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World Rallies Around Palestinians Amid Gaza Offensive
LONDON, England - Israeli attacks on suspected Hamas strongholds in Gaza have triggered protests in more than a dozen countries.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators protest near the Israeli Embassy in London Dcember 28, 2008, against the Israeli strikes on Gaza. (Luke MacGregor/Reuters) The
attacks entered their third day Monday, with more than 300 people in
Gaza reported killed and hundreds more wounded. Israel says the
military assault is in response to ongoing rocket strikes on Israel,
which have killed two Israelis.
In London, England, dozens of protesters gathered outside the Israeli Embassy, waving flags and trying to push their way closer to the building, as police tried to hold them back and erect a barricade. Watch protesters push toward embassy
Police in Germany said about 2,000 protesters marched peacefully down Berlin's Kurfuerstendamm Boulevard and dispersed after about three hours.
Protesters also have taken to the streets in Denmark, France, Italy and Spain, according to news reports. There also were reports of demonstrations in Caracas, Venezuela.
Iranian media reported that thousands took part in anti-Israel demonstrations in Tehran on Monday, which the government declared a day of mourning for the Palestinians in Gaza.
Photographs of the rallies posted by Iran's semi-official Fars News Agency showed black-shrouded women and men holding shoes in the air -- widely considered an insult in the Middle East -- while others held Palestinian flags and signs that said "Down with U.S.A." in English and Farsi.
Greek riot police clashed with protesters in Athens during a demonstration outside the Israeli Embassy, according to police and images broadcast on state television.
Protesters hurled stones in an attempt to break through the police cordon around the heavily secured embassy. Police responded with tear gas.
In Iraq, hundreds of supporters of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr demonstrated in al-Mustansiriya Square in eastern Baghdad. The demonstrators carried Iraqi and Palestinian flags, banners and pictures of al-Sadr and his father.
The demonstrators threw an Israeli flag on the ground, put President Bush's picture on top of it and set both on fire.
In the Muslim world, demonstrations also were held in Jordan, Egypt, Pakistan, Indonesia, Libya and Bahrain, the BBC and other news outlets reported. See world leaders' reactions to offensive
Also, thousands of Lebanese demonstrators packed the streets of Beirut as part of a rally called by the militant group Hezbollah. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah addressed the crowd via satellite from an undisclosed location.
Protests were also held in Israel, where students at universities in Haifa, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem demonstrated against the Israeli military operation, ynetnews.com reported.
- Posted in
15 Comments so far
Show AllAnd yet Europe continues to allow the US and Israel the right to terrorize and destroy. If Europe is outraged, then why does it keep doing trade business with US and Israel?
The EU like the US, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt are enablers.
A google search on the article "European Hypocrisy" By Saifedean Ammous defintely confirms that truth. Europe ain't a saint either.
If anyone knows of any protests in Boston, Massachusetts, please post it here. Maybe I could get down to NYC - and if you can organize protests, drop your pessimism and get it going!!! We've got to stop the silence! BRAVO to all those who are speaking up for the wounded, the dead, the maimed, in PALESTINE!
Here's a list of demonstrations in the Boston Maaachusetts area to join the massive demonstrations all over the world.
Boston
Wednesday, December 31
2:00PM
Copley Square
Sponsored by the Boston Coalition for Palestinian Rights
Contact: info@bcpr.net
Get involved with ANSWER in Boston: 857-334-5084, boston@answercoalition.org
Thank you so much! I live very near Copley Square & will be attending it! (: I wish we could organize something massive - a protest in D.C. on January 20th? Not just Israel, but Afghanistan and all the other places Obama plans on killing people in the name of a "war on terror" which is actually U.S. terrorism.
I just got back yesterday from the protest in Atlanta. It was attended by around 100 people.
For the angry west coasters from Seattle to LA, here's the list for tomorrow's big bash at the Israeli embassy in your area. Bring old shoes after a log walk in the park with your favorite pet leading the way.
Los Angeles
Tuesday, December 30
4:30 pm
Israeli Consulate: 6380 Wilshire Blvd.
Contact: 213-251-1025, answerla@answerla.org
San Francisco
Tuesday, December 30
5:00 pm
Israeli Consulate:456 Montgomery St.
