Students For Justice In Palestine

--a Hampshire College student group.

Here are some endorsements of Hampshire College's divestment from Israeli military occupation, on the Web at:

http://www.hsjp.org/endorsements/

Endorsements-

“The Palestinian BDS National Committee, BNC, salutes Hampshire College for its historic decision to divest from companies implicated in Israel’s occupation and violation of international law. Your principled and courageous decision is the clearest indicator yet in the United States that a critical threshold has been crossed in undertaking effective, morally sound solidarity measures to further the cause of justice and peace in Palestine and the region.”

--Palestinian Boycott Divestment and Sanctions National Committee (BNC)

"This is a monumental and historic step in the struggle for Palestinian equality, self-determination and peace in the Holy Land by non-violent means. I see what these students have accomplished as a replica of the support of their College of our struggle against apartheid in South Africa. Hampshire College's decision to divest should be a guiding example to all institutions of higher learning."

--Archbishop Desmond Tutu

"Congratulations to the students of Hampshire College for your principled and thoughtful divestment decision. Economic sanctions are among the most potent tools in the arsenal of non-violent tactics. Divestment and boycotts are controversial precisely because they work. So stay strong in the face of the attacks and misinformation, they are a measure of the effectiveness of the tactic you have chosen. And know that there are many who stand with you, and will soon be inspired to join you!"

--Naomi Klein, Journalist & Author

“I wholeheartedly support the call of the students of Hampshire College for an economic boycott of Israel following the massacre perpetrated in Gaza.”

--John Berger

“Every tiny act of disagreement with repression and injustice is critical. Gandhi rocked the imperialist British empire by thesimple act of making salt. Hampshire College deserves to be saluted for lending its small shoulder to a big cause."

--Tarun Tejpal, Internationally Acclaimed Author, Editor of the Magazine Tehelka

“As in the case of the Apartheid system of South Africa, the Israeli Apartheid system imposed in Palestine leaves no option but to exercise pressure on Israel through BDS programs to break the Apartheid system for the sake of the future of both peoples."

--Mustafa Barghouti, Palestinian Legislative Council

“To my knowledge It has never occurred in history before, that the  Aggressor (Israel) been rewarded and the Victim (Palestinians) demonized  and punished by the International Community. Why has this been allowed to  happen?    The actions of the Students of Hampshire College by campaigning for  divestment from financial ties with Israel is the first USA College to try to bring the truth to light and  redress this injustice. I hope your Divestment Campaign will be taken up by other USA (and world) colleges, Universities  and People, so that our voices United will break the siege of Gaza, end the occupation of Palestine, and  give hope to Palestinians and Israelis who believe in human  dignity, equality, and human rights for all. Well done to you all!”

--Mairead Maguire, Nobel Peace Laureate

"I entirely endorse the actions of Hampshire College students in their  campaign for divestment from financial ties with Israel. Israel's current  violence against Gaza, its long occupation of Palestinian lands and its  policies of apartheid are all unacceptable by any standards."

--Roger Waters, Musician, Pink Floyd

“I want to express my admiration and support for the actions of Hampshire  College students in their successful campaign for divestment from financial  ties with Israel. It is extremely important for Israel to know that its  violence against Gaza and its long occupation of Palestinian lands is not  acceptable to people in the United States. I hope your campaign will set an  example for students all over the country, and lead to justice in the Middle  East, as the divestment campaign helped end apartheid in South Africa.”

--Dr. Howard Zinn

"I welcome the action of the Trustees of Hampshire College in  divesting from companies that directly profit from the Israeli  occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. This is a first step  towards bringing real moral and material pressure to bear against an  occupation that has gone on for over 41 years, and that must be ended  if Palestinians and Israelis are to have peace."

--Rashid Khalidi, Professor, Columbia University

“Your student group is to be commended for taking such an  important and brave action. I am pleased to sign your statement and I thank  you for including me.”

--Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney

“As a South African freedom fighter and recently retired minister in our  democratic government I salute your stand against apartheid Israel!”

--Ronnie Kasrils, ANC leader & Minister of South Africa

“I fully endorse the reasonable and courageous decision of Hampshire  College's Board of Trustees to divest all investments that support the  Israeli occupation and oppression of the Palestinian people.”

