The International Solidarity Movement (ISM) is a Palestinian-led movement committed to resisting the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land using nonviolent, direct-action methods and principles.
Founded by a small group of activists in August, 2001, ISM aims to support and strengthen the Palestinian popular resistance by providing the Palestinian people with two resources, international protection and a voice with which to nonviolently resist an overwhelming military occupation force.
Structure of the International Solidarity Movement
The ISM is not an organization, but rather a movement which all organizations, groups and/or individuals who agree with our principles can join. The ISM is based in Palestine and is led by Palestinians on the ground. ISM support groups, like the group here in the San Francisco Bay area, and others around the world assist the ISM by disseminating information, recruiting and training individuals to join us.
To join the ISM in Palestine, you must adhere to the following principles:
1) Belief in freedom for the Palestinian people based on all relevant UN Resolutions and international law.
2) Using only nonviolent, direct-action methods, strategies and principles to work towards our goal.
3) The ISM is non-hierarchical. Actions on the ground are coordinated with the larger Palestinian community and moved through a core group of committed activists. The core group is open to all activists, Palestinians or otherwise, who make a commitment to ISM’s work and take on coordinating responsibilities. The ISM uses consensus decision-making in all of its activities.
The Northern California International Solidarity Movement Support Group is regionally based in the San Francisco Bay area of Northern California, and is intended primarily to serve ISM volunteers from this area. However, candidates from anywhere, who may not have their own local support group, are welcome to participate.
Origins:
The ISM Support Group was formed out of recruitment efforts for the April, 2002 ISM campaign, and subsequently by SF Bay Area participants in that campaign.
Organizational Mandate:
There are a number of organizations in the San Francisco Bay area and Northern California that support the activities of the ISM and send volunteers to ISM campaigns in Palestine. The organizational mandate for the ISM Support Group derives from the need to provide a unified focus for the ISM-related activities of these organizations, whose primary focus may not be the ISM. The ISM Support Group seeks to avoid duplicating the efforts of these organizations, but rather to complement and strengthen them by being the only organization whose primary function is to support ISM.