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Protests for Palestine Escalate

11/01/09

As people took to the streets of cities around the world for the third weekend in-a-row to oppose the Israeli onslaught in Gaza, éirígí stepped up its solidarity actions and joined demonstrations at home yesterday (Saturday).

Hundreds of thousands attended protests in dozens of countries, including Hebron and Ramallah in the Occupied West Bank, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Kenya, Norway, Greece, Italy, England and Malaysia.

In Ireland, thousands took part in marches in Dublin and Belfast. The crescendo of protest activity was in stark contrast to the impotence and cringing servility of the UN, EU and most governments in the face of a prolonged war crime against an impoverished population.

By caring enough to take to the streets, ‘ordinary’ men, women and children have shamed the politicians who lack the moral strength to stand up to the Israeli regime and its US paymaster.

Trade unions, church representatives, political parties and human rights activists all gathered in Dublin and Belfast as the blitz on Gaza entered its 15th day.

As the media continued apace with the ‘both sides must stop’ analysis, mass mobilisations have highlighted the absurd nature of such statements, and the failure of the press to report the ongoing massacres adequately.

Since December 27, more than 800 Palestinians, the majority of them civilians, have been slaughtered by the Israeli war machine. Thirteen Israelis, the majority of them military personnel, have been killed in the same period. Yet Bush, Blair, Brown, et al, with straight faces, still talk of Israel defending itself and equating the resistance of the occupied with massive aggression of occupation.

Since Israel destroyed a six month truce in November last year, its political and military leaders have planned what they view as the latest final solution for the ‘Palestinian problem’. The problem is that, in fair, open and democratic elections, Hamas was voted into power, a ‘crime’ for which Israel, the EU, and almost every relevant government has punished the Palestinian people. Far from recognising the democracy they purport to represent, western governments are seeking to destroy the Hamas government and those who elected them by supporting Israel, its economic blockade and its brutal ethnic cleansing policies.

The die, then, is cast. The Palestinians will be bombed into subservience while the EU, UN and every European government actively support it, turn a blind eye, or whimper apologetic and biased condemnation – Hamas must recognise Israel! Hamas must cease the rocket attacks! Hamas are a terrorist organisation, and, by the way, Israel must ceasefire. The truth is that the rockets from Gaza are a response to an intolerable situation. The people of this part of Palestine have been left destitute and isolated by a ruthless Israeli blockade. The lifting of this blockade and the ending of the current military onslaught is all that Hamas is demanding to renew its truce.

Meanwhile scores of Palestinian children are blown to pieces – at school, at home, in shelters – there is nowhere to hide in the massive outdoor prison that is Gaza. There is no other word but shameful to describe the posturing of those underlings of the world’s greatest terrorist government - the USA. There could be no greater indictment on the global political status quo than what is now happening in Palestine and how acceptable the slaughter of Palestinians has become. Because, in the final analysis, it is the US government who are to blame.

Meaningful disapproval from the US would end the air-strikes. But why would the US condemn its Middle Eastern bully boy, whom it finances and furnishes with hi-tech weaponry with which to obliterate some of the poorest people on Earth? There is no hope whatsoever that the great and good will come to the aid of the Palestinians – they will merely posture in as politically correct a manner as possible, without actually taking action against the apartheid regime of Israel.

And so, as in the case of apartheid South Africa, it is ordinary people in towns and cities all over the world who must now stand up and call for an end to what has gone on for over 60 years in Palestine.

éirígí is supporting an all out economic boycott of Israel, including direct actions to end the financing of Israeli terrorism.

In Belfast’s Castle Court shopping centre, éirígí activists closed Sea Spa Skin Care. While hundreds of shoppers looked on, 40 activists surrounded the stalls and rained leaflets and images from the balcony above, exposing the gross reality behind the benevolently marketed products on sale.

After attending the rally in Belfast, over 100 activists and supporters closed Marks & Spencer retail store by filling baskets and trolleys with Israeli produce, clogging the aisles and chanting “Boycott Israeli Goods” and “Free Palestine” to the embarrassment of the shop’s managers. Many shoppers joined the protest when they realised where the products came from and the role M&S play in sponsoring the Israeli regime.

éirígí spokesperson Seán Mac Brádaigh encouraged activists all over Ireland to follow suit, and to make it as uncomfortable as possible for stores to peddle Israeli wares.

He said “As well as swelling the numbers of every and any protest organised in opposition to what is happening in Palestine at present we must take further action, because Israel listens to no one accept maybe its bankers. The two actions taken today have no doubt impacted on the two companies involved, but we must keep the pressure on and build momentum around it.

“We may have shut these businesses today and cost them money but tomorrow it will be business as usual. We are calling on everyone who has taken to the streets on this issue and those who have not to boycott these businesses and Israeli goods, as well as take actions of their own in similar stores and business across Ireland to bring pressure to bear on Israel.”

For more information on the boycott of Israeli goods visit www.ipsc.ie

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