--David Theo Goldberg, Professor, University of California

“I was thrilled to learn about the courageous step the college has taken. I am confident that history would judge it to be in hindsight one of the definitive moments in the non violent struggle to end the occupation and the oppression in Palestine and Israel."

--Ilan Pappé, Professor, British University of Exeter

“You are doing such great work! I have been  wanting a chance to tell you how proud I am of your  activism and leadership in this struggle.”

--Leslie Feinberg, Co-founder  Rainbow Flags for Mumia & co-founder Rainbow Solidarity  for the Cuban Five

“I strongly support this statement. Israel's settlement policy in the  Occupied Territories is a war crime. The wall Israel has been building in  the Occupied Territories is designed to incorporate these  illegal settlements. The final five-point itemization of your statement  makes unambiguously clear that anyone who opposes such divestment supports  war crimes.”

--Norman Finklestein

“I admire and honor the work Students for Justice in Palestine have done to bring about divestment from corporations profiting from the sufferings of the Palestinian people under Israel's occupation. May Hampshire's leadership inspire a growing movement on campuses and elsewhere.”

--Adrienne Rich, Poet & Activist

“I extend my enthusiastic congratulations to Hampshire College and to Students  for Justice in Palestine for your courageous stand in support of human rights.  As we have all learned from President Nelson Mandela, no one's freedom is  complete until all are free. As Hampshire College and all of us learned  during the long and often difficult years of the South African anti-apartheid  struggle, international support through non-violent economic pressure such as  divestment campaigns, plays an enormously important role. This is true in  ending the Israeli occupation as much as it was for ending South African  apartheid. At this moment when our own country is looking with hope towards a  new era of change, we know that real change, based on justice, is something we  must not only believe in but also fight for. Your decision to divest from  Israeli occupation is part of that fight, and I applaud you for it.” 

-- Phyllis Bennis, Fellow, Institute for Policy Studies

“Please find our endorsement of Hampshire College SJP's recent  divestment efforts. […] The US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, and our 280 member groups  around the country, applauds Hampshire College for again being among the  leaders of the movement to divest their holdings in the service of human  rights. As was the case with apartheid South Africa, the global Boycott,  Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement seeks to nonviolently pressure  Israel to end its systemic human rights abuses and violations of  international law against Palestinians. Economic isolation and  international pressure are crucial components to ending the Israeli  confiscation of Palestinian land, expansion of Israel's illegal settlements,  and Israel's targeting of Palestinian civilian lives and infrastructure.  Combined with boycott campaigns, divestment both presses Israel to change  its policies on human rights, and sends an important message to corporations  that investors and consumers refuse to be complicit in human rights abuses.  Hampshire College Students for Justice in Palestine's hard won campaign for  divestment is truly a beacon for students and faculty seeking to  nonviolently bring justice to Palestinians and peace and security to all.  Peace & Power

-- Katherine M. Fuchs, US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation

"Given the central role that Americans have played in the prevention of  justice for the Palestinian people, the struggle for peace must be waged  here as well. The brave decision taken by Hampshire College to divest itself  from further complicity in the illegal and immoral actions undertaken by  Israel may be seen in years to come as the first and decisive act in the  move towards a just and permanent peace in the region. We are all global citizens and Hampshire College has just shown what that responsibility means. I applaud and whole-heartedly support them in their efforts."

--Sut Jhally, University of Massachusetts at Amherst

"Congratulations to the Hampshire College students on their successful campaign that has led to a historic decision: to divest from all financial ties with Israel. Citizens in the United States and Europe have been extremely slow in appreciating the effects of the continued Israeli onslaught against the Palestinians. The victory of the ultra-Right parties in the recent Israeli elections only proves that the timing of your decision was perfect. Let us hope that it triggers similar campaign and results on campuses throughout the Western world. Israel is an apartheid state and the convict's badge needs to be pinned firmly on the lapels of its leaders. What you have done will strike a chord everywhere and not least in beleaguered Gaza."

--Tariq Ali

Additional Support From:

Luisa Morgantini, Vice President, EU parliament

Noam Chomsky, MIT

Adam Keller

Beate Zilversmidt

Rosa Clemente, Hip Hop Activist & Journalist

Joan Cocks, Mt. Holyoke College

Hava Kelleradam, Members of Gush Shalom ("Peace Bloc")

Anat Biletski, Tel Aviv University

Anat Matar, Tel Aviv University