The Portuguese organization Plataforma Unitária de Solidariedade com a Palestina (PUSP) has distanced itself and condemned all hate speech, from homophobia and transphobia to racism, Islamophobia and anti-Semitism, in a statement today.
In the statement, the organization, which held a demonstration in Lisbon on Wednesday to protest against the celebrations of the 76th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel, recalls being “immensely proud” to count among its “fellow fighters” a number of people of Jewish origin, some of them part of the ‘Jews for Peace and Justice’ collective.
According to PUSP, in subsequent press releases, the Israeli Community of Lisbon and the Israeli Embassy in Portugal characterized the protest as anti-Semitic and violent.
“We vehemently reject both accusations,” refutes PUSP, stressing that rejection of Israeli policies and support for the rights of Palestinian people “are not acts of anti-Semitism”. In fact, the document adds, “anti-Zionism is not anti-Semitism”.
Following the demonstration, the PUSP also held a vigil, both in front of the São Jorge Cinema in Lisbon.
“Just as we revolt against Zionism – a political movement that over the decades has done nothing but steal Palestinian territories, displacing them from their homes and lands and/or murdering hundreds of thousands of people, in a deadly occupation that has lasted almost 80 years – we do so with equal strength, determination and pride against antisemitism,” the document adds.
The PUSP also denounces the attack by the State of Israel on the Palestinian population, following the ‘October 7’ offensive by the Islamist movement Hamas on Israeli soil, which caused around 1,200 deaths and in which more than 240 hostages were taken.
“In the last seven and a half months alone, [Israel] has killed almost 36,000 Palestinian people, including more than 15,000 children, leaving more than 80,000 seriously injured and around 10,000 missing (figures for the Gaza Strip alone…). It would be laughable, if it weren’t so serious, for the representatives and supporters of that same state to talk about intolerance and violence, referring to a united and peaceful protest,” concludes the PUSP statement.
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