Contact: 415-821-6545, answer@answersf.org
San Francisco again
Monday, December 29
5:00 pm
Vigil at Sen. Dianne Feinstein's Office: Montgomery and Market
Co-Sponsored by a number of local organizations
Seattle
Saturday, January 3
12:00 noon - 2:00 pm
Westlake Park: 4th and Pine
Initiated by Voices of Palestine
Contact: general@voicesofpalestine.org
Tacoma, WA
Tuesday, December 30
5:00 pm
In front of the Courthouse at Pacific Avenue and 19th Street.
Protesters are asked to bring signs, candles, and flashlights
Hooray!! (: I'm so glad you guys out west are doing what you can - I'll be there in spirit!! (:
Oh oh, democracy in Amerika (read corporate greed)is at it again.
"The Israel Air Force used a new bunker-buster missile that it received recently from the United States in strikes against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip on Saturday, The Jerusalem Post learned on Sunday.
The missile, called GBU-39, was developed in recent years by the US as a small-diameter bomb for low-cost, high-precision and low collateral damage strikes".
For those vets, there is no such thing as a smart bomb.
The article says, "The attacks entered their third day Monday, with more than 300 people in Gaza reported killed and hundreds more wounded".
The 300 is not far off, but the 'hundreds' wounded is a serious enough understatement.
"Five More Palestinians Killed, 303 Killed and Over 1000 Wounded Since Saturday",
by Saed Bannoura, IMEMC.org, Dec 28 2008,
http://www.uruknet.info/?p=m50027
Quote: "The death toll of the Israeli offensive which started on Saturday stands now at 303 while at least 1000 residents were wounded, 180 seriously".
As for the world rallying around in solidarity with the Palestinians, the following are some additional pieces on this subject.
"Gazans sit atop northern roofs challenging Israeli orders to evacuate or face death
MaanNews.net, Dec 28, 2008
http://www.uruknet.info/?p=m49994
I'll quote the whole article, given it's short.
Quote:
Gaza – Ma’an – Israeli forces called to Gazan families through loudspeakers demanding that they evacuate their homes before intense Israeli selling began in the northern Gaza Strip.
As the Abu Sultan family in the Jabalia refugee camp prepared their belongings Israeli fire rained down on their home killing several family members and injuring others.
Witnesses of the massacres on Saturday decided to challenge the Israeli order to evacuate and gathered in areas under attack to sit on roofs with families whose homes face imminent destruction.
Despite cold weather and Israeli warplanes flying overhead small crowds could be seen on rooftops across the northern Gaza Strip area. One home with large numbers of Gazans on its concrete roof was that of the de facto government Minister of Communication Yousif Al-Mansi. Citizens stayed on the roof until early morning.
Israeli forces gave no warning to the injured and homeless who sought refuge in the Al-Burno Mosque in the Ash-Shifa medical compound, which was bombed without notification overnight.
On Sunday the streets and squares of the Gaza Strip are empty as a state of fear and sadness overwhelms people who now preferr to stay at home.
End quote.
"Massive protests in the West Bank slamming the Israeli offensive",
by Saed Bannoura, IMEMC.org, Dec 28 2008
http://www.uruknet.info/?p=m50008
"Gaza Carnage Sets West Bank Aflame", by Mel Frykberg, IPS, Dec 28 2008
http://www.uruknet.info/?p=m50026
Quote: "RAMALLAH, West Bank, Dec 28, 2008 (IPS) - Anger, shock and revulsion at the continuing carnage in Gaza has ignited spontaneous demonstrations and riots across the West Bank and Israel, sparking concerns of a possible third Palestinian uprising or Intifadah.
More than 300 Palestinians were killed and at least 900 wounded ...."
"Protests Reported in Several Arab States Over the Israeli Attacks on Gaza",
by Ghassan Bannoura, IMEMC.org, Dec 28 2008
http://www.uruknet.info/?p=m50025
There's one picture of a large and dense crowd of demonstrators in this above article, which I'll quote, given it's also short, while saying plenty.
Quote:
As Israeli air raids continued to hit the Gaza Strip for the second day on Sunday, thousands of Arabs condemned the attacks in demonstrations in several Arab countries.
Protests have been reported in Lebanon, Yemen, Sryia, Jordan, Iraq and Qatar. The largest reached one million people, according to officials in Yemen.
