[Quebec] Econ Minister's Office Occupied: Demand to End Ties with Israel

suggested by Dan, re-posted from Anarchist People of Color listserv

Quebec Economic Minister's Office occupied to demand Quebec end economic ties with Israel

Montreal, January 15th, 2009 -- On the twentieth day of Israel's attack on Gaza, a group of Montrealers occupied the office of Quebec's Economic Development Minister Raymond Bachand, calling on the Charest government to immediately end ties with Israel, and specifically withdraw from the Quebec-Israel accord.

"The accord, signed this fall, establishes unconditional economic ties between the two countries," said Marc-André Faucher, spokesperson for ASSÉ, representing over 40,000 Quebec students. "The accord does not include measures to force Israel to respect international law, but provides economic backing and diplomatic cover for current war crimes in Gaza."

Montrealers, including dozens of supporters outside of the offices, sent a clear message to the Charest government by shutting down the minister's office, disrupting its functioning for the day. Demonstrators locked themselves together in the office, chanting "Israël: terroriste! Bachand: complice!" and demanding the Charest government denounce Israel's war crimes that continue unabated in Gaza.

The protesters, who were eventually removed by police without arrests, demanded that Quebec end all economic ties with Israel as part of the international campaign for boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israeli apartheid.

"We demand that the Charest government tear up the Quebec-Israel bilateral accord and condemn Israel's attack on Gaza," outlined Stefan Christoff, from Tadamon! "Given that Bachand has failed to address our demands, Quebec government institutions should expect future disruptions."

Recent accounts of Israel's carnage document over a thousand dead, including 300 children, and more than 5000 wounded in Gaza.

Major protests have ignited worldwide against the ongoing massacre in Gaza, while growing numbers of direct actions against Israeli apartheid have occurred in recent days, including many on the part of the Jewish community who condemn Israel's attack on Gaza.

* Photos of today's action
http://photos.cmaq.net/v/IsraelQuebecAccord/

* For more information:

- l'Association pour une Solidarité Syndicale Étudiante (ASSÉ)
http://www.asse-solidarite.qc.ca/

- Tadamon!
http://www.tadamon.ca
info@tadamon.ca