United in peace
Although you would barely know it from today’s media, over 20,000 people marched through London yesterday to show support for the Lebanese people and demand an end to Israeli aggression in the Middle East. It is shameful that the British media chose to largely ignore this event, although it will have been well covered in the Middle East, which is of greater importance. (For pictures see Lenin’s Tomb.)
Several things struck me about yesterday’s demonstration. The first was the open support for Hezbollah. Despite being the legitimately elected government of Lebanon, the UK and the US both have Hezbollah on their list of terrorist organisations. But in spite of this there were many banners, flags and t-shirts displaying the Hezbollah flag; many speakers pledged their solidarity and support to Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah and his organisation and each received rapturous applause form the gathered thousands, including many from Britain’s Jewish Community. Hasidic Jews marching along side Hezbollah supporters. No there’s something I never thought I would see. Also of note was the raw, naked anger displayed by the march as it passed the American Embassy. The British prime minister may be Bush's bitch, but the British people can think for themselves.
Is the tide turning though? Last night the BBC were leading on Foreign Office minister Kim Howells' criticism of the Israeli bombardment of Lebanon, the first sign of a deviation between the UK and US. The BBC News website presently has as its top story UN emergency relief chief Jan Egeland’s comments that Israeli air strikes in Beirut are a violation of humanitarian law. ITV News’ top story about a mini-bus full of civilians fleeing southern Lebanon being attacked by the Israeli army killing at least 3. This despite the fact that it was the Israeli Army who told civilians to leave. Channel 5 News are also leading on the Lebanese victims of the Israeli war machine.
The protests will of course continue for as long as the Israeli aggression does. Keep an eye on the Stop the War Coalition’s website. Write to your MP, the local and national press asking why their condemnation of Israel is so muted. Make your voice heard.
Shout for peace.
Several things struck me about yesterday’s demonstration. The first was the open support for Hezbollah. Despite being the legitimately elected government of Lebanon, the UK and the US both have Hezbollah on their list of terrorist organisations. But in spite of this there were many banners, flags and t-shirts displaying the Hezbollah flag; many speakers pledged their solidarity and support to Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah and his organisation and each received rapturous applause form the gathered thousands, including many from Britain’s Jewish Community. Hasidic Jews marching along side Hezbollah supporters. No there’s something I never thought I would see. Also of note was the raw, naked anger displayed by the march as it passed the American Embassy. The British prime minister may be Bush's bitch, but the British people can think for themselves.
Is the tide turning though? Last night the BBC were leading on Foreign Office minister Kim Howells' criticism of the Israeli bombardment of Lebanon, the first sign of a deviation between the UK and US. The BBC News website presently has as its top story UN emergency relief chief Jan Egeland’s comments that Israeli air strikes in Beirut are a violation of humanitarian law. ITV News’ top story about a mini-bus full of civilians fleeing southern Lebanon being attacked by the Israeli army killing at least 3. This despite the fact that it was the Israeli Army who told civilians to leave. Channel 5 News are also leading on the Lebanese victims of the Israeli war machine.
The protests will of course continue for as long as the Israeli aggression does. Keep an eye on the Stop the War Coalition’s website. Write to your MP, the local and national press asking why their condemnation of Israel is so muted. Make your voice heard.
Shout for peace.
posted by phylos @ 18:19
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