Giro d’Italia e-action
Organizers of the famed Italian cycling race Giro d’Italia have announced the start of the 2018 edition from Israel, starting in Jerusalem followed by stages from Haifa to Tel Aviv and in the Naqab (Negev).
The race will ‘celebrate’ the 70th anniversary of Israel’s establishment on the ruins of the Palestinian homeland and through the ethnic cleansing, or Nakba, of a majority of the indigenous Palestinians.
We have to act to stop this sports-washing of Israel’s occupation and apartheid, dubbed by the media as “a big political coup for [Israel], which has been striving to paint a picture of 'normal' life.”
Join us in telling organizers RCS to #RelocateTheRace
and cycle away from Israel’s occupation and apartheid.
The Giro d’Italia will serve to institutionalize Israel’s hold on Jerusalem. One Israeli official after another laid claims to Jerusalem as Israel’s capital during the announcement ceremony, something no other country in the world recognizes. The Jerusalem Municipality is actively involved in the illegal gradual ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, including through home demolitions and forced expulsions as a matter of policy.
In the Naqab (Negev) in the south of present-day Israel, dozens of Palestinian Bedouin towns are refused recognition and basic services, and subjected to repeated demolitions, some over 100 times. Israel is also revoking the citizenship of Palestinian Bedouins for no reason, leaving them stateless.
Starting the race anywhere under Israel’s control will serve as a stamp of approval for Israel’s oppression of Palestinians. Would the Giro d’Italia have considered starting a race in apartheid South Africa in the 1980s?
Take action now to pressure RCS to respect international law and relocate the race.
Fill out the form on the right to send a letter to RCS.
Let’s make sure RCS and cycling teams get the message: stop sports-washing Israel’s egregious human rights violations, move the race start to another country!
#RelocateTheRace Campaign
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[email protected], [email protected]
To the attention of:
Urbano Cairo, Chairman, RCS Mediagroup
Riccardo Taranto, Chairman RCS Sport
Mauro Vegni, Director, Giro d’Italia
We are deeply concerned over announced plans to start the 2018 edition of the Giro d’Italia from Israel. Despite your attempts to avoid “sensitive areas,” holding the race anywhere under Israeli control involves the Giro d’Italia in Israeli violations of international law.
By starting the race in Jerusalem, the Giro d’Italia will become part of Israel’s ongoing process to institutionalize its illegal hold on the occupied city. UN General Assembly resolution 181 (1947) established Jerusalem as a corpus separatum under a special international regime and has repeatedly maintained that "any actions taken by Israel, the occupying Power, to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the Holy City of Jerusalem are illegal.” In 1967, Israel occupied East Jerusalem, unilaterally annexing it as part of its “united capital.” Despite repeated claims by Israeli ministers during the announcement ceremony, the world community does not recognize any part of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
In Southern Israel, where another stage of the race is planned, dozens of Palestinian Bedouin towns are refused recognition and basic services by Israel, and have been subjected to repeated demolitions, in the case of Al-Araqib over 100 times. Since 2010, Israel has revoked the citizenship of hundreds, possibly thousands, of Palestinian Bedouins for no reason, leaving them stateless.
These policies are part of Israel’s ongoing ethnic cleansing, which started 70 years ago with Israel’s establishment on the ruins of the Palestinian homeland and forced displacement of a majority of the indigenous Palestinians.
This is what Israel intends to ‘celebrate’ next year. The Giro d’Italia should have no part in it.
Just as it would have been unacceptable for the Giro d’Italia to start from apartheid South Africa in the 1980s, it is unacceptable to start the race anywhere under Israel’s control as it will only serve as a stamp of approval for Israel’s oppression of Palestinians.
We urge RCS to respect international law and relocate the start of the race to another country. Please don’t afford Israel this “big political coup,” tarnishing one of Europe’s premier sporting events.
Sincerely,
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