In Jordan, at least 30 MPs burned the Israeli flag under the parliament dome while in session on Sunday, while calling on their king to fire the Israeli ambassador from Amman. Meanwhile, in Lebanon, hundreds of Palestinian refugees and Lebanese held a rally at the United Nations office in central Beirut.
In Iraq, Palestinian Refugees and Iraqis rallied against the Israeli attacks in several cities. In Mosul, a suicide bomber attacked one of the protests killing four people and injuring 20 others, Iraqi police reported.
The Arab League will meet to discuss a response to the Israeli attacks on Gaza in a summit in Doha, Qatar, on January 2. Meanwhile, Arab Foreign Ministers are scheduled to meet on Wednesday.
As Gaza entered the second night of Israeli air raids, local medical sources in the costal region have issued a death toll, which now stands at 286 with at least 900 others reported injured, many in critical condition.
End quote.
MY NEXT post will be about Iranian Jews protesting these crimes against the Palestinians.
"Iranian Jews slam Israel over Gaza
Global Research, December 28, 2008
Press TV "
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=11520
Quote:
Iranian Jews express their solidarity with the Palestinians and the victims of the tragic incidents of Gaza. Iranian Jews Society has condemned Israeli attacks on Palestinians in Gaza which have so far killed over 281 people in two consecutive days.
The Israelis showed that they do not abide by any civil and human laws, the society said in a statement released on Sunday.
Meaningful silence of the international community towards Israel's atrocities shows that there is an urgent need for a new plan for fighting against oppression and retrieving the rights of the oppressed people, the statement added.
The UN Security Council on Sunday failed to force an end to Israeli attacks against Gazans because the United States vetoed the anti-Israeli resolution sought by the UNSC members.
The US, a staunch ally to Israel, has so far vetoed over 40 anti-Israeli resolutions sought by the council since 1972.
Iranian Jews express their solidarity with the Palestinians and the victims of the tragic incidents of Gaza, it said.
The Iranian Jews reaffirm that the inhuman behavior of the Zionist regime contradicts the religious teachings of Prophet Moses (PBUH), according to the statement.
Head of Jewish societies of Tehran, Shiraz, Isfahan, Kermanshah and Yazd have undersigned the statement.
At least 281 people have been killed and 800 others wounded during two days of Israel's air strikes on Gaza.
...
© Copyright , Press TV, 2008
End quote.
LET ME EMPHASIZE a point from this above article:
"The UN Security Council on Sunday failed to force an end to Israeli attacks against Gazans because the United States vetoed the anti-Israeli resolution sought by the UNSC members."
The only way the UNSC, a legal (not particularly legitimate, but legal, according to "man's law" anyway) governing body, can allow these vetoes of the US is criminally! After all, they are all criminal vetoes, the US proves of itself to be consistent about one thing and it's to be consistently criminal, while often trying to mask this reality with words that any informed individual knows to be of hypocrisy and hegemony; and, well, to allow vetoes that inarguably are criminal is to provide criminal allowance, or, iow, allowance that in itself is also criminal. Criminal complicity!
The UNSC has long been proving that it is a governing body of the characteristics of NWO (New World Order) and/or OWG (One World Government), or certainly the latter anyway, and both types, or ways of referring to the same type, if they essentially work out to be the same, that is, is [fascism!]; allied with or rather working for corporatism, to boot. It's all the more-so the reality because the UNSC has constant, very consistent anyway, [disregard] for the far greater democratic nature of the UNGA, the General Assembly, which has its quacks, but which often comes to majority decisions that are [good]; and, I must add, the UNSC's consistent disregard, if not worse than only disregard, for the UN Human Rights Commission, UNHRC.
YES, the Palestinians have a LOT of cause to FEAR.
This is quite possibly linked to by others, but thwe importance can not be emphasized enough. This shows the distribution of land as owned By Jews and by Palestinian Arabs from 1946 to today.
Note that the Israelis SEIZED more lands then even the UN partition allowed. They are clearly the aggressors and are stealing the land away from its rightful owners
It's bad enough that Israel is behaving atrociously. What's worse is that Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan are helping to enable this Zionist monster.
The Gazans can win this. they must march en mass to the boader and stand there. Yes the army will shoot and shell and kill 1000s. But is it better to starve? to freeze? to die of septic shock because there is no penicilin? No it is not.
¡Prefiero morir de pie que vivir siempre arrodillado!