The Goldstone Report of September 2009, authored by South African Jewish judge and long-time supporter of Israel, Justice Richard Goldstone, condemned the Israeli siege on Gaza for its violation of international law, war crimes and possible crimes against humanity. It recommended that the UN end Israel's impunity and "urged the Human Rights Council to take action that would ensure the protection of victims, prevent further violence and improve the living conditions of the affected people."

At the same time, the Palestinian call for boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel (BDS) is rapidly gaining in impact and active support, both internationally and even within Israel itself.

In response, Israel has increased its repression while the United States—which funds, promotes and protects Israel —has censored information and boycotted international forums to address Israel's crimes in Palestine, and Egypt collaborates.

• Israeli military arrests of Palestinian grassroots leaders and activists in the West Bank have escalated, including those of Abdallah Abu Rahmeh, Mohammad Othman, Jamal Juma' and dozens of others.

• The United States rejected the Goldstone report and refuses to allow its review by the United Nations.

• The United States boycotted the World Conference Against Racism and Discrimination in Geneva on the basis that the report from the 2001conference in Durban was up for review and named Israel as an apartheid state—while at the same time silencing any discussion of reparations for its own racist history of genocide and slavery.

• Egypt, colluding with the blockade and defending its brutal regime from its own movement of resistance, the natural allies of the Palestinian struggle, plans to build its own iron wall 20-30 meters deep on their side of the Rafah border.

• Israel and Egypt have together undermined every international effort to provide even the most basic humanitarian aid to Gaza.

One wonders if the real motivation behind Israel's determination to crush non-violent resistance is to leave violence—however insignificant measured against one of the world's best-resourced militaries—as the only option and thus constructing a pretext for further ethnic cleansing and genocide of Palestinian people.

And now, Egypt refuses to allow over 1,400 international delegates to join with 50,000 people in Gaza for a peaceful march to insist on the dignity and humanity of the people living in Gaza. This collusion with the United States and Israel cannot be justified on any grounds. Rather, it reflects the repressive interests and actions of the Egyptian government, which, in exchange for economic and military cooperation, continues to be one of the largest recipients of US aid.

On this anniversary of the siege on Gaza, the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network stands with Palestinian people in Gaza, the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Israel, including the Bedouins of the Negev who continue to struggle for emancipation and self-determination and refugees. We stand with the activists in Egypt who take inspiration from and struggle in solidarity with the Palestinian people and who fight for the labor, voting, economic, housing and political rights, against sexual repression, and for religious freedom in Egypt. We stand with those struggling against racism, State repression, continued colonization and environmental destruction in and by any country, beginning with those in which we organize.

On December 31, 2009, IJAN activists will march in Gaza, Israel and across the world in solidarity with the people of Gaza and to re-affirm our collective humanity and dignity.

>> Click here for actions to take.