. In 1994 she moved to the United States and in 2004 she became a United States citizen. During the 2010 Mid-West FBI raids the home of her co-worker, Hatem Abudayyeh, was raided. It was through the investigation of Hatem that it is believed the FBI first set its sights on Rasmea. The FBI discovered that when applying for citizenship she reported that she had never been arrested. Since she was arrested and tortured by the Israeli military the US government claimed that she had lied on the form

The US government did not have to do much investigating to discover Rasmea’s arrest by the Israeli military. At no point in her life has Rasmea ever hidden it. She testified before the UN about the torture she endured at the hands of the Israeli military. The very same year she applied for citizenship she recounted her torture as part of a documentary film.

The jury that convicted Rasmea for immigration fraud heard none of this. Even though the judge allowed the prosecution to submit Israeli military documents as evidence against Rasmea, it refused to allow her to present evidence about the fact that Rasmea was tortured or allow an expert in post traumatic stress disorder to testify. The prosecutor later warned that “A light sentence in this case would be a signal to anyone who has fought overseas for ISIS or a similar organization that there is not much risk in coming to the United States, hiding one’s past and seeking citizenship.” After her trial, the jury asked to meet with the prosecutor, but declined to meet with the defense. The judge, who claimed he usually did not comment on verdicts, felt the need to state that Rasmea’s conviction was a “just verdict.”

Related: Political Protest or Jury Tampering?

Rasmea was sentenced to 18 months in prison, loss of her citizenship, and deportation. She is appealing this conviction and on October 14 supporters will rally in Cincinnati where an appeal in her case is being heard.

Five years later the FBI raids are still relevant. The witchhunt that began then continues with the unjust politically motivated prosecution of torture survivor Rasmea Odeh. There are also serious questions about the conduct of the FBI. While the FBI would have us believe they were conducting a major terrorism investigation, their two and half year investigation began when their undercover agent first infiltrated groups protesting the Republican National Convention and than progressive groups more broadly. In addition to Karen Sullivan, the FBI deployed another undercover agent to pose as her life partner. The FBI dedicated two undercover agents and two and half years of its time to infiltrating leftwing groups. Without probable cause that a crime is being committed the FBI should not be allowed to infiltrate political organizations engaged in First Amendment protected activity. Since its inception though, the FBI has a history of spying on groups and individuals solely for their political beliefs. This investigation involved a bizarre entrapment attempt (the $1,000 in cash that the FBI would like us to believe they gave to the PFLP) and a fishing expedition that resulted in unrelated indictments against Carlos and Rasmea, but it began with blatant political spying.

Photo: Protest in front of FBI building on the 2nd anniversary of the raids. Used with permission of the photographer, Chris Clark. See his work here: http://www.continuouscontrol.com/

The Flag of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine flies in Belfast!

The Flag of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine flies in Belfast!

In solidarity with our Marxist revolutionary comrades in Palestine facing murderous Zionist aggression, the flag of the PFLP flies high in Belfast. It is but a small gesture of solidarity with our ideologically linked comrades in the PFLP whose struggle for a secular unitary, Workers Republic free from imperialism and fascist supremacy mirrors our own struggle and ideals!

تضامن

Saoirse go deo!

PFLP calls for unity and action in occupied Jerusalem to confront Zionist attacks

PFLP calls for unity and action in occupied Jerusalem to confront Zionist attacks

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine called for the reformation of a unified national leadership in occupied Jerusalem, in order to confront the systematic war waged by the Zionist occupation of the city and its holy sites, especially as the situation holds the potential for the outbreak of a massive uprising, behind which all must unite and participate.

“The criminal aggression by the Zionist enemy, breaking into Al-Aqsa Mosque and invading various neighborhoods of Jerusalem, requires the convening of emergency sessions of the PLO Executive Committee and Central Council, in order to take a decision to form a unified national leadership for the start of a popular Intifada. This leadership must involve all of the factions, without exception, and the leadership of young people and various sectors of society. This moment holds the potential to spark a popular uprising,” said Comrade Abu Ahmad Fuad, Deputy General Secretary of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

The Front emphasized that the escalating serious events in occupied Jerusalem require a unified national leadership that is prepared to direct the mass movement in Jerusalem, support the steadfastness of the Palestinian peple of the city, and activate Popular Committees to confront the terror of the occupation, its army and its colonists. The official Palestinian bodies and authorities have entirely failed to meet their responsibilities about the Zionist attack on Jerusalem, amid Arab official silence and international imperialist complicity with the Zionist entity.

