Liberation 9/21 Urges End to Israeli Visa Waiver in Belize

A newly formed solidarity group, Liberation 9/21, is urging the government to revoke a 2011 order that grants Israeli passport holders visa-free entry to Belize for up to ninety days. Framing the issue as one of justice rather than bureaucracy, the group cites United Nations and human rights reports declaring that Israel committed acts against Palestinians that meet the definition of genocide under international law. Since launching its petition in September, the movement has collected seven hundred and sixty-four signatures, pressing for stricter vetting as Belize prepares to mark the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on November twenty-ninth. To learn more about the mission, we spoke with Liberation Dr. Dylan Vernon of 9/21. Here’s how he puts it.

 

Dr. Dylan Vernon, Member, Liberation 9/21

“The first action  of liberation 9/21 was one of solidarity of the Palestinian people. And we know that there has been an invasion of Gaza by Israel and that has resulted in what not only human rights organizations and the experts and genocide, but also the United Nations. One report came out that genocide has been committed about seventy thousand Palestinians men, women, and children ha have been killed since that invasion. And what is happening and what we are saying at Liberation 9/21 is this Israelis come to Belize as tourists on an annual basis. There are not too many, but we’re saying that. Israelis now have visa free entry into Belize. That is, they can come unvetted for ninety days. And we are asking the government to stop this waiver, to remove this waiver and have them apply for a visa when they come so that they can be vetted. And the reason for that is that all Israelis have to serve compulsory military service. And some of these people coming could be people who have been soldiers in the invasion of Gaza of Palestine. And in saying that, then we are saying, government of police based upon what you have signed in terms of the 1948 genocide genocide convention what you have resolved in the National Assembly in 2021. In terms of solidarity with Palestine and what we’ve said on the world stage this action is an obvious next step. In showing our national belief that are directed with Palestine, and this one is to remove this Visa waiver in case any of these Israelis who passport told is coming in have committed or have aided genocide in Gaza.”