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International Responsibilities Task Force of the American Library Association's Social Responsibilities Round Table |
The following resolution was adopted by the elected representatives
of the Social Responsibilities Round Table (SRRT) on June 15, 2002. SRRT
is a body within the American Library Association but does not and should
not be taken to speak for the Association as a whole. In this resolution
SRRT
speaks only on its own behalf.
WHEREAS, beginning in late March 2002, Israeli military forces occupied numerous sites which housed Palestinian cultural resources, including libraries and archives; and
WHEREAS, in the course of this occupation Israeli forces were responsible for the destruction and theft of computers, photocopiers, books, audio recordings, video recordings, data, institutional archives and records, and objects of historical, cultural, and artistic importance; and
WHEREAS, the destruction of these cultural resources represents a significant loss for the people of Palestine and of the world; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association deplores the destruction of these cultural resources, and calls upon the Israeli government to refrain from further actions of this type; and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Social Responsibilities Round Table calls upon the government of the United States, as well as other governments, intergovernmental organizations, and non-governmental organizations to provide material assistance for the reconstruction and restoration of these resources; and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Social Responsibilities Round Table offers assistance in the form of resources, advice, expertise, and consultation for the purpose of restoring and enhancing Palestinian libraries and archives; and be it further
RESOLVED, that copies of this resolution will be sent to the appropriate persons, including the U.S. Secretary of State, the Israeli ambassador to the United States, the representative of the Palestinian National Authority to the United States, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Director-General of UNESCO, and the President of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions.