(link to video below)-Father Miguel D'Escoto Brockman, President of the UN General Assembly, stressed that Israel is an Apartheid State, and called on the UN and its member states to follow civil society's lead in implementing Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions on Israel until it complies with international law. What follows is the text of these speeches.

STATEMENT OF H.E. FATHER MIGUEL D'ESCOTO BROCKMANN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, ON THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF SOLIDARITY WITH THE PALESTINAN PEOPLE

The Guardian, Saturday November 22 2008 - It is with great dismay that we learned of the British government's plans to rent space for its new Tel Aviv embassy location from Lev Leviev's company Africa-Israel.

Africa-Israel builds Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. Additionally, Leviev's company Leader is building the settlement of Zufim. Israeli settlements are illegal under international law.

Cancel the Peres Visit! Do Not Honour the Dishonourable!
Open Letter to the Master of Balliol College at the University of Oxford

Ramallah, Occupied Palestine,
November 13, 2008
- The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) views with grave concern the decision of Balliol College to honour Shimon Peres by inviting him to give a special lecture at the College on November 18th. The Campaign is also concerned about reports that a lecture series is being planned in Peres's name.

Dear Dr Andrew Graham
Master of Balliol

As South African students, academics and workers who suffered under, feel the legacy of, and played a role in overthrowing Apartheid, we strongly oppose the planned visit of Shimon Peres to the University of Oxford.

31 October 2008 - This is the document that was produced at the Bilbao Initiative, which was organized by Spanish solidarity groups, particularly the Basque network, Mewando, Palestinian civil society networks, particularly PNGO and Ittijah, and the Alternative Information Center. There were tens of Spanish and other European as well as Palestinian organizations persent at Bilbao and they unanimously endorsed this Declaration. It is worth noting that the Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC) played a key role in the process.

In Oslo on November 3, the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a half-day seminar about business and research cooperation with Israel, inviting Norwegian and Israeli corporations, research institutions in The Research Council of Norway and other representatives of the two countries’ business and research sectors.

By The Alternative Information Center - On 1 November a group of Palestinian, Israeli and international activists, in response to the Palestinian civil society call for boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel, joined international efforts to boycott Veolia in Europe.