Say no to Mette’s plans and show that you won’t accept vaccines from Israel by participating in a mailstorm to Mette Frederiksen, the Minister of Health Magnus Heunicke, the Ministry of Health and Statens Serum Institut.
NO TO ISRAELI VACCINES – NO TO MEDICAL APARTHEID
BACKGROUND:
This Thursday, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen is on a diplomatic visit to Israel to further Danish cooperation with the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz. The reason for the trip is the wish for a vaccine alliance in the fight against COVID-19.
Leading up to the trip, Mette Frederiksen announced that she wished to buy Israel’s “surplus” vaccines, along with stating that she is open to a Danish-Israeli partnership for a vaccine factory which would be located in Israel.
Israel is an occupying power. This fact means that Israel is responsible for the health and well-being of Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian territories, including the responsibility to provide vaccinations against COVID-19. This responsibility was confirmed by the UN in January 2021.
Those vaccines that Mette Frederiksen claims are “surplus”, according to calls from both international law and the UN, must be administered to Palestinians, who have only received 33,000 vaccines for a population of 4.5 million people. If Mette Frederiksen chooses to pursue a partnership or purchase vaccines from Israel, Denmark would be legitimizing the continued occupation of Palestine and contributing to Israel’s clear violation of the Geneva Convention!
In light of the blatant human rights abuses that Israel commits against the Palestinan people, it is morally reprehensible to assist Israel in their oppression and annexation of Palestine by entering in a diplomatic vaccine alliance with the state that is committing medical apartheid.
Not only are rich countries like Denmark and Israel complicit in hamstering vaccines during a global pandemic, but it is grotesque that Mette Frederiksen is willing to take advantage of Israel’s medical apartheid to procure vaccines for Denmark, at the expense of Palestinians. Last but not least, the Prime Minister’s trip is undermining international law- that is not how we show civic and community spirit.
The result of this partnership would be an inhuman dilemma, that Danes waiting to receive the vaccine would be caught in: Danes who wish to protect themselves against corona for their own/ the health and safety of our vulnerable communities in Denmark, will be offered a vaccine from an apartheid regine in Israel, which should be going to Palestinians in occupied territories. Mette Frederiksen has gone too far in the fight for vaccines!
Say no to Mette’s plans and show that you won’t accept vaccines from Israel by participating in a mailstorm to Mette Frederiksen, the Minister of Health Magnus Heunicke, the Ministry of Health and Statens Serum Institut.
Below is a sample of a letter you can use.
Statsminister Mette Frederiksen: stm@stm.dk
Sundhedsminister Magnus Heunicke: sum@sum.dk
Sundhedsstyrelsen: sst@sst.dk
Statens Serum institut: serum@ssi.dk
____________________________________________________
Protest letter sample:
Dear_______
Today, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen is on a diplomatic visit to Israel to further Danish cooperation with the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz. Denmark should not have diplomatic relationships with a state that is committing medical apartheid.
Leading up to the trip, Mette Frederiksen announced that she wished to buy Israel’s “surplus” vaccines, along with stating that she is open to a Danish-Israeli partnership for a vaccine factory which would be located in Israel.
As an occupying power according to the 4th Geneva Convention, Israel is responsible for vaccinating and providing medical care to Palestinians under occupation. But the Palestinian terriroties have only recieved 33,000 vaccines from Israel, which is not nearly enough to vaccine the population of 4.5 million. In late February, according to the Palestinian Ministery of Health, 206,500 people had contracted covid (this number includes people who recovered as well), which is only 5,000 less than the covid cases in Denmark as of February 2nd. Alongside this, the Palestinian people have severely restricted access to basic medical services, including hospitals and clean water.
Not only are rich countries like Denmark and Israel complicit in hamstering vaccines during a global pandemic, but it is grotesque that Mette Frederiksen is willing to take advantage of Israel’s medical apartheid to procure vaccines for Denmark, at the expense of Palestinians. Last but not least, the Prime Minister’s trip is undermining international law- that is not how we show civic and community spirit.
We are saying no to being complicit in Israel’s medical apartheid and legitimizing violation of international law. We do not wish to take Palestinian’s vaccines or support Israel’s continued neglect of their international responsibilities!
Sincerely,
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