The Front considered that the risks to Jerusalem are real and systematic, a war in the true sense of the word. The occupation has begun the implementation of its plans to divide Al-Aqsa Mosque temporally and spatially, and continues to attack, invade and wound dozens inside it, attacking journalists in order to prevent them from sharing the truth, as well as attacking ambulances and abducting the injured for arrest and interrogation. These striking developments come alongside the actions of the criminal Israeli state under Netanyahu in further repressing “stone-throwers” with massive prison sentences and threats of sniper fire.

The Front demanded the Palestinian resistance factions exercise their power to target the Zionist entity militarily, in particular its security and military positions and colonies, and saying that the West Bank and Jerusalem will rise up to confront the occupation in a state of permanent clashes and confrontation. The Front saluted the people of the city of Jerusalem, its youth, men, women, children and elders who continue to resist Zionist terror.

Maher Al-Taher denies any relationship with right-wing “Mediterranean Solidarity” conference in Italy

Maher Al-Taher denies any relationship with right-wing “Mediterranean Solidarity” conference in Italy

Comrade Dr. Maher al-Taher, member of the Political Bureau of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, denied any participation in the so-called “Mediterranean Solidarity” conference promoted by the Italian extreme right.

An invitation had been sent to the PFLP from Talal Khreis, but the Front, after investigating the organizations and participants initiating this conference, promptly rejected the invitation.

This deceptive move is only the latest attempt by which movements or groups, right-wing or not, attempt to dignify or cleanse their own image by appropriating that of the Front.

Dr. Maher al-Taher also denounces the improper and inappropriate use of his name and calls for its immediate removal from any advertisement or material publicizing the aforementioned conference.

September 17, 2015

PFLP: Occupation must pay a heavy price for its ongoing crimes

PFLP: Occupation must pay a heavy price for its ongoing crimes

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine salutes and mourns the martyr, Diaa Abdul Halim Talahmeh, who was killed by Israeli occupation army fire at Kharsa crossroads at southern Dura, south of al-Khalil. This crime and all of the crimes of the occupation will not be allowed to pass without the occupation paying a heavy price.

Amid the ongoing shedding of Palestinian blood, the escalation of the mass uprising of youth with stones and Molotov cocktails in the streets of Jerusalem and across the West Bank is a brilliant symbol of the continuing struggle of our people despite the vast sacrifices they have given, amid the escalation of Zionist terror. At this time it is particularly important to reemphasize the armed resistance to inflict serious losses upon the soldiers, settlers and the infrastructure of occupation.

The increase in the shooting of Palestinians at roadblocks and checkpoints which has led to the killing and wounding of many Palestinian civilians, is the practical manifestation of the resolutions and statements of the fascist occupation regime expanding its soldiers’ targeting and aggresion against our people. It requires urgent action at the international level to move beyond condemnation of these crimes and act to stop the ongoing war crimes against our people throughout occupied Palestine.

PFLP denounces Palestinian Authority security forces’ attacks on protesters

PFLP denounces Palestinian Authority security forces’ attacks on protesters

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine denounced the Palestinian Authority security apparatus’ suppression and attacks of marches held in the occupied West Bank in support of our people in occupied Jerusalem, including the beating of a child in Bethlehem with batons and feet, as a crime violating all national principles.

The Front stated that all justifications, excuses, and even security agencies’ stated “recognition of error” or apologies are insufficient and do not justify the continued suppression of protest.

Furthermore, said the Front, such attacks are not isolated cases or behavior by a few individuals of the security services, but instead represent an authoritarian approach that oppresses the Palestinian people and violates their rights in the service of the occupation project, whether directly or indirectly.

The Front emphasized the need to end once and for all the burden of the Oslo project on the Palestinian people on the political, security and economic levels, saying that these security agencies must be converted to provide defense of the Palestinian people and confront the attacks of the occupation and settlers, rather than to work hand in hand with the occupation to suppress Palestinian resistance while attacking Palestinian civilians.